Energy Technological Change Research Articles

Energy Technology and Foreign Trade: The Case of Denmark

This paper address two issues related to energy technology and trade. First it examines the importance of changes in energy technology for long-term trade developments of the Danish manufacturing industry. Secondly the trade potential of a policy to support the development of environmental friendly energy technologies is examined.Energy technologies affect the competitive position of industries through their energy costs. This paper presents an empirical investigation of the Danish industries with respect to the energy intensity and the relative production development of the energy intensive industries relative to the average industry.Another important effect of the change in energy technologies is the competitive option for the industries producing the capital equipment of a specific energy technology. Here the consequences for the Danish wind turbine manufacture and for the manufacture of pipes for district heating can be highlighted. Exports of the environmental friendly technologies are found to be the most important contribution to trade figures in the Danish case.

Energy technology changes and CO2 emission scenarios in China

With its recent rapid economic growth, China has become one of the foremost countries in terms of energy consumption and CO2 emission. The extent of future CO2 emission in China and how to reduce it are important issues. This paper presents the forecast results of CO2 emission studies for several cases and assesses the various policy options by using the AIM/end-use model and analyzing CO2 reduction costs for various sectors. The results shrued that CO2 emission will increase with the rapid economic development in China, but it is possible to slow down the CO2 emission growth rate by using technological progress, efficient markets, and by adopting policies for CO2 reduction.

Exploring regional energy futures in Canada: A techno-economic energy model for Ontario

We discuss a model that involves the use of linear programming to calculate the least costly configuration of the energy system in the province of Ontario in Canada for the year 2021. We identify some desirable changes in energy technologies and fuels, compared with the present, and we analyze the economic and air-pollution impacts of several policies: no new nuclear power development, higher insulation standards for homes and enforcing the use of wood or solar energy for home heating.

Apparent and Genuine Affluence

The twentieth century rise in energy consumption appears to be due more to rises in affluence than changes in energy technology. This conclusion is disputed by suggesting that the rise in energy consumption is due not to a genuine rise in affluence, but to the use of energy to produce goods and services that only compensate for the poorer character of new products and the environment within which they function. This thesis is examined using data on durability of products, and a measure of affluence that takes account of changes in the socioeconomic environment. These data indicate that changes in the environment can partly explain the rise in energy consumption, whereas changes in durability have had little if any effect.

Applications of Input-Output Analysis to Energy Problems

A brief outline of the U. S. input- output system and data base is given. An input-output table gives a detailed picture of the flow of goods and services that individual industries buy from and sell to each other in a particular year. The system was used in estimating the impact of 1973- 1974 petroleum shortages on output, employment, and prices. The system was also used to analyze the long- term economic effects of prospective changes in energy technology. A comprehensive study is Wassily Leontief's worldwide model. Its scope includes agriculture and other resources and will include input-output tables of 40 sectors for 15 regions of the world. (MCW)