Role of Capital Market to Accelerate the Transition to Low-Carbon Energy System

Low carbon energy technologies are not deployed in a social vacuum; there are a variety of complex ways in which people understand and engage with these technologies and the changing energy system overall. However, the role of the public’s socio-environmental sensitivities to low carbon energy technologies and their responses to energy deployments does not receive much serious attention in planning decarbonisation pathways to 2050. Resistance to certain resources and technologies based on particular socio-environmental sensitivities would alter the portfolio of options available which could shape how the energy system achieves decarbonisation (the decarbonisation pathway) as well as affecting the cost and achievability of decarbonisation. Thus, this paper presents a series of three modelled scenarios which illustrate the way that a variety of socio-environmental sensitivities could impact the development of the energy system and the decarbonisation pathway. The scenarios represent risk aversion (DREAD) which avoids deployment of potentially unsafe large-scale technology, local protectionism (NIMBY) that constrains systems to their existing spatial footprint, and environmental awareness (ECO) where protection of natural resources is paramount. Very different solutions for all three sets of constraints are identified; some seem slightly implausible (DREAD) and all show increased cost (especially in ECO).

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Carbon Pricing and Complementary Policies—Consistency of the Policy Mix for Decarbonizing Buildings in Germany

Energies ◽

10.3390/en14217143 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 14 (21) ◽

pp. 7143

Author(s):

Sibylle Braungardt ◽

Veit Bürger ◽

Benjamin Köhler

Keyword(s):

Policy Instruments ◽

Energy System ◽

Electricity Sector ◽

Transport Sector ◽

Low Carbon ◽

Policy Mix ◽

Carbon Pricing ◽

Pricing Scheme ◽

Low Carbon Energy

While it is widely acknowledged that carbon pricing plays an important role in driving the transition towards a low-carbon energy system, its interaction with complementary instruments is discussed controversially. The analysis of combining carbon pricing with complementary policies has been mostly focused on the electricity sector, while the role of carbon pricing in the buildings sector has received only minor interest. In view of the newly introduced carbon pricing scheme for the buildings and transport sector in Germany, we analyze the interactions between the carbon pricing scheme with the existing policy instruments and assess the consistency of the policy mix for decarbonizing the buildings sector. Our analysis finds that the introduction of carbon pricing has a reinforcing effect on the instrument mix and adds to the consistency of the policy mix. The results highlight the importance of complementary policies in order to achieve deep decarbonization in the buildings sector. We conclude that carbon pricing, preferably implemented as a tax with a predictable and increasing price level, needs to be supplemented with a powerful mix of complementary measures.

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The role of hydrogen and fuel cells in the global energy system

10.31224/osf.io/rzm4g ◽

2018 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Iain Staffell ◽

Daniel Scamman ◽

Anthony Velazquez Abad ◽

Paul Balcombe ◽

Paul E. Dodds ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Energy System ◽

Low Carbon ◽

Global Energy ◽

System P ◽

Attractive Option ◽

The Status ◽

Hydrogen Technologies ◽

And Performance ◽

Low Carbon Energy

Hydrogen technologies have experienced cycles of excessive expectations followed by disillusion.Nonetheless, a growing body of evidence suggests these technologies form an attractive option forthe deep decarbonisation of global energy systems, and that recent improvements in their cost andperformance point towards economic viability as well. This paper is a comprehensive review of thepotential role that hydrogen could play in the provision of electricity, heat, industry, transport andenergy storage in a low-carbon energy system, and an assessment of the status of hydrogen in beingable to fulfil that potential. The picture that emerges is one of qualified promise: hydrogen is wellestablished in certain niches such as forklift trucks, while mainstream applications are now forthcoming.Hydrogen vehicles are available commercially in several countries, and 225,000 fuel cell home heatingsystems have been sold. This represents a step change from the situation of only five years ago. Thisreview shows that challenges around cost and performance remain, and considerable improvements arestill required for hydrogen to become truly competitive. But such competitiveness in the medium-termfuture no longer seems an unrealistic prospect, which fully justifies the growing interest and policysupport for these technologies around the world.

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The Role of Intermediaries in Supporting Local Low-Carbon Energy Initiatives

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su10072450 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 10 (7) ◽

pp. 2450 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Beau Warbroek ◽

Thomas Hoppe ◽

Frans Coenen ◽

Hans Bressers

Keyword(s):

Distributed Generation ◽

Fossil Fuel ◽

Energy System ◽

Analytical Framework ◽

Low Carbon ◽

Support Structure ◽

Development Support ◽

Oriented Energy ◽

Low Carbon Energy

Recent scholarly attention shows that grassroots civil society low-carbon energy initiatives increasingly become part of the subnational climate change governance landscape. Despite their potency in view of consumer-owned distributed generation and enhanced citizen influence in the organization of the energy infrastructure, local low-carbon energy initiatives (LLCEIs) struggle to become viable alternatives to the centralized, private oriented energy system. To further LLCEI development, support needs to build their capacities; alleviate institutional hurdles and barriers stemming from the fossil fuel-based energy regime; and open up the system for the uptake, acceptance or breakthrough of LLCEIs. Evidence suggests that so-called “intermediaries” form a part of the solution in addressing these issues. Despite previous attempts at analyzing intermediary roles and activities vis-à-vis the development of community energy, the reality of the various roles and strategies intermediaries can employ and the support LLCEIs require to further develop have not yet been synthesized in a comprehensive analytical framework. This article aims to fill this gap by developing such a framework. We reflect on the analytical framework by evaluating the intermediary support structure in a specific case: the Province of Fryslân. From the analysis, we conclude that the Frisian case provided modest support to the claim that intermediary support is effective in addressing the needs of LLCEIs as the strategies and roles observed represent a complete and coherent support structure.

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The Low-Carbon Energy System Transition Under Alternative Storage And Hydrogen Cost Projections

10.31988/scitrends.18693 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Madeleine McPherson ◽

Nils Johnson

Keyword(s):

Energy System ◽

Low Carbon ◽

System Transition ◽

Low Carbon Energy

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Primary Energy System Chain Security Under the Energy Transition

10.2118/204893-ms ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Osamah Alsayegh

Keyword(s):

Electric Vehicles ◽

Energy Demand ◽

Oil And Gas ◽

Supply And Demand ◽

Energy Transition ◽

System Security ◽

Energy System ◽

Primary Energy ◽

Low Carbon ◽

Low Carbon Energy

Abstract This paper examines the energy transition consequences on the oil and gas energy system chain as it propagates from net importing through the transit to the net exporting countries (or regions). The fundamental energy system security concerns of importing, transit, and exporting regions are analyzed under the low carbon energy transition dynamics. The analysis is evidence-based on diversification of energy sources, energy supply and demand evolution, and energy demand management development. The analysis results imply that the energy system is going through technological and logistical reallocation of primary energy. The manifestation of such reallocation includes an increase in electrification, the rise of energy carrier options, and clean technologies. Under healthy and normal global economic growth, the reallocation mentioned above would have a mild effect on curbing the oil and gas primary energy demands growth. A case study concerning electric vehicles, which is part of the energy transition aspect, is presented to assess its impact on the energy system, precisely on the fossil fuel demand. Results show that electric vehicles are indirectly fueled, mainly from fossil-fired power stations through electric grids. Moreover, oil byproducts use in the electric vehicle industry confirms the reallocation of the energy system components' roles. The paper's contribution to the literature is the portrayal of the energy system security state under the low carbon energy transition. The significance of this representation is to shed light on the concerns of the net exporting, transit, and net importing regions under such evolution. Subsequently, it facilitates the development of measures toward mitigating world tensions and conflicts, enhancing the global socio-economic wellbeing, and preventing corruption.

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