Energetic Policy Research Articles

Factors of Renewable Energy Consumption in the European Countries—The Bayesian Averaging Classical Estimates Approach

The paper aims to identify the most likely factors that determine the demand for energy consumption from renewable sources (renewable energy consumption—REC) in European countries. Although in Europe, a high environmental awareness is omnipresent, countries differ in scope and share of REC due to historical energetic policies and dependencies, investments into renewable and traditional energetic sectors, R&D development, structural changes required by energetic policy change, and many other factors. The study refers to a set of macroeconomic, institutional, and social factors affecting energetic renewable policy and REC in selected European countries in two points of time: i.e., before and after the Paris Agreement. The Bayesian Average Classical Estimates (BACE) is applied to indicate the most likely factors affecting REC in 2015 and 2018. The comparison of the results reveals that the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) level, nuclear and hydro energy consumption were the determinants significant in both analyzed years. Furthermore, it became clear that in 2015, the REC depended strongly on the energy consumption structure, while in 2018, the foreign direct investment and trade openness played their role in increasing renewable energy consumption. The direction of changes is gradual and positive. It complies with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Increasing prevalence of overweight among Seychelles children, 1998-2002

To examine the prevalence and trends in excess weight among children in the Seychelles. Serial surveys of weight and height were conducted each year between 1998-2002 in all students attending four school grades (crèche, 4th, 7th and 10th years of compulsory school). Overweight and obesity were defined using age-specific body mass index (BMI) criteria of the International Obesity Task Force. Two questions explored physical activity at leisure time and daily walking time. From an eligible total of 32 077 observations between 1998-2002, data were available in 22 694 (71%), which corresponded to 17 627 separate children. Median age in the four grades was respectively 5.5, 9.2, 12.6, and 15.8 years. The overall prevalence of excess weight (‘overweight’ and ‘obese’ categories combined) was 10.5% in boys and 16.4% in girls. From 1998 to 2002, the prevalence of excess weight increased from 8.4% to 11.8% in boys and from 11.9% to 18.4% in girls. The increase of excess weight over calendar years was particularly marked among the younger children. Only a quarter of children reported walking at least 30minutes per day. Leisure physical activity was inversely associated with excess body weight. The prevalence of excess body weight was high among school children of Seychelles and increased substantially over a five-year period. This calls for prompt and energetic policies and programs to promote physical activity and healthy nutrition among children.

Potential for conversion of thermal energy in electrical energy: Highlighting the Brazilian Ocean Thermal Energy Park and the Inverse Anthropogenic Effect

Renewable energies as an additional source have become vital in modern societies. The search for alternative energy sources has led the scientific community to the oceans, demanding a shift in energetic policies, which must be redefined to favor the development of renewable energy technologies at sea. The goal is to generate electric energy while producing less pollutants or even while using the outputs of human anthropic activities as input for the generation of energy, food, products and for the mitigation of climate change impacts. The present study focus on the Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) technology, which presents the greatest potential for energy exploitation from the oceans and which generates a range of by-products. The South Atlantic Ocean presents the potential to support OTEC plants, with emphasis on the region called Brazilian Ocean Thermal Energy Park, with a total coverage area of 1,893,000.00 k m 2 and an operating potential of up to 376 OTEC plants. Results of this work indicate that the park operation in maximum capacity can generate energy at a nominal power of 41.36 G W , and remove 60.16 G W or 60.16 G J / s of ocean heat and 8.13 k g / s or 256.37 T g / y e a r of atmospheric C O 2 . • Definition of a Brazilian viable oceanic region for an OTEC plant operation: the Ocean Thermal Energy Park (OTEP). • The OTEP is able to operate up to 376 plants, with a damping area of 5,026 Km 2 /plant for the thermodynamic effects. • The location with the best MW/km ratio is in the power range between 120 and 125 MW. • The OTEP in its maximum capacity is capable of generating 41.36 GW of energy and withdraw 60.16 GW of heat from the ocean.. • The proposed OTEP can withdraw 256.37 Tg/year of atmospheric CO2 from the ocean.

Oxford University and Globalisation: Rebranding the Dreaming Spires

Oxford currently finds itself in the process of an upheaval, provoked by the need to respond to the inroads made by globalising forces, which require all British universities to take on some of the characteristics of business organisations. Its distinguished academic reputation can no longer be entrusted to word of mouth, but instead the university must compete with other similar institutions through advertising and an energetic policy of rebranding. The principal communicative genre involved in this rebranding is the website, and this article explores the semiotic construction of webpages relating to Oxford’s ‘international mission’ in which, it is suggested, a covert attempt to attract foreign students is presented in the guise of a text whose ostensible purpose is to provide information.

Is foreign trade relevant to economic growth in the SADC region?

The relationship between foreign trade and economic growth is one of the controversial subjects in economics. Theoretical models have been developed and empirical studies have been carried out but the results obtained are mixed and up to now, there is no unique answer with regard to the same study. This paper examines the relationship between foreign trade and economic growth taking SADC countries as the laboratory test ground. Growth performances have not been consistent within the SADC region and weak regional trade performance is by the virtue of the fact that they focused more on elimination of trade barriers instead of concentrating on the development of the productive capacities necessary for trade. The research used panel data gathered from SADC trade database, International Monetary Fund, and World Bank. Using panel regression analysis of 15 SADC member states, the paper demonstrates that foreign trade promotes economic growth but it was found to have a moderate effect on growths of SADC countries. Based on the findings, the paper recommends SADC member countries to devise energetic industrial policies geared towards developing export industries and also to implement the SADC Regional Infrastructure Development Master Plan in order to improve trade within the region so as to realise real market access benefits brought about by trade liberalization.

Study on transnational environmental damage along the belt and road and its enlightenment on international energetic policy

This paper selects the most tabular areas of Central Asia and Southeast Asia along the route of Belt and Road Initiative and analyzes the causes and current situation of the cases of transnational environmental damage in the two regions. Through the data and charts, this paper sums up the present situation of the co-existence of nuclear pollution and Aral Sea crisis in Central Asia and the serious pollution of water resources caused by frequent fire in Southeast Asia. And this paper analyzes the impact of this environmental situation on the formulation and implementation of energy policy along the Belt and Road.

MODELO HIDROCARBURÍFERO EN ARGENTINA (1990-2015): DEL EXTRACTIVISMO CLÁSICO NEOLIBERAL AL (NEO)EXTRACTIVISMO PSEUDO-PROGRESISTA / HYDROCARBON PATTERN IN ARGENTINA (1990-2015): FROM CLASSIC, NEOLIBERAL EXTRACTIVISM TO PSEUDO-PROGRESSIVE (NEO)EXTRACTIVISM

According to the literature, the current Latin America (neo)extractivist paradigm would differ from the neoliberal, “classic” extractive pattern due to the lower relative weight of foreign private capital and the appropiation by the State of a substantial piece of the surplus through several mechanisms (e.g. normative and institutional reforms, growth of pre-existent taxes, public enterprises’ creation, imposing export taxes, etc.). This paper critically examines such thesis and then empirically contrast them for the Argentinean case by analyzing the continuities and the ruptures suffered by the hydrocarbon pattern between the neoliberal period and the (neo)developmentalist or “progressivism” model. The article’s findings are paradoxal. On one hand, they show that the new legislation strengthened and completed the neoliberal reform and the public companies’ creation and the expropriation of privatized firms consolidated the foreign capital’s presence, reduced the National State participation on the hydrocarbon surplus and sharpened the social and environmental impacts of the model. On the other hand, the export taxes and the energetic subsidios policies have implied the enterprise risk’s socialization by transferring a millionaire mass of resources from the public treasury to the capital, as well as they heightened the situation of energy crisis.

Enjeux euro-méditerranéens

Cet article part d'une interrogation, elle-même née de la lecture des documents officiels structurant le "partenariat euro-méditerranéen" né à Barcelone en 1995. A en croire l'union Européenne, un tel partenariat avec l'ensemble des pays bordant la Méditerranée ne serait que l'aboutissement logique de la cohérence de cet espace. Pourtant, tant la lecture des réflexions d'intellectuels que celle de statistiques brutes semblent nous dépeindre une réalité de fractures, de différences, de divergences d'intérêts, d'incompréhensions - plutôt qu'un tableau cohérent. La question qui doit se poser est donc la suivante : pourquoi l'UE a-t-elle présenté la Méditerranée comme un espace cohérent ? S'agissait-il là d'une sorte de "speech act" performatif destiné à devenir vrai par sa croyance et sa pratique ? Se situant àun autre niveau d'analyse, cet article veut plus simplementéclairer le pur choix stratégique de l'Union Européenne. Créer un espace "Euromed" cohérent, c'est en définitive justifier et permettre la mise en place d'une certaine politique économique et énergétique.

Use of energy management as a strategic direction of sustainable development of an organization

The object of the study is energy management, which activity is directed on providing the rational use of fuel-energetic resources at an enterprise or municipalities that allows to optimize volumes of energy consumption essentially. At elaborating and introducing the system of energy management, an organization may face a series of problems that must be considered more detail. The first problem is essential costs of consulting and certification services. An organization must decide for itself, how will it elaborate and introduce this system, and also is there a necessity to certify the management system, and if this necessity is present, which body must do it (international or national). Another problem is the absence or insufficient competence of specialists in the field of energy saving and energy efficiency. The third problem is investments in energy saving technologies. The fourth problem is the «cool» attitude of leaders of companies to questions of elaboration and introduction of the energy management system. The materials of internal reporting of enterprises were used at the study: reports about energetic audit, data of energetic balances of separate production subdivisions, instructions and strategic documents, energetic policy of an enterprise. Having conducted the analysis of electric energy production in the combined energy system of Ukraine and grounded the necessity of using energy management, it was established, that electric energy production in the combined energy system of Ukraine in 2017 increased by 2.5 % (by 1bil 884.8 mil kW-hour) comparing with 2016 – to 78 bil 345.8 mil kW-hour. The directions of state support in the field of energy saving and energy efficiency increase were determined. For providing the sustainable economy of expenditures for energetic resources, there was offered the structure and interaction of energy management elements for enterprises with the strategic direction of development. Due to it, it is possible to achieve essential energy saving and to decrease negative results at bad functioning of heating systems in buildings without great financial losses.

Bio-Fuel in Lithuania’s Energetics: Geographical Analysis of Energy Crops and Forest Products

Bio-fuel, used for production of thermal energy, is one of the most important renewable energy sources in Lithuania. The use of this energy source is determined by Lithuania‘s commitments to the European Union and the energetic policy carried out by the state, which encourages the use and replenishment of renewable energy sources. The article consists of three parts, which analyze the teritorial distribution of potential biofuel resources, i.e. short-rotation energy crops, realized forest products in Lithuania‘s forestry enterprises, and use of bio-fuel for production of thermal energy for Lithuania‘s centralized heating systems in 2012.

Rethinking Energetic Retrofit Policy in Germany

Um CO2-Emissionen zu vermeiden, schreibt der Gesetzgeber in Deutschland haufig direkte, ganz konkrete Eingriffe vor. Im Bereich der energetischen Gebaudesanierung wird im Detail festgelegt, wo und wie eingespart werden soll. Es liegt auf der Hand, dass mit so engen Vorgaben eine effiziente Losung haufig nicht erzielt werden kann. Der Autor pladiert fur ein Umdenken in der deutschen Klimapolitik.

Russo-Ukrainian Gas War: The Lack of a Common Strategy Jeopardizes European Unity

Despite low attention level in Western media, Ukrainian crisis is not just a local issue, and it is going to jeopardize European integration process due to geopolitical key position of Ukraine in natural gas delivery system. In facts, besides military race, carrying real dangers, a parallel gas war is staging in Ukraine, where U.S.A. - new hydrocarbon exporter thanks to revolution - is trying to break the Russian monopoly on Europe, by opening new energetic supply routes, in order to prevent Russia to use this strategic tool to control Europe countries. However, the low price of oil barrel is going to jeopardize U.S.A. plans. In the meantime, Ukraine is close to default due to debt crisis. The decrease of domestic production of energy - caused by political and geopolitical reason related to civil war and annexation of Crimea to Russia - worsens the crisis and prevent Ukraine to free from energetic dependence from Russia, a Moscow's tool to influence internal situation. Russia is trying to overcome Ukrainian bottleneck by opening new routes for Europe, in order to keep monopoly in energetic European marketplace avoiding access of U.S.A. shale gas. In this scenario, the main problem for Europe is the lack of a common strategy: divided in Russian-friendly countries, anti-Russian and lone wolves, European countries pursue their own energetic policies, weakening European Union and threating to bring Europe to a new division in spheres of influence.

Economic and Energy Performance of Brazilian Bagasse-Derived Ethanol: A Macro Perspective

The increase of global biofuel production is supported mainly by energetic policies adopted by important energy markets that aim to promote the production and use of biofuels, including the promising cellulosic-derived biofuels. Brazil is facing a challenge to attain sustainability in ethanol sector and to maintain its position as a major supplier of ethanol to world market in this new era of sustainable biofuel policies. In this paper we carried out a structural path analysis on sugarcane-derived ethanol sector and on a hypothetical bagasse-derived ethanol sector in order to identify the input paths that most influencing their economic and environmental performance. We make an empirical application to the Brazilian economy, using existing data from ethanol sector for 2005 and estimating data for the hypothetical sector. The fuel burned in the transport sector and on-site transport tasks is identified as important element for the environmental performance of both sectors. Also, sugarcane sector is identified to have relevant role in the economic performance of ethanol sector, as enzyme production has in second generation ethanol sector. The results present in this article can provide valuable information for decision-making in both biofuels to address new initiative for effective economic and environmental policies efforts.

GIS-based method for future prospect of hydrogen demand in the Algerian road transport sector

In recent years, Algeria has intensified its efforts to diversify its resources and ensure environmental sustainability by the implementation of energetic and economic policies and strategies. The integration of hydrogen into the road transportation sector as fuel can help country to meet its policy goals. Using the combination of spatial data in a Geographic Information System (GIS) with a techno-economic models, this paper presents an analysis of hydrogen demand from hydrogen vehicle in Algeria by 2045. The costs associated with hydrogen production via water electrolysis-based renewable sources, CO2 emissions, and the environmental benefits under two scenarios are also presented. The results of this study show that the annual amount of hydrogen demand would be 945.5 thousand tons H2 through 2045. Where the capital, Algiers represent 26% of national demands. The average levelized cost of hydrogen for the solar-based hydrogen, is in the range of 5 $/kg to 0.9 $/kg. Whereas, the average levelized cost of hydrogen for the geothermal-based hydrogen decline from 4.66 $/kg to 3.54 $/kg by 2045. A remarkable CO2 reduction is achievable; the environmental savings is estimated at 158.8 million tons of CO2.

ENERGY PARAMETERS OF KAZAKHSTAN-AMERICAN RELATIONS: GEOPOLITICAL AND INTERNATIONALLY LEGAL ASPECTS

The strategic partnership of the Republic of Kazakhstan with the US of America contains a key vector in the form of the American Kazakhstan’s energetic diplomacy and external policy. This is due to geo-political, geo-economic, geo-strategic, resource and energy, and military policies. Because of the experience gained from the partnership, this bilateral relationship continues to demonstrate progressive development and contributes towards expanding cooperation with other countries of North, Central, and Latin America. This is important in the context of the dynamic development of the fuel and energy complex of Kazakhstan country, and export of Kazakhstan`s energy resources through regional and global markets.

Human contamination by persistent toxic substances: the rationale to improve exposure assessment.

We know quite a lot about the generalized human contamination by environmental chemical agents; this statement is fully compatible with the view that most countries lack the necessary monitoring systems. We also know quite a lot about the toxic effects of environmental pollutants; this statement is fully compatible with the proposal that we need both more research and more energetic policies to decrease human contamination by such pollutants. Unsurprisingly, we know too little about the (environmental and social) causes and the etiopathogenesis (mechanisms) of the most prevalent diseases, and we will continue to miss relevant causes and mechanisms if we neglect the toxic chemicals that commonly contaminate humans, worldwide. Basic, clinical end environmental-epidemiological research on human health should more often consider integrating biomarkers of internal dose of environmental chemical pollutants. When we act in more responsible, rational, and scientific ways; when we become less dismissive towards environmental hazards; and when we thus neglect less the generalized human contamination by environmental chemical agents and their toxic effects, we will expand mechanistic biologic knowledge, and we shall as well increase the effectiveness of interventions and policies that enable the primary prevention of human diseases which cause huge amounts of economic burden and human suffering.

The analysis of suppositions included in the Polish Energetic Policy using the LCA technique—Poland case study

The paper presents the use of Life Assessment Analysis (LCA) to determine the environmental impact of produced electricity and heat for power plants and coal-fired plants in Poland. Moreover, the usefulness of this method of assessment for energy sector was demonstrated. The article also presents the comparative analysis of energy production from burning solid fuels with the use of Ecoindicator 99. The conducted LCA analyses aimed at undergoing a critical review of the objectives of Polish energetic policy. The difference was presented concerning the results of the environmental impact as well as the causes of the essential values of the impact were discussed. Furthermore, the authors identified the measures which will contribute to the reduction of the impact of electricity production on the environment during the production of electricity in the future.

Ecodesign of Ever Net-Load Microgrids

The European Union has promoted the process of electrical market liberalization, extended to residential/commercial buildings, and a strong encouragement toward the rational use of energy. The European energetic policy aims to promote the installation of small renewable power sources, the use of highly efficient cogeneration, and the Nearly Zero-Energy Buildings (NZEBs) that have to be pursued as much as possible by local generation sufficient to supply the residual amount of energy. To avoid future chaotic phenomena in the existing distribution network, this paper highlights that the power flow of local generators has to be maintained locally: The users have to remain net-loads organized in ever net-load microgrids at least in a first evolution. The actual distribution network for low-voltage customers appears inadequate to comply with these improvements, and it has to change in order to accept microgrids organized by the union of customer groups. The authors suggest the ecodesign of the microgrids able to constitute the NZEB and to accomplish the goals of enhanced safety, high local power quality, dc distribution systems, common emergency systems, efficient load shedding, and energy management. The microgrids guarantee a reduced impact as ever net-load on the net supply.

Testing for Granger causality in distribution tails: An application to oil markets integration

This paper proposes an original procedure which allows for testing of Granger-causality for multiple risk levels across tail distributions, hence extending the procedure proposed by Hong et al. (2009). Asymptotic and finite sample properties of the test are considered. This new Granger-causality framework is applied for a set of regional oil markets series. It helps to tackle two main questions 1) Whether oil markets are more or less integrated during periods of extreme energetic prices movements and 2) Whether price-setter markets change during such periods. Our findings indicate that the integration level between crude oil markets tends to decrease during extreme periods and that price-setter markets also change. Such results have policy implication and stress the importance of an active energetic policy during episode of extreme movements.

Una revisión a la reglamentación e incentivos de las energías renovables en Colombia

<p>El documento analiza las estrategias de: promoción, producción, desarrollo o adaptación de las energías renovables en el país. El desarrollo de esta investigación partió del actual Plan Energético Nacional en lo referente a los lineamientos en materia de política energética. De igual manera se retomaron los programas, las leyes, los planes y los decretos relacionados con la planeación, ejecución y operación de los proyectos energéticos. La investigación realizada permitió concluir que existen leyes e incentivos, principalmente de carácter tributario, que promueven el desarrollo de las energías renovables. Sin embargo, en el país aún se requiere profundizar en estudios que generen cuantificaciones continuas del potencial de implementación de fuentes no convencionales de energía, de manera que se mejoren las políticas energéticas, permitiendo establecer estrategias de largo plazo que involucren los componentes sociales y ambientales.</p>