Assessing the eco-efficiency of U.S. manufacturing industries with a focus on renewable vs. non-renewable energy use: An integrated time series MRIO and DEA approach

In this paper, we model the effects of electricity generation on multiple environmental pressures. Given the environmental considerations, we assume a decrease in the carbon footprint and adjust the energy-mix by increasing the use of renewables. We combined a footprint approach and pinch analysis to devise the optimal energy-mixes and quantify the resulting environmental impacts. The analysis focuses on the three Baltic States (Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania), which not only need to ensure sustainability of their electricity generation but also reduce the use of imported fossil fuels. The results indicate that biomass might be an appealing option for reduction of the carbon footprint in Estonia’s and Latvia’s electricity generation, whereas wind energy might be preferred in Lithuania. However, the analysis of land and water footprints suggests that further considerations are needed to treat biomass as a sustainable means for electricity generation.

Prospects of green growth in the electricity sector in Baltic States: Pinch analysis based on ecological footprint

Facing the potential conflict between economic and environmental challenges, it is essential to investigate the integrated GHG emissions and the emission relationships of all industries in a socio-economic system to support formulation of industrially related legislation. In this study, a disaggregated ecologically-extended input-output (DECEIO) model is developed to investigate integrated GHG emissions and the emission relationships of various industries. A special case study for the Province of Saskatchewan, Canada, is conducted to illustrate the potential benefits of its use in the formulation of industrially related legislation. A disaggregated analysis that contains three GHG types and four emission sources is conducted to gain more insight into the complicated interactions between different industries. It is found that all kinds of emission sources and GHG types should be considered to comprehensively identify the characteristics of emission flows in the socio-economic system. The competitive relationships reflect good interactions in the GHG emission flows and a mutualism relationship reveals effective pathways to mitigate carbon emissions in two sectors simultaneously. In the Province of Saskatchewan, the Agriculture and Forestry sector, Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution sector, Construction sector and Household Consumption sector all rank at the top for GHG emissions and their relationships are mutualistic. Thus, it is vital to propose effective industrial legislation for these industries to realize GHG emission reduction targets.

Integrated GHG emissions and emission relationships analysis through a disaggregated ecologically-extended input-output model; A case study for Saskatchewan, Canada

Small-scale renewable power technologies are an alternative to reach a sustainable economic growth: Evidence from Spain

In the 13th Five-Year Plan, the Chinese government declared that one of the sustainable policy priorities is improving the energy supply composition in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In accordance with the Plan, the Guangdong government subsequently planned to invest in low-carbon energy infrastructure from 2016 to 2020. Using data from Guangdong province and other regions in China for 2007–2016, we propose a two-stage network data envelopment analysis (Network DEA) model to examine the sustainable performance of the Chinese regional/provincial economic system. We postulated that the less sustainable performance of Chinese regional economic systems may be attributed to lower energy productivity performance. However, we found that increased governmental and industrial spending on electricity mix improvement by building new low-carbon power plants created momentum in Guangdong’s economic growth, which experienced an annual rise of roughly 1.16%. Finally, the results from the two-stage Network DEA model showed that Guangdong fared better than other provinces with respect to sustainable performance. Investment in low-carbon energy infrastructure is not only a measure to combat CO2 emission, but could act as the driving force of regional economic systems.

https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/10/12/4657/pdf

Sustainable Performance of Low-Carbon Energy Infrastructure Investment on Regional Development: Evidence from China

We construct an input–output table to analyze a next-generation energy system. Based on this table, we estimate the effect of using renewable energy on Japan’s economic structure as well as the feed-in tariff’s contribution to the cost structure. The results clearly show that, induced by demand, existing power generation options and the production of existing passenger vehicles would be reduced and replaced by electric vehicles (EVs), plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHVs), and the renewable energy sector. Furthermore, the demand for production in the supply chain of these sectors would change. While the feed-in tariff seems to benefit the overall Japanese economy, the benefits are not divided equally among the sectors because the positive effect of the feed-in tariff system is greater than the negative effect in energy and energy-intensive industries, while the negative effect is greater in the service sectors, on which the cost of the feed-in tariff system is levied. However, renewable-energy-induced service activities, such as research and business services, are becoming more pervasive. Therefore, this inequality may be resolved in the long term and could be assisted by policies that accelerate this change.

/pdf/economic-impacts-of-japan-s-renewable-energy-sector-and-the-20h3wzdxis.pdf

Economic impacts of Japan’s renewable energy sector and the feed-in tariff system: using an input–output table to analyze a next-generation energy system

Inter-regional and inter-sectoral considerations are important for more effective use of renewable energies. We have developed an input-output table for a next generation energy system (IONGES) that includes new sectors related to renewable energies. In this study, we expand the national IONGES to include the inter-regional table. The inter-regional IONGES has two sets of extended tables: extended renewable energy sectors for 2005 (Ex2005, actual data of 2005) and extended renewable energy sectors for 2030 (Ex2030, hypothetical data for 2030). More than half of renewable energy potential is located in eastern Japan. The potential of residential solar power is large in regions that have metropolitan areas. Some renewable energies induce more output and create more jobs than conventional electricity, but at the same time such renewable energies are more expensive than conventional electricity. When we evaluate the effects of introducing renewable energies in each region, we must consider both types of effects. We calculated the induced production in every sector of every region based on one million JPY of consumption in each region. Comparing the induced electricity (which is interpreted as the electricity fee embodied in consumption) of Ex2030 and that of Ex2005, the inducements are largely decreased in those regions where the composition ratio of wind power is high. We calculated the supposed CO2 reductions attributed to a decline in conventional electricity induced by consumption. It seems that the effective use of residential solar power in metropolitan areas and the effective use of locality-specific renewable energies in rural areas are important for CO2 reductions. We calculated cost-push effects following the abolition of FIT. There are significant effects on regions where the composition ratio of solar power is high. Analyses using inter-regional input-output tables will be a useful analytical tool for effective use of renewable energy facilities that have already been installed, as well as for future designs of smart energy systems.

Development and application of an inter-regional input-output table for analysis of a next generation energy system

我が国の伝統的な産業連関表は商品×商品表（近年は「生産物×生産物表」とも呼ぶ）である．わが国では長年にわたり各省庁の統計ノウハウを駆使し，約4年の歳月を費やして商品×商品の基本分類表を作成し，さらに1年を追加して各種付帯表（10種類）を公表してきた．近年この作成方法について各方面から様々な意見が出され，さらには供給・使用表（Supply and Use Table, SUT）の作成が議論された．現在，総務省ではSUTの作表にとりかかっている．長年，産業連関表の作表に携わってきた作成経験者が，従来の（伝統的）IO表と，今後我が国で作成されるであろうSUTについての違いについて説明した上で，従来の（伝統的）IO表作成の経験を踏まえてSUT作成上の課題について述べる． 

Sonoe Arai

Papers

Economic impacts of Japan’s renewable energy sector and the feed-in tariff system: using an input–output table to analyze a next-generation energy system

Development and application of an inter-regional input-output table for analysis of a next generation energy system

Lecture Series: Introduction to SUT No.5 The Difference between Japanese Traditional Input-Output Table and Supply Use Table