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

Energies ◽  
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.

Foundations for a Low-Carbon Energy System in China

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Henry Lee ◽  
Daniel P. Schrag ◽  
Matthew Bunn ◽  
Michael Davidson ◽  
Wei Peng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Energy System ◽  
Electricity Sector ◽  
Electricity Production ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
Electricity Pricing ◽  
Energy Policies ◽  
Near Term ◽  
Low Carbon Energy

Climate change is a key problem of the 21st century. China, as the largest emitter of greenhouse gases, has committed to stabilize its current emissions and dramatically increase the share of electricity production from non-fossil fuels by 2030. However, this is only a first step: in the longer term, China needs to aggressively strive to reach a goal of zero-emissions. Through detailed discussions of electricity pricing, electric vehicle policies, nuclear energy policies, and renewable energy policies, this book reviews how near-term climate and energy policies can affect long-term decarbonization pathways beyond 2030, building the foundations for decarbonization in advance of its realization. Focusing primarily on the electricity sector in China - the main battleground for decarbonization over the next century – it provides a valuable resource for researchers and policymakers, as well as energy and climate experts.

scholarly journals Modelling Socio-Environmental Sensitivities: How Public Responses to Low Carbon Energy Technologies Could Shape the UK Energy System

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brighid Moran Jay ◽  
David Howard ◽  
Nick Hughes ◽  
Jeanette Whitaker ◽  
Gabrial Anandarajah
Keyword(s):  
Risk Aversion ◽  
Natural Resources ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Energy System ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
Energy Technologies ◽  
The Uk ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Low Carbon Energy

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).

Towards a Political Economy Framework for Wind Power

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael R. Davidson ◽  
Fredrich Kahrl ◽  
Valerie J. Karplus
Keyword(s):  
Political Economy ◽  
Wind Power ◽  
Energy Transition ◽  
Electricity Sector ◽  
Policy Support ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
Power Development ◽  
Low Carbon Energy ◽  
Wind Power Development

The authors propose a general taxonomy of the political economy challenges to wind power development and integration, highlighting the implications in terms of actors, interests, and risks. Applying this framework to three functions in China’s electricity sector—planning and project approval, generator cost recovery, and balancing area coordination—the authors find evidence of challenges common across countries with significant wind investments, despite institutional and industry characteristics that are unique to China. The authors argue that resolving these political economy challenges is as important to facilitating the role of wind and other renewable energies in a low-carbon energy transition as providing dedicated technical and energy policy support. China is no exception.

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

2018 ◽  
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.

scholarly journals Pathways for Germany’s Low-Carbon Energy Transformation Towards 2050

Energies ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (15) ◽  
pp. 2988 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hans-Karl Bartholdsen ◽  
Anna Eidens ◽  
Konstantin Löffler ◽  
Frederik Seehaus ◽  
Felix Wejda ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
State Level ◽  
Energy System ◽  
Electricity Sector ◽  
Federal State ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
Climate Politics ◽  
Energy System Model ◽  
Cost Efficient ◽  
Reduction Of Co2 ◽  
Low Carbon Energy

Like many other countries, Germany has defined goals to reduce its CO2-emissions following the Paris Agreement of the 21st Conference of the Parties (COP). The first successes in decarbonizing the electricity sector were already achieved under the German Energiewende. However, further steps in this direction, also concerning the heat and transport sectors, have stalled. This paper describes three possible pathways for the transformation of the German energy system until 2050. The scenarios take into account current climate politics on a global, European, and German level and also include different demand projections, technological trends and resource prices. The model includes the sectors power, heat, and transportation and works on a Federal State level. For the analysis, the linear cost-optimizing Global Energy System Model (GENeSYS-MOD) is used to calculate the cost-efficient paths and technology mixes. We find that a reduction of CO2 of more than 80% in the less ambitious scenario can be welfare enhancing compared to a scenario without any climate mitigating policies. Even higher decarbonization rates of 95% are feasible and needed to comply with international climate targets, yet related to high effort in transforming the subsector of process heat. The different pathways depicted in this paper render chances and risks of transforming the German energy system under various external influences.

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

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 2450 ◽  
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.

scholarly journals The role of biomass to replace fossil fuels in a regional energy system: The case of west Sweden

2016 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 1023-1036 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jan Kjärstad ◽  
Filip Johnsson
Keyword(s):  
Power Plants ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Energy Savings ◽  
Raw Materials ◽  
Production Capacity ◽  
Energy System ◽  
Electricity Sector ◽  
Transport Sector ◽  
Co2 Emission Reduction

This paper analyses the potential role of biomass to meet regional CO2 emission reduction targets up to year 2050 in two counties in the west of Sweden. It is concluded that the region could double its production capacity of solid biomass to 2030, from 6 to 12 TWh. Modelling of the electricity sector in the region indicates that bio-based electricity generation in combined heat and power plants could almost triple by 2050 while at the same time replace fossil based generation in district heating. Biomass can also contribute to fuel shift in the transport sector. Yet, the transport sector requires a series of actions to significantly reduce demand in combination with use of electricity and biofuels and its transformation is obviously strongly linked to an overall transformation of the European transport sector. The total need for biomass could potentially increase from 14 TWh in 2010 to 48 TWh already from 2040, considering the electricity and transport sectors and under the assumption that large energy savings can be achieved in the building sector and that all fossil based heat generation can be replaced by biomass heating. Assuming that biomass also replace the fossil based raw materials used by the industry, including three refineries, requires 170 TWh biomass to be compared to the 130 TWh currently used for the entire Sweden.

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