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A Comparison of Electricity Generation System Sustainability among G20 Countries

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  • Jinchao Li

    (School of Economics and Management, North China Electric Power University, Beijing 102206, China)

  • Xian Geng

    (Medical College, Hebei University, Baoding 071002, China)

  • Jinying Li

    (Department of Economic Management, North China Electric Power University, Baoding 071000, China)

Abstract

Planning for electricity generation systems is a very important task and should take environmental and economic factors into account. This paper reviews the existing metrics and methods in evaluating energy sustainability, and we propose a sustainability assessment index system. The input indexes include generation capacity, generation cost, and land use. The output indexes include desirable and undesirable parts. The desirable outputs are total electricity generation and job creation. The undesirable outputs are external supply risk and external costs associated with the environment and health. The super-efficiency data envelopment analysis method is used to calculate the sustainability of electricity generation systems of 23 countries from 2005 to 2014. The three input indexes and three undesirable output indexes are used as the input variables. The two desirable outputs are used as the output variables. The results show that most countries’ electricity generation sustainability values have decreasing trends. In addition, nuclear and hydro generation have positive effects. Solar, wind, and fossil fuel generation have negative effects on sustainability.

Suggested Citation

  • Jinchao Li & Xian Geng & Jinying Li, 2016. "A Comparison of Electricity Generation System Sustainability among G20 Countries," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(12), pages 1-11, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:8:y:2016:i:12:p:1276-:d:84619
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    Cited by:

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    2. M. A. Graña-López & A. García-Diez & A. Filgueira-Vizoso & J. Chouza-Gestoso & A. Masdías-Bonome, 2019. "Study of the Sustainability of Electrical Power Systems: Analysis of the Causes that Generate Reactive Power," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(24), pages 1-13, December.
    3. Ciprian Mihai Coman & Adriana Florescu & Constantin Daniel Oancea, 2020. "Improving the Efficiency and Sustainability of Power Systems Using Distributed Power Factor Correction Methods," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(8), pages 1-20, April.
    4. Sebastian Cuadros & Yeny E. Rodríguez & Javier Contreras, 2020. "Dynamic Data Envelopment Analysis Model Involving Undesirable Outputs in the Electricity Power Generation Sector: The Case of Latin America and the Caribbean Countries," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(24), pages 1-20, December.
    5. Seungchan Oh & Heewon Shin & Hwanhee Cho & Byongjun Lee, 2018. "Transient Impact Analysis of High Renewable Energy Sources Penetration According to the Future Korean Power Grid Scenario," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(11), pages 1-15, November.
    6. Taesik Yun & Younggook Kim & Jang-yeop Kim, 2017. "Feasibility Study of the Post-2020 Commitment to the Power Generation Sector in South Korea," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(2), pages 1-19, February.
    7. Aviel Verbruggen & Yuliya Yurchenko, 2017. "Positioning Nuclear Power in the Low-Carbon Electricity Transition," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(1), pages 1-14, January.
    8. Tenente, Marcos & Henriques, Carla & da Silva, Patrícia Pereira, 2020. "Eco-efficiency assessment of the electricity sector: Evidence from 28 European Union countries," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 66(C), pages 293-314.
    9. Zurano-Cervelló, Patricia & Pozo, Carlos & Mateo-Sanz, Josep María & Jiménez, Laureano & Guillén-Gosálbez, Gonzalo, 2019. "Sustainability efficiency assessment of the electricity mix of the 28 EU member countries combining data envelopment analysis and optimized projections," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 134(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    sustainability assessment; electricity generation system; super-efficiency data envelopment analysis; G20 countries;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G20 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - General

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