Energy Trilemma Research Articles

Examining the role of nuclear and renewable energy in reducing carbon footprint: Does the role of technological innovation really create some difference?

The deployment of energy sources is considered the compassion of several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Countries should keep balance with the three major proportions of the global energy trilemma: energy security, affordability, energy access, and ecological balance to construct a solid basis for competitiveness and prosperity. In this regard, this study examines the influence of nuclear energy, technological innovations, renewable energy, non-renewable energy, and natural resources on carbon footprint in the highest nuclear energy-producing countries from 1990 to 2019. To do this, we developed an inclusive and comprehensive empirical investigation and applied modern econometric approaches. Panel second-generation long-run cointegration advocates long-run associations among the series. The findings reveal that nuclear and renewable energy consumption extensively improve environmental excellence. Conversely, technological innovations and non-renewable energy significantly reduce environmental sustainability. Moreover, natural resources play an adverse role in long-run. The findings of the panel causality test discovered unidirectional causality is running from carbon footprint to nuclear energy. Additionally, bidirectional causality exists between technological innovations, renewables, non-renewables, and natural resources with carbon footprint. This recommends that these nations should integrate energy policy activities and develop energy strategy consistency by harmonizing the vital global nuclear energy aspects to assist a well-calibrated energy structure.

The economics of firm solar power from Li-ion and vanadium flow batteries in California

The cost of providing near 24-7-365 power from solar panels at a commercial facility in South California was modelled to be similar for vanadium flow batteries (VFB) and lithium ion batteries (LIB) at around $0:20/kWh. In hotter locations, LIB economics suffer due to accelerated background cell ageing. Even within South California there was enough variation to affect the economic comparison. Although LIB degradation could be reduced in a hybrid VFB-LIB system, there was negligible benefit to the overall electricity cost.As a result of falling photovoltaic panel costs in the last decade solar power (PV) is now claimed to be the cheapest source of electricity. However, the intermittent nature of supply means that it cannot solve the energy trilemma alone, and a form of backup power is required for reliability. This application is well suited to batteries, but the cost implications of providing high levels of reliability in this way have not been widely studied. In this work, the levelised cost of electricity (LCOE) achievable by optimal combinations of PV and batteries is determined for a large food retailer at a range of self-sufficiency ratios (SSR). Both lithium ion batteries (LIB), vanadium redox flow batteries (VFB) and hybrid systems of the two technologies are modelled. In combination with an over-sized PV array, both systems are capable of providing a SSR of 0.95 for a LCOE of less than $0.22/kWh. The optimal LCOE values overlap across the SSR range for both technologies depending on cost and ambient temperature assumptions. A VFB is more likely to give the lower LCOE at lower SSR, and a LIB is favoured at high SSR as the cycle rate drops as SSR increases. It is also shown that a state of charge (SOC) minimisation strategy has a significant impact on the LIB economics by reducing calendar ageing. Lastly, hybrid systems combining LIB and VFB were modelled, but in no cases showed an improvement over the optimal single choice. The overlap in the LCOE of the two battery types highlights the importance of other considerations, such as sustainability, space requirements and safety.Graphical abstract

Australia’s energy transition catalyst

Our transition to net zero must be affordable and competitive, secure and reliable, and clean and sustainable – otherwise known as the energy trilemma. As Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO is uniquely positioned to support Australian government and industry in catalysing Australia’s energy transition towards net zero emissions. Dr Patrick Hartley, head of CSIRO’s Hydrogen Industry Mission, will explain how CSIRO is addressing the challenges associated with the energy trilemma both domestically and abroad through assessment, development, and demonstration of priority low emission technologies – with a particular focus on the role of hydrogen. To view the video, click on the link to the right.

Assessing energy trilemma-related policies: The world's large energy user evidence

Energy systems are sensitive to energy trilemma, e.g., energy equity, energy security, and environmental sustainability, and related policies. This interaction affects countries' competitiveness and prosperity, shaping geopolitics and contributing to global sustainable economic development. Accordingly, this research uses the Markov-switching panel vector autoregressive model to cover the knowledge gap by exploring how energy trilemma is affected in large energy-users through (i) complexity-based policies, e.g., sharing economy and economic complexity, and (ii) resource-portfolio-decision policies, e.g., “diversification of primary energy demand and supply”, switching to “non-carbon-based fuel portfolio”, and energy prices. Findings reveal that energy security is more challenging to achieve than the rest through energy-related policies. Hence, the opportunity costs of the policies associated with energy security are high for large energy-consumers. It is considered one of the drawbacks to providing energy demands for current and future activities that are needed to improve the capability of countries for responding to disruptions. Further, an overall a-cyclical pattern of energy trilemma dimensions is formed in response to the suggested policies, contributing to lower risks and higher resilience of the panel's energy systems. Consequently, a dynamic interaction between energy policies is suggested for balanced growth of energy trilemma when shocks occur in energy systems.

Stakeholder engagement by power system experts of Indonesia electricity sector for sustainable energy transition

PurposeStudies on sustainability in energy transition in the electricity sector require a new approach of modifying the indicators from the energy trilemma index. The cocreation variable was used as a mediator to promote collaborative engagement of all stakeholders in the electricity sector to achieve energy transition sustainably. This study aims to investigate the arguments presented above.Design/methodology/approachThis study adopted a quantitative method that combined structural equation modeling and partial least squares analysis. ADANCO was used to analyze the data gathered from power system expert engineers through an online questionnaire survey.FindingsPower system expert engineers play an important role in collaborative stakeholder engagement and cocreation as mediators for achieving sustainability. The expert engineers were willing to collaborate with stakeholders, while ensuring an engaging learning experience. Notably, dialogue that provides mutual access and transparency in assuming risk strengthened the cocreation effect.Research limitations/implicationsThe mediating effect of cocreation becomes important when there are antecedents related to stakeholder collaboration. Studies that used data from expert engineers having more than ten years of experience used cocreation as an antecedent, either independently, through mediation or by depending on the sustainability goals.Practical implicationsThis study has implications on the power sector in Indonesia, which relies on coal-fired power plants. This study proposes empowering expert engineers to collaborate with stakeholders to achieve energy decarbonization.Originality/valueAspects of the energy trilemma index were used to investigate the expert engineers’ perspective regarding energy security, energy equity and environmental sustainability, parameters which were modified to reflect their behavioral tendencies to achieve sustainability in the electricity sector.

An Analysis of the Relationship between Energy Trilemma and Economic Growth

This study analyzed the relationship between energy trilemma (ET) and economic growth in 109 countries between 2000 and 2020 across income levels and regions. This study constructed an extended Cobb-Douglas production function including three elements of ET such as energy security, energy equity, and environmental sustainability as their effects on economic growth differ by income level and region. The methodology of this study differs from that of previous studies, which utilized the representative value of ET based on principal component analysis. To analyze the panel series, this study utilized econometric procedures, panel regression of pooled ordinary least squares (OLS), feasible generalized least squares (FGLS), fixed effects, and dynamic panel analysis of generalized methods of moments (GMM) by three income levels. In addition, this study undertook a time series analysis between ET and economic growth for each country. The results showed that each element of ET is not balanced. Moreover, each element can contribute differently to economic growth due to differences in income levels and regions. This study suggested that a balanced environmental policy reflecting various aspects of ET is required and can contribute to the economic growth.

World energy trilemma and transformative energy developments as determinants of economic growth amid environmental sustainability

Energy is at the heart of many United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Countries should balance the three core dimensions of the world energy trilemma: energy affordability and access, energy security, and environmental sustainability to build a solid basis for prosperity and competitiveness. We investigate the impact of world energy trilemma and transformative energy developments on economic growth and environmental sustainability of the top ten and near bottom ten selected countries of SDGs index 2021, using investment in non-financial assets and energy use as moderator variables, from 1990 to 2016. We have developed a comprehensive empirical analysis and applied advanced econometric methodologies. Westerlund's panel co-integration suggests long-run relationships within the variables. Our long-run dynamic panel-data estimation, random-effects panel generalized least square regressions, and robust corrected standard error linear regressions findings indicate world energy trilemma and transformative energy developments simultaneously improve economic growth and environmental sustainability. However, investment in non-financial assets and energy use improves economic growth at the expense of environmental sustainability. This suggests that countries should improve energy policy coherence and integrate energy policy actions by balancing the crucial world energy trilemma dimensions to help develop a well-calibrated energy system.

Revisiting the Energy Trilemma in the European Union

As a response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the heads of state or government of the EU member states met in the Palace of Versailles to consider a historic decision to end EU dependency on Russian gas, oil and coal imports. The United States, the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia had announced energy embargos on Russia, and many expected the EU to follow suit, but this was not possible due to the complex decision-making in the EU. Instead, what was agreed was the REPowerEU Plan, setting out the European Commission's strategy of diversifying gas supplies, switching to renewables and hydrogen, improving energy efficiency, and mitigating the impact of rising energy prices. The Plan attempts to fit into the broader context of the Paris Agreement, the EU Green Deal, the EU's ‘Fit for 55’ framework and the EU law for climate neutrality. The gravity of the current situation is illustrated by the arrangements being put in place to prepare for a complete cut-off of Russian gas exports and by restarting the burning of coal, an energy source that Europe had recently consigned to history. This paper reviews the REPowerEU Plan and recent key proposals in the electricity and gas sectors from a policy and legal perspective. It is structured in three parts corresponding to the familiar notion of the energy trilemma: affordability, security and sustainability. REPowerEU is about rapidly reducing dependency on Russian fossil fuels by fast forwarding the clean transition to deliver affordable, secure and sustainable energy. Its goals might initially suggest that a new energy theorem is being launched, but this paper will argue that, in the EU context at least, the classic energy trilemma persists, and indeed is more acute in its effects than ever before.

Assessment of Energy Sustainability Issues in the Andean Community: Additional Indicators and Their Interpretation

To achieve sustainable development goals (SDGs), it is necessary to solve the problem of assessing and measuring energy sustainability performance. A popular indicator used for this purpose is the World Energy Council (WEC) energy sustainability index, or the Energy Trilemma Index, which is based on such key metrics as energy security, energy equity, environmental sustainability, and country context. Each of the four metrics, or dimensions, includes many indicators that depend on both internal and external factors. By combining a variety of indicators into integral ones, WEC ranks countries in terms of energy sustainability. However, what is not taken into account is how countries differ in terms of economic development, income, energy mix, renewables use, ownership in the energy sector, and other factors, and neither is the methodology itself disclosed by the developers. As a provider for all other sectors of the economy, the energy sector plays an important role in developing countries. Ecuador, Colombia, Peru, and Bolivia, being members of the Andean Community, are neighbors and have similar economic conditions but lack transnational power grid interconnections, which hinders the development of a common energy market. In terms of energy sustainability, these countries’ ranks range from 45 to 101, according to the Energy Trilemma Index. The aim of the study is to develop a new methodology for assessing energy sustainability performance that will factor in the specific features of developing countries with a high share of hydroelectricity generation, and to calculate energy sustainability index indicators taking into account contemporary requirements for sustainable development, which include developing green and renewable energy and fostering decarbonization. This research reveals whether the countries’ energy sustainability indices correspond to their actual performance in energy development and identifies the factors influencing the values of the metrics in the Energy Trilemma Index. The methodology can be used to integrate the energy sectors of countries, as it allows for evaluating the state of the energy sector of several countries (for example, those of the Andean Community) as a whole.

The Energy Trilemma and Regulatory Complexities of Gas Flaring and Venting in the US

The Energy Trilemma and Regulatory Complexities of Gas Flaring and Venting in the US

Grid Governance in the Energy Trilemma Era: Remedying the Democracy Deficit

Grid Governance in the Energy Trilemma Era: Remedying the Democracy Deficit

Improvement of metric for quantification and assessment of the energy justice

This paper provide a qualitative analysis of existing metrics that directly or indirectly quantify energy justice. The main objective of the paper was to determine shortcomings and to suggest improvements in order to enhance existing metrics and create conditions for defining of new energy indicators. The emphasis was placed on the analysis of the energy transition readiness. Therefore, elements of the energy trilemma of the observed countries were defined using known parameters related to the transition processes. The use of known economic, political, energy, environmental, and other indicators provided the universality of the suggested metric and reduced the impact of subjectivity. Proposed improve?ments for the metric of energy justice and the defining of new energy indicators served as a help tool for decision-makers in the energy sector. Political solutions should strive to a balancing of the energy trilemma, which was the main precon?dition for achieving the goals of sustainable development and a just transition. The main results of this paper are the possibility of universal application of metric for the quantification of energy justice and a new composite indicator that indicated the level of energy transition fairness.

Public Service Obligation Levy in the Context of Energy Sustainability and Security: The Cases of Ireland, Greece, Denmark and Lithuania

Energy policy affects the functioning of the economic and financial systems of countries worldwide. This paper provides a theoretical overview of the economy–energy nexus and discusses the particular cases of the energy policy dynamics amid the sustainability goals. This paper integrates multiple perspectives on the energy–economy nexus, with a particular focus on the energy trilemma, 4As of energy security and PESTEL approach. This allows the development of a comprehensive framework for the analysis of energy security and the sustainability interaction. A review of manifestations of the different dimensions of energy security and sustainability is carried out to identify the most topical facets of the issue. Then, the cases of the selected European Union countries (Ireland, Greece, Denmark and Lithuania) are presented to highlight the effects and features of the recent energy policy changes there. Indeed, these countries apply a PSO levy mechanism on electricity tariffs and are diverse in their geopolitical situation, economic development, geographical situation and energy dependency level. The analysis of the situations of such different countries applying the PSO levy mechanism makes it possible to perform a broader and more in-depth assessment and comparison of electricity tariff regulations. Thus, the developed theoretical model is applied to identify the major outcomes of the energy policy regimes (with a focus on tariff regulation) in the selected countries.

Balancing Energy Trilemma Using Hybrid Distributed Rooftop Solar PV (DRSP)/Battery/Diesel Microgrid: A Case Study in Gilutongan Island, Cordova, Cebu, Philippines

Design strategies for achieving reliable, affordable, and clean electricity are crucial for energy sustainability. Attaining it requires managing the three core factors (TCF) of the energy trilemma (ET) to increase reliability (energy equity), minimize the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) (energy equity), and avoid potential CO2 emission (environmental sustainability) simultaneously. This paper aims to present a design strategy for the hybrid energy system microgrid (HESM) model, consisting of a distributed rooftop solar PV (DRSP), battery, and diesel-generator to meet the increasing demand while balancing the TCF of the ET. The design strategy was applied in a cluster of 11 households in Gilutongan Island, Cebu, Philippines, where there is no open land space for a solar PV microgrid system. This study used PVSyst and HOMER Pro software to perform the techno-enviro-economic (TEE) analysis to select all feasible system configurations (FSCs). To identify the optimal FSC, a scoring mechanism that considers the LCOE based on the 5% household electricity expense limit, the 5% unmet load fraction, and the renewable penetration fraction was used. Results show that the optimal system requires an average of 32.2% excess energy from DRSP to balance the TCF of the ET based on the energy demand considered. Thus, planning when energy demand increases is vital to map the next appropriate steps toward sustainable energy transition. Overall, the obtained results can support project developers and policymakers to make informed decisions in balancing the ET from various trade-offs of energy systems.

EU ELECTRICITY POLICYMAKERS’ (IN) SENSITIVITY TO EXTERNAL FACTORS: A MULTI-DECADE QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS

The article explores a possible reason for the consistent dominance in the EU energy space of one energy policy priority, environment, when a more balanced policy would be expected, according to the classical energy trilemma. Stemming from a policy dynamics theoretical background, the sensitivity of EU policymakers to external factors is quantitatively tested by comparing legislative output against key relevant indicators, such as the public opinion and air pollutants emissions. The study encapsulates the last three decades, across all the three energy pillars of the energy trilemma, plus a fourth, internal energy market. The investigation converts into ordinal values data from selected indicators so as to create comparable scales. Results show that, unlike other energy pillars, which display strong connections between external factors and legislative output, environment legislation is rather indifferent to external factors pressure. Possible explanations are incorrect policy calibration or internal factors, originating in the rational choice realm. This research is one of the first to introduce comparative assessments in the Environmental Policy Integration discussion and employs in novel ways research methods for energy policy analysis emerged in the field of energy security policies.Keywords: electricity policy; policy dynamics; quantitative analysis; classical energy trilemmaJEL Classifications: F530; Q480DOI: https://doi.org/10.32479/ijeep.11630

Petroleum Sector-Driven Roadmap for Future Hydrogen Economy

In the climate change mitigation context based on the blue hydrogen concept, a narrative frame is presented in this paper to build the argument for solving the energy trilemma, which is the possibility of job loss and stranded asset accumulation with a sustainable energy solution in gas- and oil-rich regions, especially for the Persian Gulf region. To this aim, scientific evidence and multidimensional feasibility analysis have been employed for making the narrative around hydrogen clear in public and policy discourse so that choices towards acceleration of efforts can begin for paving the way for the future hydrogen economy and society. This can come from natural gas and petroleum-related skills, technologies, experience, and infrastructure. In this way, we present results using multidimensional feasibility analysis through STEEP and give examples of oil- and gas-producing countries to lead the transition action along the line of hydrogen-based economy in order to make quick moves towards cost effectiveness and sustainability through international cooperation. Lastly, this article presents a viewpoint for some regional geopolitical cooperation building but needs a more full-scale assessment.

Combined heat & power: Heat infrastructure planning in Denmark [History

The small scandinavian country of Denmark is ranked among the top countries in the world according to the World Energy Council (WEC) energy trilemma criteria: energy security, energy equity, and sustainability.

Conceptualising the Sustainable Energy Security Dimensions of Malaysia: A Thematic Analysis through Stakeholder Engagement to Draw Policy Implications

This study aims to provide established knowledge of the multi-dimensional concept of energy security through engaging stakeholders and experts. Energy security policy implications have been suggested in this study to address and mitigate energy security challenges. A total of seven emerging themes from semi-structured interviews have been discussed in-depth to understand the role of each theme and their interactions with energy policies. There is an urgent need to reduce dependency on fossil fuels and to look for alternative fuel options from renewable sources. At the same time, energy-efficient technology plays a significant role in improving overall efficiency and leading to reduced wastage of energy. This would, in turn, improve the availability and affordability of energy in Malaysia. Energy equity gets the most emphasis in the energy trilemma of Malaysia; however, equal importance should be attached to the nation’s energy security alongside environmental sustainability. The final decision of the trilemma balance and the energy policies that govern the energy use framework depends on the ministries and the regulatory bodies. An indicator mapping process has been recommended for these themes to quantify energy security by developing an energy security index. The thematic results discussed in this study have the potential to facilitate policymakers and energy analysts of countries with similar energy outlooks to design data-driven energy security policies.

How different electricity pricing systems affect the energy trilemma: Assessing Indonesia's electricity market transition

Indonesia's current energy policy, which relies on cheap fossil fuels and focuses on two out of the three horns of the energy trilemma, namely, energy security and energy equity, may impede its efforts to higher shares of renewable energy sources. This paper develops three generic models that allow policymakers to analyze the impact of introducing a wholesale electricity market managed under either a nodal, a zonal, or a uniform pricing system on the three horns of the energy trilemma. It evaluates the models using a simplified network representation of the Indonesian electricity sector. The results indicate that under the model assumptions made, and given the used input parameters as well as the used metrics for the three horns of the energy trilemma, a uniform pricing system might help Indonesia to balance its energy trilemma.

A development of indicators for the sustainability assessment of the Mexican power system planning

Countries with emerging economies face a significant challenge when developing strategies to move towards a low emission energy system and keep their economies growing. The power System plays a crucial role in these strategies and by the correct measurement of its sustainability is possible to identify which alternative improves sustainability the most. This article proposes indicators for the evaluation and assessment of the sustainability of Mexican Power System planning scenarios put forward by two government administrations with a study horizon to 2030. The scenarios are characterized by the program of additions and retirements of generating capacity along the period of 2019 to 2030, and eventually, optimal dispatch was obtained to accomplish the hourly demand. Sustainability indicators were developed and calculated to evaluate the energy security, energy equity and environmental sustainability dimensions. Subsequently the indicators were fed to the Position Vector of Minimum Regret Analysis as multicriteria decision analysis. By analysing the results, it is highlighted that the expansion of power grid capacity, as well as the hourly availability of hydro plants improve the sustainability of the Mexican Power System. The comparison between both scenarios’ performance, based on the Energy Trilemma, indicates that the current government’s planning is slightly more sustainable.