In this interview, Alvaro Jose Hahn Menacho discusses how Switzerland’s path to climate neutrality by 2050 will reshape energy production, raw material demand, and environmental impacts. The new PSI model shows that the transition to a net-zero energy system will require careful consideration of not only CO₂ emissions, but also critical raw materials, supply chains, and broader environmental trade-offs.
Read the full interview here: PSI News Stories
Related publications:
- Environmental impacts of Switzerland’s transition to net-zero
This study combines a national energy system model with life cycle assessment to examine environmental impacts across the full supply chain of energy technologies. It shows that even with domestic net-zero emissions by 2050, emissions and environmental burdens may shift abroad through infrastructure and material production.
Link: https://www.nature.com/articles/s43247-025-02220-5 - Critical raw materials in Switzerland’s low-carbon transition
This publication analyzes how technologies such as batteries, wind turbines, and solar panels affect demand for critical raw materials. The results highlight that materials like lithium, vanadium, and rare earth elements could see substantial demand growth, making resource constraints an important part of energy planning.
Link: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2025.108251
