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The driving factors of CO2 emissions from electricity generation in Spain: A decomposition analysis

Author

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  • Vicent Alcántara Escolano

    (Department of Applied Economics, Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona, 08193, Bellaterra, Spain)

  • Emilio Padilla Rosa

    (Department of Applied Economics, Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona, 08193, Bellaterra, Spain)

  • Pablo del Río González

    (Instituto de Políticas y Bienes Públicos, Centro Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Calle Albasanz 26-28, Madrid, 28037, Spain)

Abstract

We apply an index decomposition analysis to investigate the main drivers of CO2 emissions in the electricity generation sector in Spain over the period 1991–2017. The analysis allows us to quantify the impact of five different effects —associated with an extended version of the Kaya identity— that influence those emission trends. These effects are: the carbonisation effect, the transformation effect, the fossil intensity effect, the electricity intensity effect and the production effect. Taking into account the evolution of these emissions over the period, four subperiods are identified. The results show that the relevance of the drivers has changed over time (i.e. in the four subperiods). The fossil intensity, electricity intensity and production effects played an important role in the increase in emissions during the first half of the period, and particularly from 1999 to 2005. In contrast, the carbonisation and fossil intensity effects were the dominant drivers of the reduction in emissions between 2006 and 2010. The research allows the impact of different measures on emissions to be evaluated by considering their influence on the different effects, and suggests which sets of measures would be more effective in reducing emissions. Therefore, several policy implications are derived.

Suggested Citation

  • Vicent Alcántara Escolano & Emilio Padilla Rosa & Pablo del Río González, 2020. "The driving factors of CO2 emissions from electricity generation in Spain: A decomposition analysis," Working Papers wpdea2005, Department of Applied Economics at Universitat Autonoma of Barcelona.
    • Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea2005
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Keywords

    CO2 emissions; electricity generation; logarithmic mean Divisia index.;
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