Many governments, electric utilities, and large electricity consumers have committed to deep decarbonization of the electricity sector by 2050 or earlier. Over at least the next 30 years, achieving decarbonization targets will require replacing most fossil-fueled generators with zero carbon wind and solar generation along with energy storage to manage intermittency and for balancing more…
Tag: decarbonization
Fossil Natural Gas Exit – A New Narrative for the European Energy Transformation Towards Decarbonization
This paper discusses the potential role of fossil natural gas in the process of the energy transformation in Europe on its way to decarbonization. Mainstream conventional wisdom has it that natural gas, perhaps in combination with other gases, should maintain an important role in the energy mix, first, as a “bridge fuel”, and then through…
Should the EU ETS be Extended to Road Transport and Heating Fuels?
This paper considers the current proposal to extend the EU ETS to cover CO2 emissions from the combustion of heating and road transport fuels. We argue that increased coverage of the EU ETS, together with a binding cap consistent with a net zero trajectory, would provide an EU-wide quantity backstop ensuring that the EU’s cumulative…
From Diesel to Electric: Overcoming Grid Integration Challenges in the Medium- and Heavy-Duty Vehicle Sector
Decarbonizing the medium- and heavy-duty vehicle (MHDV) sector is crucial for a sustainable clean energy transition. This paper focuses on the challenges and opportunities associated with integrating medium- and heavy-duty electric vehicles (MHD EVs) into the electric grid. With large trucks and buses being responsible for a significant share of transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions, the…
Settling the metric selection debate for assessing the energy efficiency of energy-intensive industries
This study evaluates energy efficiency in India’s energy-intensive industries using Total-Factor Energy Efficiency (TFEE), contrasting it with the traditional Single-Factor Energy Efficiency (SFEE) approach. Analyzing panel data from 2003–04 to 2021–22 from the Prowess database, we applied Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA), including the input-oriented Slack-based method with variable returns to scale, to assess attainable energy…
The End of Neutrality? Fuel Standards, Technology Neutrality, and Stimulating the EV Market
Widespread electrification of the transportation sector is a key component of most strategies for deep decarbonization of the U.S. economy. While the acceptance of EVs has grown dramatically over the last decade, much of this growth has been spurred by substantial support from public funds and other related policies. Major electrification on the time scales…
Economic efficiency and CO2 impact of a clean cooking program in Ecuador
Clean cooking programs are implemented to replace polluting fuel technologies and fight climate change. In 2014, Ecuador launched a clean cooking program to improve environmental conditions for its population and reduce the large financial burden spent on liquid petroleum gas subsidies. In this paper, we analyze the economic and environmental impacts of this program. We…