Trending Topic
The energy transition is changing the architecture of economies by replacing the traditional fuels that power our societies with new energy carriers. In this transition period, balancing the conventional energy system with the low-carbon one presents challenges for governments and companies alike. The increasing use of renewable energy sources is reshaping geopolitics, creating novel dependency relations for those countries that have the technology and the critical minerals needed to reach net zero in 2050. HCSS seeks to understand, analyse and address pressing geo-economic and geopolitical issues induced by the energy transition.
Latest Research
Catch up on our latest research in the field of energy and critical raw materials
About HCSS Energy and Raw Materials
The HCSS Energy and Raw Materials initiative focuses on three research areas:
Geopolitics of energy
Security of supply is a key concern in the national interest of every government around the world. For decades, having reserves of oil and natural gas translated into geopolitical influence. Today, old dependencies remain as new ones are emerging. The European Union is facing geopolitical and environmental challenges to securing oil and gas supplies. New dependencies on suppliers of green hydrogen and renewable energy technologies are developing. A purely economic approach to energy relations fails to take into account a significant array of risks associated with dependencies, which is why geopolitics play a key role in HCSS energy research.
Geo-economic implications of the energy transition
Achieving climate goals requires the transformation of infrastructure, industrial processes and households into sustainable and energy efficient sectors. Technological developments, policy support and governmental behaviour in global politics are some of the determinants of a successful energy transition. HCSS contributes to mitigating and overcoming the challenges faced by key economic sectors in the energy transition, in order to achieve a prosperous and competitive new energy system.
Critical minerals
Wind turbines, solar panels and electric vehicles – they are all dependent on sufficient, affordable and secure supplies of critical raw materials. Yet the global energy transition is expected to lead to an exponential increase in the demand for these minerals. Achieving a net zero energy system depends on foreign supplies of rare earth metals, cobalt or lithium. This creates novel geopolitical dependencies and geo-economic challenges for countries all around the world. Critical minerals are a key area of energy research at HCSS, providing advice to governments and companies on how to address challenges related to securing supplies of raw materials.
HCSS Energy & Raw Materials Experts
Irina Patrahau
Michel Rademaker
Lucia van Geuns
Jeff Amrish Ritoe
Jilles van den Beukel
Latest News
Catch up on our latest news in the field of energy and raw materials
More on Energy and Raw Materials
Multimedia
Webinar “Grondstoffen, oorlog en de energietransitie”
Gas, Gasmarkten en Gasprijzen – HCSS Explainer met Jilles van den Beukel
The EU’s competing objectives: Championing the Energy Transition or Strategic Autonomy?
Wereldmachten Podcast on critical minerals with Irina Patrahau
De Strateeg: Hoe kunnen we de leveringszekerheid van energie waarborgen?
Office Address
- The Hague Centre for Strategic Studies
- Lange Voorhout 1
- 2514 EA The Hague
- The Netherlands
Contact Us
- Telephone: +31(70) 318 48 40
- E-mail: info@hcss.nl
- IBAN NL10INGB0666328730
- BIC INGBNL2A
- VAT NL.8101.32.436.B01
- Contact