The material perspective of the energy transition

This lecture explores the geopolitics of resource extraction and transformation for low carbon energy systems, focusing on the sustainability of energy systems, drivers and barriers for change, and the transition towards a material-intensive energy system. It discusses the demand and supply materials of the energy transition, key actors in the Swiss energy sector, and the socio-technical perspective of energy transitions. The lecture also covers the impact of battery electricity storage, energy modeling challenges, and the importance of copper in various applications. Additionally, it delves into the criticality of copper, global copper flows, and supply chain concentration risks beyond mining, emphasizing the importance of critical minerals in the energy transition.