Showing papers on "Energy policy published in 2001"
TL;DR: In this article, the authors use the example of a transition to a low emission energy supply in the Netherlands to argue that transition management provides a basis for coherence and consistency in public policy and can be the spur to sustainable development.
Abstract: Transitions are transformation processes in which society changes in a fundamental way over a generation or more. Although the goals of a transition are ultimately chosen by society, governments can play a role in bringing about structural change in a stepwise manner. Their management involves sensitivity to existing dynamics and regular adjustment of goals to overcome the conflict between long‐term ambition and short‐term concerns. This article uses the example of a transition to a low emission energy supply in the Netherlands to argue that transition management provides a basis for coherence and consistency in public policy and can be the spur to sustainable development.
1,913 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, a framework has been developed to identify the barriers to renewable energy penetration and to suggest measures to overcome them, which can play an important role in providing energy with sustainability to the vast populations in developing countries who as yet have no access to clean energy.
916 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors provide compelling evidence that large-scale market failures and barriers prevent consumers in the United States from obtaining energy services at least cost, and they provide a strong justification for the policy portfolios that define the Scenarios for a Clean Energy Future, a study conducted by five National Laboratories.
577 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors analyze US consumers' demand for environmental attributes of deregulated residential electricity services using results from a survey designed to elicit consumers' willingness to pay for such attributes and using results of a hedonic analysis of actual price premiums charged for green electricity in several deregulated markets.
538 citations
TL;DR: In this article, a study of the connections between exergy and energy, sustainable development and environmental impact has been presented in order to provide useful insights and direction for analyzing and solving environmental problems of varying complexity using exergy concept.
371 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors identify the factors that determine the investment behavior of firms, their attitude towards various types of energy policy, and their responsiveness to changes in environmental policy in the Netherlands.
354 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors present scenarios for a Clean Energy Future, which assess how energy-efficient and clean energy technologies can address key energy and environmental challenges facing the US, and conclude that policies exist that can significantly reduce oil dependence, air pollution, carbon emissions, and inefficiencies in energy production and end-use systems.
255 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors explored implementation issues in three European countries, nine US states, and Australia, and found the following: the RPS target is usually set to have environmental bene"ts without causing signi"cant price increases (cost caps are sometimes used).
254 citations
01 Mar 2001
TL;DR: In this article, a sectoral approach was employed, with the supply side examined in terms of themain energy sources, while final demand was separated into four energy end-use groups: the domestic, service, industrial and transport sectors.
Abstract: The exergy method has been used to analyse changes in the structure of the UK energy system over a period of more than 30 years from 1965. A sectoral approach was employed, with the supply side examined in terms of themain energy sources, while final demand was separated into four energy end-use groups: the domestic, service, industrial and transport sectors. Estimates of sector-weighted or ‘lumped’ parameters, such as exergy efficiencies, were obtained from the particular characteristics of each sector. These were employed to determine the exergetic ‘improvement potential’ for critical elements of the energy system. Electricity generation together with final energy demand in the domestic sector and in transport are shown to account for nearly 80 per cent of the Second Law improvement potential. This poor thermodynamic performance is principally due to exergy losses in combustion and heat transfer processes associated with power generation, space heating and main transport modes. The results of th...
249 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the potential advantages and disadvantages of green power products, as opposed to the traditional fossil fuel levy (which was the UK's chosen tax regime), as a means of developing renewable energy in the UK were investigated.
191 citations
TL;DR: For example, Turkey has experienced extremely sharp economic growth in recent years, which was largely achieved through a rapidly increasing population as discussed by the authors, and because of its demographic and economic growth, Turkey constitutes a major energy market.
TL;DR: In this article, the potential for energy leapfrogging by examining three technological approaches targeted at rural households in East Africa: conventional grid expansion, renewable energy technologies supplying electricity, and improved cookstove.
TL;DR: A review of trends, barriers and opportunities for technology transfer is presented in this article, where the authors highlight the importance and need for environmentally sound and long-term investment policies in industry.
TL;DR: This new approach provides a partial reconciliation of top-down and bottom-up methods, which proves to be very useful for policy analysis.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors analyzed the optimal set of policies for reduction of SO2, NOx and CO2 in Shanghai for the period of 2000-2020, based on a linear programming MARKAL model for the Shanghai energy system.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors examined three kinds of residential buildings with different construction techniques and estimated the decreased amount of energy consumption and resources resulting from use of recycled materials, and showed that the energy consumption needed to remake housing materials from recycled materials is lower than that to make new housing materials.
TL;DR: In this article, a large scale linear optimization model has been used to forecast the future of the national energy supply system in Nigeria using MARKAL, which reveals that under only a least cost constraint, only large hydro power technology is the prominent commercial renewable energy technology in the electricity supply mix of the country.
Abstract: Nigeria is endowed with abundant energy resources, both conventional and renewable, whichprovide her with immense capacity to develop an effective national energy plan. However, introduction of renewable energyresources into the nation's energy mix have implications on itsenergy budget. The national energy supply system has been projected intothe future using MARKAL, a large scale linear optimization model.However, this model may not be absolutely representative of the highlynon-linear future of renewable energy. Results of the model reveal that under onlya least cost constraint, only large hydro power technology is the prominentcommercial renewable energy technology in the electricity supply mix of thecountry. Despite the immense solar energy potentials available, solar electricity generation is attractive only under severeCO2 emissions mitigation of the nation's energy supply system. Similarly, the penetration of small-scale hydro power technology in theelectricity supply mix is favoured only under CO2 emissionsconstraints. Due to economy of scale, large hydropower technology takes the lion share of all the commercial renewableenergy resources share for electricity generation under any CO2emissions constraint. These analyses reveal that some barriers exist to thedevelopment and penetration of renewable energy resources electricity production in Nigeria's energy supplysystem. Barriers and possible strategies to overcome them arediscussed. Intensive efforts and realistic approachtowards energy supply system in the country will have to be adopted inorder to adequately exploit renewable energy resources and technologiesfor economic growth and development.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors present an attempt to conceptualize the actor constel- lation in a given policy domain and to analyze it empirically with network analysis, based on interviews with 240 of the core actors in this policy elite.
Abstract: In the actor-centered institutionalist approach of Fritz Scharpf (1997), 'actor constellations' constitute the crucial link between substantive policy analysis and interaction- oriented policy research. This paper presents an attempt to conceptualize the 'actor constel- lation' in a given policy domain and to analyze it empirically with network analysis. The empirical context is provided by the Swiss energy policy elite in the late 1990s - an example of a policy domain in transition between two policy equilibria. Based on interviews with 240 of the core actors in this policy elite, the results show a characteristic antagonism between a pro-ecology and a pro-growth coalition. On the national level, the two coalitions are of com- parable size and power, which explains the current impasse in the policy domain in question. Moreover, in a federalist state like Switzerland, the energy policy elite is not concentrated at the center, but the basic antagonism is reproduced in each region nationwide. Confirming the consensus character of Swiss politics, the different components of the two antagonist coalitions not only cooperate within, but also across coalitions. These cooperative ties and the presence of honest brokers, policy enterpreneurs, and heterogeneous interests within each coalition provide opportunities for new alliances, which may lead out of the current impasse in the more or less near future.
01 May 2001
TL;DR: The National Energy Policy Development Group (NEPD) as mentioned in this paper was established by George W. Bush to develop a national energy policy designed to help the private sector, and, as necessary and appropriate, State and local governments, promote dependable, affordable, and environmentally sound production and distribution of energy for the future.
Abstract: : In his second week in office, President George W. Bush established the National Energy Policy Development Group, directing it to develop a national energy policy designed to help the private sector, and, as necessary and appropriate, State and local governments, promote dependable, affordable, and environmentally sound production and distribution of energy for the future. This Overview sets forth the National Energy Policy Development (NEPD) Group's findings and key recommendations for a National Energy Policy. America in the year 2001 faces the most serious energy shortage since the oil embargoes of the 1970s. The effects are already being felt nationwide. Many families face energy bills two to three times higher than they were a year ago. Millions of Americans find themselves dealing with rolling blackouts or brownouts; some employers must lay off workers or curtail production to absorb the rising cost of energy. Drivers across America are paying higher and higher gasoline prices.
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14 Dec 2001
TL;DR: In this article, the authors introduce wind energy resources potential wind turbine technology and industry economics of wind energy finance, Competition, and Power Markets Environmental Considerations Wind Energy Policy Summary and Conclusions End Notes References Index
Abstract: Preface Introduction Wind Energy Resource Potential Wind Turbine Technology and Industry Economics of Wind Energy Finance, Competition, and Power Markets Environmental Considerations Wind Energy Policy Summary and Conclusions End Notes References Index
TL;DR: The authors reviewed existing studies of fossil fuel subsidies within the United States, as well as assessments of the potential impact of subsidy reform on GHG emissions, highlighting the most important disparities in subsidy definition and valuation.
Abstract: ▪ Abstract Growing international pressure to curb greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions has focused attention on existing policies that may, either by design or by effect, subsidize fossil fuel production and consumption. This paper reviews existing studies of fossil fuel subsidies within the United States, as well as assessments of the potential impact of subsidy reform on GHG emissions. Evaluating the differences across the studies, it highlights the most important disparities in subsidy definition and valuation in order to clarify the conclusions that can be drawn from this body of work. We then present some of the tools used to provide transparency in environmental regulation. We conclude that many of these approaches can be used to improve the transparency of fiscal policy, with important benefits within the context of climate change and beyond.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors analyzed the rural household energy consumption of three typical regions, i.e., out-of-poverty, well-off and rich regions, in terms of effective heat per capita per day, percentage of commercial energy consumption in total effective heat, electricity consumption per capita and room temperature of northern areas in winter.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors examined the global size and distribution of energy subsidies in industrialized and developing countries, and the impact of these subsidies on the economy, equity and the environment and their role as barriers for sustainable development.
Abstract: Recent studies have identified public subsidies as a principal cause of unsustainable development. Worldwide, governments are spending up to $U950 billion a year on subsidies. Many of these public subsidies fail to serve their purpose and in fact, often turn out as policy failures as they further distort trade and cause environmental harm. The energy sector is among the most subsidized sectors in the world, receiving over $U240 billion per annum of public subsidies. This article highlights current energy subsidies and their implications. The article examines: (i) the global size and distribution of energy subsidies in industrialized and developing countries; (ii) the impact of these subsidies on the economy, equity and the environment and their role as barriers for sustainable development; (iii) the political economy behind public subsidies and the various political and institutional barriers and lock-in mechanisms that cause subsidies to become entrenched in economic and public structures; and (iv) proposals for effective subsidy reform in energy policies, suggesting a global strategy to eliminate energy subsidies. OECD governments are in a position to take the lead, and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change presents an excellent opportunity of striking a political grand deal and linking the reform of energy subsidies to a meaningful participation of developing countries to the Kyoto Protocol. Moreover, if sinks are to be included in the clean development mechanism (CDM), it is crucial to include the removal of forestry subsidies in the grand deal.
TL;DR: In this article, the impacts of using carbon and energy taxes to reduce carbon emissions from the Japanese energy system were examined and a partial equilibrium model was developed to forecast changes in the energy system out to the year 2040.
01 Jan 2001
TL;DR: In this article, the impact of changes in current Swedish energy taxation by analyzing a panel of approximately 150 district heating plants in Sweden was evaluated by analyzing plant-specific production functions and derive the economic repercussions of the tax.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors investigated three policy scenarios, entailing different degrees of commitment to improve energy efficiency to address the energy, economic and environmental challenges faced by the US industry, and showed that there are substantial potentials for further efficiency improvement in the industry.
TL;DR: In this paper, the distribution of resources through energy subsidy is evaluated; and, the direct and indirect effect of eliminating energy subsidies on the living expenses is estimated with the help of an analytical tool that has been developed.
TL;DR: In the long term, even a natural gas-based strategy will not be adequate to prevent a buildup of unacceptably high levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere.
Abstract: Renewable energy systems—notably solar, wind, and biomass—are poised to play a major role in the energy economy and in improving the environmental quality of the United States. California’s energy crisis focused attention on and raised fundamental questions about regional and national energy strategies. Prior to the crisis in California, there had been too little attention given to appropriate power plant siting issues and to bottlenecks in transmission and distribution. A strong national energy policy is now needed. Renewable technologies have become both economically viable and environmentally preferable alternatives to fossil fuels. Last year the United States spent more than $600 billion on energy, with U.S. oil imports climbing to $120 billion, or nearly $440 of imported oil for every American. In the long term, even a natural gasbased strategy will not be adequate to prevent a buildup of unacceptably high levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere. Both the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC) recent Third Assessment Report and the National Academy of Sciences’ recent analysis of climate change science concluded that climate change is real and must be addressed immediately—and that U.S. policy needs to be directed toward implementing clean energy solutions. 1 Renewable energy technologies have made important and dramatic technical, economic, and operational advances during the past decade. A national energy policy and climate change strategy should be formulated around these advances. Despite dramatic technical and economic advances in clean energy systems, the United States has seen far too little research and development (R&D) and too few incentives and sustained programs to build markets for renewable energy technologies and energy efficiency programs. 2 Not since the late1970s has there been a more compelling and conducive environment for an integrated, large-scale approach to renewable energy innovation and market expansion. 3 Clean, low-carbon energy choices now make both economic and environmental sense, and they provide the domestic basis for our energy supply that will provide security, not dependence on unpredictable overseas fossil fuels. Energy issues in the United States have created “quick fix” solutions that, while politically expedient, will ultimately do the country more harm than good. It is critical to examine all energy options, and never before have so many technological solutions been available to address energy needs. In the near term, some expansion of the nation’s fossil fuel (particularly natural gas) supply is warranted to keep pace with rising demand, but that expansion should be balanced with measures to develop cleaner energy solutions for the future. Our best short-term options for the United States are energy efficiency, conservation, and expanded markets for renewable energy.