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Exploring the feasibility of low-carbon scenarios using historical energy transitions analysis
File(s)
energies-10-00116.pdf (5.36 MB)
Published version
Author(s)
Napp, T
Bernie, D
Thomas, R
Lowe, J
Hawkes, A
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
The scenarios generated by energy systems models provide a picture of the range of possible pathways to a low-carbon future. However, in order to be truly useful, these scenarios should not only be possible but also plausible. In this paper, we have used lessons from historical energy transitions to create a set of diagnostic tests to assess the feasibility of an example 2 °C scenario (generated using the least cost optimization model, TIAM-Grantham). The key assessment criteria included the rate of deployment of low carbon technologies and the rate of transition between primary energy resources. The rates of deployment of key low-carbon technologies were found to exceed the maximum historically observed rate of deployment of 20% per annum. When constraints were added to limit the scenario to within historically observed rates of change, the model no longer solved for 2 °C. Under these constraints, the lowest median 2100 temperature change for which a solution was found was about 2.1 °C and at more than double the cumulative cost of the unconstrained scenario. The analysis in this paper highlights the considerable challenge of meeting 2 °C, requiring rates of energy supply technology deployment and rates of declines in fossil fuels which are unprecedented.
Date Issued
2017-01-18
Date Acceptance
2017-01-05
Citation
Energies, 2017, 10 (1)
URI
DOI
ISSN
1996-1073
Publisher
MDPI
Journal / Book Title
Energies
Volume
10
Issue
1
Copyright Statement
© 2017 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access
article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution
(CC-BY) license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
Sponsor
Met Office
Natural Environment Research Council (NERC)
Grant Number
PO14206
NE/N018656/1
Subjects
Science & Technology
Technology
Energy & Fuels
energy transition
energy systems modelling
low-carbon
decarbonisation
INDUSTRY
INSIGHTS
LESSONS
MODELS
09 Engineering
02 Physical Sciences
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
116