Dear Colleagues,

Climate (or GHG) neutrality is equivalent to the net phase-out of all GHG emissions, and carbon neutrality is a similar concept, but only for CO₂ emissions. Climate neutrality of a fuel or energy vector implies zero GHG emissions over its entire lifecycle, considering that carbon sinks are naturally occurring during the formation of the raw feedstock used for its production.

The Paris Agreement has the goal to limit the global temperature rise to 1.5 ^oC, implying a GHG emissions phase-out around 2050. For this purpose, the European Commission proposed in November 2019 a long-term strategy targeting emissions reduction in 2050 at 95% GHG and more. Therefore, possible ways to reach climate neutrality in the EU energy system came up on the policy agenda.

Energy system modeling for achieving carbon neutrality in the entire system is the topic of the Special Issue. Energy system restructuring for carbon neutrality has to include disruptive options (technologies and consumption paradigms), beyond conventional pathways studied so far in the literature. The electricity sector is of key importance to support electrification of final demand and produce carbon-neutral hydrogen, gas, and liquid hydrocarbons. Climate neutrality in power generation heavily depends on integration of renewables at a large scale. To this end, storage system, including with seasonal storage cycles, will need to develop. Distribution of carbon-neutral hydrogen, gas, and liquids has to restructure to accommodate blending from different origins and locations.

Consequently, the modeling of carbon-neutral energy systems has to include complexities, such as sectoral integration, interdependencies, behavioral and financial aspects, together with learning dynamics of technologies that are currently not yet mature in industry. Modeling of policy instruments that would enable restructuring towards carbon-neutrality needs to cover regulations, market coordination, infrastructure development, technology support, and removal of barriers in conjunction with market-based policies.

Prof. Pantelis Capros
Guest Editor

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• energy system modeling
• climate-neutral energy system
• decarbonization transition
• sectoral integration modeling