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Sustainability efficiency assessment of the electricity mix of the 28 EU member countries combining data envelopment analysis and optimized projections

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  • Zurano-Cervelló, Patricia
  • Pozo, Carlos
  • Mateo-Sanz, Josep María
  • Jiménez, Laureano
  • Guillén-Gosálbez, Gonzalo

Abstract

Assessing the sustainability level of the power sector can aid the transition towards a sustainable energy system. In this contribution, we propose a novel approach to compare and optimize electricity mixes according to sustainability criteria and apply it to the 28 EU members. Our method combines life cycle assessment, data envelopment analysis (DEA) and rigorous mathematical programming tools in three main steps. Firstly, DEA is applied to assess the efficiency level of electricity mixes of EU member countries considering the three dimensions of sustainability. Then, electricity portfolios of inefficient countries are optimized by solving a model that seeks to attain the targets provided by DEA while simultaneously considering the technical aspects governing electricity generation. This model, which constitutes the cornerstone of our approach, complements standard DEA by ensuring realistic and meaningful targets. In the third step, we evaluate the electricity portfolios optimized previously by running DEA again. Our results suggest that energy policies in the EU should favor the deployment of hydropower, wind and solar, while simultaneously displacing non-renewable sources and bioenergy. The deployment of carbon capture and storage is also a potential alternative that could be incentivized via policies worded in terms of carbon intensity targets.

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  • 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).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:enepol:v:134:y:2019:i:c:s0301421519305051
    DOI: 10.1016/j.enpol.2019.110921
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    4. Ewa Chodakowska & Joanicjusz Nazarko, 2020. "Assessing the Performance of Sustainable Development Goals of EU Countries: Hard and Soft Data Integration," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(13), pages 1-26, July.
    5. Zhu, Liyun & Schneider, Kevin & Oude Lansink, Alfons, 2023. "Economic, environmental, and social inefficiency assessment of Dutch dairy farms based on the dynamic by-production model," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 311(3), pages 1134-1145.
    6. Chang, Ming-Chung, 2020. "An application of total-factor energy efficiency under the metafrontier framework," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 142(C).
    7. Marius Chofor Asaba & Fabian Duffner & Florian Frieden & Jens Leker & Stephan von Delft, 2022. "Location choice for large‐scale battery manufacturing plants: Exploring the role of clean energy, costs, and knowledge on location decisions in Europe," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 26(4), pages 1514-1527, August.
    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. Jorge Martins & F. P. Brito, 2020. "Alternative Fuels for Internal Combustion Engines," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-34, August.
    10. Anzhelika Pirmamedovna Karaeva & Elena Romenovna Magaril & Andrey Vladimirovich Kiselev & Lucian-Ionel Cioca, 2022. "Screening of Factors for Assessing the Environmental and Economic Efficiency of Investment Projects in the Energy Sector," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(18), pages 1-21, September.
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