Pathways toward Zero-Carbon Electricity Required for Climate Stabilization

Richard Audoly, Adrien Vogt-Schilb and Céline Guivarch
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Adrien Vogt-Schilb: The World Bank - The World Bank, CIRED - centre international de recherche sur l'environnement et le développement - Cirad - Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement - EHESS - École des hautes études en sciences sociales - AgroParisTech - ENPC - École nationale des ponts et chaussées - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique

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Abstract: This paper covers three policy-relevant aspects of the carbon content of elec-tricity that are well established among integrated assessment models but under-discussed in the policy debate. First, climate stabilization at any level from 2 • C to 3 • C requires electricity to be almost carbon-free by the end of the century. As such, the question for policy makers is not whether to decarbonize electricity but when to do it. Second, decarbonization of electricity is still possible and required if some of the key zero-carbon technologies — such as nuclear power or carbon capture and storage — turn out to be unavailable. Third, progres-sive decarbonization of electricity is part of every country's cost-effective means of contributing to climate stabilization. In addition, this paper provides cost-effective pathways of the carbon content of electricity — computed from the results of AMPERE, a recent integrated assessment model comparison study. These pathways may be used to benchmark existing decarbonization targets, such as those set by the European Energy Roadmap or the Clean Power Plan in the United States, or inform new policies in other countries. These pathways can also be used to assess the desirable uptake rates of electrification technolo-gies, such as electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles, electric stoves and heat pumps, or industrial electric furnaces.

Keywords: climate change mitigation; life cycle assessment; power supply; carbon intensity JEL: Q01; Q4; Q54; Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2014-11-03
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-ene and nep-env
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Related works:
Journal Article: Pathways toward zero-carbon electricity required for climate stabilization (2018)
Working Paper: Pathways toward zero-carbon electricity required for climate stabilization (2018)
Working Paper: Pathways toward Zero-Carbon Electricity Required for Climate Stabilization (2017)
Working Paper: Pathways toward Zero-Carbon Electricity Required for Climate Stabilization (2014)
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