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The current national and global call for a coordinated and meaningful response to climate change concerns is certain to shift the United States from several regional and voluntary carbon markets today to a global compulsory market in the near future. In addition to the clear environmental benefits, this changing landscape will result in groups of carbon market "winners" and "losers" – some market segments will gain favor and market share while others will lose economic opportunity. The competitive disadvantage for traditional energy in a carbon-priced world will be a catalyst for market-driven innovations in renewable energy, and sustainable development. There are many opportunities where Austin and Texas stand to gain as larger carbon pricing components are realized. This primer looks to explore the political, economic, and design considerations that will affect the development of the carbon market. ; IC2 Institute

The extraction of unconventional oil and gas—from shale rocks, tight sand, and coalbed formations—is shifting the geographies of fossil fuel production, with complex consequences. Following on the natural science survey of the environmental consequences of hydraulic fracturing (Jackson et al. 2014), this review examines social science literature on unconventional energy. After an overview of the rise of unconventional energy, the review examines energy economics and geopolitics, community mobilization, and state and private regulatory responses. Unconventional energy requires differing frames of analysis than conventional energy because of three distinct characteristics: increased drilling density; low-carbon and "clean" energy narratives of natural gas; and differing ownership and royalty structures. This review points to the need for an interdisciplinary approach to the resulting dynamic, multi-level web of relationships that implicate land, water, food, and climate. Further, the review highlights how scholarship on unconventional energy informs the broader energy landscape and contested energy futures.

AbstractThe environmental problems of global warming and fossil fuel depletion are increasingly severe, and the demand for energy conversion and storage is increasing. Ecological issues such as global warming and fossil fuel depletion are increasingly stringent, increasing energy conversion and storage needs. The rapid development of clean energy, such as solar energy, wind energy and hydrogen energy, is expected to be the key to solve the energy problem. Several excellent literature works have highlighted quantum dots in supercapacitors, lithium-sulfur batteries, and photocatalytic hydrogen production. Here, we outline the latest achievements of quantum dots and their composites materials in those energy storage applications. Moreover, we rationally analyze the shortcomings of quantum dots in energy storage and conversion, and predict the future development trend, challenges, and opportunities of quantum dots research.

'Ricardo Barcelona addresses the thornier issues of energy strategy. In this book he moves from the certainties assured by financial modelling to explore the tough questions that astute practitioners ask themselves - why do things never turn out as they were projected? Is energy strategy always going to be a tale of unfulfilled promises? His research findings and his insights make a must read for anyone in this field.' --Patrick H. "Paddy" Miller, Author, Innovation as Usual, Hong Kong The book offers rigour, depth, and relevance in tackling approaches that prove sustainable and transformational for business and society.' --Juan Miranda, Managing General Director, Asian Development Bank 'The book is timely in that it provides good insights on how to address the uncertainty and volatility facing today's energy markets. A good read for anyone involved in the energy sector.' --Stephen A. Paradies, Board Director, Union Bank, and former Chief Financial Officer, Aboitiz Equity Ventures, Philippines 'Containing original insights into the financing and economics of the energy industry, this book should be read by those working in and studying the future of the energy sector.' --David Parker, Emeritus Professor of Economics, Cranfield University School of Management, and former member, Competition Commission, United Kingdom This book examines what lies behind the uncertainties surrounding the fuel and power markets. Exploring the role of renewables and how they potentially disrupt or create opportunities, it challenges widely accepted wisdoms in investment. The author asks questions such as: Are "business as usual" strategies that favour fossil fuels the best route to future prosperity? What prospects do firms face when their competitors diversify into renewables? Why do generous subsidies to renewables often fail to achieve wide-scale deployment? Illustrating how real options and option games reasoning yield vastly different insights from those gained from NPVs, Energy Investments offers case studies and simulations to demonstrate how firms can benefit from the methods it showcases.

Thesis (Master)--Izmir Institute of Technology, Mechanical Engineering, Izmir, 2018 ; Includes bibliographical references (leaves: 92-93) ; Text in English; Abstract: Turkish and English. ; In recent years, the developments in clean, renewable and efficient energy policies have been enabled to design new and innovative heat exchangers. The plate heat exchangers have crucial importance among these innovative products due to compact size and thermally efficient behaviour. There are many studies dealing with the thermo-fluidic behaviour of brazed plate heat exchangers. However, since the usage of these products often includes relatively high pressure and toxic fluids, the examination of structural stability of these products is cruical from the point of scientific perspective view. There are very few studies of plate heat exchangers regarding to mechanical aspects. Accordingly, in this thesis it is intended to investigate structural behaviour of brazed plate heat exchangers by numerical methods. For this purpose, the material properties of brazing interface of plate heat exchangers have been determined by experimental methods. The tensile and stress based fatigue experiments are carried out and the material models have been obtained. The validation of material model which is used in numerical analysis has been carried out by explicit method using maximum displacement as a boundary condition. The mechanical behaviour of chevron type brazed plate heat exchangers has been investigated by considering effect of chevron angle under different pressure conditions. The results have been obtained numerically in two stages; static structural analysis results and fatigue analysis. The numerical results show that the chevron angle has a significant effect on the formation of brazing points of plate heat exchangers. The dimensions of brazing points directly affects the overall structural behaviour of plate heat exchanger. It is observed that the single brazing point surface area and homogeneous distribution of brazing points on the plates are more critical than the total surface area. Finally, it is thought that the developed numerical methodology will lead to the structural design of brazed plate heat exchangers before the production of protoype molding and experimental testing. Eventually, it will be advantageous in terms of mold costs and time spent for experimental testing. ; Son yıllarda, temiz, yenilenebilir ve verimli enerji politikalarındaki gelişmeler yeni ve inovatif ısı değiştirgeci tasarımlarına olanak sağlamaktadır. Plakalı ısı değiştirgeçleri kompakt boyut ve ısıl verimlerindeki potansiyelleri açısından bu inovatif ürünler arasında önemli bir yere sahiptir. Sert lehimli plakalı ısı değiştirgeçleri ile ilgili ısıl ve akışkan davranışını inceleyen birçok bilimsel çalışma olmasına rağmen bu ürünlerin kullanımı çoğunlukla yüksek basınç altında çalıştığından ve toksik akışkanlar ile etkileşimde olduğundan yapısal karalılık konusununda bilimsel açıdan irdelenmesi önem kazanmaktadır. Literatürde, plakalı ısı değiştirgecin yapısal davranışını inceleyen bilimsel çalışma sayısı oldukça azdır. Bu bağlamda, tez kapsamında plakalı ısı değiştirgecinin yapısal davranışının nümerik methodlar yardımıyla incelenmesi hedeflenmektedir. Bu amaca yönelik olarak plakalı eşanjörlerdeki sert lehim noktalarının malzeme özellikleri deneysel olarak elde edilmiştir. Çekme testi ve gerilme genliğini esas alan yorulma testleri yapılmış olup elde edilen veriler ile malzeme modelleri kurulmuştur. Nümerik analizlerde kullanılan malzeme modelinin validasyonu maksimum yer değiştirme sınır şartını kullanarak eksplisit yöntem ile doğrulanmıştır. Plakalı ısı değiştirgeçlerinin mekanik tasarımı çavuş açısı esas alınarak yapılmış ve yapısal davranışı farklı basınç değerleri altında incelenmiştir. Nümerik analizlerde çavuş açısının sert lehim noktalarının oluşumu üzerinde oldukça etkili olduğu gözlemlenmiştir. Mekanik dayanım açısından tek bir sert lehim noktası yüzey alanı değerinin ve sert lehim noktalarının homojen dağılımının etkisinin toplam yüzey alanı değerinden daha kritik olduğu görülmüştür. Sonuç olarak, tez kapsamında geliştirilen methodoloji ile prototip kalıp üretimi ve deneysel testler öncesinde sert lehimli plakalı ısı değiştirgeçlerinin tasarımına yön verileceği düşünülmektedir. Bu sayede kalıp maliyetleri ve testlere harcanan zaman açısından avantaj sağlanmış olacaktır.

Energy transition is increasingly regarded as a promising opportunity for the economic development of rural areas. This possibility is associated with the siting and (co-)ownership of decentralized (small-scale) renewable energy facilities. The underlying productive link, however, has been taken for granted, rather than conceptually and practically cultivated. Thus, while renewable energy-based rural development has been stated as a desired by-product of energy transitions, its potential has remained largely unfulfilled. This review aims to illuminate the ambiguous interplay between renewable energy and rural development in the context of the current trajectories of the energy transition. In doing so, we first examine different ways renewable energy may contribute to rural development and explore how the synergetic conflation of renewable energy and rural development has played out in Denmark and Scotland, as two countries that have forged ahead with renewable energy in rural areas. Second, we draw on the different experiences in the two countries to critically discuss policy-related mismatches that hamper a more efficient contribution of renewable energy to rural development, and sketch out some thoughts about the need to bring rural matters and rural communities into the discussion if the synergies between energy transition and rural development are to be taken seriously.

China's rampant environmental pollution problems and rising greenhouse gas emissions and the resulting climate change are undermining its long-term economic growth. China, from its own perspective cannot afford to and, from an international perspective, is not meant to continue on the conventional path of encouraging economic growth at the expense of the environment. Instead, concerns about a range of environmental stresses from burning fossil fuels, energy security as a result of steeply rising oil imports and international pressure on it to exhibit greater ambition in fighting global climate change have sparked China's determination to improve energy efficiency and cut pollutants, and to increase the use of clean energy in order to help its transition to a low-carbon economy. This chapter focuses on China's efforts towards energy conservation, nuclear power and the use of renewable energy. The chapter examines a number of market-based instruments, economic and industrial policies and measures targeted for energy saving, pollution cutting, energy greening. To actually achieve the desired outcomes, however, requires strict implementation and coordination of these policies and measures. The chapter discusses a variety of implementation/compliance/reliability issues. The chapter ends with some concluding remarks and recommendations.

Funding Information: Examples of feasible free-market tender options might follow the French model, with three clear contract deadlines: 2025, 2030 and 2035. The use of direct power purchase agreements for thermal solar power between consumers and generators would be considered. Competitive tender processes should be used to select the best technical – economical projects. Such projects should be eligible for financial support from the government or from the system as a whole by a sectoral funds review, for example, to compensate for higher technological costs. Regarding these results, a scenario of 186 plants of 100 MW each could be considered. ; Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to highlight the opportunity for the energy policy in Brazil to tackle the very high cost-effectiveness potencial of solar energy to the power system. Three mechanisms to achieve ambitious reductions in the greenhouse gas emissions from the power sector by 2030 and 2040 are assessed wherein treated as solar targets under ambitious reductions in the greenhouse gas emissions from the power sector. Then, three mechanisms to achieve these selected solar targets are suggested. Design/methodology/approach: This paper reviews current and future incentive mechanisms to promote solar energy. An integrated energy system optimization model shows the most cost-efficient deployment level. Incentive mechanisms can promote renewable sources, aiming to tackle climate change and ensuring energy security, while taking advantage of endogenous energy resources potential. Based on a literature review, as well as on the specific characteristics of the Brazilian power system, under restrictions for the expansion of hydroelectricity and ambitious limitation in the emissions of greenhouse gases from the power sector. Findings: The potential unexploited of solar energy is huge but it needs the appropriate incentive mechanism to be deployed. These mechanisms would be more effective if they have a specific technological and temporal focus. The solar energy deployment in large scale is important to the mitigation of climate change. Originality/value: The value of the research is twofold: estimations of the cost-effective potential of solar technologies, generated from an integrated optimization energy model, fully calibrated for the Brazilian power system, while tacking the increasing electricity demand, the expected reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and the need to increase the access to clean and affordable energy, up to 2040; proposals of three mechanisms to deploy centralized PV, distributed PV and solar thermal power, taking the best experiences in several countries and the recent Brazilian cases. ; publishersversion ; published

Prudent and efficient utilization of renewable energy sources is needed in order to achieve clean energy transition. Since energy use in buildings represents around 40% of total energy use in European Union the reduction of energy use in this sector is most definitely needed. One of the great challenges in this sector represents retrofit of residential buildings where 3/4 of buildings in Europe are residential. To reduce energy consumption and increase the use of renewables in existing residential buildings to achieve nearly zero energy buildings (nZEB) a holistic approach of retrofit with interconnected technological system is needed. In the first part of this paper the nZEB and thermal energy storage are introduced for further implementation of the phase change material (PCM) into storage tank. Furthermore energy toolkit based on the synergetic interaction between technologies integrated in the system for holistic retrofit of residential buildings, which is under development within HEART project (HORIZON 2020), is presented. In this project step towards self-sufficient heating and cooling of building is made with increase in on-site consumption of self-produced energy from solar energy and interconnection between PV, electrical storage, heat pump, thermal energy storage, fan coil heat pump, cloud based decision support and building energy management system. With such a smart energy system the almost zero-energy buildings will be possible to decrease energy use in residential sector. Improvement of sensible thermal energy storage with implemented cylindrical modules filled with PCM is investigated experimentally. The results from experiment show that thermal energy storage unit with integrated modules filled with PCM can supply desired level of water temperature for longer period of time. The advantage of PCM in thermal energy storage is in applications that needs narrow temperature range of supplying and storing thermal energy what is the subject matter of consideration in the case of HEART project.

The implementation of a functioning scheme for the support of electricity production from renewable energy sources (RES-E) in Russia has suffered from considerable delays. This report aims to analyze the role of regions as alternative drivers of RE policy in Russia. In particular, it examines how regions can stimulate the development of renewable energy sources in their electricity systems by establishing RES-E tariffs. The analysis focuses on the possibility for regional authorities to require network companies to purchase RES-E at regulated prices to compensate losses on their network. The implementation of regional renewable energy support policies in response to limited regulatory progress at federal government level is not uncommon in federal states. The analysis focuses on the possibility for regional authorities to require network companies to purchase RES-E at regulated prices to compensate losses on their network. The report is structured as follows: section one gives introduction. Section two introduces the division of powers for renewable energy regulation between the federal and regional levels of government. Section three reviews progress achieved so far with the regulation of RE support at federal government level. Section four discusses the policy objectives that, in the context of limited federal interest for RES-E, can drive regional clean energy policies. Section five analyzes federal regulatory and political obstacles to the adoption of regional RES-E tariffs in Russia, in particular RES-E tariffs for the electricity that network companies purchase to compensate losses on their network. Section six makes recommendations of ways to overcome the obstacles by making use of the broader regulatory powers under the Federal Energy Efficiency Law. For more publications on IFC Sustainability please visit www.ifc.org/sustainabilitypublications.

The EU's Energy Efficiency Directive (EED) sets a binding target for energy-savings in EU member states. The EED further requires member states to perform ex-ante evaluations of energy efficiency policies implemented to achieve these savings. However, ex-ante evaluation of energy efficiency policies is difficult as it requires detailed modelling of end-users' investment and energy demand behaviour. This paper details the Danish IntERACT modelling approach for ex-ante evaluation of energy efficiency policies directed at residential heating. IntERACT integrates the energy system model TIMES-DK into a computable general equilibrium framework. The paper explores the potential for meeting Denmark's EED-target through a policy-induced increase in households' investments in energy efficiency retrofits. The paper considers the effect of energy efficiency policies on households' investment behaviour by applying different levels of hurdle rates on households' investments in energy efficiency retrofits. The paper shows that reducing the hurdle rate from 25% to 4% could meet more than a third of Danish energy-saving requirements for the period 2021–2030. This result includes a direct rebound effect of 31%. Finally, the paper demonstrates that reducing the hurdle below 10% has a substantial negative impact on households' disposable income, making such policy less viable from a policy perspective.

As the automobile industry continues to evolve with car sharing services, electric vehicles and soon autonomous driving, the infrastructure that supports our present-day car culture will become obsolete. While the current advancement focuses on the future of car design and accompanying policies, there is a need to consider the evolution of our infrastructure from an adaptive reuse standpoint. Among the different kinds of automotive infrastructure, gas stations in particular, are the most environmentally problematic yet advantageous due to their abundance. The conversion of gas stations, however, is not a new notion. While these sites have been renovated into cafés, restaurants, and breweries, these are only solutions to the slow abandonment of a single unit. This infrastructure needs to be treated as part of a larger system. Economics, politics, as well as environmental, and social dynamics of a community will shift as a result of this adaptation. Therefore, it is important that we consider changes to the physical space through a systems lens. The proposed reuse strategy of gas stations extends beyond the boundary of the physical site. In addition to an architectural conversion, this intervention will lead to changes in the distribution of energy, provide a platform for citizens to engage with responsive information, and provide a shift in local energy ownership. As a result, this integrated system will respond to the existing infrastructure, support the current characteristics of the local context, and empower citizens within the community they live in.

Promulgated under the Clean Air Act in October 2015, the Clean Power Plan ("CPP") requires states to significantly reduce carbon emissions from existing power plants and is the centerpiece of the Environmental Protection Agency's ("EPA") response to global warming. Many states have filed lawsuits challenging the CPP and some states have vowed that, if those suits are unsuccessful, they will refuse to implement it. In turn, EPA has proposed rules that would implement the CPP by imposing a "federal implementation plan" ("FIP") upon those recalcitrant states under the authority of the Clean Air Act. Thus, the success of the CPP may well rest upon this FIP, a regulatory instrument that academic commentary has almost universally dismissed as highly ineffective. This Article first comprehensively examines EPA's past use of FIPs. Contrary to accepted belief, EPA has imposed FIPs on numerous occasions and its use of them has greatly evolved. The Article analyzes this evolution and finds that FIPs have altered the "cooperative federalism" structure of the Clean Air Act in important ways. The use of FIPs has centralized more power at the federal level, afforded EPA considerable experience in designing and administering market-trading systems, altered the state-centered political geography of the Clean Air Act, and created new compliance incentives for states and regulated industries. The Article then employs these conclusions as a lens through which to examine EPA's proposed FIP for the CPP. It finds that the proposed FIP derives logically from EPA's prior work on FIPs. However, the Article concludes that the structure and complexities of the Clean Power Plan raise a series of issues for the proposed FIP that will require difficult tradeoffs involving competing regulatory goals.

Recognizing the importance of energy as a vital component in economic development, the Taiwanese government has been continuously revising its energy policy, seeking to balance economic development, energy supply, and environmental protection (3E). Some measures, in an attempt to achieve the 3E balance, were previously implemented in Taiwan ; nevertheless, some unresolved issues departing from certain core principles of Taiwan's sustainable energy policy and an international initiative for a low carbon society remain. The aim of this paper is to examine the energy supply and demand structure of Taiwan and the present status of individual energy carriers (including coal, petroleum, natural gas and electricity). In addition, it investigates the current energy policy framework and its implementation in Taiwan, identifies unresolved issues regarding sustainable energy development, and formulates key policy solutions for certain identifiable problems to enable the achievement of a liberalized, orderly, efficient, and clean energy supply and demand system.