scholarly journals Possibilities for De-carbonizing the Heating and Cooling Sector in the Island of Crete, Greece

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.

Significance In a scenario in which it becomes increasingly evident that carbon neutrality will not be reached by 2050, governments may switch the focus of spending from the energy transition towards measures designed to address a changing climate. This is more likely in the developing world, which has less chance of reaping the economic opportunities of energy transition. Impacts Governments will have to incorporate both transitioning to clean energy and resilience against climate change impacts into their policies. As economies recover from the pandemic, developing countries' calls for financial assistance with energy transition costs will rise. Developed nations will emerge from the pandemic with stretched budgets, and some will face pressure to spend less on international aid. The need for heightened international cooperation to deliver the energy transition worldwide will test existing institutions.


2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 75-87
Author(s):  
Elena Cima

Abstract In 2017, the Energy Charter Treaty (ECT) began a modernization process aimed at updating, clarifying, and modernizing a number of provisions of the Treaty. Considering the scope of application of the Treaty—cooperation in energy trade, transit, and investment—there is hardly any doubt that the modernization kicked off in 2017 offers a springboard for constructive reform and a unique opportunity to bring the Treaty closer in line with the objectives of the Paris Agreement. Although none of the items selected by the Energy Charter Conference and open for discussion and reform mention climate change or clean energy, a careful analysis of the relevant practice in both treaty drafting and adjudication can provide valuable insights as to how to steer the discussions on some of the existing items in a climate-friendly direction. The purpose of this article is to rely on this relevant practice to explore promising avenues to ‘retool’ the Treaty for climate change mitigation, in other words, to imagine a Treaty that would better reflect climate change concerns and clean energy transition goals.


Mathematics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (15) ◽  
pp. 1787
Author(s):  
Pilar Gargallo ◽  
Luis Lample ◽  
Jesús A. Miguel ◽  
Manuel Salvador

This paper analyzes the co-movements of prices of fossil fuels, energy stock markets and EU allowances. This analysis is conducted in order to identify the spillover effect of volatility and correlation among these financial markets, and to provide a scientific basis that shows the interest of incorporating sustainable assets in the design of minimum risk strategies of investment. To achieve this goal, we have used a Vector Autoregressive-Dynamic Conditional Correlation-Generalized Autoregressive Conditional Heteroscedasticity (VAR-DCC-GARCH) model that also incorporates a stock index of industrial companies as a leading indicator of the level of economic activity. In addition, the paper conducts an impulse response analysis to determine how unexpected shocks to prices are propagated along time, and, in particular, how they affect prices of the others, both in mean, variance and correlation. Therefore, the results of this one- and two-dimensional analysis allow for the study of short and long run dynamics of the relationship among those prices, thus, providing greater meaning and information for investors, which has implications for building their portfolios. The analyzed period was from January 2010 to February 2021, so that the data include half of phase II, full phase III and the onset of phase IV of the EU ETS, as well as the COVID-19 outbreak in the European context. We also analyzed whether the EUA price impulses the demand of clean energy stocks, which has important implications for the objective of triggering the investment in clean energy. Our results show the transmission mechanism of all of those prices, which are relevant not only for investors but also for policymakers to construct an early-warning system, revealing the most important transmission channels. Moreover, from an investment viewpoint, we observe a decline in dirty energies and a rise in the clean energy market, which might be an indication of the progress towards the energy transition to renewables sources within a circular economy perspective. Therefore, this shows that the EU ETS is achieving its goals, and that clean energy companies, aligned with their role towards socially responsible initiatives, are also gaining acceptance in terms of investments, which would be beneficial for the environment.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (23) ◽  
pp. 13404
Author(s):  
Georgios Tsantopoulos ◽  
Evangelia Karasmanaki

Humans have been using fossil fuels for centuries, and the development of fossil fuel technology reshaped society in lasting ways [...]


2011 ◽  
Vol 148-149 ◽  
pp. 97-100
Author(s):  
Xu Gang Wang ◽  
Guang Qi Cao ◽  
Zhi Guang Guan ◽  
Zu Yu Zhao

Wind power is an important direction of new energy, which has no pollution, no consuming fossil fuels, and no producing waste, which is widely used at this stage of clean energy. The small stand alone wind power has been paid more and more attention due to its low cost, flexible installation, strong adaptability. This paper introduces the mechanical and electrical structure, which are used in KW level stand alone mode wind turbine automatically track and yaw system. The motion rules and control strategies of the tracking and yaw system are discussed and then the control program flow is provided. The PIC16F873 chip is used as controller for this part in this system. It can fully meet the design requirements, which will reduce costs and increase the system's control ability. This system can automatically track and yaw, according to the wind direction and wind power.


Author(s):  
Nick Jelley

‘Why do we need renewables?’ describes the dangers of fossil fuels and explains the importance of renewable energy as an alternative. It shows that the use of fossil fuels causes global warming and climate change, leading to widespread concern, and also to a growing realization of the harm caused by the air pollution from coal burning and from internal combustion engines in cars and lorries. These threats are causing a switch away from fossil fuels to renewables that is gaining impetus from the growing awareness of the increased intensity and frequency of extreme weather seen in recent years. This transition is also being aided by the falling price of clean energy from renewables, in particular, solar and wind farms, which will become the dominant sources. The area of land or sea required for these farms is readily available, as are the back-ups required to handle their variability. Alternative supplies of low-carbon energy are examined. In the Paris Agreement in 2015, it was recognized that carbon dioxide emissions must reach net-zero by 2050 to avoid dangerous climate change.


2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (19) ◽  
pp. 4150 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pascal Lalanne ◽  
Paul Byrne

A fast-paced energy transition needs a higher penetration of renewables, of heating and cooling in the worldwide energy mix. With three novelties 1-of using shallow high-pressure LRC (Lined Rock Cavern) excavated close to storage needs, 2-of using a slow-moving CO2 piston applying steady pressure on the hydro part of UPHES (Underground Pumped Hydro Energy Storage) and 3-of relying on inexpensive thermal stores for long-duration storage, CO2 UPHES coupled with PTES (Pumped Thermal Electricity Storage) could become, at expected Capex cost of only 20 USD/kWh electrical, a game-changer by allowing the complete integration of intermittent renewable sources. Moreover, even though this early conceptual work requires validation by simulation and experimentation, CO2 UPHES as well as UPHES-PTES hybrid storage could also allow a low-cost and low-emission integration of intermittent renewables with future district heating and cooling networks.


Significance Despite its promotion of an innovation ecosystem to attract start-ups, Abu Dhabi has overall made little progress in addressing the impact of the clean-energy transition on long-term demand for fossil fuels. As COVID-19 hits private consumption hard, Dubai is promoting expatriate-friendly labour market and legal reforms, with an eye to the troubled real estate sector. Impacts Abu Dhabi’s sovereign wealth funds will increase their exposure to the overseas oil derivatives industry. Dubai will shift attention to taming oversupply in the flagging property market, and developers will be under increased scrutiny. Ambitious oil production targets will increase tensions with Saudi Arabia; a medium-term OPEC exit is possible. Abu Dhabi will prioritise high-profile space and nuclear projects that generate soft power and boost innovation.


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.


2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 165-169 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Olczak ◽  
Andris Piebalgs

Gas is considered an important part of the European Union’s (EU) energy mix. Making up a quarter of the energy consumed in the EU, it is widely used by both households and industry. Gas supports the penetration of intermittent renewable electricity and is considered the cleanest of the fossil fuels but its combustion emits a considerable amount of greenhouse gases. In the fight against climate change, the EU has committed itself to the near-complete decarbonisation of the energy sector well before 2050. This will have a significant impact on the gas sector, especially in the EU, which has significant gas transportation and storage assets. This commentary examines two potential pathways that could enable the gas sector to contribute to the EU’s decarbonisation efforts while continuing to play a substantial role in the EU’s energy supply. The pathways include gas and electricity sector coupling and the substantial increase of renewable gas production. Those options, which are not mutually exclusive, provide an opportunity for the gas sector to thrive in a decarbonised energy future. In some cases, it could require changes in the EU’s gas legislation announced by the European Commission to be proposed in 2020.


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