David Bonilla

Modelling the adoption of industrial cogeneration in Japan using manufacturing plant survey data

Abstract Electric power deregulation in Japan opens opportunity for further penetration of on-site generation (cogeneration) otherwise known as distributed generation. In the paper the authors present a survey on Japanese industrial plants to fill existing gaps for the assessment of modern cogeneration (combined heat and power, CHP). The objective of the paper is to empirically examine CHP systems based on cross-sectional binary models; second to review diffusion trends of CHP by system vintage during the 1980–2000 period in the manufacturing sector. The econometric results point that the probabilities of embracing this technology increase, in declining importance, with on-site power consumption, and steam demand, operational hours as well as with payback period, purchased power. For example the survey shows that the CHP is used for the purpose of exporting power rather than meeting the plants own consumption. Some of our results are in line with those of Dismukes and Kleit (Resource Energy Econ. 21 (1999) 153) as well with Rose and Macdonald (Energy J. 12(12) (1991) 47). We also find that a unit increase in satisfaction with CHP will lead to a 54% in CHP capacity. We find significant evidence on the cost effectiveness of CHP under conservative assumptions. Regarding the influence of satisfaction and performance indicators for the several plants, the survey threw some unexpected evidence on the nature of CHP.

Climate policy and solutions for green supply chains: Europe’s predicament

Purpose – This paper aims to measure carbon footprints (CFs) of products at the sectoral levels. The paper also aims to provide potential solutions to adopt greener supply chains to minimise CFs. Design/methodology/approach – The assessment of CFs uses a data set for nine sectors and environmental extended input output tables, as well as other six models. The analysis uses modules for regional economy, freight, logistics and mode choice, among other modules. The output of these modules includes increases or cuts in carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions following a shift in supply chains. Findings – The authors identify five supply chains that are closely connected to the growth of CFs. The highest CF is found for the electronics and textiles products. Offshoring manufacturing capacity produces an increase of emissions (production and freight transport sectors) of 42 million tonnes of CO2 emissions, or 12 per cent of the Kyoto target of 341 million tonnes of CO2. Using a different metric to measure emissions, off...

Urban vans, e-commerce and road freight transport

Abstract A city will typically depend on at least 150 supply chains and freight is a key part of them. This article aims to explore at the qualitative and qualitative level (1) how e-commerce drives both travel and urban freight transport and (2) to estimate how various manufacturing activities determine the stability of demand for freight transport. The article provides elasticity estimates on (1) the demand for road freight transport for five industry sectors using a time series framework; data on GDP (gross value added) and on fuel costs per t-km (tonne-km). A key finding is that e-commerce induces freight traffic, by vans, but the decline in freight intensity of the economy is only temporary since urban economic activity contributes to growth of freight. Our analysis of five manufacturing sectors confirms that cyclical sectors are more sensitive to energy price gyrations over time than non-cyclical sectors. Price elasticities are high but comparable to other studies. The income elasticity of freight transport is large for the five sectors, but the high heterogeneity of freight sectors means that predicting this activity is challenging. It is observed that truck freight intensity (km of trucks per GVA) declines but not enough to offset the rise in energy needed to fuel the entire freight transport sector; it is likely that the rise in van freight increases the demand for freight energy in urban regions.

Handbook on Transport and Development

This Handbook provides an extensive overview of the relationships between transport and development. With 45 chapters from leading international authors, the book is organised in three main parts: urban structure and travel; transport and spatial impacts; and wider dimensions in transport and development. The chapters each present commentary on key issues within these themes, presenting the debate on the impacts of urban structure on travel, the impacts of transport investment on development, and social and cultural change on travel. A multitude of angles are considered – leaving the reader with a comprehensive and critical understanding of the field

Fuel Taxes, Fuel Economy of Vehicles and Costs of Conserved Energy: The Case of the European Union

This chapter is an overview of the changes in real-world fuel economy in key countries and of recent developments in fuel taxes imposed on all fuels across the EU-Member States. Coal and gas are undertaxed but diesel and gasoline are overtaxed; however, fuel economy is directly affected by fuel taxes (prices) and not by taxes on coal. Standards on fuel economy can be interpreted as taxes on fuel and both standards and fuel taxes can be triggers for investment in alternative energy technology. Costs of conserved energy show that hybrid trucks are cost-effective to buy for freight transport operators so long as fuel costs are high. Trends in the cost of conserved energy are likely to favour investment in fuel saving technologies so long as fuel and oil prices remain high as is currently the case. Taxes on fossil fuels are one way to save fossil fuels and EU Governments are aware of the need to save fossil fuels and to reduce dependency on them. EU fuel taxes have led to improved fuel economy on EU roads.

The adoption of cogeneration in the Japanese manufacturing sector: technological, economic and institutional determinants

Combined heat and power (CHP) has been identified by the Second and Third Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change as a powerful carbon abating technology. In this paper, we review trends and overall changes in power generation technologies insofar as these affect industrial CHP in Japan; we also propose an empirical model for the analysis of CHP adoption based on time series cross-sectional (panel) data. This is followed by a discussion on current energy policy targets towards CHP and the changes in steam capacity (process heat) that have occurred during the period 1985-1998. Site information on 1500 CHP sites was gathered and combined with industrial statistics for a 14 year span during which Japanese power markets underwent deregulation. Based on the panel regression, we found that an increase in the probabilities of installing new CHP will be linked with a unit increase in purchased power, industrial production and consumption of self-generated power, while a unit increase in non-CHP boiler steam capacity will decrease the probability of adding CHP for the 7 industries. The fixed effects model showed that CHP faces increasing returns to scale over the period 1985-1998. Empirical work on CHP on cross sectional studies carried elsewhere confirms some of our findings. Additionally, it is found that adoptions of CHP are linked to the small to medium size industrial plants since the latter account for the mass of steam capacity retired.

The transport and development relationship

Linda: We should’ve bought the land next door. Willy: The street is lined with cars. There’s not a breath of fresh air in the neighbourhood. The grass don’t grow anymore, you can’t raise a carrot in the backyard. They should’ve had a law against apartment houses. Remember those two beautiful elm trees out there? When I and Biff hung the swing between them? Linda: Yeah, like being a million miles from the city.