By Bruno De Wachter / Published on Fri, 2007-04-13 07:30
Except for low income residential customers and electricity intensive industrial sectors
Energy and environmental specialists alike often argue that electric energy is far too cheap. They are referring to the 'externalities' of electrical generation: in fact the true global cost to society is still much higher than the actual market price. Pressure for higher rate is usually countered by statements from the other side of the argument that higher electricity prices pose a peril for the economy. These individuals argue that higher energy costs would lead to higher prices for goods, which in turn would reduce product demand and cause a negative economic spiral.
Recent data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) show that electricity costs and the overall economy are not as closely linked as they once were. The energy consumption used to create the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the U.S. has been nearly halved since 1970. Nor do statistics for U.S. states show a correlation between electricity prices on the one side and growth in State Gross Product or changes in unemployment rate on the other.
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By Anne Rialhe / Published on Sun, 2005-10-30 00:00
This paper presents three different types of certificates ('white' for energy savings, 'green' for renewable electricity, and 'black' for greenhouse gas reductions in the European Emission Trading Scheme). The current limited experiences with these instruments already allow to define some of the success factors for these new instruments. A synthesis of their current application presents how much energy is saved today due to these certificates, and how much green electricity is produced. A discussion on the methods for setting the targets, measuring the impacts on the market and the interaction between these different instruments concludes this paper, followed by a reminder of the proposal to create an international agency on global stewardship for climate change issues.
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By Hans De Keulenaer / Published on Tue, 2005-10-25 17:55
Four years ago, the EU-funded EXTERNE project presented the results of a large study proving that the cost of producing electricity from coal and oil would be double what it was if the 'external' costs, such as environmental damage, were to be included. Health impacts are a major focus, in addition to environment. Polluting power plants in the EU-25 cause health impacts, including morbidity, with a cost equivalent to tens of billions of euro every year. Building on the results of the EXTERNE project, a new project NEEDS will apply the EXTERNE method to policy making and options for the future energy system in Europe.
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