scholarly journals The Transition of the World‘s Largest Economies to Carbon Neutrality: Areas of Potential Cooperation with Russia

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 98-124
Author(s):  
Tatiana Lanshina ◽  
◽  
Dmitry Stoyanov ◽  
Arina Loginova ◽  
◽  
...  

In 2020, despite the global economic crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, it became clear that decarbonization and energy transition had become strategic goals rather than market trends. Moreover, they have become part of the broader and more ambitious plans of the world’s largest economies to move toward carbon neutrality by the middle of the 21st century. These economies include the European Union, the U.S., China, Japan and Korea. In Russia, these trends are typically viewed through the prism of risk: carbon neutrality implies a dramatic decrease in demand for fossil fuels, the production and export of which still play a key role in the Russian economy. However, apart from the risk to traditional sources of income, the global transition to carbon neutrality creates new opportunities for the development and diversification of the Russian economy, as well as for international cooperation in new areas. This article is devoted to the general identification of such opportunities. The authors perform a content analysis of the official plans of the largest economies related to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050–60. The main areas in which actions will be taken are identified. The current state of the corresponding industries in Russia and the possibilities for improvement are investigated. On the basis of this analysis, promising directions for the development of the Russian economy are proposed in which the implementation of large-scale international economic cooperation is possible in the coming decades.

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 931
Author(s):  
Karolina Mucha-Kuś ◽  
Maciej Sołtysik ◽  
Krzysztof Zamasz ◽  
Katarzyna Szczepańska-Woszczyna

The decentralization of the large-scale energy sector, its replacement with pro-ecological, dispersed production sources and building a citizen dimension of the energy sector are the directional objectives of the energy transformation in the European Union. Building energy self-sufficiency at a local level is possible, based on the so-called Energy Communities, which include energy clusters and energy cooperatives. Several dozen pilot projects for energy clusters have been implemented in Poland, while energy cooperatives, despite being legally sanctioned and potentially a simpler formula of operation, have not functioned in practice. This article presents the coopetitive nature of Energy Communities. The authors analysed the principles and benefits of creating Energy Communities from a regulatory and practical side. An important element of the analysis is to indicate the managerial, coopetitive nature of the strategies implemented within the Energy Communities. Their members, while operating in a competitive environment, simultaneously cooperate to achieve common benefits. On the basis of the actual data of recipients and producers, the results of simulations of benefits in the economic dimension will be presented, proving the thesis of the legitimacy of creating coopetitive structures of Energy Communities.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hon Chung Lau

Abstract The world of energy is transitioning from one based on fossil-fuels to one based on renewable energies and hydrogen as an energy carrier. At present, only 11% of the world's final energy consumption and less than 1% of industrial hydrogen come from renewable energies. Our analysis shows that this energy transition will take several decades because of two factors. First, renewable energies give more CO2 savings in replacing fossil fuels in the power sector than producing hydrogen for heat generation in the industry sector. Therefore, significant quantities of green hydrogen will not be available until renewable energies have replaced fossil fuels in power generation. This will take at least two decades for advanced economies and twice as long for developing economies. Second, even if blue hydrogen produced by fossil fuels with carbon capture and storage (CCS) is available in large quantities, it is still more expensive than blue fossil fuels which is also decarbonized by CCS. Consequently, fossil fuels and CCS will continue to play a key role in this energy transition. To accelerate this energy transition, governments should introduce a significant carbon tax or carbon credit to incentivize companies to implement large-scale CCS projects. Nations whose governments adopt such policies will go through this energy transition faster and benefit from the associated job creation and economic opportunities.


Author(s):  
Laura PRESICCE

LABURPENA: Trantsizio energetikoa gaur egun dugun erronka nagusienetako bat da; beraz, ikatzik gabeko sektore elektrikoa garatzeaz gain, sistema energetikoa aldatu behar da, eredu demokratikoago baten alde, non energia-sorkuntza banatuak paper garrantzitsuagoa izango duen. Ikerketaren helburua da aztertzea nola dagoen gaur egun, Espainian, energia banatuaren eta autokontsumoarenarloko araudia, zeina etengabe aldatzen baita, eta konparatzea Europak proposatutako erregulazioarekin (Energiari eta klimari buruzko “Neguko Paketea”). Europar Batasunak dagoeneko ekin dio autokontsumoa eta sorkuntza banatua bultzatuko duen trantsizio energetiko jasangarri eta justurako bideari. Espainiako indarreko araudia, berriz, alderantzizko norabidean joan da orain arte; baina, izapidetze-fasean dagoen erregulazio berriak aldaketa garrantzitsu bat dakar: kendu egin dira autokontsumoari ezarritako karga ekonomikoak eta oztopo administratiboak. Sorkuntza banatua gehiago garatzetik datozen abantailek erakusten dute beharrezkoa dela Espainiako legeriak autokontsumoa bultzatzea. ABSTRACT: The energy transition is one of the greatest challenges of our time and it means, besides the necessary decabornification by the electric sector, to change from an energy model to a more democratic one characterized by a more assertive role of the generation of energy distributed. The objective of this study is to analyze the current state, and the continuous evolution of the Spanish regulaton in terms of distributed generation and energy self-supply and to compare it with the European regulatory proposal adjusted in the “Winter package” about energy and climate. The European Union has undertaken a path towards a sustainable and fair energy transition which helps the self-supply and distributed generation. The Spanish normative up until now moved in the opposite direction; nevertheless, the new regulation, at this time under consideration, takes an important new route by removing the provision of economic burdens and administrative hurdles to self-supply. The advantages that emanate from the promotion of a greater development of distributed generation confirm the need to bolster self-consum in the Spanish legislation. RESUMEN: La transición energética es uno de los mayores desafíos de nuestro tiempo y supone, además de la necesaria descarbonificación del sector eléctrico, el cambio del sistema energético hacia un modelo más democrático, caracterizado por un rol más incisivo de la generación de energía distribuida. El objetivo del estudio es analizar el estado actual, y en continua evolución, de la normativa española en materia de generación distribuida y autoconsumo energético y compararlo con la propuesta regulatoria europea modelada en el «Paquete de invierno» sobre energía y clima. La Unión Europea ha emprendido un camino hacia una transición energética sostenible y justa que favorezca el autoconsumo y la generación distribuida. La normativa española hasta ahora vigente iba en sentido contrario; sin embargo, la nueva regulación, actualmente en fase de tramitación, realiza un importante cambio de ruta, eliminando la previsión de gravámenes económicos y trabas administrativas al autoconsumo. Las ventajas que proceden del fomento de un mayor desarrollo de generación distribuida confirman que es necesario un impulso del autoconsumo en la legislación española.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (22) ◽  
pp. 12374
Author(s):  
Nida Khan ◽  
Kumarasamy Sudhakar ◽  
Rizalman Mamat

Modern civilization is heavily reliant on petroleum-based fuels to meet the energy demand of the transportation sector. However, burning fossil fuels in engines emits greenhouse gas emissions that harm the environment. Biofuels are commonly regarded as an alternative for sustainable transportation and economic development. Algal-based fuels, solar fuels, e-fuels, and CO2-to-fuels are marketed as next-generation sources that address the shortcomings of first-generation and second-generation biofuels. This article investigates the benefits, limitations, and trends in different generations of biofuels through a review of the literature. The study also addresses the newer generation of biofuels highlighting the social, economic, and environmental aspects, providing the reader with information on long-term sustainability. The use of nanoparticles in the commercialization of biofuel is also highlighted. Finally, the paper discusses the recent advancements that potentially enable a sustainable energy transition, green economy, and carbon neutrality in the biofuel sector.


2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (24) ◽  
pp. 10560 ◽  
Author(s):  
Han Phoumin ◽  
Fukunari Kimura ◽  
Jun Arima

The power generation mix of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is dominated by fossil fuels, which accounted for almost 80% in 2017 and are expected to account for 82% in 2050 if the region does not transition to cleaner energy systems. Solar and wind power are the most abundant energy resources but contribute negligibly to the power mix. Investors in solar or wind farms face high risks from electricity curtailment if surplus electricity is not used. Employing the policy scenario analysis of the energy outlook modelling results, this paper examines the potential scalability of renewable hydrogen production from curtailed electricity in scenarios of high share of variable renewable energy in the power generation mix. The study found that ASEAN has high potential in developing renewable hydrogen production from curtailed electricity. The study further found that the falling cost of renewable hydrogen production could be a game changer to upscaling the large-scale hydrogen production in ASEAN through policy support. The results implied a future role of renewable hydrogen in energy transition to decarbonize ASEAN’s emissions.


2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 49-56
Author(s):  
John Vourdoubas

Clean energy transition in islands is important and urgent in the current era of climate change. The possibility of de-carbonizing the heating and cooling sector in the island of Crete, Greece has been investigated. Fossil fuels are used in Crete in electricity generation, in heat and cooling production as well as in transportation. The use of various renewable and non-renewable fuels as well as the technologies used in heat and cooling generation has been examined together with the annual changes in fossil fuels consumption during the last years. Various renewable energies like solar energy, biomass and low enthalpy geothermal energy combined with renewable electricity could cover all the heating and cooling requirements in Crete totally eliminating the use of fossil fuels. Their technologies are mature, reliable, and cost efficient.  Renewable and low cost electricity can be easily generated by the abundant solar and wind energy resources in Crete powering electric systems generating heat and cooling. Current work indicates that the heating and cooling sector in Crete can be de-carbonized. This would result in the mitigation of climate change complying with the European goal for carbon neutrality in Europe by 2050.


2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 29-55
Author(s):  
Stephan Schott ◽  
Miranda Alice Schreurs

Canada and Germany are both pursuing major energy transitions and far-reaching climate programs but differ in terms of policies towards some energy sources and their preferred policy instruments. Both countries have committed to large scale emission reductions despite the challenge of regional divestment from fossil fuels: hard coal in North Rhine Westphalia and the Saarland; lignite in the Rhineland, on the German-Polish border in the Lusatsia (Lausitz) region, and in central Germany; coal in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Nova Scotia; and oil in Western Canada. We contrast the current Pan Canadian framework (PCF) on Clean Growth and Climate Change to the German Climate Law and the European Green Deal setting targets to become climate neutral by 2050.  Germany has plans for a dual phase out of nuclear energy by 2022 and coal by 2038. In contrast, Canada differs by province in terms of policies on fossil fuels and nuclear energy.  Both are leaders in renewable energies, but differ in the type of renewable energy which dominates. We further examine the international action components of the PCF and its implications for collaboration with Germany and the EU.  We discuss potential partnerships and strategic alliances between Canada and Germany in the context of their mutual interest to enable an energy transition and to lead to the implementation of the Paris agreement for climate change action.  We identify political challenges within each federation, and especially the approach to impacted coal regions in Germany and Poland as well as the Canadian oil sands.  Barriers to progress for meeting identified targets and timelines are considered. We conclude with insights on the possibility and likelihood of linking policies and regulatory measures across the Atlantic, and the political threats of advancing towards decarbonization and an energy transition away from fossil fuels in each jurisdiction.


Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (20) ◽  
pp. 6650
Author(s):  
Dongxiao Niu ◽  
Tian Gao ◽  
Zhengsen Ji ◽  
Yujing Liu ◽  
Gengqi Wu

An electricity substitution strategy that replaces fossil fuels such as coal and oil with electricity in end-use energy consumption, can effectively contribute to an energy transition and the early achievement of carbon peaking and carbon neutrality targets. As the benefits of electricity substitution are not synchronized across China’s regions, this paper uses a three-stage data envelopment analysis (DEA) model to measure the efficiency of electric energy substitution in 30 provinces of China in 2017. The results show that both environmental factors and random errors have significant effects on energy efficiency. After eliminating these influences, the efficiency of electrical energy substitution among regions presented the following pattern: “high in the east and low in the west”. According to the evaluation results, this paper proposes corresponding suggestions for the development of electrical energy substitution.


2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 161-182
Author(s):  
Dzhanneta Medzhidova ◽  
◽  

In 2021, the European Union (EU) is entering a new phase of energy transition, reducing the use of fossil fuels to achieve climate neutrality by the mid-century. For a qualitative assessment of the impact of the EU gas market’s green policy, transaction cost theory and the concept of asset specificity is referenced in this article. During the first stage of market development, the level of asset specificity was high, while a decline can be observed with market liberalization. However, at the current stage, a radical transformation of specificity in the context of energy transition can be seen. Assets that used to guarantee higher profitability (gas pipelines, gas processing plants, liquified natural gas (LNG) terminals) will soon be disqualified. In this article, the long-term prospects for the natural gas market in Europe, and what will happen to key assets if the climate agenda dominates the issue of energy security, are considered; qualitative assessment of the changes and of the future of the assets on the European gas market is undertaken.


2021 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jinxi Yang ◽  
Christian Azar ◽  
Kristian Lindgren

Transitioning to a low-carbon electricity system requires investments on a very large scale. These investments require access to capital, but that access can be challenging to obtain. Most energy system models do not (explicitly) model investment financing and thereby fail to take this challenge into account. In this study, we develop an agent-based model, where we explicitly include power sector investment financing. We find that different levels of financing constraints and capital availabilities noticeably impact companies' investment choices and economic performances and that this, in turn, impacts the development of the electricity capacity mix and the pace at which CO2 emissions are reduced. Limited access to capital can delay investments in low-carbon technologies. However, if the financing constraint is too relaxed, the risk of going bankrupt can increase. In general, companies that anticipate carbon prices too high above or too far below the actual development, along with those that use a low hurdle rate, are the ones that are more likely to go bankrupt. Emissions are cut more rapidly when the carbon tax grows faster, but there is overall a greater tendency for agents to go bankrupt when the tax grows faster. Our energy transition model may be particularly useful in the context of the least financially developed markets.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document