THE ROLE OF THE GEOSCIENTIST IN THE ENERGY TRANSITION

The increasing energy request of our society combined with the environmental cost of the extensive use of coal and hydrocarbons requires an integrated and balanced management of energy resources.

A wide range of solutions already exist. Some of those directly produce low carbon power, such as solar, wind, marine energies, hydrogen, hydraulic energy, biogas, geothermal and nuclear.

While others, like CCUS, may help to sequestrate
the greenhouse gas emissions from heavy industry.
These different energy sources have distinct technical characteristics associated with advantages and disadvantages that must be gauged, compared and in some case combined. The development of the potential of each
of these solutions requires a fundamental contribution from the geoscience disciplines.
This summer school proposes a panorama of various contributions putting them in the broader context, including practical input of the industry, operators, associations, researchers, political and administrative managers. Special attention will be given to the differences in the strategic choices of different countries and energy industry groups.

Although the jobs are sometimes presented as antagonistic, the competencies required to manage the new energy sources are somewhat like those needed for any natural resources. Understanding resources, reserves, uncertainties, and risk management are a vital competence that geoscientists may use on many occasions. Those topics will be presented and discussed during the week of the summer school.

The Summer School will deal on:
_ The present-day energy mix landscape and scenarios
_ Decarbonized sources of energy: geothermal, natural H2 _ Bio-sourced energy: the three generations of biogas
_ The mitigations of the anthropic CO2 emission: CCS and

CCU
_ Energy storage: gas or heat
_ Need of raw material for the new energy mix

Location

University of Camerino, Italy