Energy Research & Social Science· 2018Q1· Review
The geopolitics of renewable energy: Debunking four emerging myths
- 277citations
- Q1SCImago
- 2018year
Short summary
This article debunks four emerging myths surrounding the geopolitics of renewable energy, arguing that risks of critical material competition, resource curses, weaponized electricity cut-offs, and exacerbated cyber-security threats are often overstated.
AI-generated from the title and abstract; the full text is not read.
Key points
- Geopolitical competition over critical materials for renewables is limited.
- The 'resource curse' is unlikely to reappear in many countries with renewable energy.
- Transboundary electricity cut-offs are unlikely to be effective geopolitical weapons.
- Increased renewable energy use does not clearly exacerbate cyber-security risks.
AI-generated from the title and abstract; the full text is not read.
Abstract
This article seeks to nip in the bud four emerging myths about the geopolitics of the rise of renewable energy and the concomitant increase in electricity usage. The article presents alternative perspectives, arguing that (1) the risk of geopolitical competition over critical materials for renewable energy is limited; (2) the resource curse as we know it from the petroleum sector will not necessarily reappear in many countries in connection with renewable energy; (3) transboundary electricity cut-offs will mostly be unsuitable as a geopolitical weapon; and (4) it is not clear that growing use of renewable energy will exacerbate cyber-security risks. In all four areas, the evolving literature could place more emphasis on uncertainty and risks and less on one-sided scenarios and maximization of threats.
The authors' abstract, as published at the source. Energy Research & Social Science, 2018 · DOI ↗
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Field: General Energy
General EnergyEnergy