The energy transition process calls for striving interventions towards low-carbon technologies. While their deployment is expected to drive down greenhouse gases emissions, it is expected to bring along intense critical materials exploitation. This article presents a quantitative framework to assess the impact of energy transition pathways in terms of raw materials extraction, coupling Input-Output models with energy modelling methodologies, defined as Dynamic Extraction and Recycling Input-Output framework (DYNERIO). The framework is analytically formalized and tested through a conceptual two-regions example based on EXIOBASE dataset. DYNERIO is composed by three modules: an environmentally-extended Multi-Regional Input-Output model assesses the demand of energy carriers based on exogenously defined final demand of commodities in future scenarios; an energy optimization model quantifies the time-evolution of the technology capacity stocks needed to satisfy such demand; finally, a third module quantifies the amount of materials demanded, recycled and extracted by each region to manufacture the capacity requirements.
Assessing critical materials demand in global energy transition scenarios based on the Dynamic Extraction and Recycling Input-Output framework (DYNERIO)
Rinaldi, Lorenzo;Rocco, Matteo Vincenzo;Colombo, Emanuela
2023-01-01
Abstract
The energy transition process calls for striving interventions towards low-carbon technologies. While their deployment is expected to drive down greenhouse gases emissions, it is expected to bring along intense critical materials exploitation. This article presents a quantitative framework to assess the impact of energy transition pathways in terms of raw materials extraction, coupling Input-Output models with energy modelling methodologies, defined as Dynamic Extraction and Recycling Input-Output framework (DYNERIO). The framework is analytically formalized and tested through a conceptual two-regions example based on EXIOBASE dataset. DYNERIO is composed by three modules: an environmentally-extended Multi-Regional Input-Output model assesses the demand of energy carriers based on exogenously defined final demand of commodities in future scenarios; an energy optimization model quantifies the time-evolution of the technology capacity stocks needed to satisfy such demand; finally, a third module quantifies the amount of materials demanded, recycled and extracted by each region to manufacture the capacity requirements.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.