Energy System's Future: 'We Must Go Back the Way'

Europe's pursuit of an ambitious energy transition may be creating new, unforeseen dependencies, according to a recent publication that urges a reevaluation of technological sourcing. Sebastian Zwickl-Bernhard of TU Wien argues that while the concept of considering where technology originates might seem familiar, the integration of material and gas dependencies with energy systems presents a novel and critical challenge.

"Are we entering new dependencies with new, sustainable technologies?" Zwickl-Bernhard questioned, drawing a parallel to the clear import reliance on oil. He noted that modeling these two aspects – energy systems and material dependencies – together has not been a focus of previous research, creating a significant blind spot.

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Are we entering new dependencies with new, sustainable technologies? Must we import the technology for it just like we imported crude oil before?

The lack of integrated research stems from a disciplinary fragmentation, with studies typically focusing on isolated sectors like energy generation, grids, or components. The interconnectedness of energy prices, systems, and material dependencies has been largely overlooked, despite increasing links through sector coupling. Developments in gas and raw material markets now directly impact electricity prices, affecting households and businesses alike.

Zwickl-Bernhard's personal motivation for this research stemmed from a desire for scientific independence, but his work also draws inspiration from Nordic countries, which he sees as five to seven years ahead in this field. These nations benefit from greater resources, mining potential, and expertise in technologies related to lithium and rare earth elements. In contrast, he observed that industry significantly influences research directions, particularly in sectors like automotive, which are traditionally strong in regions like Austria.

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The industry clearly directs what research does.