Energy Security in Transition

Energy security has traditionally focused on access to fossil fuel sources. In recent years, major economies, including the European Union, have launched large-scale energy transition plans aimed at reducing carbon emissions from energy production. These efforts are expected to shift the focus of energy security. Instead of relying on fossil fuels, future priorities may center on access to raw materials required to build renewable energy infrastructure. This shift is especially important for solar panels and wind turbines, which are expected to supply a significant share of future clean energy. Unlike fossil fuels, renewable energy technologies do not require a constant supply of fuel once installed. This reduces the need for ongoing resource flows and may change traditional definitions of energy security. However, new challenges are emerging. Critical raw materials, including rare earth elements (REEs), are essential for manufacturing these technologies. These resources are located in a small number of regions and require specialized processing capabilities, which are limited to only a few countries.