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Intermittency and CO2 Reductions from Wind Energy

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  • Daniel T. Kaffine, Brannin J. McBee, and Sean J. Ericson

Abstract

Using detailed 5-minute electricity generation data, we examine the impact of wind intermittency on carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions savings from wind energy in the Southwest Power Pool from 2012ý2014. Parametric and semi-parametric analysis confirms concerns that intra-hour wind intermittency reduces CO2 emissions savings from windýin the top decile of wind intermittency, emission savings are reduced by nearly 10 percent. However, the average wind intermittency effect on emission savings is modest, on the order of 6.5 percent when accounting for dynamic effects. Evidence suggests the intermittency effect is likely to remain modest in the near-term.

Suggested Citation

  • Daniel T. Kaffine, Brannin J. McBee, and Sean J. Ericson, 2020. "Intermittency and CO2 Reductions from Wind Energy," The Energy Journal, International Association for Energy Economics, vol. 0(Number 5), pages 23-54.
    • Handle: RePEc:aen:journl:ej41-5-ericson
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    1. Graff Zivin, Joshua S. & Kotchen, Matthew J. & Mansur, Erin T., 2014. "Spatial and temporal heterogeneity of marginal emissions: Implications for electric cars and other electricity-shifting policies," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 107(PA), pages 248-268.
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    Cited by:

    1. Newbery, David M., 2023. "High renewable electricity penetration: Marginal curtailment and market failure under “subsidy-free” entry," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 126(C).
    2. Nandeeta Neerunjun & Hubert Stahn, 2023. "Renewable energy support: pre-announced policies and (in)-efficiency," AMSE Working Papers 2335, Aix-Marseille School of Economics, France.
    3. Petersen, Claire & Reguant, Mar & Segura, Lola, 2024. "Measuring the impact of wind power and intermittency," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 129(C).
    4. Dilek Uz & Callista Chim, 2022. "Intermittency in Wind Energy and Emissions from the Electricity Sector: Evidence from 13 Years of Data," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-14, February.
    5. Graf, Christoph & Quaglia, Federico & Wolak, Frank A., 2021. "(Machine) learning from the COVID-19 lockdown about electricity market performance with a large share of renewables," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 105(C).
    6. Hannele Holttinen & Tomi J. Lindroos & Antti Lehtilä & Tiina Koljonen & Juha Kiviluoma & Magnus Korpås, 2025. "Estimating the CO 2 Impacts of Wind Energy in the Transition Towards Carbon-Neutral Energy Systems," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(6), pages 1-22, March.
    7. Jha, Amit Prakash & Mahajan, Aarushi & Singh, Sanjay Kumar & Kumar, Piyush, 2022. "Renewable energy proliferation for sustainable development: Role of cross-border electricity trade," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 201(P1), pages 1189-1199.
    8. Christoph Graf & Federico Quaglia & Frank A. Wolak, 2022. "(Machine) Learning from the COVID-19 Lockdown about Electricity Market Performance with a Large Share of Renewables," Papers 2211.02196, arXiv.org.
    9. Kuang, Zhonghong & Chen, Qi & Yu, Yang, 2022. "Assessing the CO2-emission risk due to wind-energy uncertainty," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 310(C).
    10. Jeremy Nguyen & Abbas Valadkhani & Gholamreza Hajargasht, 2021. "The Choice between Renewables and Non-renewables: Evidence from Electricity Generation in 29 Countries," The Energy Journal, , vol. 42(6), pages 49-68, November.

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