Related Experiment Videos
Can Transcontinental Corridors Bridge Climate Sustainability and Energy Security?
Apoorv Lal1, Fengqi You1,2,3,4,5
1College of Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, United States.
Environmental Science & Technology
|May 13, 2026
Summary
Transcontinental energy corridors for electricity and green hydrogen can significantly boost Europe's energy security and climate goals. These pathways can reduce natural gas use by nearly 60% and achieve substantial carbon emission reductions by 2050.
Area of Science:
- Energy policy and climate science
- Renewable energy systems and infrastructure
- Geopolitics of energy
Background:
- Geopolitical instability disrupts conventional energy systems, impacting Europe's energy security and climate targets.
- Domestic renewable energy and green hydrogen production face limitations due to geography and infrastructure.
- Transcontinental energy corridors are essential for diversifying energy imports and enabling renewable energy deployment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present a novel framework for assessing electrification and hydrogen corridors.
- To analyze the temporal, spatial, and economic factors of energy corridors.
- To evaluate the potential of these corridors for enhancing resilience and achieving decarbonization.
Main Methods:
- Development of a scenario-based framework to assess energy corridors.
- Analysis of domestic renewable infrastructure, climate mitigation pathways, and cost-effectiveness.
- Strategic scenario analyses to evaluate corridor impacts on resilience and decarbonization.
Main Results:
- Electrification and hydrogen corridors can decrease Europe's gross natural gas consumption by up to 58.7%.
- Corridors offer climate benefits of 10.6 GtCO2 through 2050.
- Implementation involves a land-use factor of 0.26% and creates 3,340.2 million person-days of workforce engagement.
Conclusions:
- Transcontinental energy corridors are vital for Europe's energy transition and security.
- Strategic corridor development can unlock significant decarbonization potential globally.
- The framework provides a robust method for evaluating future energy infrastructure investments.
Related Concept Videos
01:50Global Climate Change
Throughout its ~4.5 billion year history, the Earth has experienced periods of warming and cooling. However, the current drastic increase in global temperatures is well outside of the Earth’s cyclic norms, and evidence for human-caused global climate change is compelling. Paleoclimatology, the study of ancient climate conditions, provides ample evidence for human-caused global climate change by comparing recent conditions with those in the past.
02:12Short-distance Transport of Resources
Short-distance transport refers to transport that occurs over a distance of just 2-3 cells, crossing the plasma membrane in the process. Small uncharged molecules, such as oxygen, carbon dioxide, and water, can diffuse across the plasma membrane on their own. In contrast, ions and larger molecules require the assistance of transport proteins due to their charge or size. Transport across membranes also occurs within individual cells, playing a variety of essential roles for the plant as a whole.
01:37Energy to Drive Translocation
Mitochondrial protein import is powered by two distinct energy sources: ATP hydrolysis and electrochemical potential across the inner membrane. Newly synthesized precursors are bound by cytosolic chaperones of the Hsp70 family, which guide them to the import receptors on the mitochondrial surface. Utilizing the energy of ATP hydrolysis, Hsp70 chaperones transfer these precursors to the TOM receptors on the mitochondrial outer membrane.
Generally, polypeptides are unfolded by two distinct...
Generally, polypeptides are unfolded by two distinct...
01:43Sustainable Development
As the human population continues to grow and use resources, we must be mindful of our planet’s natural limits. Sustainable development provides a pathway to maintain and improve human life now while also ensuring that future generations will have the resources that they need. The long-term success of sustainability efforts rests on understanding the interplay between human actions and ecological systems.
01:16What is Climate?
Climate refers to the prevailing weather conditions in a specific area over an extended period. As the saying goes, “Climate is what you expect. Weather is what you get.” Climate is influenced by geographic factors, such as latitude, terrain, and proximity to bodies of water.
01:26Design Example: Sustainability in Concrete Building
As the construction industry moves towards more eco-friendly practices, concrete's adaptability and its ability to incorporate sustainable features make it a key material in the drive towards greener building solutions.
There are multiple approaches to achieve sustainability in a commercial concrete building. For instance, construct a concrete parking area under the building, utilizing pervious concrete paver blocks in open areas to facilitate rainwater collection through an underground cistern.
There are multiple approaches to achieve sustainability in a commercial concrete building. For instance, construct a concrete parking area under the building, utilizing pervious concrete paver blocks in open areas to facilitate rainwater collection through an underground cistern.