Energy Security in the Net Zero Transition: Perspectives from Whole Energy System Analysis

Dear Colleagues,

The purpose of this special issue is to explore new and emerging energy security challenges arising in deep decarbonization pathways, i.e. pathways targeting net-zero emissions by around mid-century. This involves taking a more expansive view of energy security, which accounts for interactions between different parts of complex energy systems. Submissions are encouraged which consider the effects on energy security of the radical transformation of energy systems implied by net-zero emissions, exploring both synergies and trade-offs over the time horizon to 2050.

The practical aim of the special issue is to present a coherent body of empirical findings that can inform policy. Therefore, country- or regional- case studies or comparisons, as well as review articles, are especially welcomed. Indeed, several countries have already pledged to reach net zero emissions, but there are many different starting points and possible pathways toward net zero, each carrying different implications for energy security. We are interested in studies that engage with this uncertainty while considering the energy system “as a whole”, describing and evaluating feedbacks between different energy sectors, fuels, technologies and trade patterns. We also encourage multi-disciplinarity (merging insights from e.g. techno-economic or spatial modelling, engineering, behavioural science, finance & economics, sustainability transitions research, or politics and international relations).

We encourage authors to send proposals for papers that could address one or more of the following topics:

Synergies and trade-offs between decarbonization and energy security

• Possible trade-offs between security and sustainability in different countries or regions as they undergo deep decarbonisation
• The geopolitics of energy under net zero pathways, and the effect of decarbonisation policies on international relations (such as carbon border tax adjustments)
• The relative costs and benefits of improving the resilience of energy systems under different net zero pathways
• The security risks of over- or under-investment in fossil fuels in the net zero transition, and how these differ for hydrocarbon importers and exporters
• The impact of net zero transitions on the security of traditional energy infrastructure, particularly parts which can still be leveraged for low-carbon purposes (such as gas grids or storage infrastructure for transporting hydrogen or biomethane)
• Key emerging technology or supply chain risks that may lead to energy security challenges in a net zero system – e.g. critical materials, carbon capture and storage, transport and storage of ammonia or hydrogen, battery storage.
• How climate-related risks and environmental hazards factor in to discussions about energy security

Exploring different decarbonization pathways and scenarios

• Energy security challenges under different net zero trajectories; sensitivity cases, e.g. on the availability, cost or deployment of different low-carbon technologies (e.g. CCS, nuclear, hydrogen)
• Ensuring reliable energy services in the context of ‘energy system integration’, e.g. where electricity makes up a larger part of transport, building and industry demand
• Risks to power system security related to the increasing penetration of variable renewables; feasibility and costs of integrating increasing shares of variable renewables into power systems; consideration of possible security risks of emerging solutions (e.g. energy storage, demand response and load control, consumer behaviour)
• Energy security challenges, and energy system integration strategies, under different geographical location as well as geographical scale

Methods

• New metrics or methods necessary to consider the multi-dimensional aspects of energy security in the net-zero transition
• The need for novel regulatory tools or interventions to anticipate and address new energy security challenges

Dr. Francesco Gracceva
Dr. Peter Zeniewski
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Energies is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• energy security
• net zero emissions
• whole systems analysis
• deep decarbonisation
• sustainability
• energy transition
• climate change
• energy system integration