Ariel Bergmann

Measuring the Environmental Externalities of Onshore Wind Power

This article provides a brief overview of the environmental externalities that are commonly associated with the development of onshore wind-power projects. The article discusses the physical characteristics of an onshore wind farm; the nature of the positive and negative externalities, such as low-carbon electricity generation, low water consumption, noise, visual amenity, wildlife impacts; and land disruption and change. A simple description of surrogate-based and nonmarket-based methods of measuring these externalities is given. Monetary values are also reported.

An Economic Evaluation of Onshore and Floating Liquefied Natural Gas Receiving Terminals: the Case Study of Indonesia

Indonesia has abundant natural gas resources, however the primary fuel used for electricity generation is coal and oil. Insufficient natural gas infrastructure with-in the country acts as a barrier to increased natural gas usage. In Indonesia LNG is the most efficient and effective method for distributing natural gas given the difficult geographical conditions, the worlds largest archipelago and located in a deep sea area. The Government is planning to initiate natural gas imports by 2019 to meet the countrys energy demands. In order to allocate adequate amounts of natural gas across the geographic regions Indonesia must build more LNG regasification terminals. The Indonesia government has not yet determined if the additional regasification terminals will be floating or land-based facilities. This paper assesses the two options and identifies which facility attains greater profitability. The financial analysis of investing in the Sorong LNG regasification terminal project is conducted using NPV, IRR, and sensitivity analysis. This analysis demonstrates that FSRU facilities have greater economic viability than onshore LNG regasification facilities. The FSRU project earns greater than a 12% IRR as compared to a negative IRR earned by an onshore project. The government can make the onshore projects viable by increasing the sales fee from US

Employment changes in the sustainable energy sector in Scotland

10.00/MMBTU to US

Peak Gas: Technology and Environmental Consequences

10.60/MMBTU.

VALUING THE ATTRIBUTES OF RENEWABLE ENERGY INVESTMENTS

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to consider the development of “Green” jobs in one region of the European Union, Scotland, where the government has sought to develop renewable and sustainable energy industries and associated employment. Design/methodology/approach – The paper analyses selected secondary data and policy documents and conceptualises issues concerning employment in the renewable energy sector. Findings – It analyses published data and projections on employment in renewable energy sectors, considering the reasons for the lower actual job creation. Many of the jobs in the renewable energy sector are likely to be high skilled, so there is need to support the development of low-skilled workers and job seekers so that they can enter and progress in the industry. Similarly there is a strong gender bias in the industry which may similarly reduce the entry and retention of the best staff and inhibit social equity. Research limitations/implications – The paper suggests that “Career first” recruitment and development policies are needed which emphasise improving both productivity and the “quality” and attractiveness of sustainable, long-term careers in the sector. Practical implications – In addition to relying on general labour attraction policies and separate industry-specific skills initiatives for those already in work, more attention needs to be given to developing sustainable employment with career progression for people moving into, or already in, the industry. Originality/value – The links between support for those moving into jobs and developing the skills of existing workers in sustainable industries have been under researched and this paper adds new conceptual developments, in terms of “Career” first approaches and empirical analysis of employment in renewable industries in Scotland.

Rural versus urban preferences for renewable energy developments

Peak gas is just one more expression of the concern society has over the use and overdependence on a finite resource to sustain economic activities. It is closely tied to the debate over peak oil and peak minerals, as discussed in Chapters 9 and 11. The peak gas thesis proposes that some finite amount of gas is technically recoverable in the world and that, at some point in time, maximum production will peak and will be followed by a decline with resulting higher costs of extraction and shortages. In its most basic form, this must be true. Natural gas supplies are finite and, if humans continue to consume them, they will become exhausted. However, with the advent of new technologies that ‘point in time’ has shifted further into the future, possibly by hundreds of years, but definitely for decades, given the increased economical viability of the development of unconventional natural gas resources. This chapter will not debate or discuss the validity of the peak gas thesis, but rather acknowledge that it will occur ‘someday’. The real question that this chapter will address is the environmental consequences from the use of new technologies to make more natural gas available and what should be our response to the concern over the environmental consequences.