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Cutting Costs of Catching Carbon. Intertemporal effects under imperfect climate policy

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Abstract

We use a two-period model to investigate intertemporal effects of cost reductions in climate change mitigation technologies for the power sector. With imperfect climate policies, cost reductions related to carbon capture and storage (CCS) may be more desirable than comparable cost reductions related to renewable energy. The finding rests on the incentives fossil resource owners face. With regulations of emissions only in the future, cheaper renewables speed up extraction (the `green paradox'), whereas CCS cost reductions make fossil resources more attractive for future use and lead to postponement of extraction.

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  • Michael Hoel & Svenn Jensen, 2010. "Cutting Costs of Catching Carbon. Intertemporal effects under imperfect climate policy," Discussion Papers 639, Statistics Norway, Research Department.
    • Handle: RePEc:ssb:dispap:639
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    climate change; exhaustible resources; carbon capture and storage; renewable energy; green paradox;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • Q30 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Nonrenewable Resources and Conservation - - - General
    • Q42 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Energy - - - Alternative Energy Sources
    • Q54 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Climate; Natural Disasters and their Management; Global Warming

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