China is on the verge of launching what is expected to be the world’s largest carbon dioxide
(CO2) emissions trading system (ETS). When fully implemented, this program will likely
double the share of the world’s greenhouse gases covered by cap and trade.1 Under current
plans, the facilities covered by the program will eventually account for over 50 percent of China’s
GHG emissions. Internationally, much seems to be riding on this program. If perceived
as successful, it could serve as a model for other countries wishing to implement an ETS. If
viewed as a failure, it could impede the adoption of emissions trading programs in many parts
of the world.
Volume 6
Consumers or prosumers, customers or competitors? – Some Australian perspectives on possible energy users of the future
Governance arrangements for electricity industries commonly claim the interests of consumers as their paramount objective. This would suggest a key decision making role for energy users, in all their diversity. However, the industry’s critical role in societal, welfare, large environmental impacts, and the challenges of ensuring it’s secure and reliable operation, all represent key shared…
Prosumage of solar electricity: pros, cons, and the system perspective
We examine the role of prosumage of solar electricity, i.e. PV self-generation combined with distributed storage, in the context of the low-carbon energy transformation. First, we devise a qualitative account of arguments in favor of and against prosumage. Second, we give an overview of prosumage in Germany. Prosumage will likely gain momentum as support payments…
Lessons learned from China’s regional carbon market pilots
This paper gives an overview of the performance of China’s seven regional carbon market pilots and the range of approaches they have used. We assessed the outcomes of these pilots using publicly available secondary market trading data. The differences in market performance are explained by the design of key market elements such as emission allowances,…
Key issues in designing China’s national carbon emissions trading system
The design of China’s national carbon emissions trading system (ETS) has been shaped by major considerations including the significant disparities that exist between the different regions of the country, concerns about possible impacts of the ETS on the economy, the continuously evolving policy environment, and the need to divide responsibilities appropriately among relevant authorities. To…
Incentivizing firm compliance with China’s national emissions trading system
When it launches in 2017, China’s CO2 emissions trading system (ETS) will cover the largest CO2 emissions volume of any system to date and be among the very first to launch in a developing country. We evaluate the potential of an ETS to alter the emitting behavior of covered firms and to support the achievement…
Book Reviews
Letter to the Editor: Letter on Kempa and Moslener (EEEP 6(1))
The Future of Russian Gas Exports
Disputes between Russia and Ukraine over the terms for gas transit and deliveries prompted Russia to accelerate development of new gas pipelines to Europe circumventing Ukraine, as well as exploring the potential for gas export to additional markets like Turkey and China. The current paper examines implications of Russia increasing its gas exports capacity by…
Prosumage and the future regulation of utilities: An introduction
The objective of this EEEP symposium is to assess recent developments in prosumage- including technical and economic trends, the impacts of different regulatory settings, and their relationships to utility strategy and regulation in the light of recent trends-and to sketch out potential future pathways. The symposium brings together in-depth analyses of the prosumage phenomenon and…