Pathways toward Zero-Carbon Electricity Required for Climate Stabilization

This paper covers three policy-relevant aspects of the carbon content of electricity that are well established among integrated assessment models but under-discussed in the policy debate. First, climate stabilization at any level from 2 to 3°C requires electricity to be almost carbon-free by the end of the century. As such, the question for policy makers is not whether to decarbonize electricity but when to do it. Second, decarbonization of electricity is still possible and required if some of the key zero-carbon technologies -- such as nuclear power or carbon capture and storage -- turn out to be unavailable. Third, progressive decarbonization of electricity is part of every country's cost-effective means of contributing to climate stabilization. In addition, this paper provides cost-effective pathways of the carbon content of electricity -- computed from the results of AMPERE, a recent integrated assessment model comparison study. These pathways may be used to benchmark existing decarbonization targets, such as those set by the European Energy Roadmap or the Clean Power Plan in the United States, or inform new policies in other countries. The pathways can also be used to assess the desirable uptake rates of electrification technologies, such as electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles, electric stoves and heat pumps, or industrial electric furnaces.

Bibliographic Details

Main Authors:	Audoly, Richard, Vogt-Schilb, Adrien, Guivarch, Celine
Language:	English en_US
Published:	World Bank Group, Washington, DC 2014-10
Subjects:	AIR, ANNUAL GREENHOUSE GAS, ANTHROPOGENIC GREENHOUSE, ANTHROPOGENIC GREENHOUSE GAS, APPROACH, ATMOSPHERE, ATMOSPHERIC CONCENTRATION, AVAILABILITY, AVERAGE CARBON INTENSITY, BIO-ENERGY, BIOMASS, CAR, CARBON, CARBON CAPTURE, CARBON CONTENT, CARBON DIOXIDE, CARBON ECONOMY, CARBON EMISSION, CARBON EMISSIONS, CARBON INTENSITY, CARBON NEUTRALITY, CARBON SEQUESTRATION, CARBON TECHNOLOGIES, CLEAN ELECTRICITY, CLEAN POWER, CLEAN POWER PLAN, CLIMATE, CLIMATE CHANGE, CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION, CLIMATE POLICIES, CLIMATE POLICY, CLIMATIC CHANGE, CO, CO2, COAL, CONCENTRATION TARGET, CUMULATIVE EMISSIONS, DEMAND PEAKS, DIFFUSION, DRIVING, ELECTRIC CARS, ELECTRIC ENERGY, ELECTRIC GRID, ELECTRIC VEHICLES, ELECTRICITY, ELECTRICITY GENERATION, ELECTRICITY PRODUCTION, ELECTRICITY SUPPLY, ELECTRIFICATION, EMISSION, EMISSION REDUCTIONS, EMISSION TARGETS, EMISSION-REDUCTION, EMISSIONS, EMISSIONS CUTS, EMISSIONS FROM ELECTRIC, EMISSIONS FROM FUEL, EMISSIONS FROM FUEL COMBUSTION, EMISSIONS FROM POWER GENERATION, EMISSIONS FROM POWER PLANTS, EMISSIONS IMPACTS, END-USERS, ENERGY CONSUMPTION, ENERGY ECONOMICS, ENERGY POLICY, ENERGY SOURCES, ENERGY SYSTEMS, ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES, ENERGY TECHNOLOGY, ENERGY TRANSFORMATION, ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS, ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY, ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH, FOSSIL, FOSSIL FUEL, FOSSIL FUELS, GAS EMISSION, GHG, GLOBAL ELECTRICITY GENERATION, GLOBAL EMISSIONS, GLOBAL ENERGY CONSUMPTION, GLOBAL WARMING, GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSION, GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSION REDUCTION, GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS, GREENHOUSE-GAS, HEAT, HEAT PUMPS, HYBRID VEHICLES, INDIRECT EMISSIONS, INTERNATIONAL ENERGY AGENCY, IPCC, LAND USE, LOW CARBON ECONOMY, LOW-CARBON, NATURAL RESOURCES, NUCLEAR POWER, OIL, OIL PRICES, PASSENGER VEHICLE, PASSENGER VEHICLES, PHOTOVOLTAIC POWER, POWER GENERATION, POWER GENERATION TECHNOLOGIES, POWER PLANT, POWER PLANTS, POWER SECTOR, POWER SUPPLY, PRIMARY ENERGY, REDUCTION IN CARBON, RENEWABLE ENERGIES, RENEWABLE ENERGY, RENEWABLE ENERGY RESOURCES, RENEWABLE POWER, RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS, ROAD, SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT, SUSTAINABLE ENERGY, TOTAL EMISSIONS, TRANSPORT, TRANSPORTATION, TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE, VEHICLE, VEHICLES, WIND,
Online Access:	http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2014/10/20326453/pathways-toward-zero-carbon-electricity-required-climate-stabilization https://hdl.handle.net/10986/20509
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