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The U.S. power sector decarbonization: Investigating technology options with MARKAL nine-region model

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  • Victor, Nadejda
  • Nichols, Christopher
  • Zelek, Charles

Abstract

The U.S. economy decarbonization over the next 35 years requires a large transformation of the energy system. The main finding of this study is that it is technically feasible to achieve 80% greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction below the 2005 levels by 2050 through deployment of existing or near-commercially available technologies. GHG reductions are primarily achieved through high levels of electricity sector decarbonization, electrification of end uses, and exchange of the remaining end-uses to lower carbon fuels such as natural gas. However, deep decarbonization by 2050 triggers very high marginal CO2 reduction costs, unless significant cost reductions of zero and near-zero carbon technologies occur.

Suggested Citation

  • Victor, Nadejda & Nichols, Christopher & Zelek, Charles, 2018. "The U.S. power sector decarbonization: Investigating technology options with MARKAL nine-region model," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 73(C), pages 410-425.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:eneeco:v:73:y:2018:i:c:p:410-425
    DOI: 10.1016/j.eneco.2018.03.021
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    Cited by:

    1. Aryanpur, Vahid & Atabaki, Mohammad Saeid & Marzband, Mousa & Siano, Pierluigi & Ghayoumi, Kiarash, 2019. "An overview of energy planning in Iran and transition pathways towards sustainable electricity supply sector," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 112(C), pages 58-74.
    2. Xiao, Jin & Li, Guohao & Xie, Ling & Wang, Shouyang & Yu, Lean, 2021. "Decarbonizing China's power sector by 2030 with consideration of technological progress and cross-regional power transmission," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 150(C).
    3. Zhu, Qianru & Leibowicz, Benjamin D. & Busby, Joshua W. & Shidore, Sarang & Adelman, David E. & Olmstead, Sheila M., 2022. "Enhancing policy realism in energy system optimization models: Politically feasible decarbonization pathways for the United States," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 161(C).
    4. Chi Kong Chyong & David M. Reiner & Rebecca Ly & Mathilde Fajardy, 2023. "The economic value of flexible CCS in net-zero electricity systems: the case of the UK," Working Papers EPRG2308, Energy Policy Research Group, Cambridge Judge Business School, University of Cambridge.
    5. Chyong, Chi Kong & Reiner, David M. & Ly, Rebecca & Fajardy, Mathilde, 2023. "Economic modelling of flexible carbon capture and storage in a decarbonised electricity system," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 188(C).
    6. Huang, Xiaodan & Zhang, Hongyu & Zhang, Xiliang, 2020. "Decarbonising electricity systems in major cities through renewable cooperation – A case study of Beijing and Zhangjiakou," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 190(C).
    7. Huang, Ying & Liao, Cuiping & Zhang, Jingjing & Guo, Hongxu & Zhou, Nan & Zhao, Daiqing, 2019. "Exploring potential pathways towards urban greenhouse gas peaks: A case study of Guangzhou, China," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 251(C), pages 1-1.
    8. Zwickl-Bernhard, Sebastian & Auer, Hans, 2022. "Demystifying natural gas distribution grid decommissioning: An open-source approach to local deep decarbonization of urban neighborhoods," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 238(PB).
    9. John E. T. Bistline & Geoffrey Blanford & John Grant & Eladio Knipping & David L. McCollum & Uarporn Nopmongcol & Heidi Scarth & Tejas Shah & Greg Yarwood, 2022. "Economy-wide evaluation of CO2 and air quality impacts of electrification in the United States," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-12, December.
    10. Thomassen, Gwenny & Van Passel, Steven & Dewulf, Jo, 2020. "A review on learning effects in prospective technology assessment," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 130(C).
    11. Sun, Wenqiang & Wang, Qiang & Zhou, Yue & Wu, Jianzhong, 2020. "Material and energy flows of the iron and steel industry: Status quo, challenges and perspectives," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 268(C).
    12. Felder, F.A. & Kumar, P., 2021. "A review of existing deep decarbonization models and their potential in policymaking," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 152(C).
    13. Jiang, Hong-Dian & Dong, Kangyin & Qing, Jing & Teng, Qiang, 2023. "The role of technical change in low-carbon transformation and crises in the electricity market: A CGE analysis with R&D investment," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 125(C).
    14. Anderson, Jeffrey J. & Rode, David & Zhai, Haibo & Fischbeck, Paul, 2021. "Transitioning to a carbon-constrained world: Reductions in coal-fired power plant emissions through unit-specific, least-cost mitigation frontiers," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 288(C).
    15. Kinnon, Michael Mac & Zhu, Shupeng & Carreras-Sospedra, Marc & Soukup, James V. & Dabdub, Donald & Samuelsen, G.S. & Brouwer, Jacob, 2019. "Considering future regional air quality impacts of the transportation sector," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 124(C), pages 63-80.
    16. Sani, L. & Khatiwada, D. & Harahap, F. & Silveira, S., 2021. "Decarbonization pathways for the power sector in Sumatra, Indonesia," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 150(C).

    More about this item

    Keywords

    MARKAL multi-regional model; CO2 emissions reduction policies; Power generation technologies; CCS; R&D;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • Q47 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Energy - - - Energy Forecasting

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