Earth sciences at the centre of the energy transition
Achieving a successful energy transition requires society to deploy as many technologies as possible, rather than relying on one single technology to be the ‘magic bullet’. However, there are characteristics that make this transition more challenging than previous transitions in terms of its scope....
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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European Federation of Geologists
2023-06-01
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| Series: | European Geologist |
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| Online Access: | https://eurogeologists.eu/tovar-earth-sciences-at-the-centre-of-the-energy-transition/ |
| _version_ | 1797292431891234816 |
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| author | Alejandra Tovar Kris Piessens Kris Welkenhuysen |
| author_facet | Alejandra Tovar Kris Piessens Kris Welkenhuysen |
| author_sort | Alejandra Tovar |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Achieving a successful energy transition requires society to deploy as many technologies as possible, rather than relying on one single technology to be the ‘magic bullet’. However, there are characteristics that make this transition more challenging than previous transitions in terms of its scope. These challenges include the wide range of sustainable technologies involved and the time constraints. For this research the importance of carbon capture and storage (CCS) and hydrogen technologies for the decarbonization process was analysed, including the main challenges that their large-scale implementation is facing from a subsurface perspective. The ongoing role that fossil fuels play, as well as how the hydrocarbon industry can facilitate the current transition, must also be considered. The common denominator in the analysis is the critical position of Earth sciences in discovering, characterizing, and sustainably utilizing subsurface resources. Geoscientists are essential for providing communication and cooperation between scientists and stakeholders who use, manage and preserve the subsurface. The success of CO2 and hydrogen storage, as part of the climate change mitigation strategies, and the eventual phase-out of fossil fuels ultimately depends on the sustainable development of the subsurface. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T19:56:21Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ba75288a714941e9a6a561d3eb4021d3 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1028-267X 2294-8813 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T19:56:21Z |
| publishDate | 2023-06-01 |
| publisher | European Federation of Geologists |
| record_format | Article |
| series | European Geologist |
| spelling | doaj.art-ba75288a714941e9a6a561d3eb4021d32024-02-28T14:33:57ZengEuropean Federation of GeologistsEuropean Geologist1028-267X2294-88132023-06-01552230https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.8108307Earth sciences at the centre of the energy transitionAlejandra Tovar0Kris Piessens1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9228-2089Kris Welkenhuysen2Geological Survey of Belgium, Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, Jennerstraat 13, 1000 Brussels, BelgiumGeological Survey of Belgium, Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, Jennerstraat 13, 1000 Brussels, BelgiumGeological Survey of Belgium, Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, Jennerstraat 13, 1000 Brussels, BelgiumAchieving a successful energy transition requires society to deploy as many technologies as possible, rather than relying on one single technology to be the ‘magic bullet’. However, there are characteristics that make this transition more challenging than previous transitions in terms of its scope. These challenges include the wide range of sustainable technologies involved and the time constraints. For this research the importance of carbon capture and storage (CCS) and hydrogen technologies for the decarbonization process was analysed, including the main challenges that their large-scale implementation is facing from a subsurface perspective. The ongoing role that fossil fuels play, as well as how the hydrocarbon industry can facilitate the current transition, must also be considered. The common denominator in the analysis is the critical position of Earth sciences in discovering, characterizing, and sustainably utilizing subsurface resources. Geoscientists are essential for providing communication and cooperation between scientists and stakeholders who use, manage and preserve the subsurface. The success of CO2 and hydrogen storage, as part of the climate change mitigation strategies, and the eventual phase-out of fossil fuels ultimately depends on the sustainable development of the subsurface.https://eurogeologists.eu/tovar-earth-sciences-at-the-centre-of-the-energy-transition/ccsco2 storagehydrogen storagegeosciencesenergy transitionfossil fuels |
| spellingShingle | Alejandra Tovar Kris Piessens Kris Welkenhuysen Earth sciences at the centre of the energy transition European Geologist ccs co2 storage hydrogen storage geosciences energy transition fossil fuels |
| title | Earth sciences at the centre of the energy transition |
| title_full | Earth sciences at the centre of the energy transition |
| title_fullStr | Earth sciences at the centre of the energy transition |
| title_full_unstemmed | Earth sciences at the centre of the energy transition |
| title_short | Earth sciences at the centre of the energy transition |
| title_sort | earth sciences at the centre of the energy transition |
| topic | ccs co2 storage hydrogen storage geosciences energy transition fossil fuels |
| url | https://eurogeologists.eu/tovar-earth-sciences-at-the-centre-of-the-energy-transition/ |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT alejandratovar earthsciencesatthecentreoftheenergytransition AT krispiessens earthsciencesatthecentreoftheenergytransition AT kriswelkenhuysen earthsciencesatthecentreoftheenergytransition |