- Email: [email protected]
04348 Discarded tyre recycling practices in the United States, Japan and Korea
18
industry lobby groups, the paper then explains the use of pollution abatement subsidies in environmental policy primarily as tools for redistribution. The pollution abatement subsidy and pollution tax are determined in political equilibrium. The equilibrium subsidy rate is shown to depend on the subsidy elasticities of pollution and abatement, and lobby group membership.
An equity- and sustainability-based policy response 99104341 to global climate change Byrne, J. et al.
96104342
experience countries
Energy Policy, 1998, 26, (4) 335-343.
Estimating construction costs and scheduleswith power generation projects in developing
Bacon, R. W. and Besant-Jones, J. E. Energy Policy, 1998, 26, (4), 317333. The reliability of estimates for construction costs and schedules of power generation projects in developing countries is examined and the way the results can be used to improve the selection and implementation of these projects is indicated. This is important for these countries, in terms of both the economic justification and the financing of these projects, as they need massive investments in power generating capacity. Based on regression analysis, the paper identifies factors that are significantly associated with bias and uncertainty in estimates of construction costs and schedules for a group of power generation projects approved for financing by the World Bank between 1965 and 1986, and completed by 1994. The paper concludes that estimated values were significantly biased below actual values and that the large variance in the accuracy of estimated values limits the benefit of making a simple adjustment factor to estimates. The paper finally shows how regression models based on the significant factors can be used to derive unbiased expected values that carry much greater reliability than the corresponding estimated values.
French energy policy 96lo4343 Taylor, R. H. et al. Applied Energy, 1998, 59, (1) 39-61. In the 1970s being highly dependent on the importation of fossil fuels, France suffered more intensely than the majority of other countries from the two crude-oil unit-price crises of 1973-1974 and 1979-1980. Thus, the French Government has chosen to implement vigorously a policy consisting of (i) encouragement of energy thrift; (ii) expansion of indigenous energy harnessing, mainly through a major programme of building and using nuclear-power stations; (iii) substitution by alternative energy forms not associated with crude mineral-oil: and (iv) diversification of sources of imported fuel supplies. These have simultaneously both reduced France’s energy vulnerability and helped protect the environment. During the last 25 years, France’s annual energy consumption has grown while the amount of fuel imported per year has declined, mainly because of the vast nuclearpower investment. France’s energy policy, like that of its partners in the Community, has an increasing European dimension. Joint implementation and the question of ‘addltionality’ a proposal for a pragmatic approach to identify possible joint implementation projects 96lo4344
Rentz, H. Energy Policy, 1998, 26, (4), 275-279. The theoretical concept of joint implementation and the idea of reducing greenhouse gas emissions where costs are least is still attractive and-at least for economists-no revolution. One of the most critical aspects regarding joint implementation, however, is the question of ‘additional&y’. Some argue that a ‘real’ joint implementation project may not have any commercial value at all, others propose that the value of emissions reduction credits shall bring about a positive return on investment where otherwise it would have been negative. The present paper states that there is no feasible option to divide projects into joint implementation and nonjoint implementation candidates regarding their financing. The result is that any project which brings about real and measurable environmental and social benefits should be regarded as a possible joint implementation project, be it a pure donation or a highly profitable private investment.
Marketable pollution permits with uncertainty and transaction costs 96lo4345
Montero, J.-P. Resource and Energy Economics, 1997, 20, (1). 27-50. In recent years, there has arisen an increasing interest in the use of marketable permits for pollution control. Concern regarding their performance still remains because empirical evidence has shown transaction costs and uncertainty to be significant in past and existing marketable permits programmes. In this paper theoretical and numerical models are developed that include transaction costs and uncertainty (in trade approval) to show their effects on market performance (i.e. equilibrium price of permits and trading volume) and aggregate control costs. In the presence of transaction costs and uncertainty the initial allocation of permits may not be neutral in terms of efficiency. Furthermore, using a numerical model for a hypothetical NO, trading programme in which participants have discrete control technology choices, aggregate control costs and the equilibrium price of permits were found to be sensitive to the initial allocation of permits, even for constant marginal transaction costs and certainty.
96lO4346
Energy conversion and recycling
A multiobjective approach to rural energy policy
analysis
Pokharel, S. and Chandrashekar, M. Energy, 1998, 23, (4), 325-336. In rural areas, energy demand is generally met by local energy resources. These areas are normally overlooked in the energy-planning process due mainly to the lack of data and proper analytical tools. In this paper, a suitable multi-objective programming method for rural energy analysis is applied. Multi-objective programming methods provide decision makers with an opportunity to negotiate and explore different energy options. As an illustration of the proposed method, the energy situation of a rural area has been analysed and the trade-off between energy supply, investment for energy programs and employment generation has been examined. 96lo4347
Situation and outlook of aeoscientific hydrocarbon
research
Wellmer, F. W. et al. Erdoel, Erdgas, Kohle, 1998, 114, (4), 181-182, 184188, 190-191. (In German) Germany will be largely dependent on an energy mixture of fossil fuels for its primary energy consumption well into the next century. Taking into account the depletion midpoint for conventional oil between 2010 and 2015, natural gas, chieflv. but also coal will become increasingly important. Considerable success in geoscientific hydrocarbon research has recently been achieved in the development and use of three-dimensional seismics so that facies development, porosity and new previously unknown structures can be analysed. The different media in the source rocks, oil, gas, or water can be recognized. Other recent developments that have been rapidly implemented are basin models that allow a better identification of the oil and gas windows as well as the hydrocarbon geochemical with oil source rock correlations and reconstruction of the maturity history. In the case of future hydrocarbon potential which will have to be researched in the forefield of industrial activities. In the marine sector, continental slopes that are at 75 million km2 bigger than all continental basins, have a high priority. It is estimated that potential source and reservoir rocks with corresponding structures occur in the different plate rims. Gas hydrates, solid aggregates of water and methane, that have been observed in permafrost areas and as bottom simulating reflectors in the marine sector, probably have an enormous energy potential for the future. Coal bed methane, deep gases from deeply buried basin areas also have future potential. In Germany prospection areas for Pre-west-phalian deep gas occur in western and north-western parts of the North Sea, in the Ems estuary as well as in the Emsland and to a smaller extent in the UsedomiRuegen region. Successful exploration will only be made possible by long-range geoscientific hydrocarbon research.
18 ENERGY CONVERSION AND RECYCLING 96lO4346
Discarded tyre recycling practices in the United States, Japan and Korea
Jang, J.-W. et al. Resources Conservation and Recycling, 1998, 22, (l/2), l14. A problem of disposal is posed by discarded tyres, which continue to accumulate throughout the world today. In the United States over 279 million discarded tires are being added to an estimated two billion tyres currently stockpiled around the country. The stockpiled tires provide breeding sites for mosquitoes which can spread diseases and often constitute fire hazards. If the discarded tyres were to be put into use, environmental impact would be minimized and conservation of natural resources would be maximized. Current practice includes retreading, recycling as crumb rubber and combustion for thermal energy. The discarded tyre recycling practices in the United States, Japan and Korea are compared in a literature review.
International collaboration on capture, storage and utilisation of greenhouse gases
96lo4349
Freund, P. Waste Management, 1997, 17, (5/6), 281-287. This international collaboration is investigating technologies for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, the root cause of the climate change problem. The IEA Greenhouse Gas R&D Programme has three main activities: (1) evaluation of technologies for mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions from use of fossil fuels; (2) dissemination of the results of these studies; (3) identification of targets for research, development and demonstration and promotion of these findings. The programme has studied the major greenhouse gases, carbon dioxide and methane, and various means of reducing their emissions during the first five years of its operation. The main emphasis has been placed on capture, storage and utilization of COz from power generation. As well as studying COz abatement, the programme has conducted a series of studies of technologies for methane emissions reduction from man-made sources. Forty separate evaluation studies have been completed so far by the programme, which have highlighted some key questions necessary to enable application of COz sequestration techniques. For example, important issues concern the prediction of the performance and environmental impact of CO2 storage.
Fuel and Energy Abstracts
September 1999 493
industry lobby groups, the paper then explains the use of pollution abatement subsidies in environmental policy primarily as tools for redistribution. The pollution abatement subsidy and pollution tax are determined in political equilibrium. The equilibrium subsidy rate is shown to depend on the subsidy elasticities of pollution and abatement, and lobby group membership.
An equity- and sustainability-based policy response 99104341 to global climate change Byrne, J. et al.
96104342
experience countries
Energy Policy, 1998, 26, (4) 335-343.
Estimating construction costs and scheduleswith power generation projects in developing
Bacon, R. W. and Besant-Jones, J. E. Energy Policy, 1998, 26, (4), 317333. The reliability of estimates for construction costs and schedules of power generation projects in developing countries is examined and the way the results can be used to improve the selection and implementation of these projects is indicated. This is important for these countries, in terms of both the economic justification and the financing of these projects, as they need massive investments in power generating capacity. Based on regression analysis, the paper identifies factors that are significantly associated with bias and uncertainty in estimates of construction costs and schedules for a group of power generation projects approved for financing by the World Bank between 1965 and 1986, and completed by 1994. The paper concludes that estimated values were significantly biased below actual values and that the large variance in the accuracy of estimated values limits the benefit of making a simple adjustment factor to estimates. The paper finally shows how regression models based on the significant factors can be used to derive unbiased expected values that carry much greater reliability than the corresponding estimated values.
French energy policy 96lo4343 Taylor, R. H. et al. Applied Energy, 1998, 59, (1) 39-61. In the 1970s being highly dependent on the importation of fossil fuels, France suffered more intensely than the majority of other countries from the two crude-oil unit-price crises of 1973-1974 and 1979-1980. Thus, the French Government has chosen to implement vigorously a policy consisting of (i) encouragement of energy thrift; (ii) expansion of indigenous energy harnessing, mainly through a major programme of building and using nuclear-power stations; (iii) substitution by alternative energy forms not associated with crude mineral-oil: and (iv) diversification of sources of imported fuel supplies. These have simultaneously both reduced France’s energy vulnerability and helped protect the environment. During the last 25 years, France’s annual energy consumption has grown while the amount of fuel imported per year has declined, mainly because of the vast nuclearpower investment. France’s energy policy, like that of its partners in the Community, has an increasing European dimension. Joint implementation and the question of ‘addltionality’ a proposal for a pragmatic approach to identify possible joint implementation projects 96lo4344
Rentz, H. Energy Policy, 1998, 26, (4), 275-279. The theoretical concept of joint implementation and the idea of reducing greenhouse gas emissions where costs are least is still attractive and-at least for economists-no revolution. One of the most critical aspects regarding joint implementation, however, is the question of ‘additional&y’. Some argue that a ‘real’ joint implementation project may not have any commercial value at all, others propose that the value of emissions reduction credits shall bring about a positive return on investment where otherwise it would have been negative. The present paper states that there is no feasible option to divide projects into joint implementation and nonjoint implementation candidates regarding their financing. The result is that any project which brings about real and measurable environmental and social benefits should be regarded as a possible joint implementation project, be it a pure donation or a highly profitable private investment.
Marketable pollution permits with uncertainty and transaction costs 96lo4345
Montero, J.-P. Resource and Energy Economics, 1997, 20, (1). 27-50. In recent years, there has arisen an increasing interest in the use of marketable permits for pollution control. Concern regarding their performance still remains because empirical evidence has shown transaction costs and uncertainty to be significant in past and existing marketable permits programmes. In this paper theoretical and numerical models are developed that include transaction costs and uncertainty (in trade approval) to show their effects on market performance (i.e. equilibrium price of permits and trading volume) and aggregate control costs. In the presence of transaction costs and uncertainty the initial allocation of permits may not be neutral in terms of efficiency. Furthermore, using a numerical model for a hypothetical NO, trading programme in which participants have discrete control technology choices, aggregate control costs and the equilibrium price of permits were found to be sensitive to the initial allocation of permits, even for constant marginal transaction costs and certainty.
96lO4346
Energy conversion and recycling
A multiobjective approach to rural energy policy
analysis
Pokharel, S. and Chandrashekar, M. Energy, 1998, 23, (4), 325-336. In rural areas, energy demand is generally met by local energy resources. These areas are normally overlooked in the energy-planning process due mainly to the lack of data and proper analytical tools. In this paper, a suitable multi-objective programming method for rural energy analysis is applied. Multi-objective programming methods provide decision makers with an opportunity to negotiate and explore different energy options. As an illustration of the proposed method, the energy situation of a rural area has been analysed and the trade-off between energy supply, investment for energy programs and employment generation has been examined. 96lo4347
Situation and outlook of aeoscientific hydrocarbon
research
Wellmer, F. W. et al. Erdoel, Erdgas, Kohle, 1998, 114, (4), 181-182, 184188, 190-191. (In German) Germany will be largely dependent on an energy mixture of fossil fuels for its primary energy consumption well into the next century. Taking into account the depletion midpoint for conventional oil between 2010 and 2015, natural gas, chieflv. but also coal will become increasingly important. Considerable success in geoscientific hydrocarbon research has recently been achieved in the development and use of three-dimensional seismics so that facies development, porosity and new previously unknown structures can be analysed. The different media in the source rocks, oil, gas, or water can be recognized. Other recent developments that have been rapidly implemented are basin models that allow a better identification of the oil and gas windows as well as the hydrocarbon geochemical with oil source rock correlations and reconstruction of the maturity history. In the case of future hydrocarbon potential which will have to be researched in the forefield of industrial activities. In the marine sector, continental slopes that are at 75 million km2 bigger than all continental basins, have a high priority. It is estimated that potential source and reservoir rocks with corresponding structures occur in the different plate rims. Gas hydrates, solid aggregates of water and methane, that have been observed in permafrost areas and as bottom simulating reflectors in the marine sector, probably have an enormous energy potential for the future. Coal bed methane, deep gases from deeply buried basin areas also have future potential. In Germany prospection areas for Pre-west-phalian deep gas occur in western and north-western parts of the North Sea, in the Ems estuary as well as in the Emsland and to a smaller extent in the UsedomiRuegen region. Successful exploration will only be made possible by long-range geoscientific hydrocarbon research.
18 ENERGY CONVERSION AND RECYCLING 96lO4346
Discarded tyre recycling practices in the United States, Japan and Korea
Jang, J.-W. et al. Resources Conservation and Recycling, 1998, 22, (l/2), l14. A problem of disposal is posed by discarded tyres, which continue to accumulate throughout the world today. In the United States over 279 million discarded tires are being added to an estimated two billion tyres currently stockpiled around the country. The stockpiled tires provide breeding sites for mosquitoes which can spread diseases and often constitute fire hazards. If the discarded tyres were to be put into use, environmental impact would be minimized and conservation of natural resources would be maximized. Current practice includes retreading, recycling as crumb rubber and combustion for thermal energy. The discarded tyre recycling practices in the United States, Japan and Korea are compared in a literature review.
International collaboration on capture, storage and utilisation of greenhouse gases
96lo4349
Freund, P. Waste Management, 1997, 17, (5/6), 281-287. This international collaboration is investigating technologies for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, the root cause of the climate change problem. The IEA Greenhouse Gas R&D Programme has three main activities: (1) evaluation of technologies for mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions from use of fossil fuels; (2) dissemination of the results of these studies; (3) identification of targets for research, development and demonstration and promotion of these findings. The programme has studied the major greenhouse gases, carbon dioxide and methane, and various means of reducing their emissions during the first five years of its operation. The main emphasis has been placed on capture, storage and utilization of COz from power generation. As well as studying COz abatement, the programme has conducted a series of studies of technologies for methane emissions reduction from man-made sources. Forty separate evaluation studies have been completed so far by the programme, which have highlighted some key questions necessary to enable application of COz sequestration techniques. For example, important issues concern the prediction of the performance and environmental impact of CO2 storage.
Fuel and Energy Abstracts
September 1999 493