A Modeling and Optimization Framework for Energy-Materials-Mobility Transition Nexus

The development of viable, cost-effective, and sustainable
low-carbon
technologies and decarbonized processes drives energy transition efforts.
Such efforts also require significant changes and expansion of the
underlying infrastructure to support a future energy scenario, which
is heavily dependent on the availability of resources and materials.
Materials play a key role in energy storage, electric vehicle production,
grid infrastructure, and construction of new and conventional power
and energy-generating facilities, including renewables. The production
and procurement of these materials introduce new challenges, and they
may require additional production and supply chain routes, involve
investment costs, and generate emissions. Hence, it is important to
systematically consider the energy-materials interactions to fully
address sustainable energy challenges. In this work, we propose a
framework for the energy-materials transition nexus with a particular
focus on a mobility transition scenario. A multiscale modeling and
optimization model is introduced, which integrates energy transition
with materials transition considerations. Key features include (i)
a multiobjective mixed integer linear optimization model to describe
the materials and energy production and supply chains based on a resource
task-material-network representation, and (ii) cost and emissions
considerations across the energy-material nexus. Our proposed framework
is illustrated with a detailed case study on a transition scenario
for mobility toward electric vehicles (EVs) in Texas, which reveals
the intricate interconnections among energy supply, material resources,
and vehicle production, highlighting the need for an integrated nexus
approach.