Showing papers in "Energy efficiency in 2022"

Role of green finance in improving energy efficiency and renewable energy development

Abstract: Deploying green energy is, directly and indirectly, related to energy- and environment-related sustainable development goals (SDGs). This study uses the stochastic impact by regression on the population, affluence, and technology (STIRPAT) model to examine the relationship between CO2 emissions, energy efficiency, green energy index (GEI), and green finance in the top ten economies that support green finance. The results show that green bonds are a suitable method to promote green energy projects and reduce CO2 emissions significantly. At the same time, there is no causal linkage between these variables in the short term. Therefore, to achieve sustainable economic growth for environmental issues, governments should implement supportive policies with a long-term approach to boost private participation in the investment of green energy projects. This policy may be applicable during and in the post the COVID-19 era when green projects have more difficulties accessing finance.

An extension of the theory of planned behavior to understand factors influencing Pakistani households’ energy-saving intentions and behavior: a mediated–moderated model

Abstract: This study aims to explore the factors influencing households’ intentions and actual behavior in relation to saving energy. This study is based on the theory of planned behavior (TPB), extending it by adding descriptive norms and moral responsibility. An online survey was administered to collect data from randomly selected households and data analysis was run using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). The research findings reveal the positive and significant effect of TPB factors (attitude, subjective norms, and perceived behavior control) and the extended factors (descriptive norms and moral responsibility) on households’ intention to save energy, as well as the significant effect of perceived behavior control, moral responsibility, and intention on household’s energy-saving behavior. This study also evidences the significant mediating and moderating role of households’ intention to save energy and moral responsibility. This study’s model explains 70.5% of variations in households’ intention to save energy and 63.1% of variations in households’ energy-saving behavior. In particular, the extended model explains 11.6% more of the variation in households’ intention to save energy compared to the TPB model. This research has several theoretical and practical implications for scholars, environmental protection agencies, and policy-makers.

Conceptualising the energy efficiency first principle: insights from theory and practice

Abstract: Abstract The Energy Efficiency First (EE1st) principle has recently been placed onto the political agenda in the European Union (EU). While the general rationale for EE1st is described in EU legislation and supporting literature, a common understanding of the principle’s implications for energy-related planning, investment, and policymaking is still missing. Based on an exploratory review of the literature, the objective of this article is to improve the theoretical understanding of EE1st. First, it develops a conceptual framework, describing EE1st as a decision-making principle that prioritises demand-side resources over supply-side alternatives whenever these provide greater value to society in meeting decision objectives. Second, it highlights the unique aspects of EE1st by systematically comparing the principle with associated concepts, such as Integrated Resource Planning. Third, it provides theoretical justification for EE1st by describing the economic rationale behind the principle. Fourth, it outlines policy considerations for its practical implementation. In sum, the EE1st principle is shown to have a compelling theoretical background that can help inform the design of effective policy interventions in order to move from principle to practice.

Financial inclusion, renewable energy consumption, and inclusive growth: cross-country evidence

Abstract: The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the global economy to varying degrees. Coupled with the widening gap caused by the unbalanced distribution of resources, the sustainability and inclusiveness of economic growth have been challenged. To explore the influencing factors of the level of economic inclusive growth among different countries, we used the spatial Durbin model to analyze the relationship between financial inclusion, renewable energy consumption, and inclusive growth based on panel data of 40 countries from 2010 to 2020. The results indicate a spatial autocorrelation in inclusive growth; financial inclusion and renewable energy consumption both contributed positively to inclusive growth, while industrial structure upgrading played a negative moderating role between domestic renewable energy consumption and inclusive growth. The results of this study provide insights into achieving better inclusive growth and maintaining sustainable and balanced economic development. Based on this, policy recommendations such as expanding the coverage of inclusive finance, optimizing the energy structure, and changing the economic development model are put forward.

A choice experiment for testing the energy-efficiency mortgage as a tool for promoting sustainable finance

Abstract: The challenges currently facing the EU in the energy sector include increasing import dependence, limited diversification, high and volatile energy prices, decarbonization, and slow progress in energy efficiency. EU energy policy has provided a wide range of measures to achieve an integrated energy market and sustainability of the building sector. Various incentives and financial instruments have been promoted and financed by governments to help consumers in energy retrofit processes. These include direct investments and fiscal, financial, and market instruments. Public measures have been widely studied but private initiatives have not. In this study, the energy-efficiency mortgage (EEM) is investigated as a credit scheme to attract young people to a real estate market for sustainable buildings, characterized by high sale prices. A choice experiment (CE) was modelled to investigate the preferences of potential young buyers of a new home. The results of this exploratory survey showed an appreciation of the purchase of new A-rated properties according to the Energy Performance Certificate, compared to those that need to be retrofitted or not retrofitted. Consumers like the option of a home energy efficiency renovation being fully managed by a third party (i.e., following the one-stop shop model). The key appeal of energy efficiency for consumers ranges from its ability to support better energy management, to better property value management. The EEM seems to be a promising tool to stimulate investments in energy efficiency and to promote the accessibility and affordability of housing in the sustainable housing market. The results of this study can help private financial institutions to propose appropriate credit plans, which limit the risk of default by the borrower. They can also help public incentive policymakers to propose complementary instruments to EEM.The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12053-022-10035-y.

Water status in the Canary Islands related to energy requirements

Abstract: Abstract A review of the methods of obtaining water in the Canary Islands (Spain) is presented, dividing the islands into two groups: the eastern islands and the western islands. This division is due to the different origins of water resources, with western islands using mainly underground sources, while the eastern ones main source is seawater desalination. Water sources define the way in which water is obtained, as well as the energy expenditure to obtain it. In this review, the energy consumption of different methods of drinking water collection is studied, as well as the resources that make up the energy mix in the Canary Islands. In addition, a projection is made for drinking water consumption and energy consumption related to water use in the archipelago up till the year 2035, in order to observe the expected trends in these sectors.

Energy poverty assessment in the Belt and Road Initiative countries: based on entropy weight-TOPSIS approach

Abstract: The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) countries are mainly developing countries with severe energy poverty. This study combines the entropy weight and the Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) method to measure energy poverty at the household, enterprise, and national levels in 82 BRI countries. This study aims to investigate and discuss how to encourage BRI countries to develop effective decision-making mechanisms for developing more targeted supply-side solutions to domestic energy poverty. A geographic information system (GIS) is also used to construct spatial distribution maps to assess energy poverty. The findings show that countries in South Asia, Southeast Asia, and North Africa have the highest levels of energy poverty, while countries in West Asia and Europe have the lowest. East Timor, Tonga, and Equatorial Guinea are of the most extremely lowest. The assessment methodology used in this paper focuses not only on the energy poverty faced by households, but also on the overall energy supply and service situation at the enterprise and national levels. These perspectives are likely to influence policy making and help the governments in addressing domestic energy poverty more effectively from the supply side.

The asymmetric effect of economic policy uncertainty on energy consumption

Abstract: Assuming that economic policy uncertainty (EPU) can significantly affect economic activities, the paper explored the nature of its effect on energy consumption in G7 countries (Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK, and the USA) over the period 1997–2019 using a panel nonlinear autoregressive distributed lag model. The presence of an asymmetric effect of EPU on energy consumption was tested by decomposing EPU into negative and positive changes and placing it in a multivariate setting. The results reveal that the asymmetric effect of EPU on energy consumption is limited to the short run. However, if energy policy fails to manage uncertainty, it could become significant in the long run. Energy consumption is statistically significantly affected by economic institutions and income in both the short and the long run. Higher real income per capita boosts energy consumption in the short run, but like energy technology innovation, it reduces energy consumption in the long run. In contrast, more economic freedom, which was used as a proxy for institutions, increases energy consumption regardless of the time frame. The results point to the energy policy challenges associated with energy consumption and sustainable energy practices.

Energy efficiency potentials in the EU industry: impacts of deep decarbonization technologies

Abstract: Abstract Increasing the energy efficiency in high energy demand sectors such as industry with a high reliance on coal, oil and natural gas is considered a pivotal step towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions and meeting the Paris Agreement targets. The European Commission published final energy demand projections for industry capturing current policies and market trends up to 2050. This Reference scenario for industry in 2050, however, does not give insights into the extent to which energy efficiency potentials are already implemented, in which sectors further efficiency can be achieved, to what extent or with which technologies. In this paper, the EU Reference scenario is broken down and compared to a Frozen Efficiency scenario with similar GDP developments but without energy efficiency. Through bottom-up analyses, it is found that with energy efficiency technologies alone, this Reference scenario for industry energy demands (10.6 EJ in 2050) cannot be achieved. That means that the EU Reference assumes higher energy efficiency than possible and too high an effect of current policies. In the Frozen Efficiency scenario, the energy demand reaches 14.2 EJ in 2050 due to the GDP development; 22% higher than 2015. Energy efficiency improvements and increased recycling can decrease industrial energy demand by 23% (11.3 EJ in 2050). In order to further reduce the energy demand, our analyses shows that the wide implementation of innovative in combination with electrification or hydrogen technologies can further decrease the 2050 energy demand to 9.7 EJ or 10.3 EJ, respectively.

Energy solvency. A new concept to prevent energy poverty in Spain

Abstract: The new concept of energy solvency is defined as the ability of a person buying or renting a dwelling to meet the energy costs necessary to keep the dwelling comfortable, without falling into energy poverty. The energy efficiency certificate information is used to calculate the economic expenditure that is theoretically necessary to maintain the property comfortable. This is a more robust value for calculating the energy poverty indicator 2 M than the available data on real expenditure. Dwellings' maximum surface may be determined in order to guarantee the energy solvency, depending on the climate zone, the energy class, the energy sources used, and the household's net income. The results indicate that in 15% of situations, it is not possible to have a dwelling that exceeds the minimum surface area stipulated by law without incurring an energy risk situation. It is also observed that in 86% of the cases, energy solvency is achieved for dwellings with energy classes A, B, C, and D, up to 120 m2. It is concluded that, by knowing the energy solvency before renting or buying a home, it is possible to prevent energy poverty by avoiding those operations in which it is known that this will happen.

How does coal consumption constraint policy affect electrical energy efficiency? Evidence from 30 Chinese provinces

Abstract: In recent years, energy efficiency has been considered an extremely cost-effective way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. China is a country with the world’s largest coal consumption and heavy reliance on thermal power generation. Therefore, the relationship between the coal consumption constraint policy (CCCP) in China and electrical energy efficiency is a topic worthy of study. Based on the panel data of 30 provinces in China during 2005–2016, this paper employs the difference-in-differences (DID) to examine the impact of CCCP on electrical energy efficiency in China. The results indicate that the implementation of the CCCP reduces electrical energy efficiency in the pilot provinces. Based on the mechanism tests, the cost effect outweighs the innovation effect, which is why CCCP decreases electrical energy efficiency. The results of the heterogeneity analysis show that the influence of CCCP is more significant in the provinces with weak law enforcement and small hydropower investment and northern provinces. This study suggests that the Chinese government can promote corporate technological innovation by improving the environmental compensation system and increasing environmental law enforcement to improve electrical energy efficiency. Meanwhile, renewable energy projects should be the focus of future investment.

A dynamic analysis of industrial energy efficiency and the rebound effect: implications for carbon emissions and sustainability

Abstract: Abstract Energy efficiency improvement (EEI) is generally known to be a cost-effective measure for meeting energy, climate, and sustainable growth targets. Unfortunately, behavioral responses to such improvements (called energy rebound effects ) may reduce the expected savings in energy and emissions from EEI. Hence, the size of this effect should be considered to help design efficient energy and climate targets. Currently, there are significant differences in approaches for measuring the rebound effect. Here, we used a two-step procedure to measure both short- and long-term energy rebound effects in the Swedish manufacturing industry. In the first step, we used data envelopment analysis (DEA) to measure energy efficiency. In the second step, we use the efficiency scores and estimated a derived energy demand equation including rebound effects using a dynamic panel regression model. This approach was applied to a firm-level panel dataset covering 14 sectors in Swedish manufacturing over the period 1997–2008. We showed that, in the short run, partial and statistically significant rebound effects exist within all manufacturing sectors, meaning that the rebound effect decreased the energy and emission savings expected from EEI. The long-term rebound effect was in general smaller than the short-term effect, implying that within each sector, energy and emission savings due to EEI are larger in the long run compared to the short run. Using our estimates of energy efficiency and rebound effect, we further performed a post-estimation analysis to provide a guide to policy makers by identifying sectors where EEI have the most potential to promote sustainable economic growth with the lowest environmental impact.

Characterizing passenger-ship emissions: towards improved sustainability for MedMar fleet (gulf of Naples)

Abstract: Abstract Promoting energetic and environmental sustainability in the naval sector requires a necessary understanding of the energy demand of vessels and of the factors affecting it. This article shows the results of a study conducted by the shipping company MedMar aimed at acquiring a detailed analysis of the energetic performances of its fleet. The study involved the analysis of fuel consumption and emissions of the fleet using a specific software and under different scenarios, assuming the navigation speed and the cargo level of the vessels as reference parameters. Simulations also provided a comparison, concerning emissions and externalities, between ships and two different means of transport. The purpose of this study was to identify potential areas of improvement, where ad hoc strategies could be used to further optimise the energetic and environmental performance of MedMar fleet and mitigate its impact on the delicate ecosystem of the gulf of Naples, where the fleet sails.

Uncertainty and sensitivity analyses of operational errors in air handling units and unexpected user behavior for energy efficiency and thermal comfort

Abstract: Abstract Resource scarcity and anthropogenic climate change require the reduction of performance gaps in existing buildings. In addition to unexpected user behavior, performance gaps are primarily caused by the technical gap due to operational errors in building technology. The main objective of this paper is to quantify model input uncertainty incorporating uncertain boundary conditions in terms of operational errors using thermo-dynamic building performance simulations and to identify the most relevant input parameters for the performance gaps in air conditioning systems by means of sensitivity analyses. Model input uncertainty is stochastically determined using Monte-Carlo Simulations to calculate the target values “primary energy demand” as well as “over- and under-temperature degree hours” for an office building. Selected parameters are simulated in a specific uncertainty and sensitivity analyses using the Sobol’ and Jansen estimators, which distinguish between a direct influence on the target variables and interactions between the parameters. The methodology requires a selection process, which is carried out as part of relative uncertainty and relative sensitivity analyses. Furthermore, the operational errors are compared with construction factors as well as building physics inputs and design parameters for building technology systems to show their reciprocal effects as part of a comprehensive investigation. The main findings of this paper are that operational errors in air conditioning systems play an essential role in decreasing energy efficiency and thermal comfort, but do not warrant the significance of certain construction factors as well as setpoints in building technology. Moreover, the impact of operational errors on thermal overheating of the building investigated is minor compared to other targets that cause greater model input uncertainty.