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Renewable Energy

Selected e-articles

Abstract: Sweden has experienced two decades of wind power expansion and enters a broad diffusion phase. In this study the aim is to deepen the knowledge of the municipal role in this phase in relation to national wind power policy. Local public officials and politicians was interviewed in fourteen Swedish municipalities. The results show that municipal representatives experience great uncertainty about the responsibilities and incentives they have in the energy transition – responsibilities that are difficult to interpret but also difficult to realize in practice. In conclusion, unclear State policy, increased social resistance, lacking municipal capabilities, and a market-driven planning regime adds a burden of incongruous responsibility on municipalities, which risks enforcing uncertainties in the transition of the national energy system. The study brings socio-technical insight to the global expansion of renewable energy within decentralized political systems.

Abstract: How can economies achieve economic growth without causing negative environmental externalities? There are two aspects to the long-standing debate on ‘sustainable growth’. A first-best solution is for economies to replace fossil fuels with renewable energy sources, mitigating carbon emissions. A second-best solution is to also adopt efficient waste management, recycling residual waste and pollutants (including hard-to-abate carbon) from production (circular economy). We establish a simple growth model that integrates three fundamental pillars of economics: (i) the net zero carbon target in environmental economics (ii) the circular economy, dealing with waste management in resource economics, and (iii) sustainable growth, in growth economics. We argue that growth, circularity and net zero emissions present a trinity of solutions to the sustainable growth problem, showing that the circular economy is a necessary condition for achieving net zero. We show that an economy with ‘active’ environmental policy achieves net zero faster than one with ‘passive’ policy, and also eliminates carbon emissions.

Abstract: This study analyzes the impact of global geopolitical changes on new/renewable energy(NRE) policies and their roles in enhancing national energy security, elevating international stature,and influencing the global energy market. Using game theory, it reveals how NRE policies promotetechnological innovation, diversify energy supply, and strengthen international collaboration, thusadvancing the global energy system towards a low-carbon transition and improving internationalenergy governance. NRE policies significantly enhance national energy security by reducing de-pendency on single energy sources, facilitate the global shift to low-carbon energy, and intensifyinternational cooperation. The effectiveness of these policies in driving energy transformation isnotable, and they are expected to remain crucial for global energy security and sustainable transition.Recommendations include strengthening the stability and security of energy supply chains throughenhanced oversight, increasing investment in R&D and innovation to reduce costs, fostering interna-tional cooperation for better policy coordination, and implementing diversified energy policies toencourage the adoption of NRE. These measures will address challenges from global geopoliticaldynamics and drive the global energy system towards sustainability and efficiency.

Abstract: Green hydrogen stands as a promising clean energy carrier with potential net-zero greenhouse gas emissions. However, different system-level configurations for green hydrogen production yield different levels of efficiency, cost, and maturity, necessitating a comprehensive assessment. This review evaluates the components of hydrogen production plants from technical and economic perspectives. The study examines six renewable energy sources — solar photovoltaics, solar thermal, wind, biomass, hydro, and geothermal — alongside three types of electrolyzers (alkaline, proton exchange membrane, and solid oxide electrolyzer cells) and five hydrogen storage methods (compressed hydrogen, liquid hydrogen, metal hydrides, ammonia, and liquid organic hydrogen carriers). A comprehensive assessment of 90 potential system configurations is conducted across five key performance indicators: the overall system cost, efficiency, emissions, production scale and technological maturity. The most cost-effective configurations involve solar photovoltaics or wind turbines combined with alkaline electrolyzers and compressed hydrogen storage. For enhanced system efficiency, geothermal sources or biomass paired with solid oxide electrolyzer cells utilizing waste heat show significant promise. The top technologically mature systems feature combinations of solar photovoltaics, wind turbines, geothermal, or hydroelectric power with alkaline electrolyzers using compressed hydrogen or ammonia storage. The highest hydrogen production scales are observed in systems with solar PV, wind, or hydro power, paired with alkaline or PEM electrolyzers and ammonia storage. Configurations using hydro, geothermal, wind, or solar thermal energy sources paired with alkaline electrolyzers, and compressed hydrogen or liquid organic hydrogen carriers yield the lowest life cycle GHG emissions. These insights provide valuable decision-making tools for researchers, business developers, and policymakers, guiding the optimization of system efficiency and the reduction of system costs.

Abstract: This study aims to examine the nature and governance of green growth strategy in OECD countries. As the strategy implies a sustainable relationship between economic growth and energy efficiency, we considered economic, environmental, and policy factors to empirically analyze green total factor energy efficiency (GTFEE) performances for 2001–2020 period. For this purpose, we employed a two-step methodology. In the first step, we estimated GTFEE scores from an undesirable output model by using robust order-m frontier efficiency method. In the second step, we used GTFEE estimates and built a panel data model to investigate the impact of governance and environmental policy factors. The panel data regression results point to several implications. Firstly, market-based environmental stringency policies are found to be effective. Also, economic globalization is found to be effective only in market-based and mix policy cases. The findings indicate the key roles of market-based pricing mechanisms and economic actors for the inclusive governance of green growth. Secondly, economic growth is found to be negatively related with GTFEE which shows the trade-off between economic growth and energy efficiency. Lastly, the analysis by commitment periods of the Kyoto Protocol points to the importance of global consensus on the implementation of green growth strategy.

Abstract: Energy transition has become a priority for utilities worldwide. Renewable electricity generation represents one of the pillars of the European decarbonization policy and is included among eligible activities in the Taxonomy Regulation. The limited literature regarding the effects of investments in renewables on the financial performance of firms is fundamentally split in two lines: the first is focused on stock returns, the second concerns the determinants of the financial performance which is measured either through risk or accounting metrics. A limited set of studies has assessed the effects of investments in renewable power generation on the performance of utilities. In this article three linear regression analysis conducted on a panel-data composed of firm-year observations for 64 electric utilities from continental Europe between 2011 and 2020 are presented. The analysis has focused on: (i) profitability (Return-On-Asset), (ii) market valuation (Tobin's q) (iii) risk (Weighted Average Cost of Capital). The results show that the renewable generation share is significantly and positively correlated with the first two indicators, while not correlated with the cost of capital. This could represent a constraint to investments in renewable generation capacity with a negative impact on the achievement of the targets of the European decarbonization policy.

Abstract: Electric vehicles (EVs) are considered a promising alternative to achieve a cleaner transportation sector. In the last decade, European countries have implemented financial incentive policies to boost EV adoption. This paper estimates the impacts of these policies on EV adoption in Europe using data from 30 countries from 2012 to 2021 and a multi-period difference-in-differences approach. Our results reveal that purchase incentive policies are associated with increased registrations of battery electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid vehicles, and that the effect holds over time. However, the magnitude and duration of these effects are more significant for battery electric vehicles. Ownership incentive policies do not contribute to EV registrations for either type. Further, the results suggest that policy impacts vary between countries with different levels of gross domestic product per capita and renewable energy consumption. These results contribute to the literature on evaluating financial incentive policies for EV adoption, enabling improved decision making by policymakers.

Abstract: As part of a broad strategy to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions and limit global warming, many countries are requiring all new buildings to have net-zero energy use. This requires that on-site energy use not exceed on-site generation of renewable energy (taken here to be solar energy), or equivalently, that the building Energy Use Intensity (EUI, kWh/m2a) not exceed the supply of on-site solar energy (electricity and heat) per m2 of floor area per year. On this basis, we find that achieving net-zero energy performance in an archetype 40-story square building in 16 different cities of North America requires EUI of 17–24 kWh/m2a using PV panels, and 19–28 kWh/m2a using PVT collectors. Changing building orientation to a non-square floor shape can improve maximum permitted EUI by up to 50% in PV and 60% in PVT case. Conversely, the best-performing residential and commercial buildings have EUIs of 50–75 kWh/m2a. Only if building heights are limited to 5–10 floors does the available solar energy, and thus the permitted EUI, reach 50–75 kWh/m2a. Therefore, we recommend that policymakers not require high-rise buildings to be net-zero energy, unless they are prepared to limit building heights to 5–10 floors.

Abstract: By 2060, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) aims to achieve net zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, targeting 50% renewable energy and reducing 278 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent annually by 2030 under Vision 2030. This ambitious roadmap focuses on economic diversification, global engagement, and enhanced quality of life. The electricity sector, with a 90 GW installed capacity as of 2020, is central to decarbonization, aiming for a 55% reduction in emissions by 2030. Saudi Energy Efficiency Centre’s Energy Efficiency Action Plan aims to reduce power intensity by 30% by 2030, while the NEOM project showcases a 4 GW green hydrogen facility, reflecting the country’s commitments to sustainability and technological innovation. Despite being the largest oil producer and user, Saudi Arabia must align with international CO2 emission reduction targets. Currently, there is no state-of-the-art energy policy framework to guide a sustainable energy transition. In the academic literature, there is also lack of effort in developing comprehensive energy policy framework. This study provides a thorough and comprehensive analysis of the entire energy industry, spanning from the stage of production to consumption, incorporating sustainability factors into the wider discussion on energy policy. It establishes a conceptual framework for the energy policy of Saudi Arabia that corresponds with Vision 2030. A total of hundred documents (e.g., 25 original articles and 75 industry reports) were retrieved from Google Scholar, Web of Science Core Collection Database, and Google Search and then analyzed. Results showed that for advancing the green energy transition, areas such as strategies for regional and cross-sectoral collaboration, adoption of international models, human capital development and public engagement, technological innovation, and research; and resource conservation, environmental protection, and climate change should move forward exclusively from an energy policy perspective. This article's main contribution is developing a comprehensive and conceptual policy framework for Saudi Arabia's sustainable green energy transition aligned with Vision 2030. The framework integrates social, economic, and environmental criteria and provides critical policy implications and research directions for advancing energy policy and sustainable practices in the country.

Abstract: A massive expansion of renewable energy (RE) is underway to meet the world's climate goals. Although RE serves to reduce threats from climate change, it can also pose threats to species whose current and future ranges intersect with RE installations. Here, we propose a “Climate-Smart Siting” framework for addressing potential conflicts between RE expansion and biodiversity conservation. The framework engenders authentic consultation with affected and disadvantaged communities throughout and uses overlay and optimization routines to identify focal areas now and in the future where RE development poses promise and peril as species’ ranges shift in response to climate change. We use this framework to demonstrate methods, identify decision outcomes, and suggest policy and market-based levers for aligning RE expansion with the United Nations’ Global Biodiversity Framework now and as climate change progresses. Given the twin climate and biodiversity crises, a Climate-Smart Siting strategy ensures solutions to one crisis reinforce the other.

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