• Energy Research
• 2025-2025close
• NL close
• EG close

Abstract To thrive in extreme conditions, organisms have evolved a diverse arsenal of adaptations that confer resilience. These species, their traits, and the mechanisms underlying them comprise a valuable resource that can be mined for numerous conceptual insights and applied objectives. One of the most dramatic adaptations to water limitation is desiccation tolerance. Understanding the mechanisms underlying desiccation tolerance has important potential implications for medicine, biotechnology, agriculture, and conservation. However, progress has been hindered by a lack of standardization across sub-disciplines, complicating the integration of data and slowing the translation of basic discoveries into practical applications. Here, we synthesize current knowledge on desiccation tolerance across evolutionary, ecological, physiological, and cellular scales to provide a roadmap for advancing desiccation tolerance research. We also address critical gaps and technical roadblocks, highlighting the need for standardized experimental practices, improved taxonomic sampling, and the development of new tools for studying biology in a dry state. We hope that this perspective can serve as a roadmap to accelerating research breakthroughs and unlocking the potential of desiccation tolerance to address global challenges related to climate change, food security, and health.

Rising temperatures, increasingly frequent extreme weather events and sea level rise are playing a growing role in shaping displacement, rural-urban migration, circular movements but also voluntary and forced immobilities. The debate on climate mobilities – the interplay between climate change and human mobility – is currently moving centre stage in migration studies. Migration theory, on the other hand, does not necessarily reflect sufficiently on the role of the environment in mobility patterns. Including an understanding of the complex nature of climate mobilities avoids assuming climate change related mobility as new or exceptional per se, and offers understanding of the plural, multi-causal, and political ways in which climate change and human im/mobilities intersect.

Conflict framing-the emphasis on clashing political positions, or the reproach of one actor to another-is central in political coverage and politics. This chapter discusses its conceptualization and the subsequent consequences for citizens' political attitudes and behavior. Previous research on conflict framing has yielded mixed results, showcasing conflicts' potential to inform and engage citizens alongside fostering cynicism and polarization. In this chapter, we argue that, to understand these divergent findings, it is necessary to distinguish between different types of conflicts. To address the fragmented literature on conflict and negativity, we propose a typology of various conflict types. This typology is exemplified through a hypothetical conflict scenario centered around climate change. We evaluate the moral, political, and epistemic implications of distinct conflict frames and propose conditions under which conflicts can positively contribute to deliberative democracy. Our typology provides a starting point for further investigations into the effects of conflict frames.

ABSTRACTThe analysis of the dispatchable potential of fuel‐cell hybrid electric vehicle (FCHEV) is particularly important to ensure the stable operation of the power system, but the uncertainty of vehicle owners' charging scheduling brings challenges to the analysis of the dispatchable potential of FCHEV aggregators. Therefore, this paper comprehensively considers the influence of vehicle charging scheduling uncertainty on the dispatchable potential of FCHEV aggregators, and proposes an analysis method for the dispatchable potential of FCHEV aggregators. In the context of urban transportation networks, the charging behavior of FCHEV is analyzed and modeled. From the subjective and objective perspectives, the evaluation index of the owner's charging scheduling was established. According to the relevant theories of behavioral psychology, the willingness of vehicle owners to participate in the dispatch of the power system is calculated, and the dispatchable potential of FCHEV aggregators is analyzed. Through the verification of examples, the analysis method proposed in this paper can effectively describe the uncertainty of vehicle owners' charging scheduling and ensure the validity of the evaluation results of dispatchable potential.

Plasmonic photocatalysis represents a highly promising area of research, as it enables the efficient exploitation of a broad spectrum of solar energy. Among the different photocatalysts, titanium dioxide (TiO2) has emerged as a pre‐eminent photocatalyst owing to its remarkable catalytic attributes. Its abundant active sites and high surface‐to‐volume ratio enable synergistic interactions with plasmonic metal nanoparticles, including silver, gold, and palladium, leading to significantly enhanced photocatalytic activity. These hybrid nanostructured materials based on TiO2 photocatalysts have many advances and challenges for many potential applications in environment and energy production. This phenomenon can be attributed to the efficient separation of charge carriers, coupled with the strategic tuning of the photocatalyst's optical response to extend into extended wavelength regions, specifically within the near‐infrared and visible spectra.

Grid parity is considered the tipping point of economic competitiveness of PV systems. However, accurately determining when grid parity is achieved hinges on the reliability and precision of the methodologies and data employed. This paper systematically reviews existing methods for assessing PV grid parity, proposes a structured three-step framework for grid parity assessment, and identifies the potential enhancements for more accurate evaluation outcomes. The framework begins with the calculation of PV costs using the Levelized Cost of Electricity (LCOE) method, continues with predicting PV cost trends through learning curves, and is completed by benchmarking PV costs against electricity prices. Our findings reveal that most current PV cost calculations for grid parity primarily rely on the LCOE method, which can be enhanced by incorporating modifications for integration costs, revenues, PV performance metrics, regional-specific characteristics, and uncertainties. Moreover, learning curve models used to predict PV cost trends can be refined by tailoring learning rates and model formulations to reflect specific stages of technological development and regional differences. Additionally, the results suggest that electricity prices used in grid parity assessment can be adjusted to reflect the impact of policies and market dynamics. This comprehensive review provides a robust framework for assessing grid parity and serves as an essential reference for conducting more precise techno-economic feasibility assessment of PV systems.

The European Union's goal of achieving climate neutrality by 2050, outlined in the European Green Deal, is supported by numerous studies providing insights into pathways and emission reduction strategies in the energy sectors. However, model comparisons of such pathways are less common due to the complex nature of climate and energy modelling. Our study brings together integrated assessment models and energy system models under a common framework to develop EU policy scenarios: a Current Trends scenario reflecting existing policies and trends and a Climate Neutrality scenario aligned with the EU's emission reduction target. Both scenarios project reduced final energy consumption by 2050, driven by increased electrification and decreased fossil fuel usage. Electricity consumption increases driven by electrification despite the improved efficiency of electrified technologies. Models align on a shift toward renewables but diverge in technology and fuel choices, reflecting various approaches to reach net-zero energy systems. Furthermore, trade-offs between energy demand and supply mitigation strategies, as well as between renewable energy, e-fuels, and CCS technologies are identified. Considering these model variations, our study highlights the importance of consistent model comparison to offer reliable recommendations to policymakers and stakeholders. We conclude that model diversity is a valuable asset when used sensibly. ISSN:0360-5442 ISSN:1873-6785 Energy, 319