COVID-19 and the global shift progress to clean energy

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-30
Author(s):  
Anh Tuan Hoang ◽  
Xuan Phuong Nguyen ◽  
Anh Tuan Le ◽  
Thanh Tung Huynh ◽  
Van Viet Pham

Abstract The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has presented us with an unprecedented global emergency that severely threatens the lives of millions of people around the world. In response to this existential crisis, state governments have taken drastic containment measures to limit the spread of the coronavirus. The consequential lock-downs have disrupted production and economic activity and had profound impacts on major industries. The heightened financial risk has significantly slowed down new investments while stoking fears of a looming economic recession. Indeed, the pandemic-induced strong reduction in global demand has resulted in sharp falls in energy prices leading to a temporary market distortion that may impede progress in the deployment of new renewable energy projects. Besides, some countries could be at risk of falling short of their 2020 national binding targets given the lack of effective policies required to facilitate new renewable energy investments. Considering the present impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the global energy market, there are opportunities to highlight the important role of renewables while making the case for clean energy investments, especially in the electricity sector. This review aims to provide important insights by analyzing the significant impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the global energy market. On the other hand, sustainable energy strategies are also discussed in detail. Finally, lessons learned amidst the costly battle against this invisible enemy could help policymakers and government leaders in identifying the appropriate renewable energy paths for their countries in a post-pandemic future.

Author(s):  
Ana-Maria Iulia Şanta

Abstract The European Commission has the initiative to foster the sector of renewable energy and to build an Energy Union, with a common energy market at the level of the European Union, but is this only an utopic vision or is this possible to achieve? The topic of clean energy is very new and of great interest for the European Union, which is shown by the fact that the European Commission recently adopted on the 30th November 2016 the package “Clean Energy for All Europeans”, which contains proposals for the modernization of the energy market at the level of the European Union. But which are the challenges such a project is confronted with? According to the literature, such challenges are related to the process of liberalization of electricity markets. Conflicts between national interest and international actors of the energy market might occur. Due to the oligopolistic structure of the energy market, there are several barriers to the market entry. In order to answer to the research questions, case studies regarding the liberalization of the energy market will be analyzed in a comparative manner, offering an international overview. Furthermore, the legal provisions on which the common energy policy of the European Union relies, will be analyzed, as well as their economic and social impact. The package “Clean Energy for All Europeans” comprises a proposal of the revised Renewable energy Directive, energy efficiency measures and issues related to the Energy Union Governance. It contains as well proposals for the electricity market design, which will be analyzed and the present paper outlines the contribution of this proposal in building a common energy market of the European Union. What role does competition play in implementing the common energy market of the European Union? Which role do competition authorities have in this context? These are interesting aspects to be analyzed in the present paper.


Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (16) ◽  
pp. 5048
Author(s):  
Zachary Barr ◽  
Jesse Roberts ◽  
William Peplinski ◽  
Anna West ◽  
Sharon Kramer ◽  
...  

The marine renewable energy (MRE; renewable energy captured from waves, tides, ocean currents, the natural flow of water in rivers, and marine thermal gradients, without building new dams or diversions) industry has a vital role in the U.S. clean energy strategy as we progress to meet U.S. electricity and blue economy needs with renewable, domestic energy sources. However, a thorough assessment of the U.S. marine energy permitting process from the viewpoints of both developers that propose projects and regulators that permit them has not been performed. Sharing practical experiences in this new industry is vital to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the permitting process, identify data and information gaps, develop lessons learned, and advance the industry. This paper is a case study of qualitative findings, lessons learned, and recommendations from guided discussions, workshops, and webinars with both marine renewable energy developers and state and federal regulators that have experience in the permitting process in the U.S.


2017 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 334-345
Author(s):  
Ana-Maria Iulia Şanta

Abstract The European Commission has the initiative to foster the sector of renewable energy and to build an Energy Union, with a common energy market at the level of the European Union, but is this only a utopic vision or is this possible to achieve? The topic of clean energy is very new and of great interest for the European Union, which is shown by the fact that the European Commission recently adopted on the 30th November 2016 the package “Clean Energy for All Europeans”, which contains proposals for the modernization of the energy market at the level of the European Union. But which are the challenges such a project is confronted with? According to the literature, such challenges are related to the process of liberalization of electricity markets. Conflicts between national interest and international actors of the energy market might occur. Due to the oligopolistic structure of the energy market, there are several barriers to the market entry. In order to answer to the research questions, case studies regarding the liberalization of the energy market will be analyzed in a comparative manner, offering an international overview. Furthermore, the legal provisions on which the common energy policy of the European Union relies, will be analyzed, as well as their economic and social impact. The package “Clean Energy for All Europeans” comprises a proposal of the revised Renewable energy Directive, energy efficiency measures and issues related to the Energy Union Governance. It contains as well proposals for the electricity market design, which will be analyzed and the present paper outlines the contribution of this proposal in building a common energy market of the European Union. What role does competition play in implementing the common energy market of the European Union? Which role do competition authorities have in this context? These are interesting aspects to be analyzed in the present paper.


2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 105-123 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marie Byskov Lindberg

The EU’s energy transition has advanced rapidly over the last decade, with important implications for the policy landscape. Scholars have characterized the Emissions Trading System (ETS) and the Renewable Energy Directive as the most important policies for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the electricity sector. However, since the early 2010s, non-governmental and industrial actors have debated whether renewable energy (RE) support and targets are compatible with the ETS. This article systematically assesses the policy preferences of five groups of non-governmental actors with respect to the role of the ETS versus RE policies in three policy processes. For most groups, preferences remain stable across the policy processes. In the electricity industry group, preferences vary from one policy process to another. During the ETS-reform, this group of actors argues that the ETS should be the main climate policy, whereas, in the Clean Energy Package-process, almost half of the utilities endorse continued RE support. This represents a shift in their line of reasoning and policy position: from asserting that RE policies ‘destroy’ the ETS, towards a position which recognizes the value of having both the ETS and RE policies as complementary instruments in the policy mix. The findings point to increasing support for RE policies, which is important for policy makers and scholars involved in designing and implementing the EU’s decarbonization policies.


Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (19) ◽  
pp. 6364
Author(s):  
Aleksandra Matuszewska-Janica ◽  
Dorota Żebrowska-Suchodolska ◽  
Agnieszka Mazur-Dudzińska

Energy plays a crucial role in the modern world. The acquisition and consumption of energy is unfortunately associated not only with economic development or the facilitation of everyday life, but also with a negative impact on the environment. To prevent these, measures are being taken which are part of a broad programme referred to as sustainable energy development (SED). A special place among energy consumers is occupied by households, as access to energy is a fundamental factor affecting the quality of life. The aim of this paper is to look at and assess the current situation of the household sector in the EU energy market in the context of SED and to point out similarities and differences between EU countries. The analysis considers factors based on SED indicators: final energy consumption per capita, energy prices offered to households, and the share of renewable energy in household energy consumption. The k-means method was used as a research tool. The results obtained indicate first of all that the EU countries are highly differentiated in terms of the analysed factors. It can be said that these differences result not only from the wealth of a given country, geographical location, or natural possibilities to use renewable energy sources, but mainly from the energy policies implemented in individual countries.


Climate ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 46
Author(s):  
Kirsten Halsnæs ◽  
Lisa Bay ◽  
Per Skougaard Kaspersen ◽  
Martin Drews ◽  
Morten Andreas Dahl Larsen

To limit global warming to less than 2 °C requires a low-carbon transition with very large shares of renewables. Options such as wind, solar and hydro are influenced by both short and longer-term weather and climate variability. While still subject to natural and anthropogenic climate forcing and fluctuating energy prices, water reservoirs can dually operate as storage and production facilities and serve to balance the more volatile production capacity from solar and wind. This paper assesses the dynamics and demands of the hydro-dominated Nordic electricity system and market and identifies untapped potential for climate services based on a combination of literature-based research, documented stakeholder needs and data sources on historical and future conditions. A critical need for both improving the appropriateness and reliability of existing climate services and for developing new tailored solutions for a broader group of stakeholders from the renewable energy sector in the Nordics is observed. The quantification of uncertainties related to short-term weather forecasts and longer-term climate predictions is also found to be important for minimizing the financial risk in relation to systems management and to overall investments in renewable energy.


2015 ◽  
Vol 77 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Baluch ◽  
S. Mohtar ◽  
A. S. Ariffin

The climate change, the global warming, the population growth and the continuous demand on energy and electricity in specific made renewable energy one of the most appropriate and fitting to answer all these changes of our environment. However, the vested interested groups belonging to the fossil fuel cartel continue working tirelessly to discourage the use of renewable energy and renewable energy solutions in the world. Despite the recusant efforts of the Oil Cartel, renewable energy use has grown much faster than anyone anticipated. This paper: defines green and renewable energy; highlights its benefits; and illustrates that clean energy technologies are prepared for accelerated and widespread expansion in the global power sector. The paper critically examines the recusant efforts of the Oil Cartel undermining green renewable energy sector by bankrolling the production of unconventional oil and gas; and demonstrates that over-reliance on fossil fuels for power generation has significant health, environmental, and economic risks and is not a long-term solution to our energy needs. The paper concludes that a global transition to renewable energy is already underway. Renewable Energy offers an alternative to conventional sources and grants us greater control over future energy prices and supply. The energy choices we make during this pivotal moment will have huge consequences for our health, our climate, and our economy for decades to come.


Author(s):  
Kyla Tienhaara ◽  
Christian Downie

Abstract Global energy governance has received increased attention from scholars and policymakers in recent years. Much of the discussion has focused on the inadequacy of the current institutional architecture, particularly in light of the urgent need to decarbonize energy systems. However, little attention has been given to the capacity of global institutions to promote investment in renewable energy. This article considers claims by proponents of the Energy Charter Treaty, the most developed trade and investment treaty in the global energy architecture, that it can play an important role in this regard. Specifically, it examines the ECT’s investor-state dispute settlement mechanism. Drawing on scholarship in global governance, law, and economics and an analysis of recent investor-state disputes, the article argues that there are problems with the assumptions underlying the claims of the ECT’s proponents. Critically, there is still a lack of evidence that the ECT has a positive impact on flows of investment in any sector, including the renewable energy sector. There is also a risk that ISDS could be used by the fossil fuel industry to impede a clean energy transition. States should approach accession to the ECT with caution and consider other mechanisms to reduce risk for renewable energy investors.


2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 69-74
Author(s):  
Dario Javor ◽  
Dejan Krstić ◽  
Nebojša Raičević

In this paper, an optimization problem of the daily schedule for charging/discharging of electric vehicles (EVs) is solved in order to minimize the energy costs. Results are obtained for the microgrid with renewable energy sources and the savings are calculated based on daily curves of non-deferrable load demand, photovoltaic and wind energy production and variable buying/selling energy prices from the energy market. The optimization results are given for different battery capacities of EVs fleet, charger power and types of renewable energy sources. Lingo program is used to solve this optimization problem.


2020 ◽  
Vol 14 ◽  
pp. 159-176
Author(s):  
Marcin Koczan

The process of creation the goals of the European Union’s energy and climate policy until 2030. Consequences for Poland This study analyses the first energy and climate package adopted in 2008 (the so-called „20-20-20” package), setting goals for the European Union and the member states by 2020. Then describes the process of shaping the goals of the energy and climate policy of the European Union until 2030. The author focuses on the aspects that affect the electricity sector in Poland, boost renewable energy usage, re‑form the European energy market and reducing CO2 emissions. The text ends with conclusions and recommendations regarding the impact of the European Union’s energy and climate policy on the electricity sector in Poland.


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