What lessons have been learned in reforming the Renewables Obligation? An analysis of internal and external failures in UK renewable energy policy

Despite operating a delivery programme for RES-E since 1990, UK targets and policy goals have not been achieved. In response, the Government reformed the RO. This article re-examines UK renewable energy policy by analysing the internal and external failures of the various mechanisms to determine if Government has learnt from previous experience in reforming the RO. Government did not learn from their own actions during the NFFO/RO transition, evidenced by high-levels of similarity in internal/external failures. The reformed-RO is expected to significantly increase deployment, has provided a ‘renewables package’ by comprehensively addressing both internal/external failures but major internal failures (price/financial risk) still remain, resulting in contiguous failures over two decades and two mechanism changes (NFFO, RO, RO/reformed-RO). Success will again be heavily dependent on a select few technologies and new/untested measures to combat external failures. Mechanism-extension to 2037 is probably the single most important factor underlying potential deployment increases. However, introducing a FIT-like system via the sheer number of ‘bolt-on’ reforms to counter policy failures indicates loss of direction and clarity. Overall, although Government appears to have learnt some of its lessons from the past two-decades, significant doubt remains whether renewable energy policy objectives will be met via the latest mechanism change.     

Do producers apply a capacity cutting strategy to increase prices? The case of the England and Wales electricity market

Promoting competition among electricity producers is primarily targeted at ensuring fair electricity prices for consumers. Producers could, however, withhold part of production facilities (i.e., apply a capacity cutting strategy) and thereby push more expensive production facilities to satisfy demand for electricity. This behavior could lead to a higher price determined through a uniform price auction. Using the case of the England and Wales wholesale electricity market we empirically analyze whether producers indeed did apply a capacity cutting strategy. For this purpose we examine the bidding behavior of producers during high- and low-demand trading periods within a trading day. We find statistical evidence for the presence of capacity cutting by several producers, which is consistent with the regulatory authority's reports.     

Hydropower,social priorities and the rural–urban development divide: The case of large dams in Cambodia

Hydropower investment is a priority in many developing countries, as a means to increase electrification rates and promote national development. However, neglect of dam-affected people's needs, can make them vulnerable to the multifaceted impacts of such projects. Using the case of Cambodia's first large dam, the Kamchay dam, this paper reveals social priorities of affected communities and institutional actors linked to environmental and social implications of large hydropower projects using a preference ranking method. Qualitative research revealed concerns among dam-affected communities which included energy access, livelihood changes, environmental impacts, access to natural resources and compensation. Results also reveal divergence between national and local priorities, which in turn brings about an unequal distribution of costs and benefits of the Kamchay Dam between urban and rural areas. The paper provides recommendations to policy-makers, NGOs and international organizations regarding governance issues, consultation processes and mitigation measures.     

The development and application practice of wind–solar energy hybrid generation systems in China

China is the largest developing country in the world. At present, more and more energy demand gives immense pressure to Chinese government. The inappropriate energy structure must be improved by Chinese government in order to achieve the sustainable development of economy and society. Development and application of renewable energy, such as wind energy, solar energy, biomass energy, etc., have been regarded by the government and the local people in the past 10 years, and more and more actual examples have been established, which are supported by government and plants in China. It is well known that there are abundant wind and solar resources in China. This paper presents the distribution zone and development and application practice status in China. However, a common drawback is existing in the stand-alone wind energy and solar energy generating power system, which is the unpredictable output electric power, and the output power depends on the unpredictable weather and climatic changes. Fortunately, the wind–solar hybrid generation system can partially overcome the problems. The conventional structure and key technology of stand-alone wind–solar hybrid generating system, the current status and outlook of wind–solar hybrid energy system are presented in the paper, for example, the city road lighting system, distributed generation, photovoltaic (PV) water pumping for irrigation, etc. At the end, the policies and laws of China central government and local governments are described, and the development barriers and recommendations are introduced.     

The role of hydrogen energy development in the Korean economy: An input–output analysis

Korea has been developing hydrogen energy technology to enhance its energy security. The Hydrogen Energy R&D Center established by the Korean government invested about 100 billion Korean won (KRW) into the development of hydrogen energy technology from 2003 to 2012. This study uses input–output (I–O) analysis, along with the scenario–based exogenous specification method, to investigate the effect of hydrogen energy technology investment on the Korean economy for the period 2020–2040. We focus on two perspectives: (1) the sectoral linkage effect and (2) the sectoral impacts of hydrogen energy supply investments. The overall results reveal that the hydrogen sector can be characterized as intermediate primary production because of its high backward and forward linkage effects. By 2040, total production in the hydrogen sector under two scenarios will be 13,484 and 2979 billion KRW, respectively. This study is a pioneering study into the assessment of the economy–wide effects of Korea's hydrogen energy industries.     

The role of coal in energy policy and sustainable development of Turkey: Is it compatible to the EU energy policy?

This paper aims to assess the current and future role of coal in energy strategy of Turkey, and evaluates the compatibility of policies to the EU energy policy and strategy. Coal is regarded as the most important indigenous energy source in Turkey together with hydropower to strengthen the supply security of the country. Turkish government set targets to fully utilize coal reserves of the country in next decades. However, the country is also in the process of becoming an EU Member State, hence, it is expected that the energy policies have to comply with the EU. Moreover, Turkey ratified Kyoto Protocol in 2009, thus the country should limit CO₂ emission together with other greenhouse gases. The probable obstacles that Turkey may face due to the utilization of coal were determined as CO₂ emissions, lack of technology and application in Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) and health and safety issues. It is concluded that coal is a very important domestic energy source for Turkey but new policies have to be developed and adopted immediately, and more realistic targets for the country should be set accordingly.     

Integrated energy in Germany–A critical look at the development and state of integrated energies in Germany

In the face of global warming and a scarcity of resources, future energy systems are urged to undergo a major and radical transformation. The recognition of the need to embrace renewable energy technologies and to move toward decarbonization has led to significant changes in the German energy generation, consumption and infrastructure. Ambitious German national plans to decrease carbon dioxide emissions on one side, and the unpredictable and volatile nature of renewable energy sources on the other side have elevated the importance of integrated energies in recent years. The deployment of integrated technologies as a solution to interlink various infrastructures creates opportunities for increasing the reliability of energy systems, minimizing environmental impacts and maximizing the share of renewable resources. This paper discusses the role of integrated energy systems in supporting of sustainable solutions for future energy transitions. Moreover, the reinforcement of this movement with the help of different technologies will be discussed and the development of integrated energy systems in Germany will be reviewed.     

What drives energy consumption in developing countries? The experience of selected African countries

This study investigates the drivers of energy consumption in Sub-Saharan African countries. It applies the bounds testing approach to cointegration to time series data at individual country levels over the period from 1970 to 2011. The study finds that energy consumption is cointegrated with real GDP per capita, industrial output, imports, foreign direct investment, credit to private sector, urbanization and population. Furthermore, the sign and magnitude of long-run estimates vary significantly for a single country and across countries depending on the energy consumption variable used. Overall, the findings confirm the leading role of economic growth, industrial output, population and urbanization. Economic growth, industrial output and population have positive effects on energy consumption in the majority of countries. Given the urgent need to address climate change, African countries should adopt policies to improve energy efficiency and accelerate transition toward renewable energy. The African Renewable Energy Initiative launched at the 21st session of the United Nations Conference of the Parties (COP21) is an opportunity for African countries to provide and maintain widespread access to reliable and affordable environmentally cleaner energy to meet the requirements of rapid economic growth and improved living standards.     

The effect of tartrate on the morphological and structural characteristics of lead–tin electrodeposit from an alkaline bath

The electrodeposition of Pb–Sn alloys from a tartrate-alkaline plating bath can lead to a deposition of pure lead or a normal codeposition of lead–tin depending on the deposition potential. The percentage of tin in the Pb–Sn deposit obtained at ∼−1.15 V increases from 4.08 wt.% to 20.7 wt.% as the charge density rises from 2.5 C cm⁻² to 5.0 C cm⁻² and then decreases from 12.07 wt.% to 7.52 wt.% as the charge density rises from 7.5 C cm⁻² to 10.0 C cm⁻². SEM images show that the Pb and Pb–Sn deposits obtained from a tartrate-alkaline bath did not, in general, show dendritic growth.     

The role of aluminum in the formation of Ni–Al–Co-containing porous ceramic converters with high activity in dry and steam reforming of methane and ethanol

The role of aluminum in the formation of Ni–Al–Co-containing porous ceramic membrane-catalytic converters (MCC) obtained by SHS method, which are high-active in dry and steam reforming of methane, ethanol and fusel alcohols into synthesis gas, was discovered. It was shown that the aluminum introduced into the charge through mechanical alloying leads to a significant increase in the catalytic activity of the converter in the studied processes, as compared to aluminum introduced by mechanical mixing. In this case, the addition of 5% aluminum to the initial nickel charge allows achieving of maximum productivity for syngas against other studied concentrations of Al. The Al content increase above the optimum leads to a significant formation of the catalytically inactive phase of Ni₃Al intermetallide. TEM and X-ray diffraction methods show that due to oxidation-reduction phase transformations involving aluminum there occurs the formation of metal oxides on the basis of γ-Al₂O₃ with the structure of spinel having nanosized Ni–Co alloy particles formed on its surface during the reductive activation stage.     

The Deligne–Simpson Problem and the Connectedness of some Varieties

The Deligne–Simpson problem is formulated as follows: give necessary and sufficient conditions for the choice of the conjugacy classes or so that there exist irreducible (p+1)-tuples of matrices M _j ∈ C _j or A _j ∈ c _j satisfying the equality M ₁ ⋯ M _p+1 = I or A ₁ + ⋯ + A _p+1 = 0. The matrices M _j and A _j are interpreted as monodromy operators of regular linear systems and as matrices-residues of Fuchsian ones on the Riemann sphere. We prove that in the so-called simple case the subset or of the variety or consisting of all irreducible (p+1)-tuples (if nonempty) is connected. “Simple” means that the greatest common divisor of all quantities of Jordan blocks of a given size, of a given matrix M _j or A _j , and with a given eigenvalue is 1. To the memory of my mother     

Rockets and feathers in power futures markets? Evidence from the second phase of the EU ETS

This paper examines the possibility of asymmetric transmission of CO₂ prices to electricity futures prices in the second phase of the European Emission Trading Scheme. We would like to assess whether output prices tend to respond more quickly to input price increases than decreases: this phenomenon is known as “rockets and feathers” in the literature. Compared to Zachmann and von Hirschhausen (2008), who carried out a similar analysis for Germany in the first phase of the Emission Trading Scheme with data from 2005 to 2006, our study spans a longer timeframe (July 2007–June 2010), with a presumably more mature permit market, and includes three additional European countries (France, Belgium and the Netherlands). Results do not provide empirical evidence of statistically significant differences in the response of power prices to positive and negative shocks in CO₂ allowance and fuel markets.     

Who benefits from local oil and gas employment? Labor market composition in the oil and gas industry in Texas and the rest of the United States

This paper examines local labor market outcomes from an oil and gas boom. We examine two main outcomes; the probability of employment and the log wages of workers employed outside the oil and gas industry for Texas and the rest of the United States across gender, race, and ethnicity. We find that men and women gain employment in the oil and gas industry during booms, but such gains are much larger for men and are largest for black and Hispanic men. We also find positive income spillovers for workers in other industries that are similar in magnitude across demographic groups.     

Analysis of the potential production and the development of bioenergy in the province of Mendoza – Bio-fuels and biomass – Using geographic information systems

In this work, the partial results of the potential production of energy, starting from the biomass and the development of the crops, directed to the production of bio-fuels (Colza and Topinamur) in the North irrigation oasis of Mendoza, Argentina within the National Program of Bio-energy developed by INTA is presented.     

The transnationalisation of the Indian coal economy and the Australian political economy: The fusion of regimes of accumulation?

The Indian government's economic development program is predicated on increasing electricity generating capacity. Coal fired power and removal of obstacles to private corporations investing in generating capacity are core elements in this program. With difficulties in boosting national coal production, the state-owned Coal India Limited and energy corporations have spearheaded a range of global coal sourcing endeavours, including investing in offshore deposits. Energy security has become reflected in engineering global supply chains, securing control of coal, with two of the largest projects involving Adani and GVK proposing to develop mines in the Galilee Basin in Queensland, Australia. These investments become the institutional and organisational architecture that locks in demand, a global demand which helps to explain successive Australian governments support for and approval of the projects. Notwithstanding considerable environmental opposition, and questions about the economic merits and commercial viability of the projects, Australian governments are wedded to the conviction that expanded development of the economy is tied to extracting and exporting fossil fuels, to consolidating Australia as an ‘energy superpower’.     

Potentialities of energy generation from waste and feedstock produced by the agricultural sector in Brazil: The case of the State of Paraná

The State of Paraná contributes significantly for the Brazilian production of sugar cane, ethanol, soybeans and pigs. In addition to the current production of ethanol, the State has a huge potential for electricity, biodiesel and biogas production. This paper presents an overview of the current situation regarding energy generation from the agricultural sector in the State, an assessment of the potentialities of energy generation from sugar cane residues and pig agricultural chains, as well as an analysis of the socioeconomic factors underlying the availability of feedstock for biodiesel production. This study has shown that it is possible to expand the energy supply in the State using residual biomass from the sugar cane and pig production. On the other side, the biodiesel production increase in the State will depend on the expansion in the consumption of products that use the cake as raw material; the increase in the feedstock availability other than canola, castor beans and sunflower; the increase of the number of family farmers as feedstock providers, so as to ensure access for biodiesel producers to the Social Fuel Stamp.     

The pollution concern in the era of globalization: Do the contribution of foreign direct investment and trade openness matter?

This analysis aims to treat the contribution of the foreign direct investment inflows and trade openness to environmental degradation. Drawing on the data for 27 African countries over the period from 1990 to 2013, we develop an empirical model based on a set of panel methods. This approach includes Westerlund (2007) panel cointegration technic, Common Correlated Effects Mean Group (CCE-MG) estimation procedure, and the Granger causality test. In terms of long-term causality, our findings reveal bidirectional long-term causality between CO₂/NO_x emissions, GDP, trade openness, and foreign direct investment. Besides, in the short-run, the results recorded a unidirectional causality running from GDP to CO₂, and from FDI to CO₂. However, bidirectional causality nexus was detected between trade openness and CO₂. Additionally, the findings portray bidirectional causality between GDP and NO_x and between trade openness and NO_x, while a unidirectional causality from foreign direct investment to NO_x. Our analysis substantiates the importance of the foreign direct investment inflows and trade openness in mitigating the adverse effect of heavy pollutant activities and resolving the environmental puzzle (growing without polluting) consistent with the Millennium Development Goals (MGDs) of the UN background.     

Are micro-benefits negligible? The implications of the rapid expansion of Solar Home Systems (SHS) in rural Bangladesh for sustainable development

This paper examines the multiple benefits of the adoption of Solar Home Systems (SHS) and discusses the dissemination potential for sustainable rural livelihoods in developing countries. Based on a household survey conducted in rural Bangladesh, we first identify the impact of SHS on the reduction in energy costs and compare purchasing costs. We then examine household lifestyle changes following the adoption of SHS. Finally, we consider several price-reduction scenarios to examine the potential demand for SHS and to evaluate its future dissemination potential. The results of the analysis indicate that households with SHS successfully reduce their consumption of kerosene and dependency on rechargeable batteries, with the cost reductions accounting for some 20–30% of monthly expenditures on SHS. Moreover, most households with SHS can enjoy its benefits, including electric lighting, watching television, and the ease of mobile phone recharging at home. Further, the price reduction can make possible potential demand in more than 60% of households without SHS, while additional price reductions promote the purchase of even larger SHS packages. This study concludes that even though the scale of single SHS is small, the micro-benefits for each household and the dissemination potential are substantial.     

The Phenomenon of Reversal in the Euler–Poincaré–Suslov Nonholonomic Systems

The development of robotics makes it necessary to study the problem of controlling nonholonomic systems (Svinin et al., Regul Chaotic Dyn. 2013; 18(1–2): 126–143, Borisov et al., Regul. Chaotic Dyn. 2013; 18(1–2): 144–158, Ivanova et al., Regul Chaotic Dyn. 2014; 19(1): 140–143). In this paper, the dynamics of nonholonomic systems on Lie groups with a left-invariant kinetic energy and left-invariant constraints are considered. Equations of motion form a closed system of differential equations on the corresponding Lie algebra. In addition, the effect of change in the stability of steady motions of these systems with the direction of motion reversed (the reversal found in rattleback dynamics) is discussed. As an illustration, the rotation of a rigid body with a fixed point and the Suslov nonholonomic constraint as well as the motion of the Chaplygin sleigh is considered.     

The socio-technological history of hydrogen and fuel cells in Sweden 1978–2005; mapping the innovation trajectory

At the turn of the millennium high expectations were connected to fuel cells. Various energy companies, politicians as well as many initiated public–private partnerships were of the same opinion: a Hydrogen Economy would combine economic growth with environmental concerns and security of energy supply and that was crucial for the future. But this was not the first time there were high expectations on fuel cells and in this article we map the changes 1978–2005 from energy transformers over to batteries and then end up as energy sources. We take their heterogeneous character for genuine and analyse how they are part of different discourses by following the construction of them by actor-networks. The article discuss how fuel cells and hydrogen had to change to fit together with the discourse of ecomodernisation, or to put the question differently, we analyse which aspects of the heterogeneous fuel cell technology are emphasised when connected to the iscourse of ecomodernisation. This analysis and the conclusions drawn contribute to a better understanding of technological change and also show important lessons for practitioners.