Sustainable Energy Systems in a Changing World—An Introduction

Thumbnail Image

Files

978-3-031-69856-9_1.pdf (2.5 MB)

Access rights

openAccess
CC BY
publishedVersion

URL

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Foreword / postscript
This publication is imported from Aalto University research portal.
View publication in the Research portal (opens in new window)
View/Open full text file from the Research portal (opens in new window)
Unless otherwise stated, all rights belong to the author. You may download, display and print this publication for Your own personal use. Commercial use is prohibited.

Authors

Date

2025

Department

Department of Energy and Mechanical Engineering

Major/Subject

Mcode

Degree programme

Language

en

Pages

31

Series

Abstract

An ecologically sustainable and socially just energy transition represents a significant opportunity to align human activity with the planetary boundaries. Large-scale renewable energy projects, which are necessary for addressing climate change, can have complex and multifaceted impacts on both nature and societies. As an introduction, the first chapter presents and discusses briefly a number of key sustainability concepts, including the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, the principles of planetary boundaries, and the social foundation via the doughnut economy framework. It also examines the safe operating zone for the planet and the ways in which these concepts connect to the techno-economical design of energy systems based on renewable resources. Furthermore, the chapter examines the history of industrialization to illustrate the accelerated pace of human-induced change and the necessity for immediate action to avert the adverse effects of global warming and biodiversity loss. Additionally, the chapter elucidates the ongoing transition's implications for the skillset required of an energy engineer and offers insights into this topic.

Description

Keywords

Climate change, Social sustainability, Doughnut economy, Renewable energy, Energy transition, SDG, Ecological sustainability, Planetary boundaries

Other note

DOI

10.1007/978-3-031-69856-9_1

Citation

Paulomäki, H & Järvinen, M 2025, Sustainable Energy Systems in a Changing World—An Introduction. in Designing Renewable Energy Systems within Planetary Boundaries : A Textbook for Energy Engineers. Springer, pp. 1-31. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-69856-9_1

Permanent link to this item

https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:aalto-202506044238

Collections

[article-cris] Palvelut / Services