Low-carbon Energy Transition Research Articles

Explaining and modeling the reduction effect of low-carbon energy transition on energy intensity: Empirical evidence from global data

In the process of global net zero, achieving low-carbon energy transition is an inevitable choice for sustainable development. Based on the annual panel data of 77 countries and regions from 2007 to 2019, this study uses multiple econometric models to study the effect and mechanism of low-carbon energy transition on energy intensity. In particular, the inverse cosine function is employed to measure the low-carbon energy transition at the global level from the consumer side. The baseline results show that low-carbon energy transition can significantly reduce energy intensity. At the same time, the external factors including the government effectiveness and the environmental policies stringency are proved to act as the threshold variables. Finally, the mechanism analysis shows that low-carbon energy transition can reduce energy intensity by improving green innovation and enhancing the utilization of sustainable energy. In summary, this study provides valuable policy recommendations and scientific arguments for promoting energy transition, accelerating green sustainable development, and achieving global net zero goals.

Green Industrial Policy Conflict with WTO Rules and Implications for Emerging Economics: From the Perspective of New Energy Vehicles (NEVs)

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to analyze the green contradiction between China’s NEVs subsidy policies and WTO rules. It proposes resolutions for China and South Korea from the perspective of GATT Article 20 and the US New Climate Bill. Design/Methodology/Approach – Based on the investigation of NEVs in the market, this paper finds that relevant effective subsidy measures can promote China’s NEVs development. Moreover, through case study and literature, this paper also analyzes the compliance of China’s NEVs subsidy measures under the SCM Agreement. Finally, it puts forward relevant implications for the NEVs development of China and South Korea. Findings – This paper studies credit preference, financing support and LCRs, which may be determined to be prohibited subsidies and production subsidies, Tax incentives and price support may be determined to be actionable subsidies. Subsidies for specific NEV enterprises or regions may be deemed to de jure or de facto specific subsidies with disordering global trade order. Research Implications – This study has far-reaching significance in promoting the reform of WTO related- subsidy regulations and formulating a special RE subsidy agreement under the multilateral trade system, which will resolve the conflicts of the environmental and energy trade under the background of low-carbon energy transition.

Capturing the moment for a low-carbon and equitable energy transition

Capturing the moment for a low-carbon and equitable energy transition

Green finance, the low-carbon energy transition, and environmental pollution: evidence from China.

With 2008-2020 China's provincial panel data as the research object, we use the entropy weight method to compute green finance and pollution, and we empirically study the scope of the spillover effects and threshold impacts of green finance on environmental pollution using the spatial Durbin model and threshold regression model. The findings are as follows: first, under different spatial weight matrices, green finance has a spatial spillover effect on pollution. And the effect boundary is approximately 500km. Second, with the low-carbon energy transition, technological progress, and green finance as threshold variables, there are a single threshold, single threshold, and double threshold, respectively, that have significant threshold effects. Third, the spillover and threshold effects of green finance on pollution differ by region. The indirect effect is negative in the eastern region and positive in the central and western regions. There is a single threshold effect of low-carbon energy transition and green finance in the western region, a single threshold effect of green finance in the central region, and a single threshold effect of technological progress in the eastern region. On this basis, we put forward. specific policy recommendations.

Pathway to prosperity? The impact of low-carbon energy transition on China's common prosperity

Given the ongoing low-carbon energy transition in China, the social, economic, and environmental consequences of this transition cannot be overlooked. Achieving common prosperity is a key component of China's agenda, so it is important to consider the potential nexus between common prosperity and the low-carbon energy transition. Therefore, this study first offers a new comprehensive measure of common prosperity. Furthermore, we examine the impact of the low-carbon energy transition on common prosperity by applying the system-generalized method of moments (SYS-GMM) approach. The key conclusions reached regarding the impact of the low-carbon energy transition on common prosperity are: (1) the degree of common prosperity has continued to increase between 2006 and 2019; (2) the low-carbon energy transition significantly promotes common prosperity; (3) the low-carbon energy transition indirectly promotes common prosperity by expanding gross fixed capital formation, improving labor productivity, and promoting industrial structure upgrading; and (4) the low-carbon energy transition has a significantly stronger impact on common prosperity in provinces with higher levels of low-carbon energy transition and common prosperity. Finally, we suggest several policy implications for promoting low-carbon energy transition and common prosperity.

Embarking on the Asia Supergrid: Trade impact of carbon pricing on regional sustainability in northeast Asia

Under the rising pressure for low carbon energy transitions in Northeast Asia (NEA), interconnecting local power grids for interstate power trade allows to share reserve capacity and to redistribute intermittent renewable energy across time zones, contributing to regional sustainability. Using a linear programming model that minimizes total energy system costs to meet hourly power demand, we build a hypothetical electricity transmission model for three urban demand centers interconnecting China, South Korea, and Japan to test economic and environmental competitiveness of the trilateral power trade with carbon pricing. In the economic perspective our results indicate that interstate electricity trade enables cost savings at all levels of CO2 prices tested (0–180USD/ton of CO2 emitted) through more efficient fuel consumptions on an hourly basis at the NEA regional level. However, ambitious carbon pricing (above 90 USD/ton CO2 emitted) is still essential for trade to ensure equitable trade impacts for all participating nodes. While trade utilizes gaps in resource availabilities and technology costs across nodes in cost minimization, results show inadequate carbon pricing leads to extra thermal combustions at the local level although regional total emissions reduce.

A System Analysis of the Emerging Concept of “Inter-regional Justice of Energy Transition” in China

During the low-carbon development of China, the different capacity and impact of energy transition among regions has raised an issue of inter-regional justice. However, there are few studies on it, and even basic concepts are lacking. This study proposed the definition of the concept “inter-regional justice of energy transition” (IRJET) based on a system approach. First, the connotations and cross-fields of three basic concepts of “justice transition”, “energy transition”, and “coordinated regional development” are analysed and compared based on China’s background. Second, we take Shanxi Province as a typical case to identify the barriers of IRJET. Third, action suggestions are proposed, combined the policy mechanism of China’s carbon peak policy and the EU’s just transition mechanism. The results indicated that “IRJET” means during the low-carbon energy transition, some regions with concentrated traditional and high-emission industries must be protected to avoid serious losses for current generation’s need satisfaction, while the whole country can be prosperous and carbon reduction targets can be realized. The main barriers include lacking of a clear positioning of each region for multi-regional cooperation in the low-carbon energy transition, lacking of a policy mechanism to balance benefits and costs among regions, lacking of a multi-regional energy and carbon market mechanism that can fully considers the needs of each region，inefficient talent and fund guarantee mechanism. To end this up, national governments should clarify the significance and requirements of IRJET. Cross regional enterprises should layout high-quality industries in disadvantage regions. Local governments should actively participate in energy transition and actively reduce the impact of transition.

Toward China's green growth through boosting energy transition: the role of energy efficiency.

The primary purpose of this study is to quantitatively evaluate whether low-carbon energy transition has achieved preliminary progress in facilitating China's green evolution of economy following the provincial dataset. Besides, how improved energy efficiency moderates the influence of energy transition on green growth and the mediation effects are also quantitatively explored. The primary findings insist that low carbonization energy transition is positively associated with green growth, a finding detected by a series of sensitivity checks. Besides, the reciprocal actions between adjusting energy structure and raising energy productivity can effectively strengthen their roles in promoting green growth. In addition, boosting clean energy transition plays an indirect role in green growth by enhancing energy productivity while directly facilitating green growth. Following the three outcomes, this study puts forward some policy implications on enhancing governmental supervision, promoting clean energy evolution, and upgrading ecological protection technologies.

Preface

Striving to achieve carbon peaking by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2060 is a major strategic development decision for China at present. Among them, building a new power system with new energy as the main body is an important step to promote the clean and low-carbon energy transition and build a better China. To achieve the double carbon goal, energy, power and grid are all indispensable and important forces.Following this concept, the 2023 3rd International Conference on Power Grid Systems and Green Energy (PGSGE 2023) was held during January 6th to 8th, 2023 in Xiamen, China (virtual event). The conference aimed to encourage information exchange from the frontiers of energy grid research, connect the most advanced academic resources in China and the world, transform research results into industrial solutions, bring together talents, technologies and capital, and promote development.This volume contains the papers presented at PGSGE 2023. The papers cover various topics including Power Engineering, High Voltage Systems, Power System Reliability, Energy and Power Engineering, Energy Efficiency and Management, Heat and Mass Transfer Theory, etc. have been through rigorously reviewed by experts and meet the requirements of publication.The online conference attracted about 50 individuals, and four sophisticated professors performed their keynote speeches and shared with us their research experience and professional insights during the conference. The topics of keynote speech included: a): Advanced Predictive Control for Electric Energy Conversion Systems; b) Theory and Application of Wireless Power Transfer; c): Smart Energy Systems; d) Lithium-Ion Battery Simulation Models for Storage Systems in Renewable Power Generation. All the keynote speakers made brilliant speeches combing their own research domains and experiences, and interacted with the audience for the questions raised and better academic communication.On behalf of the Conference Organizing Committee, we would like to extend our sincere acknowledgement to all the keynote speakers, peer reviewers, and all the participants. Particularly, our heartfelt thanks and appreciation go to the Editors and Managers, Journal of Physics: Conference Series for their help and kind cooperation during the preparation of the proceedings. Hopefully, all participants and other interested readers can benefit significantly from the proceedings and find it rewarding.The Committee of PGSGE 2023List of Committee Member is available in this Pdf.

Empirical analysis of the Russian power industry's transition to sustainability

Solutions to sustainability challenges often focus on low-carbon energy transition. This paper highlights the Russian electric power industry's barriers to and drivers for achieving zero emissions by 2060. The methods used include policy analysis and an econometric analysis of variables that affect and are affected by per capita electricity consumption in 1990–2021. The results show that while renewables lower overall electricity use, economic growth, financial development, and CO2 emissions increase use. A bidirectional causality exists from trade openness and CO2 emissions to electricity consumption. A sustainable energy transition framework is proposed based on consolidating selected policy tools.

Does low carbon energy transition impede air pollution? Evidence from China's coal-to-gas policy

Low carbon energy transition is deemed a viable way to fulfill the commitments outlined in the Paris Agreement and COP 26, which aims to restrict the rise in global temperature to 1.5 °C. One of the pivotal energy transition strategies in China, the coal-to-gas policy has been ambiguously executed, and its environmental impact remains unclear. In this context, this study employs the synthetic control method to examine the effects of the coal-to-gas policy on air pollution in pilot areas and explore its impact mechanism. The specific findings are as follows: (1) The concentration of PM2.5 in China experienced a declining trend, ranging from 15.684 to 15.204, while and the growth rate of PM2.5 concentration exhibited considerable fluctuations. (2) The coal-to-gas policy significantly contributed to a reduction in air pollution in pilot areas, except for Henan Province, where it exacerbated air pollution. In 2020, the policy's effects led to a decrease in air pollution levels by 1.73% in Beijing, 0.83% in Tianjin, 0.90% in Hebei, 1.63% in Shandong, and 0.64% in Shanxi, while air pollution levels in Henan Province increased by 0.34%. (3) The implementation of the coal-to-gas policy reduces air pollution by accelerating the transformation of the economic development and energy structure, as well as increasing foreign investment and technological investment.

Low-Carbon Energy Transition for the Sarawak Region via Multi-Period Carbon Emission Pinch Analysis

The Paris agreement in 2015 has required that countries commit to global carbon emission reduction by setting their national targets. In most countries, the electricity sector is identified as one of the major contributors to carbon emissions. Therefore, the governments count on decarbonizing the electricity sector to achieve their carbon reduction targets. However, this could be challenging as it is complex and involves multi-stakeholders in implementing the decarbonization plan. This work presents a mathematical optimization model to determine multi-period electricity generation planning to achieve the electricity demand and the carbon reduction target. A multi-period analysis allows long-term planning for decarbonizing the electricity sector by the gradual phasing out of coal-based power plants and the introduction of renewable-based electricity generation. To illustrate the proposed approach, the developed model is solved to strategize low-carbon energy transition planning for the Sarawak region in Malaysia. The model determines the optimal amount of new renewables required during each of the time periods, from 2020–2040, to meet the carbon reduction target. The optimal results are generated under two scenarios—no co-firing and co-firing. The generated results show that the co-firing scenario resulted in a 14.09% reduction in new renewable additions and a 5.78% reduction in the total costs. The results also determined a 66% reduction in coal consumption in 2050 when compared to the base year in 2020.

The economic impact of energy storage co-deployment on renewable energy in China

Given the pillar role of renewable energy in the low-carbon energy transition and the balancing role of energy storage, many supporting policies have been promulgated worldwide to promote their development. To achieve the ambitious goal of no less than 1200 GW of wind and solar by 2030, China has also introduced policies to encourage the deployment of energy storage for the grid integration of renewable energy. The national policy is conducive to enhancing system flexibility for renewable integration, but it will also add the costs of renewable energy, especially when counting the regional differences. This paper adopts an improved levelized cost of electricity model to examine the total costs of renewable power co-deployed with energy storage in different provinces of China. The results show that the nationally unified energy storage co-deployment requirement, namely, 15% capacity ratio of renewable installation and 4 h duration, will negatively affect the economics of renewable generation, leading to an average cost increase in 15% and 21% for wind and photovoltaic generation, respectively. The economics of co-deploying energy storage under current market mechanism is inferior, but it can be effectively improved when energy storage participates in ancillary services market. With the revenue of frequency regulation, the cost of renewable co-deployed with energy storage can be even less than that without co-deployment in most provinces, except for Hebei, Jiangxi, and Gansu. An independent market entity status is thus conducive to encourage the co-deployment. Our finding also implies for a province-specific energy storage co-deployment policy.

The Impact of Export Sophistication of the New Energy Industry on Carbon Emissions: An Empirical Study

Existing research has insufficiently explored the nexus between the new energy industry and CO2 emissions from the standpoint of export sophistication. This study analyses the implications of the new energy industry’s export sophistication on CO2 emissions, regional heterogeneity, and its influencing mechanism by gathering data from 31 major economies throughout the world between 1996 and 2021. The study found that the new energy industry’s export sophistication helps reduce carbon dioxide emissions, and this conclusion still holds after robustness testing; the carbon emission reduction effect of the export sophistication of the new energy industry is more significant in developed countries than in developing countries; the new energy industry’s export sophistication possesses a crowding-out effect on domestic technological progress, which to a certain extent impedes carbon reduction effect. This paper’s findings provide theoretical guidance for the global low-carbon energy transition.

Zero-carbon energy transition in ASEAN countries: The role of carbon finance, carbon taxes, and sustainable energy technologies

ASEAN are struggling due to gigantic challenges related to climate complexities and energy scarcity. In this regard, this is the prime concern of region that how low carbon energy transition can be embraced when there is a high consumption of non-renewable ratio in energy mix. Hence, the study examines the role of carbon finance, carbon taxes, sustainable energy technologies (solar and hydroelectric), industrialization, and population growth on the low-carbon energy transition by following MMQR approach. Outcomes indicate that carbon finance, carbon taxes, sustainable energy technologies (solar and hydroelectric), industrialization, and population growth are positively linked with low-carbon energy transition in ASEAN countries. Based on the evidences, it implies that in order to accelerate renewable shares, clean technologies adoption and green investment in climate friendly methods are needed to achieve zero-carbon goal.

Strategies for the Resilience of Power-Coal Supply Chains in Low-Carbon Energy Transition: A System Dynamics Model and Scenario Analysis of China up to 2060

The global trends of coal phase-out in response to climate change are meeting obstacles in China, where a stable operation of power-coal supply chains remains essential. How to guarantee the resilience of these supply chains during the low-carbon transition becomes a critical issue. This study aims to recommend corresponding strategies by modelling and analysis. A system dynamics model was developed to analyze scenarios of China’s power-coal supply from 2021 to 2060. The results indicated that, firstly, the capacity redundancy of coal mines will increase from 1.13 to 1.32 before 2045, with the rising power-coal demand and its volatility, followed by a sharp decrease after that, in which demand falls in all scenarios. Secondly, increasing coal stock in each link can effectively reduce capacity redundancy of coal mines and imports during the period of rising demand, resulting in 250 million tons of coal mine capacity reduction, but will lead to an opposite result when demand falls. Finally, under high demand fluctuations, coal transport capacity will become a key constraint. It is recommended that China must improve the capacity redundancy of coal mines, coal stock, and coal transport in the near-term, as well as enhance long-term planning to carefully coordinate these factors during the whole process of low-carbon transition.

Stakeholder perspectives on neglected and vulnerable households in smart grids

ABSTRACT Smart grid development is an area where the discussion about who can be negatively affected by low-carbon energy transitions has progressed. The research on vulnerable households in smart grids often focuses on how potentially vulnerable groups react to smart energy technologies. This paper contributes to the literature by highlighting how a broad range of actors in society think about neglected and vulnerable households in smart grids. The research question concerns how stakeholders frame potential inequalities, differentiations, and vulnerabilities in smart grids in Sweden. The frame analysis is carried out, building on interviews with national and local public authorities dealing with energy issues and consumer advice, actors involved in developing, testing, and using smart energy technologies as well as interest organizations representing diverse social groups. Three narratives are identified that frame potentially neglected households as consumers without economic benefits; as users without technological interests, competences, and access to technologies; and as households with intersecting vulnerabilities. It is argued that, since there could be different interpretations of inequalities in smart grids, the governance of smart grids, and specifically discussions of neglected/vulnerable households in smart grids, can benefit from the involvement of a broad coalition of actors.

Does time matter? A multi-level assessment of delayed energy transitions and hydrogen pathways in Norway

The Russian invasion of Ukraine has undeniably disrupted the EU's energy system and created a window of opportunity for an acceleration of the low-carbon energy transition in Europe. As the trading bloc's biggest gas supplier, Norway faces the imminent threat of fast-depleting gas reserves and declining value for its exports. Norway is trying to beat the clock by aggressively exploring more petroleum, therefore delaying its energy transition. In anticipation of the future drop in gas prices, Norway is counting on blue hydrogen to valorise its gas resources, before gradually shifting to green hydrogen export. Against this background, this article seeks to understand how changes in the EU's energy landscape have affected the energy export sector and low-carbon hydrogen export developments in Norway from a multi-level perspective. Using the exploratory scenario approach, the article assesses the implications of the different petroleum exploration outcomes on the development of the low-carbon hydrogen export market in Norway. The findings show that despite gas discoveries, there is an urgent need for a phase-out plan for the Norwegian petroleum sector. For low-carbon hydrogen to play an important role in Norway's energy transition, time is of the essence and action needs to be taken during this window of opportunity. An industrial sector and its value chain could take 25 years to transform, which means that actions and policies for a full transformation pathway need to take place in Norway by 2025 to be ready for a climate-neutral Europe in 2050.

‘Why would you swap your nice warm van, where you can eat your butties and listen to the radio?’ Mainstreaming a niche of cycle logistics in the United Kingdom

Due to a high level of dependency on fossil fuels, transport is not only a priority for decarbonsation but also a particularly challenging sector to decarbonise. Significant low-carbon energy transitions in mobility will require changes in practices, technologies, infrastructure and policy. Cycle logistics is a growing economic sector. E-cargo bikes have the potential to replace some delivery and service journeys and to be used in combination with other transport modes to form a network of low-carbon deliveries. In comparison with conventional cargo bikes, e-cargo bikes are adapted with electric assist motors, thereby enabling the carriage of heavier loads over longer distances with lower physical strain on the rider.This study positions e-cargo bikes as an emerging technology within the Multilevel Perspective (MLP), a framework for understanding sustainable transitions that is structured around three levels: niche, regime and landscape. The Covid-19 pandemic has caused a landscape-level shock that has prompted an interest in increasing active travel and local deliveries. E-cargo bikes are a niche technology, and, although they respond to landscape-level trends, such as decarbonisation and air pollution reduction, the development of cycle logistics faces challenges stemming from the dominant automobility regime. There are limitations with e-cargo bikes themselves, although the technology and practice of e-cargo bike use are developing rapidly; there are factors that relate to the ability of the regime to accommodate and support the niche; there are considerations relating to practices and perceptions; and, finally, there are policy choices that reflect a lack of proactivity in encouraging and enabling e-cargo bike use. The paper explores experiences and perceptions of actual and potential e-cargo bike use and configures the MLP and the relationship between niche, regime(s) and landscape in relation to mobility transitions.

China's renewable energy and energy efficiency policies toward carbon neutrality: A systematic cross-sectoral review

The ambitious targets of peaking CO2 emissions before 2030 and reaching carbon neutrality before 2060 (Goal 3060) have emerged as the driving force in the development of China's low-carbon energy policy. Adopting a systematic review approach, this article provides a timely analysis of key Chinese renewable energy and energy efficiency policies under Goal 3060 across five sectors: electricity, industry, transportation, buildings, and local governments. In addition, the review identifies challenges to be addressed and offers policy recommendations. There are five main conclusions: (1) expedite the development of market-based and network-based governance systems; (2) pursue the harmonization of policies by avoiding contradiction and fragmentation; (3) develop new policies, especially in the building and transportation sectors; (4) embrace surveillance technologies to improve implementation and compliance; and (5) ensure just transition by implementing policy to reduce the negative socioeconomic impacts on fossil fuels-based communities and workers. This review serves as a useful guide for scholars interested in China's clean and low-carbon energy transition.