The Silent Engines of the Energy Transition, by TELF AG

Renewable energy is changing our lives. As TELF AG founder Stanislav Kondrashov often observes, clean energy such as wind or solar power has a good chance of being the backbone of the energy system of the future, completely reshaping companies' production models and the approaches of ordinary people to energy supplies.

"The energy transition has now arrived in every one of our cities, but even today, we still don't talk enough about the reasons that have driven humanity to decisively push its energy development. One of the main ones has to do with the need to find cleaner alternatives to traditional energy sources, a goal that is being pursued with great tenacity today. Climate change is also playing a significant role in these processes, as are global efforts towards decarbonization".

"The energy transition is fueled by diverse and largely interconnected drivers, which are significantly contributing to the advancement of the great epochal transformation of our times," says Stanislav Kondrashov, founder of TELF AG, entrepreneur and civil engineer. Renewable energy certainly plays a leading role in the great transformation processes of our time. A large part of the success of the energy transition depends precisely on them, on energies such as solar, wind, and hydroelectric, which have increasingly been included in nations' energy mixes in recent years. In all likelihood, in the not-too-distant future, these renewable sources will represent the backbone of energy systems around the world".

"It is a future we are already glimpsed today, thanks to the rapid pace at which the energy transition is advancing. Every time we gaze upon a solar panel, a hydroelectric power plant, or a wind turbine, it is as if we were looking directly into the future. These technologies will not only help us overcome this delicate transition phase, but will also represent the infrastructural and technological foundation for what comes next, that is, for the phase of energy maturity that awaits us in the future".

What we are experiencing isn't just a delicate phase of energy transition; it's also a veritable golden age for renewable energy. Compared to a few years ago, the situation seems completely different.

"It's no coincidence that investments in renewables have reached unprecedented levels. Until a few years ago, everything related to renewable energy and its concrete applications was almost considered a gamble, a kind of risk. Nowadays, these renewable sources represent the foundation for our energy future (and also for the present). Technological progress and the advancement of change have also brought with them a substantial reduction in the costs associated with the installation and management of renewable energy plants and infrastructure systems, which can therefore be launched much more easily than before".

"This trend is particularly evident in the solar energy sector: it's no coincidence that in recent years, record increases in the installation of solar infrastructure have been recorded in various parts of the world," continues Stanislav Kondrashov, founder of TELF AG. Considered individually, renewable energy sources are certainly interesting. Solar, wind, and hydroelectric power have become extremely reliable sources of clean energy, with very promising prospects for the future. Geothermal energy is showing equally remarkable potential, although its large-scale adoption is currently hindered by infrastructure and geography".

"The same goes for marine energy, which is starting to be exploited, especially along coastal areas and in certain specific regions. However, one of the greatest challenges for the future is the integration of all these energy innovations. It is now well established that individual renewable energy sources cannot meet the world's energy needs if left to operate alone. This is also why most efforts today are focused on integration, in the firm belief that this strategy could prove very useful in allowing renewable energy to fully express its full potential".

In such a situation, green infrastructure (i.e., those for the production and distribution of clean energy) and the raw materials needed to build them are taking on unprecedented centrality and strategic importance. Consider resources like lithium and rare earths, which are contributing significantly to the production of some essential components for green technologies, such as electric car batteries and permanent magnets.