WS.IV

TECHNOLOGIES FOR ENERGY TRANSITION

16 - 17 - 18 September

WORKSHOP COMMITTEE

in definition

The progressive deterioration of environmental conditions at both local and global scales is largely driven by anthropogenic activities, with greenhouse gas emissions—particularly CO₂—representing a major contributor to climate change. The energy sector, encompassing both production and consumption, remains a key source of these emissions, and the continuous growth in global energy demand further exacerbates the challenge.
The transition toward low-carbon and sustainable energy systems is therefore imperative. This transition requires not only the development of high-performance technologies, but also their economic viability, scalability, and integration within existing infrastructures. In this framework, advanced energy solutions—ranging from nuclear fusion and artificial photosynthesis to next-generation electrochemical systems—are being intensively investigated, often leveraging insights from natural processes.
Recent progress in nanostructured materials, functional interfaces, and multiscale computational modelling is enabling significant improvements in energy conversion, storage, and transport processes. Nevertheless, critical challenges remain, including the limited transferability of laboratory-scale results to industrial applications (the so-called “valley of death”) and the need for cost-effective manufacturing routes.
Furthermore, the intrinsic intermittency of renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind, imposes stringent requirements on the development of efficient, flexible, and scalable energy storage technologies. Solutions spanning multiple temporal and spatial scales—ranging from electrochemical and thermochemical storage to hydrogen-based systems—are essential to ensure grid stability and reliability.
This workshop is framed within ENEA’s activities in the context of the “Ricerca di Sistema Elettrico” programmes, funded by the Italian Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security (MASE) and managed by CSEA. It aims to provide a multidisciplinary forum to present and discuss recent advances in energy technologies for the transition. Particular emphasis will be placed on advanced materials and processes for energy storage, hydrogen production and utilization, modelling-driven design, and the integration of renewable energy sources into resilient and sustainable energy systems.