Description

On 24 October, RGI will explore resource and supply chain challenges linked to power grids in our upcoming Webinar “Wired for Circularity: Securing the Power Grids of the Future”. During the event, invited experts from the French grid operator RTE and the European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC) will offer insights into how the application of circularity principles can mitigate the impacts of resource scarcity and supply chain pressures.

Electricity grids are at the core of the global energy transition, requiring ongoing modernisation and expansion to accommodate increasing renewable energy integration, electrification, and digitalisation. However, both the expansion and retrofitting of the grid face significant challenges, particularly in the context of material requirements, resource scarcity and constrains within grid infrastructure supply chains. 

As the world transitions to a renewables-based energy system, the electrification of industrial, transport, housing and other sectors intensifies. In turn, the demand for electricity grid infrastructure grows, creating further pressures on the production and delivery of critical grid technologies. In this context, the substantial amounts of resources and materials needed for the grid expansion, and their uneven distribution across the globe, create additional challenges related to ensuring a just and sustainable global energy transition.

Why circularity?

Against this background, the concept of circularity—focused on maximising resource efficiency, minimising waste, and extending the lifecycle of materials and components—offers a compelling framework for addressing these challenges. By integrating circularity principles, grid operators can not only enhance the sustainability of their infrastructure but also build greater resilience against supply chain disruptions.

But, how can grid operators implement circular approaches in their operations to reduce these challenges? And what are the status of supply chain disruptions within the European context?

On 24 October, RGI’s Webinar “Wired for Circularity: Securing the Power Grids of the Future” will explore the intersection of circularity and supply chain management within the electricity grid sector, drawing on insights from the following speakers:

• Nicola Magnani – Leader of the “Materials and supply chains for the energy transition” project at the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC).

• Marcela Mantilla – Sustainability & Industrial Affairs Advisor at RTE.