Energy Modeling
Energy Modeling at SEI-US |
Latest Publications
Show All Energy Modeling Publications
|
Energy-Water-Climate Planning for Development without Carbon in Latin America and the CaribbeanSEI Report Author(s): Escobar, M. ; Flores, F. ; Clark, V.Date: November 2011 Research Area(s): Water Resources ; Energy Modeling Energy is essential for development, but given the urgent need to mitigate climate change, developing nations are under pressure to keep their carbon emissions low. This leaves them with three options: abandon development; ignore climate concerns; or take a third path: finding energy sources that emit little or no carbon. This report focuses on the third option, which we call "development without carbon" (DWC), looking at the viability of hydroelectric power as a low-carbon energy source for Latin America and the Caribbean in a changing climate. Hydropower supplies 46% of the region's electricity, with great untapped potential, but changes in the water supply due to climate change, competing uses, and population growth could thwart further development plans.This report is part of a package that also includes Development without Carbon: Climate and the Global Economy through the 21st Century. More information Download PDF |
|
|
The Economics of Climate Change in China: Towards a Low-Carbon EconomyLondon: Earthscan Author(s): Fan, G. ; Ackerman, F. ; Stern, N.; Edenhofer, O.; Xu, S.; Eklund, K.; Li, L.; and Hallding, K. (eds.)Date: April 2011 Research Area(s): Climate Economics ; Energy Modeling ; Climate Equity Based on a groundbreaking economic study led by SEI and the Chinese Economists 50 Forum, this book explores the climate implications of China's rapid growth and how to steer the country toward a low-carbon future. The authors – leading Chinese and international thinkers in economics, climate change, and development – map out a deep carbon reduction scenario, analyze economic policies that shift carbon use, and show how China can take strong and decisive action to make deep reductions in carbon emission over the next 40 years while maintaining high economic growth. The authors make the compelling case that a transition to a low-carbon economy is an essential part of China's development and modernization, and they argue that such a transformation would also present opportunities for China to improve its energy security and move its economy higher up the international value chain.Along with the editors, SEI-US authors include Charlie Heaps, Sivan Kartha, Michael Lazarus and Elizabeth A. Stanton. Click the link below to read more about the book on the SEI International website. More information External Link |
|
|
Potential impacts on hydrology and hydropower production under climate warming of the Sierra NevadaJournal of Water and Climate Change 2:1, 29-43 Author(s): Mehta, V. ; Yates, D. ; Purkey, D. ; Young, C. ; Rheinheimer, D.E.; Viers, J.H.; Mount, J.F.Date: March 2011 Research Area(s): Water Resources ; Energy Modeling Watersheds of the Cosumnes, American, Bear and Yuba (CABY) rivers in the Sierra Nevada, Calif., are managed with a complex network of reservoirs, dams, hydropower plants and water conveyances. While water transfers are based on priorities among competing demands, hydropower generation is licensed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and regulated by federal and state laws and multi-party agreements. This paper presents an integrated river basin management (IRBM) model for the CABY region, built to evaluate management and regional climate change scenarios using the Water Evaluation and Planning (WEAP) system. We simulated potential impacts of climate warming on hydrology and hydropower production by imposing a fixed increase of temperature (+2, 4 and 6°C) over weekly historical (1981-2000) climate, with all other climate variables unchanged. Results demonstrate that climate warming will reduce hydropower generation if operational rules remain unchanged, making the case for climate change-induced hydrological change as a foreseeable future condition to be included in the FERC licensing process. IRBM tools such as the CABY model presented here are useful in deliberating the same.External Link |
|
|
Europe's Share of the Climate ChallengeReport published by SEI in partnership with Friends of the Earth Europe. Author(s): Heaps, C. ; Erickson, P. ; Kartha, S. ; Kemp-Benedict, E.Date: November 2009 Research Area(s): Energy Modeling ; Climate Mitigation Policy ; Sustainable Futures This report examines how Europe can show leadership: firstly, by undertaking domestic actions to rapidly reduce emissions of GHGs, and secondly, by fulfilling its international obligations to help other countries address the twin crises of climate change and development.Download PDF |
|
|
A Deep Carbon Reduction Scenario for ChinaPaper presented at Mid-term Review Meeting of the China Economics of Climate Change Initiative. Author(s): Heaps, C.Date: May 2009 Research Area(s): Energy Modeling ; Climate Mitigation Policy ; Sustainable Futures This paper developed a scenario analysis of how China's energy systems might be altered over the coming decades to allow China to meet ambitious goals for development at the same time as keeping GHG emissions within tight budgets that provide a reasonable chance of keeping global temperature increases below 2 °C. Two scenarios were developed. A Baseline scenario examines current and historical trends in China's CO2 emissions and projects CO2 emissions to 2050 assuming that China continues to develop very rapidly. A second Deep Carbon Reduction Scenario (DCRS) examines the feasibility of massively reducing China's CO2 emissions in 2050: with energy sector GHG emissions reduced to only 10% of the 2050 levels projected in the baseline scenario or 15% below the level in 1990Download PDF |