A new open-access paper, “Sector coupling: accelerating renewable energy integration in transport with electric vehicles,” explores how aligning the energy and transport sectors can significantly advance decarbonisation efforts. The research, conducted within the framework of GIANTS, highlights how electric vehicles (EVs) can play a pivotal role in supporting renewable energy deployment when energy and mobility planning are integrated rather than treated as separate systems.
About the Paper
Energy and transport have long operated in ‘silos’, creating inefficiencies and conflicting goals. Breaking these silos through sector coupling links electricity and transport, aligning policies and actions to decarbonise mobility while boosting renewable energy use. By substituting fossil fuels with renewable electricity across transport and other end uses, sector coupling strengthens sustainability and accelerates climate goals.
Building on prior research on electric vehicles and renewable energy, this paper examines the challenges and opportunities of sector coupling between energy and transport to maximise renewable integration in EVs, advancing a more sustainable and decarbonised transport system. Drawing on a systematic literature review and interviews with key stakeholders, the paper analyses a range of urban and rural use cases, including:
- Strategies for controlled charging,
- Bidirectional interactions between vehicles and the power grid, and
- Off-grid solutions.
The findings highlight a range of technical, regulatory, and economic challenges but also indicate promising pathways for collaboration among policymakers, industry, and civil society. Ultimately, by bridging the gap between energy and transport, this paper demonstrates how cross-sectoral approaches can help achieve a more sustainable and low-carbon mobility system.
Authors: Kanya Pranawengkapti, Shritu Shrestha, Stefan Werland, Emilie Martin & Oliver Lah
Access the publication: Sector coupling: accelerating renewable energy integration in transport with electric vehicles