The energy transition is one of the most important and defining aspects of this generation. It is something that keeps everyone on their toes and has caused a lot of polarisation in our society. Like it or not, the fact is: something has to be done lest we destroy the planet, which is something everyone wants to avoid.One of the possible solutions to this problem is green energy. Think of solar, wind or hydraulic power. These are readily available and easy to produce. However, how do we store the energy from these sources?
Catalysis is a field that is largely overlooked by the average adult. While the media often focuses on climate change and renewable energy sources like solar and wind power, catalysts are just as important if not more so in addressing our environmental challenges.
Take carbon dioxide (CO2), for example the primary driver behind global warming. CO2 is a waste product of burning hydrocarbons such as oil, gas, and even plastic. Ideally, we would be able to recycle CO2 back into useful materials like fuels or plastics, creating a circular carbon economy. However, there’s a major obstacle: CO2 is extremely stable. Its chemical bonds are so strong that breaking them requires a tremendous amount of energy, making this process inefficient and currently unfeasible on a large scale.
This is where catalysis comes into play. Catalysts are substances that lower the energy barrier for chemical reactions, allowing them to proceed more efficiently and with less input energy. If an effective catalyst can be developed to facilitate the breaking of CO2 bonds, we could potentially transform CO2 from a harmful waste product into a valuable resource. This breakthrough could revolutionize how we approach carbon emissions and provide a powerful tool in the fight against climate change.
Investing in catalytic research and development could therefore be just as critical as investing in renewable energy technologies. By unlocking the potential of CO2 recycling, catalysis may offer one of the most promising paths toward a sustainable and climate-resilient future.
Another interesting field is batteries. Batteries such as the Litium-ion battery seem to be the answer. Litium-ion batteries are a type of rechargeable battery that use the reversible intercalation of Li+ ions into electronically conducting solids to store energy. So problem solved, right? We found the solution to the energy transition, but only if it were that easy.
Energy is not easily stored and it’s expensive too. To make the Lithium-ion battery, critical materials are needed such as cobalt, phosphor, nickel, manganese and you guessed it lithium. These need to be delved, and that isn’t always done using green mining techniques. The inhabitants in the countries where the critical materials are extracted, such as in Congo, are heavily abused and mistreated. Massive ships are used to transport the goods, and sometimes the energy used to produce the batteries originates from fossil fuels. This might raise the question: are batteries even ethical and as green as people proclaim them to be?
Critical metals are a double-edged sword, and as with most problems in the world, a lot of hooks and crannies make it very difficult to find a good solution that everyone agrees with. This is one of the main reasons for hosting this symposium with the main theme: Are critical metals a progress or a burden to the world? In this event we would like to voice different opinions and create a healthy environment in which this difficult topic can be discussed and raise more awareness about this issue. We hope to see you the 25th of February 2026 to discuss this topic!
