Search

The energy crisis caused by the Russia–Ukraine war (RUW) has affected the energy supply chain. The countries most impacted by the sanctions imposed on Russia due to the invasion of Ukraine focused on replacing the countries they import their energy from in the short term and switching fuel, for example, from natural gas to coal in Germany. The objective of this article is to verify how the war has impacted energy trade and electricity generation in Germany and the United Kingdom (UK). The results indicate that the RUW had consequences on these countries' energy sector, significantly affecting fuel trade and electricity generation in the immediate aftermath of the war. • Russia's invasion of Ukraine sparked a global crisis in energy supply chains. • The Russia–Ukraine war led countries, such as Germany, to reactivate coal plants. • The UK replaced Russian fuel imports with those from other countries, like the USA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bioenergy is currently under diversified pressure to re-assess its compliance with sustainable development strategies and criteria and thereby ensure that the sector delivers a long-term contribution to renewable energy transition. With a view to promoting sustainable regional development this inquiry investigates whether a reframing of bioenergy supply chain design can allow sustainable regional development targets to feature as integral supply chain components and both help upgrade existing bioenergy processes and initiate new bioenergy value chains. Following a critical survey of classic supply chain management we use a Total Quality Management approach to operationalize the concept of regional energy and pilot the development of sustainable bioenergy pathways within North European regional settings. We argue that a methodical enhancement of supply chain design can help overcome the challenges facing bioenergy and at the same time provide a blueprint for pioneering feasible regional energy initiatives as alternatives to conventional energy processes. From an initially sectoral perspective the study seeks to support the integration of regional development goals into energy transition policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Four environmental indicators suitable for use in energy system models are proposed (85) • The indicators allow direct comparison of decarbonisation potential of renewables (84) • Gearbox double-fed induction generators are the preferred form of wind turbine (80) • Cadmium telluride photovoltaics exhibit best overall raw materials outcomes (78) Raw materials and their related environmental impacts will play a key role in the implementation of renewable energy infrastructures for decarbonization. Despite the growing amount of data quantifying raw materials for energy production technologies, few examples of these data sources are being included in current energy system models. Accordingly, this paper introduces possible pathways for integrating material-specific life cycle assessment outputs and material metabolism indicators into energy system models so that raw material requirements, and their associated impacts, can be accounted for. The paper discusses the availability of life cycle inventories, impact assessment methods and important output indicators. The material metabolism indicators most relevant to the current policy debate surrounding the European Green Deal–namely, material supply risk and contribution of recycled materials to total supply–are also discussed alongside the value of adding this information to energy system models. A methodology for using data from both approaches is offered and operationalised using four sub-technologies of both wind turbines and solar photovoltaic panels as case studies. The results show that considerable variation exists between and within the two groups for all indicators. The technologies with the lowest global warming potential, cumulative energy demand and supply risk are turbines with gearbox double-fed induction generators and cadmium telluride photovoltaics. Furthermore, wind turbines exhibit significantly higher recycling rates than photovoltaics. Ultimately, the integration of such methodologies into energy system models could greatly increase the awareness of raw material issues and guide policies that maximise compatibilities between resource availability and cleaner energy systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]