Abstract

This working paper assesses the positive cobenefits of promoting green and clean energy in Asia. It first defines what is meant by “clean” energy across the four technological systems of cooking, renewable electricity, energy efficiency, and urban transport. Then, drawn from a synthesis of peer-reviewed articles, it summarizes at least four general types of cobenefits of investing in these systems: (i) diversification and enhanced energy security, (ii) jobs and green growth, (iii) displaced pollution and associated cost savings, and (iv) enhanced resilience and adaptive capacity to things like climate change and natural disasters. It also offers some insight to possible challenges and trade-offs that must be managed when attempting to capture cobenefits. The paper then focuses on four case studies of cobenefits that have been delivered in practice: liquefied petroleum gas stoves in Indonesia, renewable electricity generation in the People’s Republic of China, energy efficiency in Japan, and mass transit in Singapore. The paper concludes with insights for energy analysts and policy makers.

Highlights

  • Asian countries have made remarkable efforts at increasing their electrification rate, yet energy access oscillates noticeably

  • The paper focuses on four case studies of cobenefits that have been delivered in practice: liquefied petroleum gas stoves in Indonesia, renewable electricity generation in the People’s Republic of China, energy efficiency in Japan, and mass transit in Singapore

  • The People’s Republic of China (PRC) leads the world in the largest amount of renewable energy capacity installed, and it ranks first in multiple categories of renewable energy

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Summary

INTRODUCTION

Asian countries have made remarkable efforts at increasing their electrification rate, yet energy access oscillates noticeably. The region is home to small island developing states like Fiji and Vanuatu that are extremely difficult to supply with modern energy services These countries, heavily dependent on diesel imports with exceptionally small electricity grids and low levels of affordable access, are spread across about a third of the earth’s surface but are home to less than a thousandth of the world’s population. This working paper assesses the positive cobenefits of promoting green and clean energy in Asia. It first defines what is meant by “clean” energy across the four technological systems of cooking, renewable electricity, energy efficiency, and urban transport. The paper focuses on four case studies of cobenefits delivered in practice: liquefied petroleum gas stoves in Indonesia, renewable electricity generation in the PRC, energy efficiency in Japan, and mass transit in Singapore. Restrained private automobile ownership through vehicle moratoriums and fees, levied congestion charges for roads and expressways during peak times, and vigorously promoted bus and rail mass transit

Results
Clean and Improved Cookstoves
Renewable Electricity
Energy Efficiency
Low-Carbon Transit and Mobility
ACADEMIC LITERATURE ON COBENEFITS AND TRADE-OFFS
Diversification and Energy Security
Jobs and Green Growth
Displaced Pollution and Cost Savings from Improved Public Health
Enhanced Resilience to Disasters and Climate Change Vulnerabilities
Trade-Offs and Complexities
EXEMPLARY CASE STUDIES FROM ASIA
Brazil Germany Sweden
CONCLUSIONS AND POLICY INSIGHTS
28 | References
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