Innovative Materials for Decarbonisation: materials for the Green Transition

Discover how innovative materials are accelerating decarbonisation and the energy transition toward a sustainable future in the report “Innovative Materials for Decarbonisation”.

The ecological transition is not only about producing clean energy—it’s also about developing innovative materials that make green technologies possible. The path toward global decarbonisation involves a profound transformation of production processes and the rise of an economy built on innovation, sustainability, and circularity.
The report “Innovative Materials for Decarbonisation” explores the role of advanced materials as a key element in achieving climate neutrality and in building a sustainable, competitive economy capable of meeting the challenges of climate change and new energy policies.

Dependence on Critical Raw Materials

Low-carbon technologies—such as photovoltaics, wind power, batteries, electrolysers, and heat pumps—still rely heavily on critical raw materials like lithium, copper, nickel, and rare earth elements.

However, the extraction and processing of these materials have major environmental impacts and significant geopolitical implications.
For this reason, the report highlights the need to accompany the energy transition with a true “materials transition,” aimed at reducing dependence on scarce resources and promoting more circular and sustainable solutions.

Regulatory Framework and Opportunities for Sustainable Innovation

The path to Net Zero is driven by global and regional initiatives such as the UN 2030 Agenda, the European Green Deal, and the Fit for 55 package. These are complemented by ESG criteria and sustainable finance policies, which encourage companies to rethink production processes, supply chains, and business models. In this context, decarbonisation becomes not only an environmental goal but also an economic and industrial driver—offering competitive advantages to those investing in sustainable innovation.

The “Materials Trilemma”: Balancing Resources, Costs, and Impact

One of the key concepts introduced in the report is the “Materials Trilemma,” which highlights the challenge of balancing three fundamental objectives:
• Resource availability
• Sustainable costs
• Reduced environmental impact

Managing this balance is essential to ensure a secure and lasting energy transition—avoiding new economic or environmental imbalances.

Key Technologies and Materials for a Sustainable Future

The report provides an in-depth analysis of the main technologies driving the energy transition, identifying the innovative materials that can make them more efficient and sustainable:

• Photovoltaics: development of lead-free perovskites and high-efficiency organic materials.
• Wind power: use of recyclable composites, thermoplastic resins, and laminated timber towers.
• Batteries: evolution toward alternative materials and advanced recycling systems.
• Electrolysers: use of non-noble metal catalysts to produce green hydrogen at lower cost.
• Heat pumps: introduction of natural refrigerants and safer, more sustainable barocaloric materials.

Case Studies: Aluminium and Maritime Transport

The report delves into two high-impact sectors, showing how material innovation can accelerate decarbonisation:

• Aluminium: new technologies such as inert anodes, green hydrogen, and advanced recycling could reduce emissions by up to 95% by 2050.
• Maritime transport: more than one billion tonnes of CO₂ per year could be avoided through the adoption of alternative fuels (ammonia, methanol, hydrogen, and biofuels) and the adaptation of port infrastructure to new environmental standards.

Conclusions: Toward a Dual Transition—Energy and Materials

Achieving climate neutrality requires a dual transformation: both energy and materials.
To truly decarbonise, it’s not enough to produce renewable energy—we must also innovate the materials that will shape the future.
Only through collaboration among scientific research, industry, and sustainable finance can we create a resilient, competitive, and environmentally responsible economy.