Semida Silveira

Ethanol or gasoline? Consumer choice in the face of different fuel pricing systems in Brazil and Sweden.

In the context of high biofuel blends and flex-fuel fleets, consumers are faced with variations in the attractiveness of high-ethanol blends (E85 and E100), which depend, among other factors, on the different price mechanisms applied to gasoline. This research article examines scenarios in which different levels of oscillation in oil prices are transmitted to final gasoline markets in Brazil, influencing the attractiveness of ethanol to consumers. Our analysis suggests that the consumer might prefer more constant price advantages (e.g., in Brazil), while reacting negatively to very volatile markets (e.g., in Sweden). Since consumers apparently use more biofuels in a context of less price volatility, price stability might be an important aspect for policy makers to consider when designing policies to promote biofuel markets.

Sustainability Policy: A Case Study of the Limits to Biofuel Sustainability

Biofuels are attractive alternative energy carriers not least due to their interface with existing infrastructure for conventional fuels in the transportation sector. But while representing a renewable alternative to petroleum fuels, an expanded usage of biofuels could conflict with ecological and social systems. In face of this risk, a number of countries are designing sustainability standards and safeguard mechanisms for biofuels, in an attempt to reduce the negative effects of their growing usage. This chapter explores biofuel sustainability policies, their economic rationale, and specially their limits, as seen from the basic strategies of dematerialization, detoxification, and transmaterialization. The chapter then frames where biofuel sustainability policies have margin for action, exemplified by the case of the European scheme proposed in 2009. By understanding the economic rationale and guiding principles behind efforts to improve biofuel sustainability, the chapter can contribute to better understand the actual scope and limitations of policy efforts currently aiming to promote responsible biofuels usage. The study concludes by proposing that transparency and dialogue, including parties directly and indirectly affected by biofuel strategies, as the only way to legitimize the sharing of risks in this emerging international market.

Integrating Forestry and Energy Activities in Lithuania Using Swedish Know-how

Publisher Summary This chapter is based on a bilateral project developed between the Swedish Forest Administration and the Forest Department, and the Ministry of Environment in Lithuania, with the support of the Swedish Energy Agency. Initially, a feasibility study was carried out in the eastern part of Lithuania to identify conditions for the utilization of wood fuel within the seven state forest enterprises. The purpose was to find appropriate methods for profitable horizontal and vertical integration of the handling of forest fuels, and ways to integrate them into ordinary forestry and energy supply systems. The recommendations evolved into a demonstration project in Rokiskis state forest enterprise and capacity-building programs for continued cooperation and further development of the Lithuanian biomass potential. The chapter summarized some of the studies carried out with the purpose of evaluating resource potentials and models for forest management. The models are aimed at a sustainable exploration of residues for energy purposes while also improving traditional forestry activities. Analyses and tests were conducted to screen the most cost-efficient methods and most suitable equipment for local conditions, and to verify the best ways to introduce the new practices.

Exploring synergies between the intended nationally determined contributions and electrification goals of Ethiopia, Kenya and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)

The objective of the study is to assess the linkages between climate-related measures and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Ethiopia, Kenya and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) within the scope of submitted Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDC). Given the under-reporting of least developed countries’ and emerging economies’ issues with regards to climate change mitigation and adaptation, this study is important in studying how these three countries are integrating electrification goals (SDG7) with their INDC. The analysis explores the electricity mix, the expected greenhouse gas emissions from electricity generation until 2030, and electrification and related metrics. The INDCs provide a platform to achieve universalization of electrification, catalysing climate finance. Given the bottom-up process inherent to the current climate agreement mechanism, the paper gives insights on how these countries have used the INDC to prioritize sustainable electricity access. The results show that the countries have different storylines as to their electricity access targets and INDC. Ethiopia aims at nearly 100% renewables for power, while Kenya only generates 54% of the total electricity with renewables in 2030. In the DRC, the percentage of renewables is very high, but the per capita electricity consumption remains low while the country becomes a power exporter. The three countries have set a target of 75% electricity access in 2030, but only Kenya comes halfway to the minimum of 2000 kWh/capita of economy-wide electricity generation, which is required for a reasonable level of welfare.

Evaluating the palm oil demand in Indonesia: production trends, yields, and emerging issues

ABSTRACT This paper investigates the development of domestic and international demand for Indonesian palm oil, in line with national biofuel mandates and established export markets. Domestic demand for palm oil for (i) achieving biodiesel targets and (ii) meeting food and industrial uses will reach 20 million tonnes by 2025, equivalent to 61% of Indonesian production in 2014. Thus, it is possible for Indonesia to be self-sufficient, reaching the biodiesel targets without increasing plantation areas. However, to meet both domestic and international demand, a total 51 million tonnes of crude palm oil will be needed in 2025. This requires additional land of up to 6 million hectares with current yields. The expansion of oil palm plantations in Indonesia has led to debates related to deforestation, threatened biodiversity, and greenhouse gas emissions. We show that increasing agricultural yields could serve the purpose, benefiting biodiesel production while reducing the need for new land. Therefore, we recommend that the ambitious Indonesian biodiesel mandates are pursued in combination with a strategy for increased productivity in palm oil production, utilization of degraded land to contain greenhouse gas emissions, and use of palm oil biomass residues for energy production.

Fossil-free public transport: Prescriptive policy analysis for the Swedish bus fleets

Elicitation and processing of the relevant information is the core of any policy decision-making process. This study presents a prescriptive policy analysis for the “fossil-free fuel deployment for public transport buses at the national level in Sweden”, using a policy-oriented modelling and simulation tool, Sense4us1, that supports systems analysis for policy involving: (i) structuring of policy problems using the labelled causal mapping method, (ii) ex-ante impact assessment using scenario-based dynamic simulation modelling and (iii) ex-ante evaluation of the considered policy options based on the simulation results and using a set of standard criteria for evaluation of EU policy interventions. The results are most of all useful for designing a policy pathway for public bus transport that is both environmentally sustainable and economically feasible. Moreover, the process allows involvement of the key stakeholders to reflect various priorities and preferences.

Energy Use in Manufacturing Industries Evidence from Sweden

This study analyses energy use and CO2 emissions in the Swedish manufacturing industries between 1993 and 2008. The performance of this sector is studied in terms of CO2 emissions, energy consumption, energy intensity, energy sources, energy prices and taxes. The results show that energy consumption, energy intensity and CO2 emission intensity have reduced significantly. The decomposition analysis evidenced that decrease in the aggregate energy intensity and the aggregate CO2 emission intensity was caused by a decrease of energy intensity and substitution fuels. The factors that have influenced the results in energy intensity and CO2 emission intensity in Swedish manufacturing industries have been mainly the increase of energy price, energy taxes, investments and inter-fuel substitution.