Prénom de l'expert

Thibault

Nom de l'expert

MICHEL

Research Fellow, Center for Energy & Climate, Ifri

Research Areas:

Critical minerals and energy
Energy transitions in Europe and in Southeast Asia
Electricity interconnections and electrical grids

Center for Energy & Climate

Thibault Michel is a Research Fellow at Ifri's Center for Energy & Climate since January 2024.

Prior to joining Ifri's Center for Energy & Climate, Thibault Michel worked as a business intelligence and geopolitical analyst at RTE, the French Transmission system operator (TSO), notably on electricity interconnections. He also worked on security and companies’ protection issues at L’Oréal.

Thibault holds a Master’s degree from Sciences Po Strasbourg in European affairs and geopolitics as well as a degree in geoeconomics from IRIS SUP’. He also studied history and historical research at Grenoble Alpes University.

Support independent French research

Ifri, a foundation recognized as being of public utility, relies largely on private donors – companies and individuals – to guarantee its sustainability and intellectual independence. Through their funding, donors help maintain the Institute's position among the world's leading think tanks. By benefiting from an internationally recognized network and expertise, donors refine their understanding of geopolitical risk and its consequences on global politics and the economy. In 2024, Ifri will support more than 70 French and foreign companies and organizations.

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Analysis from Thibault MICHEL

Publications

Studies

Europe’s Black Mass Evasion: From Black Box to Strategic Recycling

02 December 2024

EV batteries recycling is a building block for boosting the European Union (EU)’s strategic autonomy in the field of critical raw minerals (CRM) value chains. Yet, recent evolutions in the European EV value chain, marked by cancellations or postponements of projects, are raising the alarm on the prospects of the battery recycling industry in Europe.

Diana-Paula GHERASIM Thibault MICHEL

Papers

The Aluminum Value Chain: A Key Component of Europe’s Strategic Autonomy and Carbon Neutrality

29 July 2024

The United States of America (US), Canada and the European Union (EU) all now consider aluminum as strategic. This metal is indeed increasingly used, especially for the energy transition, be it for electric vehicles (EVs), electricity grids, wind turbines or solar panels.

Thibault MICHEL

Papers

Opening and clearing of a nickel mining area in Indonesia

The Prospects of Indonesia’s Nickel Boom Amidst a Systemic Challenge from Coal

02 May 2024

Indonesia is a country that is booming economically and demographically. This not only matters for regional, political, and energy security, but also increasingly, for the world’s energy transitions, due to Indonesia’s large metal reserves, as well as its equally important coal consumption in industry and for power generation.

Over the last 20 years, Indonesia’s economy has been characterized by very dynamic growth, massive increases in its electricity demand, and coal consumption and exports. Hence, its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are on a steady growth trajectory, although the country has committed to lowering them by 32% (unconditional) or 41% (conditional) by 2030.

With its Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) membership application, occurring in the context of global energy transition requirements and geopolitical confrontations, Indonesia is today at a crossroads.

Thibault MICHEL