ALBERT

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: September 2019〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Energy Policy, Volume 132〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Jeoung-Sik Min, Seul-Ye Lim, Seung-Hoon Yoo〈/p〉 〈div xml:lang="en"〉 〈h5〉Abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉〈p〉The combined heat and power (CHP) generation, which can produce both heat and electricity at the same time, is so efficient that it can reduce energy use and even mitigate CO〈sub〉2〈/sub〉 and air pollutants emissions. For this reason, the share of CHP generation worldwide is increasing and the optimal share of CHP generation in electric power generation is a serious concern in South Korea. This article attempts to estimate the optimal share by modeling the plausible relationship between CHP generation and national output in the Cobb-Douglas production function setting and then deriving the output-maximizing share of CHP generation. The production function is estimated for annual data from 1995 to 2017 using several quantile regressions. The optimal share is computed to be 13.8%. Therefore, it is recommended that South Korea should increase the share of CHP generation slightly, given that the share was 8.6% in 2017. If the optimal CHP share instead of the actual CHP share had been achieved in 2017, GDP in 2017 could have increased by 0.82%.〈/p〉〈/div〉 〈/div〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: September 2019〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Energy Policy, Volume 132〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Ekundayo Shittu, Bruno G. Kamdem, Carmen Weigelt〈/p〉 〈div xml:lang="en"〉 〈h5〉Abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉〈p〉While the role of organizational learning in improving firm performance is well documented, there are still questions on what drives technological learning. This is evident in the electricity industry where the growth of renewable energy technologies has been pervasive. Vicarious learning contributes to the adoption of emerging technologies through successful inter-firm knowledge sharing and transfer. However, there is hesitation to adoption that characterizes vicarious learning especially in the context of intra-firm learning. This paper investigates the differences in knowledge acquisition within and across electricity firms in the U.S. The learning curve model is applied to a longitudinal study of 5573 plants belonging to 1542 U.S. electricity firms between 1998 and 2010. This study finds: (i) The capacity growth of the solar photovoltaic technology is positively associated with intra-firm knowledge acquisition; (ii) The effect of financial incentives on the adoption of solar and wind technologies is higher under inter-firm learning; (iii) The higher the stringency of policy mandates, the more varied is the progress on technological change across technologies; (iv) Knowledge sharing between firms are higher for wind technology than for solar technology. These findings combine to show disparities in the learning trends of technologies across and within firms’ boundaries.〈/p〉〈/div〉 〈/div〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: September 2019〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Energy Policy, Volume 132〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Mette Talseth Solnørdal, Sverre Braathen Thyholdt〈/p〉 〈div xml:lang="en"〉 〈h5〉Abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉〈p〉Increased energy efficiency (EE) in manufacturing firms is important for confronting climate challenges. However, the information barrier is considered a major restriction on EE innovation. Building on the theory of absorptive capacity and the current EE literature, we argue that this barrier relates to firms' ability to assimilate and exploit information. Thus, this study's objective is to analyse firms' knowledge characteristics as determinants of EE innovation. We perform logit regressions using a Norwegian panel dataset for the period 2010–2014. The results are based on statistical correlations between data points that have potential uncertainties. Still, the main implications from our study are that prior knowledge, in terms of higher educated workforce, knowledge development, in terms of R&D capacity, and external knowledge cooperation, such as cooperation with universities and competitors, increase firms' pursuit of EE innovation. Further, the results also imply that there is an interaction effect between higher educated workforce and collaboration with universities. These results suggest that policy makers should consider firms' ability to assimilate and exploit information. This can be done by providing information according to firms' needs and absorptive capacity, and offering possibilities for firms to increase this capacity.〈/p〉〈/div〉 〈/div〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: September 2019〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Energy Policy, Volume 132〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Paul Neetzow, Roman Mendelevitch, Sauleh Siddiqui〈/p〉 〈div xml:lang="en"〉 〈h5〉Abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉〈p〉Distributed photo-voltaic (PV) generation is one of the pillars of energy transitions around the world, but its deployment in the distribution grid requires costly reinforcements and expansions. Prosumage – consisting of a household-level PV unit coupled with a battery storage system – has been proposed as an effective means to facilitate the integration of renewable energy sources and reduce distribution grid stress. However, tapping its full potential requires regulatory interventions; otherwise, system costs could rise despite increasing flexibility. We analyze the effectiveness of different policy schemes to mitigate the need for distribution capacity expansion by incentivizing beneficial storage operation. Our novel top-down modeling approach allows analyzing effects on market prices, storage dispatch, induced distribution grid requirements, system costs, and distributional implications. Based on German power system data, numerical results indicate that distribution grid requirements can be reduced through simple feed-in policies. A uniform limit on maximum grid feed-in can leave distribution system operators better off, even if they fully compensate prosumage households for foregone revenue. Policies imposing more differentiated limits at the regional level result in only marginal efficiency improvements. Complete self-sufficiency (autarky) is socially undesirable, as it confines important balancing potential and can increase system costs despite adding storage.〈/p〉〈/div〉 〈/div〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: September 2019〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Energy Policy, Volume 132〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Monika Papież, Sławomir Śmiech, Katarzyna Frodyma〈/p〉 〈div xml:lang="en"〉 〈h5〉Abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉 〈p〉The study uses the two-stage bias-corrected DEA approach of Simar and Wilson (2007) to assess the efficiency of the EU countries in terms of their wind power investment in 2015. The set of input variables includes installed wind power capacity and average wind power density, while output variables include wind-generated electricity and three additional aspects: environmental, economic and energy security. Next, the study examines the effect of renewable energy policy regarding wind energy, the energy mix, and the offshore wind power utilisation on the wind power efficiency of the analysed countries.〈/p〉 〈p〉The results obtained reveal that the United Kingdom, Sweden, Denmark, and Ireland are the most efficient countries in terms of wind power investment. The inclusion of additional aspects demonstrates the greatest improvement of efficiency in Belgium, Cyprus, the Netherlands, Estonia and Germany.〈/p〉 〈p〉The results seem to indicate that economic instruments used within renewable energy policy have a positive effect on wind power efficiency, while policy support and regulatory instruments might negatively impact. Moreover, the results show that the energy mix explains the variation of the efficiency of the EU countries when their economic and environmental aspects are considered. The analysis of the geographic location indicates that countries with a high share of offshore wind capacity are the most efficient.〈/p〉 〈/div〉 〈/div〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: September 2019〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Energy Policy, Volume 132〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Jian Chai, Zhaohao Wei, Yi Hu, Siping Su, Zhe George Zhang〈/p〉 〈div xml:lang="en"〉 〈h5〉Abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉〈p〉The rise of the shale gas industry and the need for clean, low-carbon energy transformation in China has meant that the relationship between domestic and foreign natural gas markets has become closer. Therefore, identifying the changing relationships between the major global natural gas markets and China's natural gas market has important practical value for the current Chinese domestic natural gas pricing system. This paper used the DCC-GARCH-NARDL-ARDL-ECM as the analytical framework to study these relationships, from which it was found that there was no unified global natural gas market and that China's natural gas market was not yet aligned with this market. It was shown that there was no significant asymmetry in the impact of international gas prices on China's gas prices as no flexible adjustment measures were found in China's imported natural gas pricing mechanism. Moreover, while international natural gas prices were found to have a significant impact on China's natural gas prices over the long term, there were obvious regional differences over the short term. Accordingly, new pricing policies should be designed to promote market-oriented natural gas pricing reforms in acknowledging features such as asymmetry, the difference between imported gas sources and the periodicity of price adjustment.〈/p〉〈/div〉 〈/div〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: September 2019〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Energy Policy, Volume 132〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Alexander Vinel, Ebrahim Mortaz〈/p〉 〈div xml:lang="en"〉 〈h5〉Abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉〈p〉Tapping into a large amount of renewable generation considering the inherent variability of renewable energy sources (RES) can greatly increase the risk of supply and demand imbalances in electric power delivery. One of the major components of this risk is the intermittency of both wind and solar power generation. In this paper, we show that by strategically planning for geographical and technological diversification of renewable generation capacity it is possible to reduce such risk in a RES-only US energy portfolio. We consider wind and solar as the sole sources of generation and use risk-averse stochastic optimization with Conditional Value-at-Risk (CVaR) to optimize energy generation locations and capacities in an idealized case study. The optimal RES portfolios demonstrate a significant improvement in generation profile compared to non-pooled or non-optimized alternatives. This confirms that with smart policy planning one can push the limits of the risk of imbalances in RES-only portfolios within continental United States, and highlights the need for system-wide thinking when designing a large-scale energy portfolio.〈/p〉〈/div〉 〈/div〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: September 2019〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Energy Policy, Volume 132〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Rebecca Lordan-Perret, Austin L. Wright, Peter Burgherr, Matteo Spada, Robert Rosner〈/p〉 〈div xml:lang="en"〉 〈h5〉Abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉〈p〉To what extent can energy infrastructure become a tool for insurgents? Non-state, insurgent actors have increased attacks on critical energy infrastructure over time (Giroux et al., 2013). As critical energy infrastructure becomes more complex and interconnected, attacks on this infrastructure can have far reaching consequences not only for the economy but also for social institutions. Leveraging exogenously scheduled elections in Colombia and microlevel energy infrastructure attack data, we use multivariate linear regression to show that insurgent groups, 〈em〉Las Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia (FARC)〈/em〉 and 〈em〉Ejército de Liberación〈/em〉 (ELN), time attacks on critical energy infrastructure in the months before an election. We find that the likelihood of an attack on electricity transmission lines and substations increased by 34% in the lead up to election months and that the number of attacks increased by 37% during election months. We further find these attacks are correlated with reduced voter turnout, indicating that infrastructure attacks may undermine participation in democratic institutions. These findings are particularly interesting as democratic societies—burgeoning and established—try to identify the unintended vulnerabilities to society that accompany the benefits of increased interconnectedness.〈/p〉〈/div〉 〈/div〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: September 2019〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Energy Policy, Volume 132〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Simone Tagliapietra, Georg Zachmann, Ottmar Edenhofer, Jean-Michel Glachant, Pedro Linares, Andreas Loeschel〈/p〉 〈div xml:lang="en"〉 〈h5〉Abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉〈p〉Over the last decade, the EU has pursued a proactive climate policy and has integrated a significant amount of renewables into the energy system. These efforts have proved successful and continuing along this pathway, increasing renewables and improving energy efficiency, would not require substantial policy shifts. But the EU now needs a deeper energy transformation to decarbonise in line with the Paris agreement and to seize the economic and industrial opportunities offered by this global transformation. A full-fledged energy transition is becoming economically and technically feasible, and its cost would be similar to that of maintaining the existing system, if appropriate policies and regulations are put in place. In short, the EU could benefit from deep decarbonisation irrespective of what other economies around the world do. The transition can also be socially acceptable, if the right policies are put in place to control and mitigate the distributional effects of deeper decarbonisation. The time to act is now, as policy choices made up to 2024 will define the shape of the EU energy system by 2050. This article outlines the key priorities that, in our view, should drive the EU energy and climate policy making for the new institutional cycle 2019–2024.〈/p〉〈/div〉 〈/div〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: November 2019〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Energy Policy, Volume 134〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Yang Zhang, Da Yan, Shan Hu, Siyue Guo〈/p〉 〈div xml:lang="en"〉 〈h5〉Abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉〈p〉A rapid rise in China's construction scale due to urbanization has resulted in a large amount of energy consumption and carbon emission. In order to achieve carbon emission reduction and energy security, it is important to assess the energy use of and emissions from the building construction sector. This paper presents a China Building Construction Model (CBCM) based on a process-based life cycle assessment (LCA) approach and discusses the trends in energy consumption of and carbon emission regarding China's building construction sector from 2000 to 2016. In 2016, the total energy consumption of the building construction sector was 411 million tce, accounting for approximately 9% of the country's total energy consumption. The construction activities of urban residential, public, and commercial buildings have replaced rural residential buildings as the main source of energy consumption and emission. Construction scale, building structure type, and material production efficiency are the three important driving factors. A decline in China's building construction scale, promotion of new low carbon building structures, and improvement in production efficiency may reduce future energy use and carbon emissions related to the building construction sector.〈/p〉〈/div〉 〈/div〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: September 2019〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Energy Policy, Volume 132〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Markus Thimmel, Gilbert Fridgen, Robert Keller, Patrick Roevekamp〈/p〉 〈div xml:lang="en"〉 〈h5〉Abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉〈p〉The increasing share of renewables confronts existing power grids with a massive challenge, stemming from additional volatility to power grids introduced by renewable energy sources. This increases the demand for balancing mechanisms, which provide balancing power to ensure that power supply always meets with demand. However, the ability to provide cost-efficient and eco-friendly balancing power can vary significantly between locations. Fridgen et al. (2017) introduce an approach based on geographically distributed data centers, aiming at the spatial migration of balancing power demand between distant locations. Although their approach enables the migration of balancing demand to cost-efficient and/or eco-friendly balancing mechanisms, it will come up against limits if deployed on a global scale. In this paper, we extend Fridgen et al. (2017)'s approach by developing a model based on geographically distributed data centers, which not only enables the migration of balancing demand but also compensates for this migration when it is contradictory between different balancing power markets without burdening conventional balancing mechanisms. Using a simulation based on real-world data, we demonstrate the possibility to exploit the potential of compensation balancing demand offered by spatial load migration resulting in economic gains that will incentivize data center operators to apply our model.〈/p〉〈/div〉 〈/div〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: November 2019〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Energy Policy, Volume 134〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Wasantha Athukorala, Clevo Wilson, Shunsuke Managi, Muditha Karunarathna〈/p〉 〈div xml:lang="en"〉 〈h5〉Abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉〈p〉This paper examines residential demand for electricity in Sri Lanka using survey data collected over a five-year period between 2011 and 2015. The study finds that the major determinants of demand for residential electricity are the result of price or market distortions (i.e. subsidies), socioeconomic variables and energy saving technology. The effects of these variables are particularly relevant to competition policy. Estimated elasticities with respect to average price, subsidies under marginal cost pricing, subsidies under average cost pricing and income are found to be −0.015, 0.021, 0.036 and 0.046 respectively. We find that demand for electricity is inelastic and is categorised as a normal good. However, elasticities with respect to subsidy variables are found to be higher than the price variable. This implies, that under an increasing block rate system any price change used as a policy measure to control electricity consumption will not be effective. This is because price changes could alter the subsidy received by the consumer and therefore reverse the objective of the price change. Further, results of this study find that price and elasticities with respect to subsidy variables are relatively higher for low income groups while income elasticity is relatively larger for high income groups.〈/p〉〈/div〉 〈/div〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: November 2019〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Energy Policy, Volume 134〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Yeong Jae Kim, Charlie Wilson〈/p〉 〈div xml:lang="en"〉 〈h5〉Abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉〈p〉A systemic perspective on energy innovation is required to design effective portfolios of directed innovation activity. We contribute a standardised set of technology-specific indicators which describe processes throughout the energy technology innovation system, ranging from patents and publications to policy mixes, collaborative activity, and market share. Using these indicators, we then conceptualise and develop benchmark tests for three portfolio design criteria: balance, consistency, and alignment. Portfolio balance refers to the relative emphasis on specific technologies. Portfolio consistency refers to the relative emphasis on related innovation system processes. Portfolio alignment refers to the relative emphasis on innovation system processes for delivering targeted outcomes. We demonstrate the application of these benchmark tests using data for the EU's Strategic Energy Technology (SET) Plan which spans six technology fields. We find the SET Plan portfolio generally performs well particularly in areas over which portfolio managers have direct influence such as RD&D funding. However we also identify potential areas of imbalance, inconsistency, and misalignment which warrant further attention and potential redress by portfolio managers. Overall, we show how energy innovation portfolios can be analysed from a systemic perspective using a replicable, standardised set of measures of diverse innovation system processes.〈/p〉〈/div〉 〈/div〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: November 2019〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Energy Policy, Volume 134〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Pedro L. Castro Verdezoto, Jorge A. Vidoza, Waldyr L.R. Gallo〈/p〉 〈div xml:lang="en"〉 〈h5〉Abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉〈p〉A forecast model for the Ecuador energy sector was elaborated, by using LEAP model, this study aims to analyze the behavior of the energy matrix depending on energy forecast and efficiency policy scenarios, applying a bottom-up analysis and considering the latest politics/infrastructure planning background in Ecuador. The model and considerations proposed will result in a final energy consumption of 158 million BOE in 2030, in which the transportation sector is the main energy consumer. Regarding Ecuador energy planning, of which a critical point is the hydroelectricity available due to the commissioning of new hydro power plants, estimated at 63,513 Gwh in 2030, this value is 3.25 times that generated in 2010. In addition, the energy saving of 15 million BOE is forecast, as well as the reduction in GHG emission related to that saving due to the energy efficiency program PEC, which replaces LPG stoves with induction stoves in Ecuadorian households. Results point out that energy efficiency policies for the transportation sector would reduce oil products (2.97% in the high growth scenario), which could be reallocated to the industrial sector. Finally, another critical point is the rapid decline in the oil self-sufficiency, estimated at 15 years counted from 2030.〈/p〉〈/div〉 〈/div〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: September 2019〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Energy Policy, Volume 132〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Ricardo Abranches Felix Cardoso, Alessandra Schwertner Hoffmann〈/p〉 〈div xml:lang="en"〉 〈h5〉Abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉〈p〉The electricity sector planning in Brazil aims to promote a reliable and safe supply of electricity to society. There are risks associated with planning out these projects in regard to environmental licensing (particularly with Transmission Systems). This paper presents a conceptual model for a solid analysis of the electricity sector by providing a regulatory and procedural assessment; it aims to connect issues with environmental licenses to those ventures. The results show that delays and uncertainties are related to the concession of energy transmission projects, which have not conducted any previous studies on the possible environmental impacts and have not applied the Environmental Impact Assessment as an instrument for decision-making. In order to minimize these uncertainties, studies on environmental planning should be conducted in the early stages of the project, prior to concession, as the venture is granted only once the projects have been demonstrated to be environmental viable.〈/p〉〈/div〉 〈/div〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: October 2019〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Energy Policy, Volume 133〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Sunbin Yoo, Kyung Woong Koh, Yoshikuni Yoshida, Naoki Wakamori〈/p〉 〈div xml:lang="en"〉 〈h5〉Abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉〈p〉While the fuel economy of Japanese automobiles has improved by 40% in the past decade, gasoline consumption in the transportation sector from 2007 to 2016 only decreased by 4%. We seek to explain this discrepancy by investigating Japanese fuel economy standards and the financial incentives given to consumers of fuel-efficient cars. To do so, this study explores whether Japanese policies caused such a rebound effect, by employing the difference-in-difference framework. We find that these policies contribute to energy rebound effect, by enabling higher fuel consumption at lower costs and thus causing higher energy usages. We provide evidence that policies can increase not only fuel usage but also fuel costs. The main driving force behind the rebound effect is the increase in the sales of hybrid vehicles, induced by financial incentives.〈/p〉〈/div〉 〈/div〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: November 2019〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Energy Policy, Volume 134〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Zhongwen Xu, Liming Yao, Qiaoling Liu, Yin Long〈/p〉 〈div xml:lang="en"〉 〈h5〉Abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉〈p〉In Japan, the National Intended Determined Contributions (INDCs) towards post-2020 GHG emission reductions indicates a reduction of 26.0% is expected by the fiscal year 2030. However, regional emissions allowances have not been fully discussed based on Japan's INDCs target, which considers the regional socio-economic features. Given this, this study points out a soft-path for a fair and efficient quota allocation by proposing an integrated bilevel equilibrium model within a hierarchical structure consisting of the national government and 47 prefectural governments. This proposed model can be changed into a single level solvable equilibrium model, which can be solved by Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) method. The major findings show that Hokkaido, Tokyo and Osaka were allowed the largest emissions quotas, while Tottori, Saga and Okinawa had the lowest emissions quotas. And the equity is necessary to be considered along with improving the emissions efficiency when reallocating carbon emission quotas, otherwise, the initiative to reduce emissions will not take place in prefectures with higher efficiency performance. Based on the findings, energy policy implications can be generated based on the above quantitative analysis to form a fair and efficient emission quota system at a sub-national level.〈/p〉〈/div〉 〈/div〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: November 2019〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Energy Policy, Volume 134〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Eric O'Shaughnessy, Gregory F. Nemet, Jacquelyn Pless, Robert Margolis〈/p〉 〈div xml:lang="en"〉 〈h5〉Abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉〈p〉Solar photovoltaic (PV) prices have fallen significantly over the past two decades. These price reductions have relied primarily on falling system hardware costs. Future reductions in PV prices—which are needed to ensure that enough PV will be deployed to meet global clean energy objectives—will require reductions in non-hardware or “soft” costs, particularly in markets with relatively high soft costs such as the United States. In this article, we draw insights from the literature on which factors affect soft costs for small-scale PV systems in the United States. The literature shows that soft costs tend to be lower for systems that are larger, installed during new construction, installed by more experienced installers, installed in more concentrated markets and in more competitive markets, installed in markets where customers receive more quotes, or installed in markets with less onerous permitting requirements. We identify three marketplace design strategies that policymakers could pursue to address the soft cost challenge in the United States and similar markets: encourage the expansion of quote platforms; encourage or require that PV system installation be integrated into the new construction and roof replacement process; and encourage the expansion of customer aggregation models such as Solarize campaigns and community solar.〈/p〉〈/div〉 〈/div〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: November 2019〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Energy Policy, Volume 134〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Mehmet Balcilar, Rıza Demirer, Shawkat Hammoudeh〈/p〉 〈div xml:lang="en"〉 〈h5〉Abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉〈p〉This study extends the literature on the asymmetric effect of oil price fluctuations on emerging and frontier stock markets via a quantile-on-quantile approach that allows to capture normal and extreme states in each respective market. We find that oil risk exposures are heterogeneous across the emerging and frontier stock markets and indeed display quantile-specific characteristics. Observing uniform patterns of oil risk exposures within groups of countries that include both importers and exporters, we argue that oil price risk serves as a systematic risk proxy, capturing the market's concerns regarding global growth expectations, rather than a simple import/export commodity. Our findings suggest that signals from the oil market, either via measures of trading activity in oil futures or changes in basis values, could be utilized by policy makers to improve models of stock market volatility.〈/p〉〈/div〉 〈/div〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: September 2019〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Energy Policy, Volume 132〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Eric O'Shaughnessy, Jenny Heeter, Julien Gattaciecca, Jenny Sauer, Kelly Trumbull, Emily Chen〈/p〉 〈div xml:lang="en"〉 〈h5〉Abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉〈p〉Community choice aggregation (CCA) is an emerging model of energy procurement that allows local governmental entities to procure electricity on behalf of retail electricity customers. Through CCA, local governments can control local electricity portfolios while investor-owned utilities remain responsible for transmission and distribution. In this article, we use a combination of publicly-available data, data obtained directly from CCAs, and stakeholder interviews to explore the rise of CCAs, the current and potential future impacts of CCAs on demand for renewable energy, and the factors that will determine future CCA expansion. We estimate that CCAs procured about 42 million megawatt-hours of electricity on behalf of about 5 million customers in the United States in 2017. We estimate that CCAs already procure about 8.9 million megawatt-hours more renewable energy than required by state mandates, and that CCAs could procure as much as 28.9 million megawatt-hours of voluntary renewable energy if the CCA model is permitted in more states. The ongoing expansion of CCAs could significantly affect electricity markets, electricity portfolios, and the future role of utilities. We explore various challenges associated with the further expansion of CCAs.〈/p〉〈/div〉 〈/div〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: September 2019〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Energy Policy, Volume 132〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Alessandra Schwertner Hoffmann, Gabriel Henriques de Carvalho, Ricardo Abranches Felix Cardoso Jr.〈/p〉 〈div xml:lang="en"〉 〈h5〉Abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉〈p〉The demand for solar sources of electrical energy is increasing in the Brazilian electricity market. Investments in the sector are expected to significantly increase, thereby creating a demand for a reliable environmental licensing process. Analysis of the international regulatory frameworks allows for a critical comparison to national- and state-level frameworks. The results obtained via this comparison have helped to identify different assessment criteria that can be used to define the typologies for environmental studies for the Brazilian states included in this study, and to show the subjectivity of the process. The development of guidance regulations is also recommended to establish more universally applicable criteria. The proposed adjustments aim to reduce the risks of delays, unexpected costs, and availability of the projects, thereby increasing reliability for electricity sector planning, the investors, and the consumers.〈/p〉〈/div〉 〈/div〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: September 2019〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Energy Policy, Volume 132〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Raphaël-Homayoun Boroumand, Stéphane Goutte, Khaled Guesmi, Thomas Porcher〈/p〉 〈div xml:lang="en"〉 〈h5〉Abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉〈p〉Our article provides a better understanding of risk management strategies for all energy market stakeholders. A good knowledge of optimal risk hedging strategies is not only important for energy companies but also for regulators and policy makers in a context of climate emergency. Indeed, the electricity sector is key to achieve energy and ecological transition. Electricity companies should be on frontline of climate change struggle. Taking the perspective of electricity retailers, we analyze a range of portfolios made of forward contracts and/or power plants for specific hourly clusters based on electricity market data from the integrated German-Austrian spot market. We prove that intra-day hedging with forward contracts is sub-optimal compared to financial options and physical assets. By demonstrating the contribution of intra-day hedging with options and physical assets, we highlight the specificities of electricity markets as hourly markets with strong volatility during peak hours. By simulating optimal hedging strategies, our article proposes a range of new portfolios for electricity retailers to manage their risks and reduce their sourcing costs. A lower hedging cost enables to allocate more resources to digitalization and energy efficiency services to take into account customers’ expectations for more climate-friendly retailers. This is a virtuous circle. Retailers provide high value-added energy efficiency services so that consumers consume less. The latter contributes to reach electricity reduction targets to fight climate warming.〈/p〉〈/div〉 〈/div〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: November 2019〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Energy Policy, Volume 134〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Junqing Yu, Kaile Zhou, Shanlin Yang〈/p〉 〈div xml:lang="en"〉 〈h5〉Abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉〈p〉This study aims at investigating regional heterogeneity of China's energy efficiency in the “new normal”. A model combining meta-frontier method and super SBM is proposed, which has higher discriminatory power under the group frontier. The energy efficiencies of the eastern, central, western and northeastern China and each provinces were estimated during 2006–2016. We also discussed the technology gaps of different regions, the changes in energy efficiency, and the main influencing factors of energy efficiency. The results show that the highest energy efficiency lied in eastern China. Surprisingly, the technology levels of central and western China have improved rapidly. Furthermore, as China enters a “new normal” period, more regions showed a strong decoupling relationship between energy consumption and economic growth. Meanwhile, the regression results indicate that both state intervention and market openness had negative impacts on energy efficiency in different study periods. Finally, according to the local conditions of different regions, several policy recommendations to promote China's regional energy efficiency improvement are proposed.〈/p〉〈/div〉 〈/div〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: October 2019〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Energy Policy, Volume 133〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Stephen Essex, Jiska de Groot〈/p〉 〈div xml:lang="en"〉 〈h5〉Abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉〈p〉There is increasing recognition that the prospects of a post-networked city challenges the myth of the modernist ideal of a networked city and offers a more realistic proposition for energy transitions in the global south. This paper examines the energy transitions involved in the development of South Africa's versions of the modern infrastructural ideal for electricity provision since the nineteenth century. Four phases of South Africa's energy transition are identified, consisting of colonial, apartheid, post-apartheid and low-carbon phases. The paper argues that the agendas influencing the generation, distribution and consumption of electricity in South Africa are multiple and potentially conflicting, which are emblematic of the limitations of the modern infrastructure ideal, particularly in relation to the formation of an ‘energy underclass’. Recognition and consideration of the potential uneven and differentiated spatial effects of energy transitions will continue to be integral to the planning and management of any transformations towards a post-networked city.〈/p〉〈/div〉 〈/div〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: October 2019〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Energy Policy, Volume 133〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Fateh Belaïd, Maha Harbaoui Zrelli〈/p〉 〈div xml:lang="en"〉 〈h5〉Abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉〈p〉In this article, we develop an empirical model to investigate the causal link amid renewable and non-renewable electricity consumption, GDP and carbon emissions by using a panel of 9 Mediterranean countries over the period 1980–2014. Using the PMG panel ARDL and panel econometric technics, heterogeneity and cross-sectional dependence among the panel were considered to explore the long and short-run dynamic relationships as well as the validity of a proposed model. The results provide panel empirical evidence that there is short-term bidirectional causality between GDP, renewable electricity consumption and CO〈sub〉2〈/sub〉 emissions and between non-renewable electricity consumption, GDP and renewable electricity consumption. For the long-term causal relationship, the result indicates that there is bidirectional causality between non-renewable electricity consumption and CO〈sub〉2〈/sub〉 emissions. However, there is evidence of unidirectional causal relationships from GDP to CO〈sub〉2〈/sub〉 emissions and non-renewable electricity consumption and from renewable electricity consumption to CO〈sub〉2〈/sub〉 emissions. The findings imply that non-renewable electricity consumption and economic growth stimulate CO〈sub〉2〈/sub〉 emissions in southern and northern Mediterranean countries, while renewable electricity reduces them. This empirical evidence suggests that expansion of renewable energy sources is a viable strategy for addressing energy security and reducing carbon emissions to protect the environment for future generations.〈/p〉〈/div〉 〈/div〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: October 2019〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Energy Policy, Volume 133〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): R. Inglesi-Lotz〈/p〉 〈div xml:lang="en"〉 〈h5〉Abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉 〈p〉The literature has always shown that there are two important factors in the improvement of a country's research output: Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and R&D Expenditures. Taking the discussion a step further, and in an effort to provide policy recommendations on what is needed to boost research capacity, this paper aims at decomposing the change in energy research papers of five countries (Australia, Canada, Germany, UK and US) into four factors: GDP, R&D intensity (ratio of total R&D to GDP), energy R&D rate of return or productivity (number of energy-related papers per unit of energy R&D expenditure), and energy R&D priority (share of energy R&D to total R&D expenditure).〈/p〉 〈p〉The findings show a general trend in the sign of the four effects on research for all five countries: energy R&D productivity, energy R&D priority, and GDP are mostly found to be positive contributors, while the R&D intensity a negative one. This pattern has exceptions that are more prominent during periods where economic growth is constrained, for example during 2008/09. The results have policy implications not only for these five countries but also for developing countries (low GDP) that aim at contributing more to the energy-related research output globally.〈/p〉 〈/div〉 〈/div〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: October 2019〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Energy Policy, Volume 133〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Evangelos Kyritsis, Jonas Andersson〈/p〉 〈div xml:lang="en"〉 〈h5〉Abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉〈p〉In this article we investigate the dynamic relations between crude oil price returns and a set of energy price returns, namely diesel, gasoline, heating, and the natural gas. This is performed by means of Granger non-causality tests for US closing spot prices over the period from January 1997 to December 2017. In previous studies this has been done by testing for the added predictive value of including lagged returns of one energy price in predicting the conditional expectation of another. In this paper we instead focus on different ranges of the full conditional distribution, and thus market states, within the framework of a dynamic quantile regression model, and identify the quantile ranges from which causality arises. The results constitute a richer set of findings than what is possible by just considering a single moment of the conditional distribution, which can be useful for implementing better substitution investment strategies and effective policy interventions. We find several interesting uni-directional dynamic relations between the employed energy price returns, especially in the tail quantiles, but also bi-directional causal relations between energy price returns for which the classical Granger non-causality test suggests otherwise. Our results are robust to alternative measures of the price of oil and different data frequencies.〈/p〉〈/div〉 〈/div〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: November 2019〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Energy Policy, Volume 134〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): George Halkos〈/p〉 〈div xml:lang="en"〉 〈h5〉Abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉〈p〉During the recent decades, the energy sector has undergone thoughtful structural changes, getting towards a more competitive environment, a process that is highly controlled and monitored by regulatory authorities. The differences in the pace and extent of market reforms are mainly related to the starting point of each reform and the problems associated with the internal environment of the market. The applied theoretical and analytical contributions provide guidance to policy-makers and government officials in designing new policy scenarios for the investigation of the role of competition in the energy sector. The empirical contributions provide evidence to support and inform current policy debates and should be of benefit to policy-makers and researchers worldwide.〈/p〉〈/div〉 〈/div〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: Available online 16 July 2019〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Energy Policy〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Stephen P.A. Brown, Marilyn A. Brown, Reinhard Madlener, Stephen Thomas, Peng Zhou, Carlos Henggeler Antunes, Sonia Yeh〈/p〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: November 2019〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Energy Policy, Volume 134〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Federico Maria Butera, Paola Caputo, Rajendra Singh Adhikari, Renata Mele〈/p〉 〈div xml:lang="en"〉 〈h5〉Abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉〈p〉This paper presents the results of a survey on two informal settlements in Rio De Janeiro: Reta Velha (Itaboraí) and Jardim Bom Retiro (São Gonçalo). A detailed analysis of energy access and energy poverty level has been accomplished by questionnaires carried out in 400 households. The questionnaire was based on a detailed multi-tier approach. It was aimed at exploring the actual energy access and energy poverty in 〈em〉favelas〈/em〉, in addition to draw the local living conditions and the availability of the basic services. The outcomes of the research underline the problem of outages and low tension, and illegal connections. Furthermore, electricity consumption is very high compared to the service provided, and expenditures are generally disproportioned to the households’ income. Many interesting outcomes emerge from the survey. Referring to energy poverty, it is a status in which 50% of households are in Jardim Bom Retiro and 20% in Reta Velha. Due to the representativeness of the treated case, the results permit the definition of the state of the art and of enhancing guidelines suitable also for other contexts, at least in the universe of informal settlements in Latin America and Caribbean.〈/p〉〈/div〉 〈/div〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: October 2019〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Energy Policy, Volume 133〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Immanuel Stieß, Anja Umbach-Daniel, Corinna Fischer〈/p〉 〈div xml:lang="en"〉 〈h5〉Abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉〈p〉An important share of developed countries’ energy consumption is used for heating. In the past decades, increasing living space has been one of the main drivers for energy demand in the housing sector. Based on a social innovation framework and drawing on two case studies from Germany and Switzerland, this paper explores options to reduce living space in the residential sector. Both cases focus on senior owners of single family houses (SFH), an important target group, as they remain in large family dwellings after their children have moved out. In the paper, we present the results of empirical work conducted in both projects, exploring how living in large dwellings is perceived by SFH-owners and which alternative options seem feasible and promising. These insights are linked to an intervention perspective, drawing on targeted workshops for homeowners in Switzerland. The findings show that options such as densification, letting out or moving to a smaller apartment, can be appealing to senior SFH-owners, if they are linked to attractive and positive visions about living in old age. Drawing on these empirical insights, we discuss how senior SFH-owners can be made aware of the advantages of managing with less space, and how they can be motivated and enabled to do so. Based on the social innovation approach and the findings from the surveys, we add suggestions on a broader supportive policy framework.〈/p〉〈/div〉 〈/div〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: November 2019〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Energy Policy, Volume 134〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Boris R. Lukanov, Elena M. Krieger〈/p〉 〈div xml:lang="en"〉 〈h5〉Abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉〈p〉The rapid growth of distributed solar adoption in California provides an opportunity to lower electricity bills for the adopters and realize additional community benefits, including grid resilience and lower grid emissions. It is unclear, however, whether this transition is occurring equitably across the state's various demographic and socioeconomic groups and whether historically disadvantaged environmental justice (EJ) communities have been able to exploit the bill savings and other associated benefits of rooftop solar. Here we analyze the cumulative and annualized (spatial and temporal) rates of PV adoption across California and compare those with data from the state's cumulative impact EJ methodology (CalEnviroScreen). We find persistently lower levels of PV adoption in disadvantaged communities, suggesting clear distributive and equity impacts of existing PV support policies, and indicating that the benefits bypass some of the state's most vulnerable populations. The analysis reveals strong correlation of solar adoption with not only socioeconomic variables, but also with health, environmental and demographic indicators, contributing to our growing understanding of the role these factors play in household clean-energy adoption trends. The results provide a baseline from which to develop more effective policies, strategically design incentives, and track the efficacy of existing solar programs that target disadvantaged communities.〈/p〉〈/div〉 〈/div〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: October 2019〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Energy Policy, Volume 133〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Xiongfeng Pan, Md. Kamal Uddin, Umme Saima, Zhiming Jiao, Cuicui Han〈/p〉 〈div xml:lang="en"〉 〈h5〉Abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉〈p〉Nowadays, multifaceted interdependence between macroeconomic variables results in an extended list of factors that have diverse impacts on energy intensity. Thus, sustaining energy intensity at a desired level demands advanced studies to investigate the multifarious influences of its factors and ensure proactive measures to deal with them. This paper aims to set up a path model to analyze the direct and indirect impacts of industrialization and trade openness on energy intensity in Bangladesh. The results corroborate that industrialization has a direct positive influence on energy intensity where trade openness shows a direct negative effect on it; and both industrialization and trade openness have negative indirect impact on energy intensity through technological innovation and economic growth respectively. In case of individual total impacts, only industrialization affects energy intensity positively, where trade openness, technological innovation and economic growth negatively do. Based on the empirical results, some policy implications regarding energy intensity and effects of its factors on it are also presented.〈/p〉〈/div〉 〈/div〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: October 2019〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Energy Policy, Volume 133〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Enrico Botta〈/p〉 〈div xml:lang="en"〉 〈h5〉Abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉〈p〉This paper aims at shedding some lights on how policy induced uncertainty affects the cost of capital of renewable energy power plants. To this end, the paper focuses on renewable energy auctions and on the ongoing Brexit negotiations. First, the paper reviews auction frameworks across Europe and discusses the impact of the different designs on project risk. Then, a stated preference approach is leveraged to investigate how policy design and the uncertainty regarding the future arrangements between the UK and the EU contribute to determine the cost of equity for renewable energy. The results show that improved auction design can help to lower the equity cost between 0.5% and 1.5%. The evidence on Brexit is rather weak and - if anything - suggests only a higher relevance of these negotiations for English-based investors than for those based in EU27.〈/p〉〈/div〉 〈/div〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: October 2019〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Energy Policy, Volume 133〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Charles M. Boliko, Dimiter S. Ialnazov〈/p〉 〈div xml:lang="en"〉 〈h5〉Abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉〈p〉This research is driven by the goal to develop human survivability studies, a solution oriented, trans-disciplinary academic approach for resolving multiple complex societal challenges. Given persisting poverty and inequality in rural areas of developing countries, as well as their vulnerability to the effects of climate change, there are high expectations that rural electrification using renewable energy can contribute to their sustainable development. We therefore use a sustainability framework to assess the contributions of four electrification projects in rural Kenya in ensuring the long-term well-being of local residents and future generations. Our results show that off-grid electrification projects run by the private sector were the better performers in the assessment. While more research is necessary to improve robustness, our preliminary policy recommendations are that Kenyan policy makers should provide further support to private sector-led off-grid solar electrification efforts.〈/p〉〈/div〉 〈/div〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: October 2019〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Energy Policy, Volume 133〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Stephen Berry, Trivess Moore, Michael Ambrose〈/p〉 〈div xml:lang="en"〉 〈h5〉Abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉〈p〉Globally, building energy regulation has been an effective policy instrument for reducing energy use and carbon emissions. In Australia, the majority of regions address building performance through the National Construction Code. However, in 2004 the New South Wales government introduced a planning instrument called the ‘Building Sustainability Index’, known as BASIX. Until now there has been limited investigation of this sustainability index approach compared with addressing issues individually through building standards. This paper presents analysis of 94,648 building energy assessments in New South Wales and 190,286 from other Australian states to explore the impact of BASIX. The results show that the building code process delivers greater certainty and higher performance than through the sustainability index. The analysis shows that 58% of homes that pass BASIX would fail the National Construction Code for thermal comfort, and that the process of improving performance through the index is more cumbersome and slower than through individual building standards. Given the need to progressively increase house energy standards, governments should be seeking both certainty and higher performance outcomes. Failure to deliver community expected minimum performance risks locking in poor performance for long-life assets, and condemning a generation of households to unnecessarily higher energy bills.〈/p〉〈/div〉 〈/div〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: October 2019〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Energy Policy, Volume 133〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Anatole Boute, Alexey Zhikharev〈/p〉 〈div xml:lang="en"〉 〈h5〉Abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉〈p〉By contrast to the common objective of decarbonization of electricity production, the main driver of Russia's renewable energy policy is to achieve the economic benefits related to the manufacturing of green equipment. The focus on industrial development rather than the decarbonization of the power sector clearly appears from the decision of the Russian government to tie renewable energy subsidies to stringent local content requirements. In particular, solar energy benefits from a subsidy regime that is favourable to local manufacturers. Based on a detailed analysis of Russian renewable energy regulation, this paper studies the benefits for solar generation and explains this favourable treatment based on the vested interests of influential industrial groups in the solar PV manufacturing sector. These vested interests helped to overcome the resistance to renewable energy in an economy heavily dependent on oil and gas. More fundamentally, the influence of the local solar energy industry enabled the development of a support scheme that eventually stimulated the deployment of renewable energy technologies in general.〈/p〉〈/div〉 〈/div〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: October 2019〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Energy Policy, Volume 133〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Vítor António da Silva Gonçalves, Feliz José Mil-Homens dos Santos〈/p〉 〈div xml:lang="en"〉 〈h5〉Abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉〈p〉Starting from sustainable development, energy efficiency and energy management fundamentals, a detailed analysis of the energy management systems standard ISO 50001:2011 was carried out from the viewpoint of sustainable development. The purpose of the analysis was to assess the effectiveness of its implementation, to identify the existence of gaps and to develop improvements capable of fulfilling the identified gaps. The effectiveness and the results of ISO 50001:2011 implementation, combined with the construction of an ideal energy management system allowed the identification of four gaps. The contribution to sustainable development of these gaps was determined. A detailed framework analysis of the four identified gaps followed, reviewing the associated ISO 50001:2011 standard requirements and converting them into six potential improvements. These were then proposed to 146 experts in energy management systems via an on – line survey. Experts were divided into three groups, dependent upon their specific areas of expertise, in order to obtain legitimate opinion and validation. The results of this survey, with a global 64.4% positive concordance, showed clear evidence that the six selected improvement proposals, could contribute positively to the evolution of ISO 50001 towards energy management for sustainable development.〈/p〉〈/div〉 〈/div〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: October 2019〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Energy Policy, Volume 133〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Hillard G. Huntington, James J. Barrios, Vipin Arora〈/p〉 〈div xml:lang="en"〉 〈h5〉Abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉〈p〉This paper conducts a selective review of various estimates for energy demand responses focused specially upon lower-income industrializing economies rather than richer mature nations. It emphasizes recent trends from empirical studies that have been published after 2000. Emphasis is placed on the five major emerging or transitional economies in Brazil, China, India, Mexico and Russia, although other important nations like Chile and South Korea are also discussed when studies are available. The review focuses attention on the long-run responses to changes in prices and income after capital stock turnover has been completed. The terminology often refers to elasticities, or the percentage change in energy use divided by the percentage change in price (or income), holding constant all other factors that could influence energy-use decisions. Estimates cover petroleum products, natural gas and electricity, although the available studies often ignore coal. They also include the economy-wide impacts (real GDP) to price changes. Most studies have focused upon household and transportation use of liquid fuels; many fewer studies have investigated fuels used by industry or commerce or for electric generation. Based upon the available estimates, price and income elasticities for liquid fuels are generally less than one (unity) for many countries and sectors, except for the long-run income effect for transportation purposes, which can range widely by country between 0.24 and 1.75 while averaging 0.94 for all countries.〈/p〉〈/div〉 〈/div〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: September 2019〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Energy Policy, Volume 132〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Bongsuk Sung〈/p〉 〈div xml:lang="en"〉 〈h5〉Abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉〈p〉This study investigates how government policies affect firm-level innovation. To empirically test this relationship, we use panel data for the Korean renewable energy technology firms. Taking into account the results of various panel framework tests and sample size, we establish a panel vector autoregressive model in the first difference, and use a bias-corrected least squares dummy variable estimator to test complex dynamic relationships between public subsidies, firm heterogeneities (size, age, and slack), industry dynamic competition, and innovation. Based on the estimations, we find that there is a positive bidirectional causal relationship between firms’ innovation and each of the following: research and development (R&D) subsidy, available organizational slack, and industry dynamic competition. Non-R&D subsidy, firm size, and age do not have significant direct effects on firm-level innovation. However, non-R&D subsidy is involved in the relationship between R&D subsidy and firms’ innovation. We discuss some implications based on the findings of this study.〈/p〉〈/div〉 〈/div〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: October 2019〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Energy Policy, Volume 133〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Asma Dhakouani, Essia Znouda, Chiheb Bouden〈/p〉 〈div xml:lang="en"〉 〈h5〉Abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉〈p〉Energy transitions in developing countries principally consist of the integration of renewable energies and energy efficiency in order to achieve a sustainability framework. Particularly, energy stakeholders are responsible for power planning to assure a country transition. Alongside, they are responsible for providing access to energy through system reliability. The objective of this paper is to demonstrate how a planned decrease of power system reliability, without impacting access to energy, could lead to a better integration of renewable energies. Therefore, we have linked an energy efficiency action, the peak clipping as scheduled outages, to the power system reliability factor. This factor has been integrated in the energy planning model, Open Source energy Modeling SYStem (OSeMOSYS) which is a cost-based long-term optimization model. Following, enhanced OSeMOSYS has been applied to the Tunisia power system using two scenarios reflecting renewable energy sources penetration. Simulation results showed a high rate of renewable energy sources penetration with a decrease of the power system reliability relying on energy efficiency actions.〈/p〉〈/div〉 〈/div〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: October 2019〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Energy Policy, Volume 133〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): D. Timmons, A.Z. Dhunny, K. Elahee, B. Havumaki, M. Howells, A. Khoodaruth, A.K. Lema-Driscoll, M.R. Lollchund, Y.K. Ramgolam, S.D.D.V. Rughooputh, D. Surroop〈/p〉 〈div xml:lang="en"〉 〈h5〉Abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉 〈p〉Climate change is the world's most prominent environmental problem, and fossil-fuel combustion is its primary cause. To set carbon reduction goals, policy makers require information on feasibility and cost of renewable energy systems. In this study, we describe an economic approach to modeling a national electricity system based entirely on renewable sources, using the island-nation of Mauritius as a case study.〈/p〉 〈p〉Many renewable electricity studies consider levelized costs of electricity (LCOE), which represents average cost of electricity, but cost minimization requires equalizing marginal costs. With variable sources, marginal costs change over time. Minimizing cost thus requires a model incorporating variability at high time resolution (daily or hourly), with the objective of minimizing the levelized cost of electricity for an entire electricity system (LCOE〈sub〉S〈/sub〉).〈/p〉 〈p〉In Mauritius, the minimum-cost renewable electricity portfolio includes roughly equal proportions of solar, wind, and biomass electricity, along with electricity storage. Policy issues include setting renewable energy targets, selecting policy instruments to incentivize optimum renewable energy portfolios, incorporating energy efficiency, determining appropriate discount rates, ensuring land availability, and accounting for non-cost considerations. Many of the economic and policy issues identified apply universally, and methods demonstrated in this study could be used anywhere in the world.〈/p〉 〈/div〉 〈/div〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: October 2019〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Energy Policy, Volume 133〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Angela Pohlmann〈/p〉 〈div xml:lang="en"〉 〈h5〉Abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉〈p〉Dominant conceptual models describe energy innovations as struggles between regime and niche actors that develop at the margins of established energy systems, and work against dominant energy regimes. Contrary to this conceptualisation, this paper argues that energy innovations develop through a more nuanced set of relationships, which lead to distinct innovation outcomes. Based on three case studies in Germany and Scotland, this paper finds that energy innovations develop in accordance with, independent of, or in opposition to regime structures, showing that a project's relative position within these structures influences the type and quality of its development. Making use of situational analysis, the paper challenges essentialising tendencies among scholars working with the multi-level perspective. Instead of understanding regime and niche as separable entities, situational analysis allows understanding how agency and innovations of local renewable energy projects transcend the boundaries of levels or systems. Policy makers are advised to acknowledge these complex interrelations. Side effects of policies deliberately directed towards other sectors might have significant effects on the energy sector.〈/p〉〈/div〉 〈/div〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: October 2019〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Energy Policy, Volume 133〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Mikko Savolahti, Niko Karvosenoja, Sampo Soimakallio, Kaarle Kupiainen, Jarkko Tissari, Ville-Veikko Paunu〈/p〉 〈div xml:lang="en"〉 〈h5〉Abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉〈p〉Residential wood combustion (RWC) is a major source of climate-impacting emissions, like short-lived climate forcers (SLCF) and biogenic CO〈sub〉2〈/sub〉, in Finland. In this paper, we present projections for those emissions from 2015 to 2040. We calculated the climate impact of the emissions using regional temperature potential metrics presented in literature. In our results, the climate impacts are given as global and Arctic temperature responses caused by the studied emissions in a 25 year time span. The results show that SLCF emissions from RWC cause a significant warming impact. Using our selected metrics, SLCF emissions from RWC added to the warming impact of Finland's projected greenhouse gas emissions by 28% in global temperature response and by 170% in Arctic response. When compared with other common heating methods in Finnish detached houses, using a typical Finnish stove (masonry heater) was the least climate-friendly option. Taking biogenic CO〈sub〉2〈/sub〉 emissions into account further highlighted this finding. Finally, we assessed the change in climate impact when implementing various emission reduction measures for RWC. With a time span of 25 years, early action was found to be even more crucial than the eventual reductions in annual emissions in 2040.〈/p〉〈/div〉 〈/div〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: October 2019〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Energy Policy, Volume 133〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Gareth Thomas, Christina Demski, Nick Pidgeon〈/p〉 〈div xml:lang="en"〉 〈h5〉Abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉〈p〉Energy storage technologies are receiving increasing attention in the UK and around the world as a means of increasing penetration of inflexible low-carbon electricity generation and optimising investment in energy infrastructure required to meet international decarbonisation goals. Research into the social acceptability of energy infrastructure has compellingly illustrated the importance of societal perceptions in the successful deployment of new infrastructure. However to date, no study has empirically examined public perceptions across the broad range of storage technologies available. We address this gap by presenting qualitative findings from four deliberative workshops held with members of the British public. We show that citizens underestimate the challenge of growing volumes of inflexible low-carbon electricity generation, and respond to storage technologies through reference to commonly perceived risks and benefits. When participants discussed how storage might be funded and managed, additional evaluative criteria emerged centred around equity, vulnerability, independence and convenience. Our findings suggest that perceptions of storage technologies tend to be ambivalent, and that acceptance is likely to be contingent on whether storage technologies can be designed, regulated and governed in ways which reduce technical concerns over safety, environmental impacts and reliability, while meeting societal desires for equity and the protection of vulnerable groups.〈/p〉〈/div〉 〈/div〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: October 2019〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Energy Policy, Volume 133〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Xi Li, Biying Yu〈/p〉 〈div xml:lang="en"〉 〈h5〉Abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉〈p〉Due to economic development and urbanization, the number of car ownership continues to increase, making the urban passenger transport sector becoming an important contributor for energy consumption and CO〈sub〉2〈/sub〉 emissions in China (accounting for around 20% of the total carbon emissions of the transport sector in 2016). Hence, how the urban passenger transport sector can contribute to peaking China's carbon dioxide emissions by 2030 is worthy of attention. To that end, we develop a National Energy Technology-Transport (NET-Transport) model to assess the impacts of shifting to alternative clean fuels, improving vehicle fuel efficiency, and promoting public transportation on the future energy demand and CO〈sub〉2〈/sub〉 emissions for China's urban passenger transport sector. The results show that in the context of promoting the use of clean fuel vehicles and increasing vehicle fuel efficiency, CO〈sub〉2〈/sub〉 emissions of China's urban passenger transport sector could reach a peak of 225 MtCO〈sub〉2〈/sub〉 in 2030. If the mode share of public transport could further increase, the CO〈sub〉2〈/sub〉 emissions from the urban passenger transport sector in China are possible to peak at around 2020 with the emissions ranging from 171 to 214 MtCO〈sub〉2〈/sub〉.〈/p〉〈/div〉 〈/div〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: October 2019〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Energy Policy, Volume 133〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Konrad Gürtler, Rafael Postpischil, Rainer Quitzow〈/p〉 〈div xml:lang="en"〉 〈h5〉Abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉〈p〉Despite their increasing cost competitiveness, the continued expansion of renewable energy remains dependent on policy support. Moreover, the dismantling of renewable energy policies in a number of former pioneer countries indicates that continued policy support is not a foregone conclusion. Yet, in light of the accelerating expansion of renewable energy, the dismantling of renewable energy policies has captured comparatively less attention than the rapid spread of support schemes. This article seeks to fill this important knowledge gap by developing and testing a framework for the analysis of policy dismantling processes in the renewable energy sector. It applies the framework to conduct a comparative analysis of policy dismantling in Spain and the Czech Republic. Both countries represent European pioneers of renewable energy support who subsequently dismantled their policies. The paper finds that the inter-relationship between policy design and the broader configuration of the political economy in the energy sector are key for understanding dismantling processes. It offers a number of conclusions for the design of more robust renewable energy support policies.〈/p〉〈/div〉 〈/div〉 〈h5〉Graphical abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉〈p〉〈figure〉〈img src="https://ars.els-cdn.com/content/image/1-s2.0-S0301421519304598-fx1.jpg" width="265" alt="Image 1" title="Image 1"〉〈/figure〉〈/p〉〈/div〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: October 2019〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Energy Policy, Volume 133〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): S. Yilmaz, S. Weber, M.K. Patel〈/p〉 〈div xml:lang="en"〉 〈h5〉Abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉〈p〉To date, research on demand side management has mostly focused on the determinants of electricity consumption and stated preference experiments to understand social acceptability. Further experimental research is needed to identify the determinants for demand response schemes. This paper contributes to addressing this gap by making use of data from a randomised control trial which contains 15 months of smart meter electricity data combined with household characteristics and differences in incentives to shift their electricity use between 11am and 3pm. Cluster analysis performed on electricity data identified three distinct electricity daily load profiles. Each cluster was then linked to household characteristics by means of a multinomial logistic regression to identify the determinants of the load curves' shapes. Findings show that occupancy presence at home, age and appliance ownership were strong predictors. Finally, this paper is among the first to provide experimental evidence on the determinants of load shifting. We find that households with head aged above 65, households who belong to the cluster exhibiting a load profile characterised by a relatively high peak at noon and a low peak in the evening, and those who received money incentives were more likely to shift electricity use towards middle of the day (11am-3pm).〈/p〉〈/div〉 〈/div〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: October 2019〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Energy Policy, Volume 133〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Christian N. Madu, Chu-hua Kuei〈/p〉 〈div xml:lang="en"〉 〈h5〉Abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉〈p〉This paper models landscape sustainability in the oil-producing Niger Delta area of Nigeria. Simon decision making cycle (intelligence-design-choice) was used to examine landscape sustainability planning issues. This approach involves three levels of application namely intelligence, design, and choice. Probability topic model was used in 〈em〉R〈/em〉 software to identify the key problems in the Niger Delta area as (1) oil spillage impacts on water/land use (landscape capital) and (2) militancy (vandalism) and leadership (planning). These problems significantly, affect the landscape capital in the Niger Delta area. System dynamic simulation was applied to evaluate landscape capital under different scenarios of vandalism and different levels of revenue allocation. The study found that the greatest landscape capital can be achieved in 18.25 years if the revenue allocation to the Niger Delta oil producing states is increased from the current level of 13 percent to 21 percent. These results are consistent with UNEP's report that highlights oil spillages in the Niger Delta area as affecting landscape sustainability in the area.〈/p〉〈/div〉 〈/div〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: October 2019〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Energy Policy, Volume 133〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Remko J. Detz, Bob van der Zwaan〈/p〉 〈div xml:lang="en"〉 〈h5〉Abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉〈p〉In this policy perspective we argue that mankind likely needs to achieve negative CO〈sub〉2〈/sub〉 emissions before 2050, describe the transition to CO〈sub〉2〈/sub〉-neutrality and CO〈sub〉2〈/sub〉-negativity, and illustrate the possibly critical role played herein by CO〈sub〉2〈/sub〉 use.〈/p〉〈/div〉 〈/div〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: October 2019〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Energy Policy, Volume 133〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Tamás Szőke, Olivér Hortay, Eszter Balogh〈/p〉 〈div xml:lang="en"〉 〈h5〉Abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉〈p〉The article compares the market power of Hungarian electricity traders during the partially liberalised transitional market model from 2004 to 2008 and the fully liberalised period lasting since 2008. In our empirical work, we use an econometric modelling technique based on asymmetric price transmission (APT) theory to measure the market power of traders in the electricity market. The aim of our work is to conduct a quantitative analysis of the Hungarian electricity trading market by applying the APT modelling technique – used widely in agro-economic analyses – to electricity markets. The intuition behind the method is the assumption that asymmetric price transmission refers to deviations from perfect competition. The research has found that different regulation regimes lead to different patterns of asymmetry in price transmission and the results underline that the market position of electricity traders have improved since the introduction of the liberalised market model. By mapping the results of the APT model to the actual policy and market changes we argue that the APT method is a useful tool for analysing the competition on electricity markets.〈/p〉〈/div〉 〈/div〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: October 2019〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Energy Policy, Volume 133〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Avraam Charakopoulos, Theodoros Karakasidis, loannis Sarris〈/p〉 〈div xml:lang="en"〉 〈h5〉Abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉〈p〉Renewable energy sources, where wind energy is an important part, are increasingly participating in developing economies and environmental benefits. Wind power is strongly dependent on wind velocity and thus identifying patterns in wind speed data is an important issue for forecasting the generated power from a wind turbine and it has significant importance for the renewable energy market operations. In this work we approach the problem of identification of the underlying dynamic characteristics and patterns of wind behavior using two approaches of non-linear time series analysis tools: Recurrence Plots (RPs) and Complex Network analysis. The proposed methodology is applied on wind time series collected by cup anemometers located on a wind turbine installed in Greece. We show that the proposed approach provides useful information which can characterize distinct two time intervals of the data, one ranging from 2 to 4.5 days and another from 5 to 8.5 days. Also analysis can identify and detect dynamical transitions in the system's behavior and also reveals information about the changes in state inside the whole time series. The results will be useful in wind markets, for the prediction of the produced wind energy and also will be helpful for wind farm site selection.〈/p〉〈/div〉 〈/div〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: October 2019〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Energy Policy, Volume 133〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Karin Troncoso, Patricia Segurado, Margarita Aguilar, Agnes Soares da Silva〈/p〉 〈div xml:lang="en"〉 〈h5〉Abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉 〈p〉In 2011, a government initiative provided Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) stoves and cylinders to almost 1000 rural families in Chiapas, Mexico. In 2017, the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO) conducted an evaluation of cooking practices among the beneficiaries of these stoves.〈/p〉 〈p〉Although almost 100% of households continue to use firewood for cooking, they cook an average of 58% of their food with LPG. Of the families that used to rely exclusively on firewood before 2011, 32% have now started to use LPG. Primary cooks —almost entirely women— recognize the advantages of cooking with LPG and the health Problems associated with firewood use, with the primary barrier to using LPG being its high cost. Women spend 35–65 h a month preparing tortillas —the main food cooked with firewood. The alternative store-bought tortillas are up to three times costlier.〈/p〉 〈p〉When given the opportunity to cook with LPG, families recognize its advantages and are incentivized to continue using it, despite its cost. The higher the socioeconomic status, the higher LPG use is. The authors suggest that subsidizing tortilla production could facilitate the exclusive use of LPG, avoiding the negative health impacts of firewood use and saving more than 25% of women's productive time.〈/p〉 〈/div〉 〈/div〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: October 2019〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Energy Policy, Volume 133〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Sergio Ulgiati, Feni Agostinho, Gengyuan Liu, Maddalena Ripa, Jesus Ramos Martin, Sudhakara Reddy〈/p〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: October 2019〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Energy Policy, Volume 133〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Kazi Arif Uz Zaman, Kaliappa Kalirajan〈/p〉 〈div xml:lang="en"〉 〈h5〉Abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉〈p〉Prudent demand-supply management of energy is pivotal for the energy security of the countries and transitions towards the sustainable low-carbon energy system. This study empirically investigates the existing demand-supply gaps of energy in the South-though-East Asian (StEA) countries and analyzes how the gaps can be minimized most efficiently through intraregional energy trade. Stochastic Frontier Gravity model extended with the determinants of efficiency models used for both primary energy and Renewable Energy Goods (REG) trade. The result implies that for most of the countries, intraregional export of primary energy, as well as REG, are positively influenced by Gross Domestic Products (GDP) of the exporting and importing countries. Tariff and distance adversely affect the exports while the implication of cross exchange ratio seems minimal in both cases. Regional Trade Agreements (RTA) are also found to have notable positive impact on intraregional trade. Results show that China and Thailand are the most-efficient in this intraregional primary energy export, while Bangladesh and Myanmar remain the least-efficient. China and Japan are the most-efficient in REG exports, while Bangladesh remains the least-efficient. On average, the whole region has the weighted export efficiency of 56.5% in intraregional primary energy trade and 63.1% in REG trade. The determinants of efficiency model reveals that institutional quality, better infrastructure, goods market efficiency, and technological readiness have reasonable impacts to enhance the countries’ intraregional energy trade efficiencies.〈/p〉〈/div〉 〈/div〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: October 2019〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Energy Policy, Volume 133〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Yanzhe Yu, Jie Cheng, Shijun You, Tianzhen Ye, Huan Zhang, Man Fan, Shen Wei, Shan Liu〈/p〉 〈div xml:lang="en"〉 〈h5〉Abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉〈p〉The building energy efficiency labeling (BEEL) scheme has been adopted in China since 2008. However, until now, its effect on the actual building energy efficiency has not been accurately established. The objective of this study was to investigate this effect through a case study in Shanghai, China. Additionally, by performing a thorough review, potential barriers for implementing the BEEL scheme in major areas of China were analyzed. The results indicated that 1) the energy use intensity of labeled commercial office buildings in Shanghai followed a normal distribution, with an average value of 79.14 kWh/(m〈sup〉2〈/sup〉a); 2) the energy-saving rate and energy consumption exhibited an inversely proportional relationship for residential buildings, but this relationship was not applicable for commercial office buildings; 3) for Shanghai, ground source heat pumps (GSHPs) and variable refrigerant volume systems are more appropriate for commercial office buildings, and GSHPs and split air conditioners are more useful for residential buildings. The potential barriers were classified into three main categories—technical, political, and awareness—and corresponding solutions were proposed. The authors hope that this study can promote the adoption of the BEEL scheme in China.〈/p〉〈/div〉 〈/div〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: October 2019〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Energy Policy, Volume 133〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Akinsehinwa Sharimakin〈/p〉 〈div xml:lang="en"〉 〈h5〉Abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉〈p〉Previous studies of decomposition of factor inputs have limited their analysis on the estimation of substitution and output effects. However, this paper develops a two-step approach to estimate the substitution and output effects of changes in energy demand resulting from changes in prices and further examines the implications of these effects on CO〈sub〉2〈/sub〉 emissions using European industrial dataset over the period 1995–2007. In our empirical estimations, instead of relying only on iSUR model like previous studies, we introduced a multilevel model, which is a more befitting model to our data. Our analysis covers industry as a whole and for different sector types. The primary results emerged from our analysis suggest a strong evidence using the multilevel model. Generally, our results show that production inputs are substitutable. We find the substitution and output effects to be negatively related to CO〈sub〉2〈/sub〉 emissions, however, the substitution effects dominate. From policy perspectives, our results suggest that output adjustments may not play a significant role in reducing emissions. We find the overall effects of changes in energy demand to be moderate. Then, we argue that increment in energy taxes should be complemented by cleaner factor substitution and sustainable growth to achieve a desirable carbon reduction.〈/p〉〈/div〉 〈/div〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: October 2019〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Energy Policy, Volume 133〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Celedonio B. Mendoza, Dwane Darcy D. Cayonte, Michael S. Leabres, Lana Rose A. Manaligod〈/p〉 〈div xml:lang="en"〉 〈h5〉Abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉〈p〉This paper attempted to calculate a composite index that would represent the magnitude of incidence and intensity of multidimensional household energy poverty (MEPI) in the Philippines using seven indicators of energy deprivation to analyse 17 regions and 81 provinces. Generally, the MEPI scores of regions from 2011 to 2016 revealed that the proportion of the multidimensional energy poor across all regions improved. Moreover, the study systematically put together a composite index that aims to capture the multidimensional aspects of household energy poverty. It consciously avoided a uni-dimensional stance in measuring energy poverty. Among the seven indicators, access to communication and education related appliances consistently had the highest incidence of deprivation among households across all regions at 90.4 percent. Conversely, a Filipino household is identified as multidimensional energy poor if it is deprived in at least the equivalent of 50 percent of the weighted seven indicators to be considered multidimensional poor. On the average, households in the Philippines are experiencing lower moderate energy poverty. Among the regions, Luzon (except MIMAROPA and Bicol) experienced low energy poverty levels. The energy-poorest regions are ARMM and Region IX (Zamboanga Peninsula). The statistical result suggests the association of MEPI and income poverty incidence points out a high correlation. In conclusion, an increase in poverty incidence would lead to a more multidimensionally deprived household. The correlation outcome validates that a significant relationship exists between MEPI and income poverty.〈/p〉〈/div〉 〈/div〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: October 2019〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Energy Policy, Volume 133〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Per Gegg, Victoria Wells〈/p〉 〈div xml:lang="en"〉 〈h5〉Abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉〈p〉Macroalgae (seaweed)-derived fuels are gaining increasing attention due to the high rate of seaweed growth, its lack of lignocellulose (which makes for energy-efficient processing), its lack of need for land or freshwater, and its potential suitability for commercial applications in the UK. However, while technological issues are progressively being solved, wider issues of stakeholder and public perception have largely been ignored, potentially hindering the development of this technology. This research fills this gap by conducting 19 interviews with stakeholders and 7 focus groups with members of the public to gain a deeper and broader understanding of perceptions of macroalgae-derived fuels. The results highlight the technological promise and confidence in the potential of macroalgae-derived fuels. However, they also emphasise conflicts and uncertainties among stakeholders (e.g. competition with other high-value products derived from macroalgae) and the general public (e.g. conflict with marine users). This paper provides insight into potential social resistance and key issues in the macroalgae-to-fuels supply chain. This information will enable two-way communication between everyone involved and increase the likelihood of successfully developing this supply chain. Key policy issues are discussed to facilitate this communication and encourage investment in the process.〈/p〉〈/div〉 〈/div〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: June 2019〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Energy Policy, Volume 129〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): A. Abdulla, P. Vaishnav, B. Sergi, D.G. Victor〈/p〉 〈div xml:lang="en"〉 〈h5〉Abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉〈p〉Decarbonization will require deployment of low-carbon technologies, but analysts have struggled to quantify which ones could be deployed in practice—especially where technologies have faced public opposition. For nuclear power, some analysts have tried to solve this problem with caps on deployment or nuclear-free scenarios; however, social science research has not offered nuanced guidance about these caps. We deploy an experiment involving a large U.S. sample (N = 1226) to disentangle public opposition due to the dread of nuclear power from opposition stemming from its actuarial risk. Respondents are asked to build a power generation portfolio that cuts CO〈sub〉2〈/sub〉 emissions, given information about the actuarial risks of technologies. Half the sample is exposed to the nuclear power label while the other half is treated with the risk information but blinded to the label. Respondents who see the labels deploy 6.6 percentage points less nuclear power as a share of the U.S. electricity mix. Our results suggest that dread about nuclear power leads respondents to choose 40% less nuclear generation in 2050 than they would have chosen in the absence of this dread. These methods could apply to other technologies, such as carbon storage, where there may be gaps between actuarial and perceived risks.〈/p〉〈/div〉 〈/div〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: June 2019〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Energy Policy, Volume 129〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Timo Gerres, José Pablo Chaves Ávila, Francisco Martín Martínez, Michel Rivier Abbad, Rafael Cossent Arín, Álvaro Sánchez Miralles〈/p〉 〈div xml:lang="en"〉 〈h5〉Abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉〈p〉Electricity systems experience a period of transition towards decarbonisation and face multiple uncertainties. Variable renewable energy resources undergo a rapid cost decline while policy makers push for stricter decarbonisation targets to limit global warming and to comply with international commitments such as the 2015 Paris Agreement. In this context, a better understanding on how today's electricity market design has to be modified to comply with high shares of variable RES generation is required. This work demonstrates the need to extend the current electricity market design by additional remuneration mechanisms to reach imposed quotas of renewable generation and provide investment incentives for new firm capacity. A Spanish case study presented in this paper explores the electricity system transition between 2025 and 2040. An electricity system resource expansion model (SPLODER) is used to study different policies and estimate the evolution of investments and costs over the transition period. Results indicate that the interactions between energy market prices, additional capacity and RES remuneration mechanisms are particularly sensible to policy decisions, demand growth and technological developments. Conclusions indicate that such remuneration mechanisms must account for the uncertainty of future electricity market developments and additional hedging alternatives are required to ensure the cost recovery of new generation technologies.〈/p〉〈/div〉 〈/div〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: June 2019〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Energy Policy, Volume 129〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Mai Miyamoto, Kenji Takeuchi〈/p〉 〈div xml:lang="en"〉 〈h5〉Abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉〈p〉This study examines the Kyoto Protocol's impact on the international diffusion of renewable energy technologies including solar and wind energy. Using patent application data of 133 countries from 1990 to 2013 and a difference-in-difference approach, we find that the Kyoto Protocol increased international patent applications from the countries with emission targets. The effect appeared over many years during the period studied, particularly for solar energy technology. When we focus on countries with more stringent targets, the effect of the Kyoto Protocol is even stronger. For these countries, the Protocol's impact on the numbers of applications for international patent persisted strongly, even for wind energy technology. Moreover, we find a similar effect for the international patent applications filed in four developing countries that are large emitters of greenhouse gases: Brazil, China, India, and Mexico. These results suggest that the Kyoto Protocol stimulated international patenting activities from countries that are committed to stringent targets for climate mitigation. Our results endorse the importance of climate change agreements for international diffusion of technology.〈/p〉〈/div〉 〈/div〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: June 2019〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Energy Policy, Volume 129〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Maria Teresa Punzi〈/p〉 〈div xml:lang="en"〉 〈h5〉Abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉 〈p〉This paper evaluates the macroeconomic implications of energy price volatility through the lens of a dynamic stochastic general equilibrium (DSGE) model in an open economy. The model develops a small open economy in which households consume energy products and firms use energy as productivity inputs, where the country is so small that it needs to import energy, the price of which is determined abroad. Whereas positive energy price shocks cause an economic slowdown due to higher costs for consumers and firms, energy price volatility shocks generate an increase in GDP in the short-run and a reversal in the long-run. These findings are empirically supported by estimates from a Panel VAR model applied to 10 Asian economies, where energy price volatility has a positive impact on GDP in the short-run. Moreover, the paper finds that increasing demand or supply uncertainty also affect energy prices, with amplified fluctuations relative to a model that abstracts from energy. Market volatility leads households to cut consumption for precautionary savings motives, which in turn increases investment.〈/p〉 〈p〉Both energy price and uncertainty fluctuation lead to high macroeconomic volatility in the business cycle. Policy makers should encourage investment in energy security and renewable energy, such that households and firms would become less responding to fluctuations in the non-renewable energy market.〈/p〉 〈/div〉 〈/div〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: June 2019〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Energy Policy, Volume 129〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Guoxing Zhang, Nana Deng, Haizhen Mou, Zhe George Zhang, Xiaofeng Chen〈/p〉 〈div xml:lang="en"〉 〈h5〉Abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉〈p〉The problem of environmental pollution becomes serious along with the advancement of urbanization in China. The public is paying more and more attention to environmental governance. The Chinese government has promulgated and implemented policies to ensure public participation in environmental governance. Based on Chinese provincial data from 2006 to 2014, this study analyzes the problem from the aspect of the public's own living environment and investigates the interaction between public participation behavior and policy. The empirical results show that public environmental participation behavior measured by the number of complaint letter has no impact on the public's own living environment, while the number of proposals from members of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) does. Moreover, the public participation policy plays a significant role in improving environmental governance. In addition, the impact of public participation policy and proposals on environmental governance is mutually replaceable. This may be due to the proposals are different from ordinary letters. We recommend that the government should adopt the proposals from CPPCC when formulating policies.〈/p〉〈/div〉 〈/div〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: April 2019〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Energy Policy, Volume 127〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Sinan Küfeoğlu, Michael G. Pollitt〈/p〉 〈h5〉Abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉〈p〉Electric power distribution network charges have become a popular area of study for regulators, industry and academia. Increasing use of photovoltaics (PVs) and electric vehicles (EVs) by domestic customers has created concerns about the fairness of the current tariff structure. Proposing a tariff design, which will be cost reflective, transparent, sustainable, economically efficient is socially desirable. Wealth transfer through electricity distribution tariffs is a major concern for energy regulators. This paper aims to analyse the current distribution network tariffs faced by four main household customer groups in Great Britain (GB) - defined as those who own a PV and an EV, those with EV but no PV, those with PV but no EV and finally those with neither EV nor PV – under various uptake scenarios for EVs and PVs. We illustrate the impact on household tariffs for the most and least expensive GB network operators, namely London Power Networks and Scottish Hydro Electric Power Distribution. The results show that, due to the current network charges calculation structure, as PV penetration increases, the distribution tariffs increase for all customers regardless of whether someone owns a PV or not. On the other hand, as EV penetration increases, the distribution tariffs decrease for all customer groups. Another key finding is that the distribution tariffs in Great Britain are EV dominated and the future EV and PV penetration projections indicate that the distribution tariffs will likely decrease for all customers in Great Britain.〈/p〉〈/div〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: May 2019〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Energy Policy, Volume 128〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Ambe J. Njoh, Simon Etta, Uwem Essia, Ijang Ngyah-Etchutambe, Lucy E.D. Enomah, Hans T. Tabrey, Mah O. Tarke〈/p〉 〈h5〉Abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉〈p〉This study analyzed a rural renewable energy project—the Esaghem Village solar photovoltaic-based electrification project—in Manyu Division, Cameroon. The aim was to unveil impediments to the project rooted in the country's institutional framework for energy policy administration. The framework adheres to the country's Weberian-style administrative machinery. Conspicuous features of the machinery, including its pyramidal structure, tendency for top-down hierarchical communication, aversion for interorganizational interaction, and standardization are shown to constitute major institutional impediments. These features caused problems such as a lack of information, skills, and innovation. They also exacerbated problems relating to custom formalities and stand to threaten project sustainability. Administrative reform actions including the promotion of inter-organizational coordination, administration decentralization reinforced with the creation of renewable energy extension programs, and market-oriented liberalization measures are recommended. These reforms promise to facilitate the diffusion of solar PV electrification and other renewable energy technologies in Camerooon and other developing countries.〈/p〉〈/div〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: April 2019〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Energy Policy, Volume 127〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Jong Ho Hong, Jitae Kim, Wonik Son, Heeyoung Shin, Nahyun Kim, Woong Ki Lee, Jintae Kim〈/p〉 〈h5〉Abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉〈p〉This study aims to provide roadmaps for the sustainable development of South Korea's energy system. To this end, this study developed transition scenarios toward renewable energy for both supply and demand. We use “Long-range Energy Alternatives Planning system (LEAP)” Model and a backcasting approach to illustrate pathways to achieve the goals set forth in each of the scenarios. The four scenarios developed are Business-As-Usual (BAU), Moderate Transition Scenario (MTS), Advanced Transition Scenario (ATS), and Visionary Transition Scenario (VTS). The scenarios are defined according to the differences in the level of final energy consumption and renewable energy share by 2050. Analysis shows an increase in the percentage of renewable energy and a decrease in energy demand lead to improved energy security, more jobs in the electricity generation sector, and a decrease in greenhouse gas emissions. The pathways represented by these scenarios can be regarded as strategic targets for the sustainable development of South Korea's energy system. A set of comprehensive and long-term policies will be needed to attain the goals set forth in the scenarios.〈/p〉〈/div〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: December 2019〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Energy Policy, Volume 135〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Will Gorman, Andrew Mills, Ryan Wiser〈/p〉 〈div xml:lang="en"〉 〈h5〉Abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉〈p〉Estimating the overall costs of transmission needed to integrate variable renewable energy (VRE) onto the grid is challenging. An improved understanding of these transmission costs would support electricity system planning as VRE penetrations increase. This paper brackets VRE transmission capital costs using multiple approaches based on interconnection studies, actual transmission projects, capacity-expansion simulation models, and aggregated U.S. VRE-related transmission expenditures. Each approach possesses advantages and drawbacks, and combining the approaches lends confidence to the results. The resulting range of average levelized VRE transmission costs is $1–$10/MWh, which is generally lower than earlier estimates in the literature. These transmission capital costs can increase the direct plant-level levelized cost of VRE by 3%–33%, based on levelized costs of energy of $29–$56/MWh for utility-scale wind and $36–$46/MWh for utility-scale solar. As VRE deployment continues to expand, policy makers can use this information to (1) assess the benefits of transmission avoidance and deferral when comparing distributed energy resources versus utility-scale projects, (2) evaluate the potential costs of large-scale public transmission investments, and (3) better analyze system-level costs of utility-scale VRE technologies. Future research can expand on the framework presented here by providing a review of operation and maintenance costs for transmission systems.〈/p〉〈/div〉 〈/div〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: December 2019〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Energy Policy, Volume 135〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Shu Yang, Peng Cheng, Jun Li, Shanyong Wang〈/p〉 〈div xml:lang="en"〉 〈h5〉Abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉〈p〉As a sustainable innovation in transport sector, electric vehicles (EVs) have shown great potential in reducing carbon emissions and pollution. Understanding the factors affecting consumers' adoption intentions of EVs is vital to the diffusion of EVs. This study aims to identify factors that can encourage consumers to adopt EVs from both internal and external perspectives. We examined three types of policies for EVs formulated by the Chinese government since 2010. Aiming to understand consumers' perceptions of these policies and their impacts on adoption intentions, a survey was sent to potential vehicle consumers in urban China. The survey asked respondents about their cognitions of EVs, including environmental performance and vehicle property, and their perceptions toward three types of incentive policies and their adoption intentions. Results show that consumers' adoption intentions of EVs are determined by product cognition toward EVs and perceptions of incentive policies. Respondents’ perceptions of policies are also diverse when grouped according to different demographic characteristics. Women, the elders, and those with lower income exhibit higher acceptance and interest in the policies than their counterparts. Our results are meaningful to policy makers and companies interested in targeting at certain groups and guiding consumers toward clean vehicle technologies.〈/p〉〈/div〉 〈/div〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: November 2019〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Energy Policy, Volume 134〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Helen Viggers, Michael Keall, Philippa Howden-Chapman, Kristin Wickens, Tristram Ingham, Cheryl Davies, Ralph Chapman, Julian Crane〈/p〉 〈div xml:lang="en"〉 〈h5〉Abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉〈p〉The aim of this paper is to examine the effect of receiving a voucher for electricity on the electricity use of a household. The Warm Homes for Elder New Zealanders Study was a randomised controlled trial which gave participants aged over 55 with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease a voucher providing NZ$500 credit to their electricity account for one winter. Electricity use increased over the winter the participant received the voucher. Participants with lower initial electricity use increased their consumption by about 10%, those with medium- or high-initial use by 2–3%. However, most participants did not use the entire value of the voucher on additional electricity. The study involved only a small informational component: this consisted of a brochure sent to the participants to encourage them to increase their energy use. This was designed to mimic the effects of a possible widespread rollout of this programme. The policy implication of this analysis is that a winter energy voucher accompanied by minimal education was effective at increasing winter energy use among a vulnerable sub-population with a health condition that merited additional heating in winter.〈/p〉〈/div〉 〈/div〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: November 2019〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Energy Policy, Volume 134〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): J. Wesley Burnett, L. Lynne Kiesling〈/p〉 〈div xml:lang="en"〉 〈h5〉Abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉〈p〉In August 2018, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed a new policy – the Affordable Clean Energy rule – to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from existing coal-fired electric generating units and power plants. The new rule establishes emissions guidelines, including heat-rate efficiency improvements, for states when developing plans to limit GHG emissions. Past studies have indicated that heat-rate efficiency improvements can increase electricity output, leading to a reduction in emissions rates and an increase in emissions levels – a rebound effect that can temper the emissions-reduction benefits of plant-level heat-rate efficiency. This study adds to the literature by examining data on the relationship of plant-level heat-rate efficiency on the rate and level of GHG emissions. We explored three different types of GHGs – carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide. Controlling for variation across operators, our results suggest that gains in heat-rate efficiency are associated with higher levels of all three pollutants. Specifically, we found that a ten percent increase in heat-rate efficiency led to an average seven-to-nine percent increase in the level of GHG emissions. Our analysis highlights the need to further study the full effects of heat-rate efficiency policies before such rules are enacted.〈/p〉〈/div〉 〈/div〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: November 2019〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Energy Policy, Volume 134〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Kieran Harrahill, Owen Douglas〈/p〉 〈div xml:lang="en"〉 〈h5〉Abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉〈p〉The rhetoric of the ‘just transition’ lies at the heart of energy and development policies internationally. In this context, it is crucial that communities dependent on fossil fuel extraction and production for employment do not become ‘victims’ of the decarbonisation process. This paper involves a theoretically and conceptually grounded comparative analysis of policy measures that have been introduced in three first world jurisdictions which have been dependent on coal for employment – North Rhine-Westphalia in Germany, Alberta in Canada and Victoria in Australia. In so doing, measures which have successfully ameliorated the socio-economic well-being of coal dependent communities are identified and a framework for successful just transition is proposed. Recognising, but notwithstanding, inherent power dynamics, the framework identifies an important role for government in assisting workers and communities in navigating the transition process and in supporting new and emerging low-carbon industries in the context of ‘strong’ sustainable development.〈/p〉〈/div〉 〈/div〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: November 2019〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Energy Policy, Volume 134〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Verena Višković, Yihsu Chen, Afzal S. Siddiqui, Makoto Tanaka〈/p〉 〈div xml:lang="en"〉 〈h5〉Abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉〈p〉Interconnected regional electricity markets are often subject to asymmetric carbon policies with partial coverage for CO〈sub〉2〈/sub〉 emissions. While the resulting problem of carbon leakage has been well studied, its mitigation has received relatively less attention. We devise a proactive carbon policy via a bi-level modelling approach by considering the impact of an emission cap that limits the cost of damage from a regional power market. In particular, a welfare-maximising policymaker sets the cap when facing profit-maximising producers and the damage costs from their emissions at two nodes. A partial-coverage policy could degrade maximised social welfare and increase total regional CO〈sub〉2〈/sub〉 emissions with potential for carbon leakage due to a higher nodal price difference. A modified carbon policy that considers CO〈sub〉2〈/sub〉 emissions from both nodes tightens the cap, which increases maximised social welfare and decreases total CO〈sub〉2〈/sub〉 emissions vis-à-vis the partial-coverage policy, albeit at the cost of greater scope for carbon leakage as it causes nodal prices to diverge. As a compromise, an import-coverage policy, implemented by California, that counts only domestic and imported CO〈sub〉2〈/sub〉 emissions could alleviate carbon leakage at the cost of lower maximised social welfare with higher total emissions vis-à-vis the modified-coverage policy.〈/p〉〈/div〉 〈/div〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: November 2019〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Energy Policy, Volume 134〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Bangzhu Zhu, Mengfan Zhang, Yanhua Zhou, Ping Wang, Jichuan Sheng, Kaijian He, Yi-Ming Wei, Rui Xie〈/p〉 〈div xml:lang="en"〉 〈h5〉Abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉〈p〉Industrial structure adjustment is one of the effective measures for achieving green development. Aiming at improving green development efficiency through industrial structure adjustment, this study proposes a novel integrated approach incorporating industrial structure adjustment measurement, super-efficiency slacks-based measure with undesirable outputs and panel regression models to explore the effect of industrial structure adjustment on green development efficiency. Taking the provincial data of China from 1999 to 2016 as an example, the empirical results show that during the study period, China's provincial industrial structure rationalizations and advancements have three trends, i.e. rising, U-shaped and inverted U-shaped. In the meantime, China's provincial green development efficiency also has three trends, i.e. rising, falling and U-shaped. Industrial structure rationalization and advancement both have a positive effect on green development efficiency. Compared with the industrial structure rationalization, the advancement has a greater effect on green development efficiency. Environmental protection, urbanization, energy conservation and emission reduction policy are conducive to improving green development efficiency. However, human capital and openness have a negative effect on green development efficiency.〈/p〉〈/div〉 〈/div〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: November 2019〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Energy Policy, Volume 134〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): C.K. Woo, I. Milstein, A. Tishler, J. Zarnikau〈/p〉 〈div xml:lang="en"〉 〈h5〉Abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉〈p〉Using reliability differentiation via tolling agreements with diverse heat rates and fuel types, we propose an efficient wholesale electricity market design under demand and supply uncertainty. Mainly based on North America's market experience, our proposed design adopts an independent system operator's (ISO's) existing practice of least-cost dispatch of heterogeneous generation units, real-time energy price determination and capacity rationing. It solves the missing money problem of inadequate incentive for thermal generation investment, without requiring the ISO to operate centralized capacity auctions, make capacity payments, set high energy price caps, or subsidize market entry. It preempts independent power producers' price manipulation in the ISO's real-time market for energy, thus easing the ISO's burden of market monitoring. It suggests two-part pricing of end-use consumption and power demand of a load serving entity's retail customers, thus meaningfully linking the wholesale and retail markets. It is applicable to countries that have implemented wholesale competition or are in the process of doing so. Hence, its policy implication is that it should be considered in the ongoing debate of electricity reliability and market competition.〈/p〉〈/div〉 〈/div〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: November 2019〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Energy Policy, Volume 134〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Leigh Raymond〈/p〉 〈div xml:lang="en"〉 〈h5〉Abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉〈p〉How can governments build political support for carbon pricing? This question has challenged policy designers since the earliest programs imposing new prices on pollution, and remains a vital question today. This perspective offers insights on strategies for building greater political support for carbon pricing, based on previous experiences with long-running “auction and invest” programs in the U.S. and abroad, including the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), California's carbon pricing system, and the EU emissions trading system (ETS). Three key insights can be derived from those experiences. First: cap and trade with an auction of allowances is an important option for carbon pricing with distinctive advantages. Second, it is important to generate 〈em〉tangible public benefits〈/em〉 from a carbon price that are distributed among citizens in a way that is broadly perceived as fair and addresses potential concerns about higher consumer costs for energy. Third, the most effective form of those public benefits should vary predictably across a few clearly defined categories according to local circumstances.〈/p〉〈/div〉 〈/div〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: November 2019〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Energy Policy, Volume 134〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Ben Hoen, Jeremy Firestone, Joseph Rand, Debi Elliot, Gundula Hübner, Johannes Pohl, Ryan Wiser, Eric Lantz, T. Ryan Haac, Ken Kaliski〈/p〉 〈div xml:lang="en"〉 〈h5〉Abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉〈p〉Experts predict continuing deployment of wind turbines in the United States, which will create more interactions between turbines and surrounding communities. Policymakers can benefit from analyses of existing wind projects that enable them to better understand likely effects on residents around proposed projects. Our analysis of a randomly drawn, representative national survey of 1705 existing U.S. wind project neighbors provides previously unavailable detail about factors influencing the attitudes of these neighbors toward their local wind projects. Overall, we find positive-leaning attitudes, which improve over time as individuals self-select into communities near existing wind projects. Hearing wind turbines leads to less-positive attitudes, although living very near to turbines does not, nor does seeing wind turbines. In fact, our findings suggest complex relationships among nearby residents’ attitudes, their perceptions about the particular fit of turbines within their landscape and community, and their perceptions of wind project impacts on property values. These findings—along with the positive correlation between perceived planning-process fairness and attitude—suggest areas of focus for wind project development that may influence social outcomes and acceptance of wind energy. The concluding discussion provides a number of policy and future research recommendations based on the research.〈/p〉〈/div〉 〈/div〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: November 2019〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Energy Policy, Volume 134〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Zhongfei Chen, Wanjing Huang, Xian Zheng〈/p〉 〈div xml:lang="en"〉 〈h5〉Abstract:〈/h5〉 〈div〉〈p〉Global energy intensity has decreased significantly during the past two decades. Against this background, this study aims to investigate a novel relationship between development of the financial system (financial development) and energy intensity and explore the underlying mechanisms influencing the relationship between these two indicators. Using long-term country-level data and a two-way fixed-effect model, this study reveals that financial development exerts a significant negative effect on energy intensity for non-OECD countries. However, financial development has a limited impact on energy reduction for OECD countries as a result of the mature financial systems of these developed economies. The estimated results are robust for various specifications. In addition, we reveal a U-shaped relationship between financial development and energy intensity in developing countries. Our results suggest that the influence of financial development on energy intensity reduction can be achieved through technological progress and innovation. Our findings suggest that stimulating financial development is an efficient way to reduce national energy intensity, and specific long-term policies must be established in order to balance the trade-off between financial development, economic growth, and energy intensity.〈/p〉〈/div〉 〈/div〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: December 2019〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Energy Policy, Volume 135〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Rüdiger Goldschmidt, Andreas Richter, Raphael Pfeil〈/p〉 〈div xml:lang="en"〉 〈h5〉Abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉〈p〉Derived from a field research lab, this article contributes empirical results to the discussion on how communication and governance strategies can be effectively developed to promote the electrification of the taxi business (e-taxi business). The conceptual section indicates the relevance of this discussion. Based on multi-method research, a main finding is that, besides the relevant discussions on the technical aspects, organisational and social development tasks should be considered. Communication and governance strategies have to be flexibly adapted to the dynamics, uncertainties and especially heterogeneities raised by the specific settings. Thus active, deliberative and long-term stakeholder involvement based on an effective project network of capable organisations constitutes a central success factor and resource for developing a working e-taxi fleet in a conventionally orientated traffic environment. The article develops general and specific recommendations on how this can be designed and implemented. Based on empirical social research on attitudes and perceptions, for instance, existing user typologies will be elaborated upon. This supports the communication used for attracting entrepreneurs to participate in a planned developmental project and for involving entrepreneurs during the endeavour in his running stage. The article also presents organisational measures on how taxi companies coped with technical or infrastructural flaws.〈/p〉〈/div〉 〈/div〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: December 2019〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Energy Policy, Volume 135〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Jan Martin Specht, Reinhard Madlener〈/p〉 〈div xml:lang="en"〉 〈h5〉Abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉〈p〉The ongoing digitalization of the energy sector opens up opportunities for novel business models which can help to overcome some of the challenges accompanying the sustainable energy transition. One necessity in a more decentralized energy system with high shares of intermittent renewables is the provision of flexibility. This paper empirically applies the business model generation approach of Osterwalder and Pigneur (2010) in order to enhance our understanding of these transition challenges. The insights gained indicate that the focus of business models in the electricity supply market has to switch to a customer-driven perspective. To this end, the conceptual business model of an “Energy Supplier 2.0” as a dedicated aggregator of flexible capacities on the household level is investigated, showing how a specific new energy business model can tap the potential of distributed flexible energy assets. We find that the aggregation of the inherent economic potentials of these flexibilities is suitable to provide additional revenue streams, support grid operators, and promote customers to become “prosumers”. Despite these promising advantages, we find in the case of Germany that the current regulation and policies need to be adapted to achieve a broader diffusion of this type of business model and offer suggestions on the implementation.〈/p〉〈/div〉 〈/div〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: December 2019〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Energy Policy, Volume 135〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Hae-In Cho, Alisa Freyre, Meinrad Bürer, Martin K. Patel〈/p〉 〈div xml:lang="en"〉 〈h5〉Abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉〈p〉In the Swiss canton of Geneva, an energy efficiency portfolio has been operated since 2009. In contrast, such programs have been in place for more than 40 years in the US. There are numerous lessons to be learnt from their experience. We have therefore conducted a comparative analysis including Geneva and 11 leading states in the US, with the objective to identify explanatory factors for the success of energy efficiency programs. First, we compared total investment in energy efficiency programs between 2006 and 2015 and public policies related to energy efficiency in each state. Second, we analyzed the levelized cost of saved energy (LCSE) of the programs from the perspective of program administrators. Our cost-effectiveness analysis showed that the program investment scale has been strongly influenced by i) the existence of public mandates, which require program administrators to set ambitious targets and maximize their investment in cost-effective energy efficiency measures, ii) financial instruments that ensure program expenditure to be recovered, and iii) complementary funding from other programs. Moreover, learning and accumulated experience of the program administrators allow to reduce the LCSE. We conclude that the combination of financial instruments with public mandates can ensure a high level of effectiveness.〈/p〉〈/div〉 〈/div〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: June 2019〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Energy Policy, Volume 129〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Gilbert E. Metcalf〈/p〉 〈div xml:lang="en"〉 〈h5〉Abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉〈p〉This paper surveys energy policy in the United States from a distributional perspective. Focusing on the distributional impacts of energy taxes is too narrow a framework. The United States relies much more heavily on regulation than taxation to address energy-related market failures. It argues that most regulatory policies and tax subsidies to achieve energy policy goals are regressive. This includes fuel economy standards, EV purchase incentives, and energy efficiency tax incentives. In contrast, a carbon tax is likely to be progressive, even when ignoring the use of revenue. The view that carbon taxes are regressive stems from an incomplete distributional analysis that assumes all impacts arise from increases in the costs of consumer goods and services. Recent analyses have emphasized the importance of impacts on sources of income. In particular, a carbon tax is likely to reduce returns to capital more than wages. With capital disproportionately held by higher income households, this differential factor income effect is progressive. In addition, transfer income, more important for lower income households, tends to be indexed and so contributes to a carbon tax's progressivity. How carbon tax revenue is used can add even greater progressivity to a carbon tax reform.〈/p〉〈/div〉 〈/div〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: June 2019〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Energy Policy, Volume 129〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Håvard Haarstad, Marikken W. Wathne〈/p〉 〈div xml:lang="en"〉 〈h5〉Abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉〈p〉The purpose of this paper is to investigate the links between smart cities and urban energy sustainability. Because achieving a “smart city” is a wide agenda rather than a specific set of interventions, smartness itself cannot easily be measured or quantifiably assessed. Instead, we understand smart cities to be a broad framework of strategies pursued by urban actors, and ask whether and how smart city projects catalyze urban energy sustainability. We use case studies of three cities (Nottingham, Stavanger, and Stockholm) funded by the Horizon 2020 Smart Cities and Communities program and examine how urban energy sustainability was advanced and realized through the smart city initiatives. We find first that while sustainability is not always a major objective of local implementation of smart city projects, the smartness agenda nevertheless increases the ambition to achieve energy sustainability targets. Second, the sustainability measures in smart cities are rarely driven by advanced technology, even though the smart city agenda is framed around such innovations. Third, there is significant sustainability potential in cross-sectoral integration, but there are unresolved challenges of accountability for and measurability of these gains.〈/p〉〈/div〉 〈/div〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: June 2019〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Energy Policy, Volume 129〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Keri L. Phillips, Donald W. Hine, Wendy J. Phillips〈/p〉 〈div xml:lang="en"〉 〈h5〉Abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉〈p〉This study investigated how projected electricity prices and personal values influence public support for a 50% renewable energy target (RET) in Australia. In an online experiment, 404 participants rated their support for a 50% RET across eight projected increases in their quarterly power bills. Multi-level modelling indicated that: (1) support for the 50% RET fell as the projected price of electricity increased, (2) although participants with low self-enhancement values and high self-transcendent values were most supportive of the 50% RET, these value-based differences disappeared as projected electricity prices increased. Implications of these findings for energy policy design are discussed.〈/p〉〈/div〉 〈/div〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: June 2019〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Energy Policy, Volume 129〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Yanfei Li, Youngho Chang〈/p〉 〈div xml:lang="en"〉 〈h5〉Abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉〈p〉Electrification of road transport (or electric mobility) has progressed beyond the demonstration stage, with many Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) members increasingly interested in it. This study starts with a survey of all ASEAN countries' vehicle fleets, fuel consumption and share, fuel mix in power generation, among others. The potential of electrifying fleets, including passenger vehicles, buses, and trucks – the main consumers of fossil fuel in road transport – is estimated in 2040 scenarios. How electric mobility enhances energy security is assessed using the 4A framework: availability, applicability, acceptability, and affordability of energy. The findings reveal intensive interaction of electrification of road transport with the introduction of higher fuel economy standards and higher integration of renewable energy into the power sector.〈/p〉〈/div〉 〈/div〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: June 2019〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Energy Policy, Volume 129〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Stephanie A. Malin, Adam Mayer, James L. Crooks, Lisa McKenzie, Jennifer L. Peel, John L. Adgate〈/p〉 〈h5〉Abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉〈p〉Unconventional oil and gas technologies—such as hydraulic fracturing—have drastically increased the volume of oil and gas produced in the U.S., while simultaneously bringing drilling closer to residential areas. We examine quality of life impacts of unconventional oil and gas production, arguing that how people perceive its local effects is rooted in their political identities. Using survey data from three northern Colorado communities, we employ counterfactual mediation methods to understand relationships between political identity, perceived socio-environmental and community changes from oil and gas development, and self-reported quality of life. We find significant differences in how people perceive local development based upon political identity, whereby Tea Party supporters see little negative impact, and in turn are likely to believe that local development improves their quality of life. At the other extreme, Democrats perceive more negative community changes from oil and gas development and are more apt to believe that it reduces their quality of life. Republicans who do not support the Tea Party and political independents hold more mixed views. Overall, our analysis suggests that people's perceptions of local energy development and how it matters for their quality of life is, to some degree, a function of their political identities.〈/p〉〈/div〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: June 2019〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Energy Policy, Volume 129〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Wolfgang Buchholz, Lisa Dippl, Michael Eichenseer〈/p〉 〈div xml:lang="en"〉 〈h5〉Abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉〈p〉Leadership in Climate Policy is usually associated with leading by example in mitigation efforts whereas little attention has been paid to leadership in climate-friendly technological progress. We point out that pioneering activities that create reliable demand such as Germany's feed-in tariff for solar energy constitute such technological leadership. Based on global learning curves, we argue that the enormous reduction of prices for photovoltaic modules is due to demand side interventions like Germany's EEG and related international technology diffusion and policy transfer, especially to China. For the German case, we calculate that the costs of incentivizing this technological progress through the EEG add up to a range between 112.34 and 122.18 Bn Euro (based on a thought experiment of a hypothetical new entrant in 2014).〈/p〉〈/div〉 〈/div〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: June 2019〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Energy Policy, Volume 129〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Geeta Lakshmi, Simon Tilley〈/p〉 〈div xml:lang="en"〉 〈h5〉Abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉 〈p〉We explore how a community renewable energy enterprise may monitor and improve its functioning by using a quantitative model.〈/p〉 〈p〉This model is designed to reflect the desired objectives of the community in terms of the overall returns to the enterprise's environmental, financial and social stakeholders. Since a community renewable energy enterprise is part of a broader class of small, social enterprises, based on local intention, action and control, the ideas on which this model is based may be useful to other similar firms.〈/p〉 〈p〉The conceptualisation of the model depends not only on extant literature, but also the need for the enterprise to be effective, democratic and display ethical values. Thus, it has to be firmly embedded in its members' lived experiences.〈/p〉 〈p〉The use of the model is illustrated through data, over an eight-year period, from Sustainable Hockerton Ltd.'s (2018) financial accounts, spreadsheets on electricity production, minutes of meetings and industry reports. Two types of indicators: RoSC and CoSC are identified. The model facilitates choices related to energy use; in this sense it affects the national energy policy and is also affected by it. The model may lead to changes in the manner funding bodies support local initiatives.〈/p〉 〈/div〉 〈/div〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: June 2019〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Energy Policy, Volume 129〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Michelle Graff, Maureen Pirog〈/p〉 〈div xml:lang="en"〉 〈h5〉Abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉〈p〉Many social welfare programs, including the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) consider both income and assets to determine assistance eligibility. LIHEAP is historically an underfunded block grant program that helps low-income households pay their utility bills. LIHEAP's eligibility requirements, including the presence of an asset test, are at the discretion of the state. Asset tests are included in welfare programs to limit abuse of the benefit; however, the literature suggests that building assets is important to overall well-being. Using a generalized difference-in-difference model, we evaluate the effect of eliminating an asset test on LIHEAP's participation rates and administration costs. We find that the inclusion of an asset test reduces program participation in a regressive manner, hurting the lowest-income households the most, and increases average administrative costs of program operations. On average, we estimate that the elimination of asset tests would allow each state that retained an asset test to heat an additional 9097 households in 2014. Therefore, LIHEAP's asset tests may divert resources that could be used to assist low-income households. In the absence of expanding LIHEAP funding, we recommend eliminating asset tests and lowering the income-eligibility thresholds so that existing funds can be targeted to the lowest-income households.〈/p〉〈/div〉 〈/div〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: June 2019〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Energy Policy, Volume 129〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Lukáš Lehotský, Filip Černoch, Jan Osička, Petr Ocelík〈/p〉 〈div xml:lang="en"〉 〈h5〉Abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉〈p〉One of the EU's main decarbonization goals is a reduction in the energy use of coal. It would be a mistake, however, to assume that public support for decarbonization can be gained automatically by pointing out threats from climate change, particularly in light of the role coal plays in the local and national economy and in energy security. In this article we search for factors affecting public support for a coal phase-out in media content. According to the theory of 〈em〉agenda setting〈/em〉, the media establishes problems calling for solutions and influences public perceptions of the (un)importance of those problems. We illustrate this case on the example of the Czech Republic. The paper demonstrates that Czech media has cultivated a discursive environment in which coal mining is separated from coal combustion, neglecting the inevitable interconnection of these two processes; coal consumption is not characterized as an environmental problem; and the economic problems of private companies more easily become public problems, making future coal phase-out policies harder to implement.〈/p〉〈/div〉 〈/div〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: June 2019〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Energy Policy, Volume 129〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Mohammad Javad Saket, Abbas Maleki, Erfan Doroudgar Hezaveh, Mohammad Sadegh Karimi〈/p〉 〈div xml:lang="en"〉 〈h5〉Abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉〈p〉The transportation sector is one of the sustainable development wheels that requires a lot of energy to operate, therefore it is concerned as one of the main factors in greenhouse gas emissions and global warming. In Iran, like rest of the world, the light-duty vehicles are the effective factors in the pollution of the metropolitan cities. Although the management of their fuel consumption is a vital action in decreasing the cost and air pollution, that's inextricable link with the public welfare and the economy of the car manufacturers creates barriers. An accurate analysis concerning the barriers to reducing the fuel consumption can be obtained by using the game theory method in the light-duty vehicles. For this purpose, the effective factors including the people, car manufacturer and government are modeled and their utility are considered. By examining the relationships among the players and their actions we can conclude that the penalty option can significantly help the management of the fuel consumption. Also, forcing the government to lend to the car manufacturer to improve the fuel consumption of motor vehicles reduces fuel consumption. In addition, standard setting for the average fuel consumption of the producing cars should be staged and stepped.〈/p〉〈/div〉 〈/div〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: June 2019〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Energy Policy, Volume 129〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Thomas Bauwens〈/p〉 〈div xml:lang="en"〉 〈h5〉Abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉〈p〉Community renewable energy initiatives are increasingly recognized as important actors to trigger citizen investments in renewable energy facilities. Little is known, however, about the factors that determine the size of financial investments made by community renewable energy members. To address this gap, this paper presents a multivariate econometric analysis of the economic, social, environmental and institutional determinants of the size of investments in community renewable energy. It relies on a large-scale survey of 4061 members of two renewable energy cooperatives located in Flanders, in the northern part of Belgium. Results show that the return on investment is the most important determinant for members of large communities of interest, while environmental, social and other non-economic drivers tend to dominate financial motives for members of smaller communities of place. The presence of other cooperative members in close social networks plays a particularly important role in the latter kind of communities, highlighting the strength of social interactions as a driver for investments. These results can help policy-makers to design more adapted policy measures for fostering financial investments at the community level, and project developers to tailor segmented communication strategies about the goals and benefits of projects.〈/p〉〈/div〉 〈/div〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: June 2019〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Energy Policy, Volume 129〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Chengjiang Li, Michael Negnevitsky, Xiaolin Wang, Wen Long Yue, Xin Zou〈/p〉 〈div xml:lang="en"〉 〈h5〉Abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉〈p〉To resolve socioeconomic and environmental issues caused by vehicular emissions, the Chinese government has developed a series of policies for promoting clean energy vehicles (CEVs), which can be powered by electricity, gas, ethanol or methanol. Effective implementation of these policies requires a comprehensive evaluation of CEVs. Decision-makers need to take into account multiple criteria such as energy performance, energy cost, vehicular emission, market acceptance and energy security. This paper proposes a decision support model, which applies multi-criteria analysis to prioritize CEVs existing and to be launched on the Chinese market. Government officials, academic researchers and industrial executives are interviewed to select and rank criteria for optimizing decision-making using the Analytic Hierarchy Process and the VIKOR optimization techniques. Thirty-five experts have been interviewed for prioritizing four categories of CEVs including electric, gas, methanol and ethanol vehicles from both the national and provincial perspectives. Results demonstrate that electric vehicles represent the highest ranking, followed by gas, methanol and ethanol vehicles. The proposed model has been validated using statistical data and existing government policies. The proposed multi-criteria analysis can be used for advising decision-makers in the area of clean energy vehicles.〈/p〉〈/div〉 〈/div〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: June 2019〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Energy Policy, Volume 129〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Björn Carlén, Anna Dahlqvist, Svante Mandell, Pelle Marklund〈/p〉 〈div xml:lang="en"〉 〈h5〉Abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉〈p〉Beginning in 2023, allowances held in the market stability reserve of the EU ETS above the number of allowances auctioned the previous year will be cancelled. In this paper, we analyse the consequences of this new cancellation mechanism. Using numerical analysis, we show that additional national abatement measures now have the potential to reduce total EU ETS emissions. A key insight is that, for this to happen, domestic emission reductions must occur early. How early depends crucially on how the future demand for allowances evolve. To facilitate an understanding of the rather complex system the reformed EU ETS constitutes, we present a series of extensions to the analysis to show how the results are affected by, for example, future emission levels, technological development, optimising agents and speculative trading in allowances.〈/p〉〈/div〉 〈/div〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: June 2019〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Energy Policy, Volume 129〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Rolando Fuentes, Jorge Blazquez, Iqbal Adjali〈/p〉 〈div xml:lang="en"〉 〈h5〉Abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉 〈p〉Distributed energy resource technologies (DERs) allow consumers to generate, trade, reduce, and shift their electricity consumption, largely bypassing traditional utilities. DERs can reduce consumer reliance on the grid, and in the most extreme scenario self-sufficient consumers could disconnect from the grid and avoid all external charges. However, since most DERs delivers energy, but not reliable capacity, it would be in the interests of most of these consumers to stay connected to the networks, in the event their system fails. Such a ‘pay as you go’ price scheme would not reflect the opportunity cost of electricity firms' sudden idle infrastructure though.〈/p〉 〈p〉This paper proposes a market mechanism that can ameliorate these distortions. We flesh out a solution based on the creation of a market of risk, enabled by a reassignment of property rights, where utilities trade reliability insurance services to households to protect them against the failure of their own DER system. Creating such an insurance market would allow customers to reflect their preference for reliability and pay accordingly.〈/p〉 〈/div〉 〈/div〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: June 2019〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Energy Policy, Volume 129〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Roberto Antonietti, Fulvio Fontini〈/p〉 〈div xml:lang="en"〉 〈h5〉Abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉〈p〉In this paper, we analyze the relationship between energy intensity and energy price in a panel of 120 countries over 34 years, from 1980 to 2013. We use information on energy intensity and real oil price, and merge it with macroeconomic data on the countries' structural characteristics. We assess their long-run relationship and direction of causality using panel cointegration tests and dynamic panel data models. We identify a statistically significant, but weak negative effect of real oil price on energy intensity, which corresponds to a positive effect of energy price on energy efficiency. We also show significant, large regional differences in this relationship. We thus posit that a global policy aimed at increasing the price of oil would induce a limited increase in average energy efficiency through a more efficient use of energy, but this increase would differ considerably across regions around the world.〈/p〉〈/div〉 〈/div〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: June 2019〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Energy Policy, Volume 129〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Daria Shapovalova, Kathrin Stephen〈/p〉 〈h5〉Abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉〈p〉Despite the expectation of potentially vast petroleum resources in the offshore Arctic over the last decade, actual exploration and production rates are rather low. As of today, there are only two producing oil fields and one natural gas field in production. While technical challenges and a low oil price are among the explaining factors, the legal regimes for awarding licenses in Arctic waters may have a significant impact on industry interest as well. Offshore licensing regimes in Arctic countries range from State-centric in Russia to market-based in the United States. Further, some States developed additional requirements for companies wishing to operate in the Arctic waters. This paper examines the interconnections between the legal regimes for offshore licenses and the rates of industry activity in petroleum development in Arctic waters. It does so by devising an analytical comparative framework for the licensing regimes across five Arctic States. The results are then analysed in the context of actual exploration and production rates in Arctic waters. The analysis sheds light on the role of licensing regimes on the level of industry interest and corresponding exploration and production rates.〈/p〉〈/div〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: June 2019〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Energy Policy, Volume 129〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Joao Tovar Jalles〈/p〉 〈div xml:lang="en"〉 〈h5〉Abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉〈p〉In this paper, we empirically assess by means of the local projection method, the impact of different types of financial crises on a variety of pollutant emissions categories for a sample of 86 countries between 1980 and 2012. We find that financial crises in general lead to a fall in CO2 and methane emissions. When hit by a debt crisis, a country experiences a rise in emissions stemming from either energy related activities or industrial processes. During periods of slack, financial crises in general had a positive impact on both methane and nitrous oxide emissions. If a financial crisis hit an economy when it was engaging in contractionary fiscal policies, this led to a negative response of CO2 and production-based emissions.〈/p〉〈/div〉 〈/div〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: June 2019〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Energy Policy, Volume 129〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Felipe de Albuquerque Sgarbi, Alexandre Uhlig, André Felipe Simões, José Goldemberg〈/p〉 〈div xml:lang="en"〉 〈h5〉Abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉〈p〉Hydropower plants (HPPs) have played a key role in the Brazilian electric sector for over a century. As the different options for the generation of electricity are being increasingly scrutinized in terms of their sustainability, the assessment of the social, economic and environmental impacts has become a strategic factor to support investment decisions geared to expand the power supply. In this study, the construction and operation of a large group of Brazilian HPPs with over 100 MW of installed power was assessed based on the econometric analyses of 28 municipal indicators related to social, economic and environmental issues. Despite the broad variety of indicators analyzed, some environmental interferences typically attributed to HPPs such as a reduction in biodiversity and the interruption of fish migration routes were not assessed due to the lack of indicators. Overall, the study shows that the construction and operation of HPPs benefits mainly the economic activities. On the other hand, the indicators related to public health and safety, including the incidence of water-borne diseases and tropical parasitosis, bear no relation with the analyzed processes, except for the human fertility factor. In terms of Education, one of the indicators declined both during construction and operation stage.〈/p〉〈/div〉 〈/div〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: June 2019〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Energy Policy, Volume 129〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Laurent Gazull, Denis Gautier, Pierre Montagne〈/p〉 〈div xml:lang="en"〉 〈h5〉Abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉〈p〉In West Africa, household energy transition has so far mainly been synonymous with the conversion from woodfuel to LPG. This paper analyses the failure of 30 years of household energy transition policies in Mali by combining two major frameworks: Multi-Level Perspective (MLP) and Social Practice Theory (SPT). Based on empirical field studies undertaken in Bamako since 1985 and on literature review, two historical narratives are presented, one focusing on the dynamics of the dominant woodfuel regime and the other on changes in cooking practices. The MLP analysis showed that all elements seemed aligned for destabilization of the dominant regime, yet the woodfuel regime has resisted and is maintained. The SPT analysis showed that the stability of cooking, eating and fuel purchasing practices did not converge towards and even opposed the transition to LPG. This paper shows that the MLP and SPT frameworks offer complementary perspectives for understanding transitions in developing countries. It concludes that the definition and implementation of energy policies need to integrate an analysis of daily practices and should consider that energy transition is not synonymous with the replacement of one fuel by another, but with new opportunities to diversify ways of cooking.〈/p〉〈/div〉 〈/div〉