Justice is increasingly recognized as a core proposition for energy transitions, but questions remain about how it manifests in energy transition innovations. This Perspective introduces a framework for centring justice consideration in these innovations across levels, illustrating its use through two case studies.

Accurate modelling of the temporal and spatial impacts of weather on building energy demand is key to the decarbonization of energy systems. Now, Staffell et al. develop an openly available model for calculating hourly heating and cooling demand on a global scale.

The typically high temperatures (≥500 °C) at which ceramic electrochemical cells operate place constraints on device materials and construction. Here Liu and colleagues design reversible proton-conducting electrochemical cells that can operate with high performance at temperatures of 450 °C and below.

As the stability of organic and perovskite solar cells improves, accelerated ageing methods become increasingly essential to elucidate their long-term degradation mechanisms and to predict their real-world operational lifetimes. By effectively applying these underutilized tests, emerging photovoltaic technologies can be de-risked and their time to market can be expedited.

Polysulfide flow batteries are promising for low-cost energy storage but suffer from sluggish kinetics. Lei et al. reported an effective molecular catalyst, riboflavin sodium phosphate, to accelerate polysulfide reduction via homogeneous catalysis.

The fabrication of perovskite solar cells in ambient air is of interest, but the materials are unstable in the presence of moisture. Yan et al. show that guanabenz acetate salt eliminates vacancy defects that trigger perovskite degradation, enabling 25% efficiency devices to be fabricated in air.

Solid-state electrolytes lie at the heart of the development of solid-state batteries that offer a promising storage technology. Yong-Sheng Hu and colleagues report a class of viscoelastic inorganic glass featuring merits of both inorganic crystalline electrolytes and organic polymer electrolytes and demonstrate pressure-less Li- and Na-based solid-state batteries.

The solid–electrolyte interphase is widely viewed as key to governing the performance of rechargeable batteries, but its electrical properties remain elusive. Here the authors develop an experimental approach to directly measure the properties and show that the solid–electrolyte interphase has a voltage-dependent conducting behaviour.

Ammonium cations can improve the power conversion efficiency of perovskite solar cells yet might pose an issue to the device stability. Wang et al. show that cations with a high acid dissociation afford improved operational stability at high temperatures owing to their resistance to deprotonation.

Battery manufacturing requires enormous amounts of energy and has important environmental implications. New research by Florian Degen and colleagues evaluates the energy consumption of current and future production of lithium-ion and post-lithium-ion batteries.

The shift away from mining presents substantial livelihood security challenges for mining communities, but documented mining closures offer insights into how to ensure a successful transition. Secure community transitions require support from governments in the form of proactive planning, locally led collaborative responses and targeted investments.

Andrea Clabough explores transatlantic leadership on energy security and where cooperation may enhance the energy transition for the USA and Europe.