Electrochemical energy transition technologies in advancing circular economy - a review

Transition to a low-carbon energy future not only requires decarbonization but also integration of principles of a circular economy (CE). Electrochemical energy transition technologies (EETTs) can be seen through the lens of CE by enabling clean energy generation and storage. This review examines the electrochemical energy transition technologies with the approach of integrating energy transition systems into the principles of CE, with focus on two areas: (1) Green fuel production and (2) electrochemical energy storage. In green fuel production, we highlight the use of electrochemically generated green fuel for sustainable feedstock, and for the decarbonization of industrial processes. In energy storage, batteries and supercapacitors as the essential components of clean energy transition are discussed. The review also examines the new opportunities, such as the new catalytic materials, integration with renewable energy sources, implementation of digitalization, artificial intelligence, and machine learning to optimize the system. Large-scale deployment is also evaluated in terms of policy and market trends. According to the literature reviewed, a framework is proposed that will help researchers, political and corporate decision makers toward synergistic pathways for CE conscious clean energy transition.