Vertical A: New Energy Production Technologies

In this lecture, Dr. Marta Gandiglio provides an overview of the global energy landscape, focusing on primary energy sources, current market trends, and the challenges of decarbonization. It covers the dominance of fossil fuels, the rise of renewables, the role of nuclear energy, and the difficulties in reducing emissions in hard-to-abate sectors. It also examines the distinction between flow and stock energy sources, emphasizing the urgency of transitioning to cleaner energy solutions.

The lecture examines the limitations and urgent needs of the current energy system, focusing on climate change, energy transition strategies, and existing constraints. It highlights the role of greenhouse gas emissions in global warming, the key pillars of decarbonization, and the challenges posed by fossil fuel dependency, energy access inequality, storage limitations, and geopolitical risks linked to critical mineral supplies.

The lecture explores hydrogen's role in the energy transition, covering its production methods, storage and transport options, key applications in hard-to-abate sectors, and market outlook, with particular emphasis on green hydrogen as a flexible energy carrier for decarbonizing industries that cannot be directly electrified.

The lecture explores the role of biomass in the energy transition, focusing on its carbon cycle, biofuel production technologies, and the potential for emissions reduction. It discusses EU and international policies regulating biofuels, sustainable feedstock availability, and the importance of advanced biofuels. The session also highlights biomass applications in transport and energy production, emphasizing its role in achieving carbon neutrality and supporting sustainable agriculture.