Energy Policy and Modelling

Question 1

Name and describe a key European policy event?

Answer 1

2019 EU Green Deal
=> raft of measures, principle aim of making EU climate neutral by 2050
- clean energy (renewables, improve energy efficiency)
- housing (better energy efficiency)
- Industry (legislation on circular economy)
circular economy => production and consumption involving sharing, reusing etc. materials and products
- transport
- food sustainability (reducing pesticides, encouraging organic farming, reducing food waste)
- energy innovation (Horizon program)

Question 2

Name n describe a UK energy policy?

Answer 2

2008 climate change act
- principle policy driver
- originally set to 80% GHG emissions by 2050, now carbon neutral
- established Committee on Climate Changex
- Introduced 5 year carbon budgets as staging posts

Question 3

What powers do scottish government have

Answer 3

• planning laws to favour onshore wind over nuclear
• building regulations (energy efficiency)
• incentivising new technologies (e.g. tidal)
• can set own energy goals

Question 4

Name n describe a UK policy failure

Answer 4

Green deal (2012-2015)
- energy refurbishments (insulation, boiler, glazing)
- loan to be repaid through energy bill, with costs expected to be outweighed by energy savings made
- Failed due to lack of public awareness, competition from ECO, perceived high interest rates

Question 5

What are some challenges associated with modelling energy systems/climate

Answer 5

• Dynamic
• Systemic (links between all different elements)
• Non-linear (change in output not proportional to change in input)
• Stochastic (random probability distribution or pattern)

Question 6

Name and describe a partial equilibrium model?

Answer 6

MARKAL
- used to map out future trajectories of the energy system and identify optimum mix of technologies
- so will show the shape of the least cost energy system which will meet the policy needs
~ doesnt actually say if model will work as not detailed enough

Question 7

Name n describe GIS

Answer 7

Geographical Information System modelling
- used to inform the planning and development of renewable energy systems
- examines systemic relationships between data e.g. policy and technical constraints
- e.g. used to find potential PV site