COVID ‐19 pandemic facilitating energy transition opportunities

Abstract

This perspective paper has been suggesting and discussing some of the energy transition opportunities facilitated by COVID-19 pandemics. A strong base in a cluster of innovative technologies is expected. They have been spread out of distance meeting and learning, massive home office use, the growing popularity of e-shopping, raise in e-socialising, related to this intensifying the data transmissions as 5G and considering 6G, urban and sanitary reforms, remote and robotic health monitoring and even treatment, related preference to shortening the commuting, intelligent traffic control, strengthening to favour self-driving autonomous vehicles, advanced digital manufacturing challenging remote and distance production operating, remote construction and building as remote drilling, automated waste management collection and treatment, and also applications of novel ways for deliveries as, for example, drone. Each of them is having some pros and cons related to energy consumptions. Are the beneficial features able to offset its own energy consumption and the rebound effects of increasing demand?

Impacts of COVID-19 on energy demand and consumption: Challenges, lessons and emerging opportunities

“…In a long-term, COVID-19 offers opportunities for the energy storage industry. The crisis could trigger energy transitions [133] , including the sustainability transitions [134] , clean energy transitions [135] , and sustainable energy transitions under different politics related to COVID-19 [136] , which further offers potential development/opportunities of novel energy storage technologies. In addition, according to the experience of other crisis in history, including the Spain flu, great depression, world wars, oil shocks and 2008 financial crisis [6] , energy demand would be recovered significantly after a crisis.…”

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“…Most of the studies suggested that it is rather optimistic that digitalisation could lead to lower energy consumption. IoT and AI could lead to higher energy efficiency; however, the increase in the energy usage of IoT and AI could outweigh the positive impacts [ 93 ].…”

A Review of the Progress of COVID-19 Vaccine Development

“…It also has both ways impact on energy use as well as generation, and consequently, it is related to the increase of several environmental footprints, as Greenhouse Gases (GHG) Footprint, Nitrogen Footprint, Water Footprint and Plastic Waste Footprint (117). A vital issue is minimising the negative impacts on the society and industry with the post-pandemic perspective in mind (118).…”