- Email: [email protected]
03712 On the rebound? Feedback between energy intensities and energy uses in IEA countries
77 Energy (supplies, policy, economics,
historical perspecttve and through the results of a recent macroeconomic analysis completed for the United States, Depending on the assumptions of income and price elasticities, as well as the supply/demand interactions within a macroeconomic model, the rebound effect might reduce overall savings by about 2-3% compared to a pure engineering analysis. In other words, an economy-wide, cost-effective engineering saving of 30% might turn out to be only a 29% saving from a macroeconomic perspective. Despite the impact of a rebound effect, the net result of energy efficiency policies can be a highly positive one. 00/03706 Estimating future elasticities of substitution for the rebound debate Jaccard, M. and Bataille, C. Energy Policy, 2000, 28, (6-7). 451455. Because they lower the cost of using energy in production and consumption activities, energy efficiency improvements may lead to a rebound effect, in which the demand for energy increases to offset partly or completely the initial energy saving. The magnitude of the rebound effect depends on: (1) the extent to which the effective costs of energy services (capital and operating) decrease from efficiency improvements, (2) the technical and economic ease with which energy and other inputs to production and consumption (capital, labour, materials) can be substituted when the effective cost of using energy does in fact decrease, (3) the response of intermediate and final demands to changes in the cost of energy services (structural change), and (4) the response of energy service demand to changes in income. Estimates of (1) and (2) together, which is the elasticity of substitution (ESUB) between capital and energy, have been criticized in the past for either not being explicit about what is technically possible in the future (critique of top-down) or ignoring the intangible costs facing firms and households when considering and implementing energy efficiency investments (critique of bottom-up). In this study, these two concerns are addressed by using a technologically explicit and behaviourally realistic, technology simulation model to estimate long-run, future ESUB values for capital and energy for the Canadian economy. Our simulations suggest that the capital-energy ESUB may be lower than assumed by most studies that ignore behaviour, suggesting only weak substitution between capital and energy. Ironically, this could mean that our energy efficiency efforts will be less effective than sometimes thought but that the rebound effect will also be relatively small. However, estimates of (3) and (4) must be combined with our findings to’ assess the full magnitude of the rebound effect.
00103707 Estimating the linkage between energy efficiency and productivity Boyd, G. A. Energy Policy, 2000, 28, (5), 289-296. Many analyses have referred to industrial productivity benefits associated with energy efficiency that are at least as great or larger than the energy benefits. If plants with higher energy intensity also tend to have lower productivity, then energy policy needs to consider this. This study examines this issue for two segments of the glass industry, using plant level data from the Census Bureau. Productivity is defined by the difference in ‘best practice’ production efficiency, as measured by data envelopment analysis (DEA). This study uses regression analysis to estimate how differences in plant level electricity and fossil fuel intensity, i.e. energy use per unit of production, are attributable to differences in plant level productivity and other economic variables, like energy prices and cumulative production. In every case, productivity differences between plants are statistically significant in explaining differences in plant energy intensity. The coefficient that links productivity to energy efficiency yields a less than proportional impact for only one industry and fuel type. For others the relationship is implies that a 1% increase in productivity increase energy efficiency by more than 1%. This effect is statistically significant for flat glass, but not container glass. The estimates of the price and learning-bydoing coefficients seem reasonable, but without imposing the assumption that all plants in the industry are equally productive. This lends further credence to a significant relationship between productivity and energy efficiency.
00/03708 Estimation of international output-energy relation: effects of alternative output measures Shrestha, R. M. Energy Economics, 2000, 22, (3), 297-308. This paper analyses the output-energy relationship with alternative measures of output and energy. The analysis rejects the hypothesis of non-diminishing returns to energy consumption when GDP at purchasing power parities is used as the output measure unlike the case with GNP at market exchange rates. This finding also holds when energy input includes the usage of both commercial and traditional fuels.
00103709 Hydrogen and methanol: a comparison of safety, economics, efficiencies and emissions Adamson, K.-A. and Pearson, P. Journal q/Pou’er Sources, 2000, 86, (l-2), 548-555. Fuel cell cars will appear on the market early in the next century. The question still remains as to whether these vehicles will store onboard hydrogen or the hydrogen-rich carrier, methanol. There are a number of key areas surrounding this question, three of which are safety, economics and efficiency and emissions. Each of these issues was examined using the available literature. It can be seen that it is only with emissions that a clear difference appears and then hydrogen shows an advantage over methanol.
forecasts)
00103710 Idiosyncrasies in Australian petrol price behaviour: evidence of seasonalities Mitchell, J. D. er al. Energy Policy, 2000, 28, (4), 243-258. It has been argued that there are certain idiosyncrasies in Australian petrol price behaviour. To the extent that these idiosyncrasies result in large magnitude differences in petrol prices, they may be exploited by consumers to significantly reduce their household expenditure on the product. Similarly, such seasonalities may influence retailers in their purchase and storage decision. The objective of this paper is to test for seasonalities in the Australian retail petrol market. The approach adopted is similar to that for determining calendar anomalies as documented in the financial and commodity markets literature. We find that a monthly seasonal effect is pronounced with petrol prices lower in the months of February-May and highest in July and August. A day-of-the-week effect is also apparent and is manifest in all petrol prices for capital cities (Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney) across various years. However, the half-month effect, as is common in stock returns, is not observed. Moreover, contrary to popular belief that petrol prices are higher surrounding holidays, no evidence of the holiday effect is found. In Brisbane and Melbourne, petrol prices also have some relationship to the mood of consumers, as proxied using weather conditions. This is not observed in Adelaide and Sydney.
00/03711 Injection of CO2 for enhanced energy recovery: Coalbed methane versus oil recovery Wong, S. er al. Greenhouse Gas Control Technolog)~. Proc. In!. Cons, 4rh, 1999, 189-194. Edited by Eliasson B. et al. This paper presents the results of a joint Alberta Research Council/NOVA Chemicals study of the economic potential for COa emissions to be productively employed in the enhancement of either methane or oil production. A relatively high purity CO, by-product stream from NOVA Chemicals ethylene manufacturing facility at Joffre, Alberta, Canada currently being used for enhanced oil recovery in a nearby oilfield was considered the basis for this study. Costs associated with the handling and conveyance of the CO* to a viable coal bed methane or oilfield site have been ignored. This approach allows a direct comparison of the potential profitability of the two application technologies independent of supply and transportation costs. These costs would be significant and would need to be considered in a complete assessment of the viability of either strategy in a specific situation. This study employs a ‘bang for the buck’ approach to quantify the potential revenue which could be generated from the disposal of a unit volume (1 tonne) of CO* emissions. The results provide an estimation of the potential revenue associated with each of the ‘enhanced gas recovery’ (EGR) and ‘enhanced oil recovery’ (EOR) strategies. A strategy which uses CO2 as a feedstock for EOR yields on average better value than one for EGR (at least in terms of potential to generate revenue). The ‘most likely’ results (all parameters at PSO value) indicate that the value, which can be generated by a single tonne of CO* is on the order of $14/tonne for EOR and $2/tonne for EGR. Depending on the outcome of two critical uncertainties, namely CO2 productivity and oil/gas pricing, it is possible that this conclusion could be revised because there are regions of overlap where the two schemes are comparable. The most significant uncertainty is CO* productivity. If disposal/storage of large volumes of CO2 is an important consideration, then employing COa as a feedstock for EGR may find a niche. These conclusions should be considered in the context of the information used to reach them and the ‘bang for the buck’ method applied. The full impact of the costs associated with the venture and the volumes being considered must be taken into account when analysing the potential opportunity of exploiting CO* emissions as a feedstock for either EOR or EGR.
00103712 On the rebound? Feedback between energy intensities and energy uses in IEA countries Schipper, L. and Grubb, M. Energy Policy, 2000, 28, (6-7). 367-388. The interaction or feedback between energy efficiencies or energy intensities and energy use has long been the topic of debate. Some have argued that energy efficiency improvements, by reducing energy intensities and therefore lowering the cost of energy services, would lead to ‘rebound’ effects off-setting much or all of any initial savings in energy. In this paper historical data on energy use is analysed, efficiency and pricing in different sectors to try and identify ‘rebounds’. For the period of our data (since about 1970) we show that key measures of activity (car use, manufacturing output and structure and house area) have altered only slightly in response to changes in energy prices or efficiency, instead continuing their long-term evolution relative to GDP or other driving factors. Overall, the analysis of disaggregated sectoral and subsectoral energy-use and activity trends in a variety of IEA economies, suggests that any feedback effect is small compared to both the effects on energy use of changes in energy intensities and overall economic growth. In conclusion, most of the improvements in energy efficiencies led to reductions in energy intensities observed in the 1970s and 1980s. Weighted by 1990 activity levels, intensities were approximately 15-20% lower in 199415 than in 1973, which in turn meant real savings of energy; energy demand in IEA countries is roughly this much below what it would have been for the same GDP had these savings not occurred. Rebounds may have taken back some of the overall savings, but most remain, even after the fall of oil prices in 1986. Any boost to GDP as a result of these savings could not have been sufficient to increase energy demand enough to significantly alter these conclusions. Because the savings remained after the fall in oil prices, it supports the notion that net savings -
Fuel and Energy Abstracts
November 2000
415
18 Energy conversion and recycling
restrained energy growth relative to GDP in some formulations-arise from technological progress, even if energy prices do not increase. How far this effect can reach, however, is a matter of considerable debate. Prices, technology development and the rebound 00103713 effect Birol, F. and Keppler, H. Energy Policy, 2000, 28, (6-7), 457469. Energy efficiency is the critical parameter for policies that aim at reducing energy consumption while maintaining or even boosting economic growth. The two main options to influence energy efficiency are changes in relative prices, i.e. raising the price of energy through economic instruments, or to introduce new technologies which increase the productivity of each unit of energy. This paper is based on the notion that in an equilibrium economy the marginal economic productivity is identical for all factors, i.e. energy, tabour, knowledge and capital. From this premise two main conclusions can be drawn. First, any change in price or technology will have an impact on the whole economy by creating feed-backs through the substitution of factors of production and goods, as well as increased wealth. Second, the two policy approaches, changing relative prices and technology development, are not opposite to each other. They are the two faces of the same reality and should be developed and promoted simultaneously and consistently. Scope of energy conservation for solid-liquid 00/03714 separation in coal preparation plant-the role of surfactant ring aids Singh, B. P. and Besra, L. J. Insr. Eng. (India), Chem. Eng. Div., 1998, 79, (Sept.), IO-15 This paper outlines a technique for improved dewatering of fine clean coal filter cake using flocculants followed by surfactants. Results of dewatering experiments have shown that the use of cationic surfactant cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) leads to a reduction of 9.3% (from 21% to 11.7%) final moisture content in the cake compared to the cake formed without surfactant and the average filtration rate is significantly improved. The incentive to reduce filter cake moisture content is appreciable. The oil cost saving per tonne of dry solid can be as high as Rs 89.3 in the presence of CTAB. The enhancement has been attributed to the changes in the wetting characteristics of the coal surfaces caused by the adsorption of the surfactant. The economics of using flocculants filter aids and surfactant dewatering aids prior to thermal drying are discussed. The economics of energy efficiency: insights from 00/03715 voluntary participation programs Howarth, R. B. et al. Energy Policy, 2000, 28, (6-7), 477-486. This paper reviews experience with two programs sponsored by the US Environmental Protection Agency - the Green Lights and Energy Star Office Products programs - that promote the adoption of energy-efficient technologies through voluntary agreements with private sector firms. From the evidence it is apparent that Green Lights has induced firms to make investments in cost-saving lighting systems that firms failed to exploit prior to the program’s implementation. Energy Star Office Products, in contrast, has led suppliers of computers and electronic equipment to substantially improve the energy efficiency of their products in ways that confer net cost savings on equipment users. The paper argues that the success of these programs is based on their ability to reduce market failures related to problems of imperfect information and bounded rationality that impair the effectiveness of both intra-firm organization and the co-ordination between equipment suppliers and their customers. Given the nature of the technologies in question, these programs should have little effect on the demand for energy services so that energy efficiency improvements should lead to one-to-one reductions in the level of energy use.
much policy attention. They are expected to become the new policy issues complementing the traditional emission reduction policies which mainly aim at safeguarding the quality of air, water and soil. It is argued that superoptimizing policies engaging jointly economic, social, and ecological interests, are needed to resolve the issues at stake. ;I:!:716
The rebound
effect: some empirical
evidence
from
Roy, J. Energy Policy, 2000, 28, (6-7), 433-438. The present paper looks at the effect of technical efficiency gains on energy use in three sectors in India, at varying levels of aggregation. High positive rebqund implies that efficient technology, unless supplemented by appropriate pricing policy, will not be successful in containing demand. However, the main purpose of the paper is to focus on the unique mechanism of rebound that may occur in developing countries with unmet demand. 00103719 The role of fuel cells in energy storage Smith, W. Journal of Po~vr Sources, 2000, 86, (l-2), 74-83. A fuel cell-based energy storage system allows separation of power conversion and energy storage functions enabling each function to be individually optimized for performance, cost or other installation factors. This ability to separately optimize each element of an energy storage system can provide significant benefits for many applications. Various fuel cell/ electrolyser-based energy storage concepts and applications that employ these concepts using hydrogen as the energy storage medium are examined here. Technology and product development status of relevant PEM fuel cells, electrolysers and complete regenerative fuel cell systems are reviewed together with the status of various hydrogen storage technology options.
18 :$3720
ENERGY CONVERSION AND RECYCLING A process
for converting
waste motor oil to diesel
Wansbrough, R. W. L:Icrl. Eur. Pat. Appl. EP 940,463 (Cl. ClOG9/00), 8 Sep 1999, US Appl. 809,000, 3 Mar 1998. 15. This paper presents a process for the thermal cracking of waste motor oil into a diesel fuel product. The thermal cracking process uses low temperature cracking from 625°F to 725°F with ambient pressure to generate a column distilled fraction of diesel fuel mixed with light ends, the light ends being flashed off to produce a high quality #2 diesel fuel. The process further provides for removal from the cracking vessel and additional product stream which, when filtered, is suitable for use as a #3 fuel oil. In addition, it is possible to obtain a #5 fuel product through further blending with a bunker oil.
00/03716 the empirical relationship between energy futures prices and exchange rates Sadorsky, P. Energy Economics, 2000, 22, (2), 253-266. This paper investigates the interaction between energy futures prices and exchange rates. Results are presented to show that futures prices for crude oil, heating oil and unleaded gasoline are co-integrated with a tradeweighted index of exchange rates. This is important because it means that there exists a long-run equilibrium relationship between these four variables. Granger causality results for both the long- and short-run are presented. Evidence is also presented that suggests exchange rates transmit exogenous shocks to energy futures prices.
00103721 Analysis of the paper and wood flow in The Netherlands Hekkert, M.P. ef al. Rex. Cons. and Recycl., 2000, 30, (I), 29-48. Current production structures require large amounts of primary materials and are not likely to be sustained without large implications for the environment. A good understanding of societal metabolism is likely to contribute to more sustainable production and consumption. Material flow analysis (MFA) intends to support this understanding by providing insight in material flows. In this article a new method for analysing materials flows, called STREAMS, is tested. The method is applied to analyse the paper and wood flow through the economic system of The Netherlands. The method is based on data available from the so-called supply and use tables; these tables are made available by Statistics Netherlands and describe the economy of a country in terms of annual supply and use of goods and services by industries and consumers. The method proves to be very useful in analysing the paper and wood flow in The Netherlands. The method provides detailed information about the final consumption of paper and wood, even for packaging materials and product parts made out of paper and wood. Trends are visible that statistical offices collect less physical data about material flows. This will make the construction of material flow analyses like this one more difficult in the future.
OOlO3717 The evolution of Dutch environmental policy: the changing ecological arena from 1970-2000 and beyond Keijzers, G. Journal of Cleaner Producfion, 2000, 8, (3), 179-200. Dutch environmental policies over the past 30 years have expanded through three distinct phases. These policies gradually opened up to engage stakeholders in establishing legislation, formulating implementation plans, and finally jointly defining ecological objectives. Environmental policies became increasingly effective by ensuring the taking on of environmental responsibilities by a growing number of stakeholders. Four unresolved issues present a formidable agenda for environmental policy attention in the next decade: managing CO* emissions, controlling future infrastructure development, minimising resources use, and reducing the burden on biodiversity. These issues relate to the necessary management of stocks of energy, other non-renewable resources, space, and biodiversity, respectively. Up to now, the issue of the preservation of stocks has not received
00103722 Characterization of refuse-derived char from municipal solid waste 1. Phase-mineral and chemical composition Vassilev, S. V. et al. Fuel Process. Technol., 1999, 59, (2-3), 95-134. The thermolysis of municipal solid waste (MSW) generated refuse-derived char (RDC) which was studied to provide a detailed phase-mineral and chemical characterization of RDC and RDC ash. The examined RDC has main chemical characteristics similar to some sub-bituminous and bituminous coals, but seems to be enriched in ash and nitrogen, and depleted in VM, hydrogen and sulfur. This char is a complex mixture of intimately mixed original and newly formed organic and inorganic constituents with fluid inclusions. The organic matter consisted of char (semi-coke and coke) components generated from paper, wood, textile, plastic materials, food remains and other organic products in MSW. The major inorganic phases and minerals identified in the RDC were generally quartz, calcite, glass,
416
Fuel and Energy Abstracts
November 2000
historical perspecttve and through the results of a recent macroeconomic analysis completed for the United States, Depending on the assumptions of income and price elasticities, as well as the supply/demand interactions within a macroeconomic model, the rebound effect might reduce overall savings by about 2-3% compared to a pure engineering analysis. In other words, an economy-wide, cost-effective engineering saving of 30% might turn out to be only a 29% saving from a macroeconomic perspective. Despite the impact of a rebound effect, the net result of energy efficiency policies can be a highly positive one. 00/03706 Estimating future elasticities of substitution for the rebound debate Jaccard, M. and Bataille, C. Energy Policy, 2000, 28, (6-7). 451455. Because they lower the cost of using energy in production and consumption activities, energy efficiency improvements may lead to a rebound effect, in which the demand for energy increases to offset partly or completely the initial energy saving. The magnitude of the rebound effect depends on: (1) the extent to which the effective costs of energy services (capital and operating) decrease from efficiency improvements, (2) the technical and economic ease with which energy and other inputs to production and consumption (capital, labour, materials) can be substituted when the effective cost of using energy does in fact decrease, (3) the response of intermediate and final demands to changes in the cost of energy services (structural change), and (4) the response of energy service demand to changes in income. Estimates of (1) and (2) together, which is the elasticity of substitution (ESUB) between capital and energy, have been criticized in the past for either not being explicit about what is technically possible in the future (critique of top-down) or ignoring the intangible costs facing firms and households when considering and implementing energy efficiency investments (critique of bottom-up). In this study, these two concerns are addressed by using a technologically explicit and behaviourally realistic, technology simulation model to estimate long-run, future ESUB values for capital and energy for the Canadian economy. Our simulations suggest that the capital-energy ESUB may be lower than assumed by most studies that ignore behaviour, suggesting only weak substitution between capital and energy. Ironically, this could mean that our energy efficiency efforts will be less effective than sometimes thought but that the rebound effect will also be relatively small. However, estimates of (3) and (4) must be combined with our findings to’ assess the full magnitude of the rebound effect.
00103707 Estimating the linkage between energy efficiency and productivity Boyd, G. A. Energy Policy, 2000, 28, (5), 289-296. Many analyses have referred to industrial productivity benefits associated with energy efficiency that are at least as great or larger than the energy benefits. If plants with higher energy intensity also tend to have lower productivity, then energy policy needs to consider this. This study examines this issue for two segments of the glass industry, using plant level data from the Census Bureau. Productivity is defined by the difference in ‘best practice’ production efficiency, as measured by data envelopment analysis (DEA). This study uses regression analysis to estimate how differences in plant level electricity and fossil fuel intensity, i.e. energy use per unit of production, are attributable to differences in plant level productivity and other economic variables, like energy prices and cumulative production. In every case, productivity differences between plants are statistically significant in explaining differences in plant energy intensity. The coefficient that links productivity to energy efficiency yields a less than proportional impact for only one industry and fuel type. For others the relationship is implies that a 1% increase in productivity increase energy efficiency by more than 1%. This effect is statistically significant for flat glass, but not container glass. The estimates of the price and learning-bydoing coefficients seem reasonable, but without imposing the assumption that all plants in the industry are equally productive. This lends further credence to a significant relationship between productivity and energy efficiency.
00/03708 Estimation of international output-energy relation: effects of alternative output measures Shrestha, R. M. Energy Economics, 2000, 22, (3), 297-308. This paper analyses the output-energy relationship with alternative measures of output and energy. The analysis rejects the hypothesis of non-diminishing returns to energy consumption when GDP at purchasing power parities is used as the output measure unlike the case with GNP at market exchange rates. This finding also holds when energy input includes the usage of both commercial and traditional fuels.
00103709 Hydrogen and methanol: a comparison of safety, economics, efficiencies and emissions Adamson, K.-A. and Pearson, P. Journal q/Pou’er Sources, 2000, 86, (l-2), 548-555. Fuel cell cars will appear on the market early in the next century. The question still remains as to whether these vehicles will store onboard hydrogen or the hydrogen-rich carrier, methanol. There are a number of key areas surrounding this question, three of which are safety, economics and efficiency and emissions. Each of these issues was examined using the available literature. It can be seen that it is only with emissions that a clear difference appears and then hydrogen shows an advantage over methanol.
forecasts)
00103710 Idiosyncrasies in Australian petrol price behaviour: evidence of seasonalities Mitchell, J. D. er al. Energy Policy, 2000, 28, (4), 243-258. It has been argued that there are certain idiosyncrasies in Australian petrol price behaviour. To the extent that these idiosyncrasies result in large magnitude differences in petrol prices, they may be exploited by consumers to significantly reduce their household expenditure on the product. Similarly, such seasonalities may influence retailers in their purchase and storage decision. The objective of this paper is to test for seasonalities in the Australian retail petrol market. The approach adopted is similar to that for determining calendar anomalies as documented in the financial and commodity markets literature. We find that a monthly seasonal effect is pronounced with petrol prices lower in the months of February-May and highest in July and August. A day-of-the-week effect is also apparent and is manifest in all petrol prices for capital cities (Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney) across various years. However, the half-month effect, as is common in stock returns, is not observed. Moreover, contrary to popular belief that petrol prices are higher surrounding holidays, no evidence of the holiday effect is found. In Brisbane and Melbourne, petrol prices also have some relationship to the mood of consumers, as proxied using weather conditions. This is not observed in Adelaide and Sydney.
00/03711 Injection of CO2 for enhanced energy recovery: Coalbed methane versus oil recovery Wong, S. er al. Greenhouse Gas Control Technolog)~. Proc. In!. Cons, 4rh, 1999, 189-194. Edited by Eliasson B. et al. This paper presents the results of a joint Alberta Research Council/NOVA Chemicals study of the economic potential for COa emissions to be productively employed in the enhancement of either methane or oil production. A relatively high purity CO, by-product stream from NOVA Chemicals ethylene manufacturing facility at Joffre, Alberta, Canada currently being used for enhanced oil recovery in a nearby oilfield was considered the basis for this study. Costs associated with the handling and conveyance of the CO* to a viable coal bed methane or oilfield site have been ignored. This approach allows a direct comparison of the potential profitability of the two application technologies independent of supply and transportation costs. These costs would be significant and would need to be considered in a complete assessment of the viability of either strategy in a specific situation. This study employs a ‘bang for the buck’ approach to quantify the potential revenue which could be generated from the disposal of a unit volume (1 tonne) of CO* emissions. The results provide an estimation of the potential revenue associated with each of the ‘enhanced gas recovery’ (EGR) and ‘enhanced oil recovery’ (EOR) strategies. A strategy which uses CO2 as a feedstock for EOR yields on average better value than one for EGR (at least in terms of potential to generate revenue). The ‘most likely’ results (all parameters at PSO value) indicate that the value, which can be generated by a single tonne of CO* is on the order of $14/tonne for EOR and $2/tonne for EGR. Depending on the outcome of two critical uncertainties, namely CO2 productivity and oil/gas pricing, it is possible that this conclusion could be revised because there are regions of overlap where the two schemes are comparable. The most significant uncertainty is CO* productivity. If disposal/storage of large volumes of CO2 is an important consideration, then employing COa as a feedstock for EGR may find a niche. These conclusions should be considered in the context of the information used to reach them and the ‘bang for the buck’ method applied. The full impact of the costs associated with the venture and the volumes being considered must be taken into account when analysing the potential opportunity of exploiting CO* emissions as a feedstock for either EOR or EGR.
00103712 On the rebound? Feedback between energy intensities and energy uses in IEA countries Schipper, L. and Grubb, M. Energy Policy, 2000, 28, (6-7). 367-388. The interaction or feedback between energy efficiencies or energy intensities and energy use has long been the topic of debate. Some have argued that energy efficiency improvements, by reducing energy intensities and therefore lowering the cost of energy services, would lead to ‘rebound’ effects off-setting much or all of any initial savings in energy. In this paper historical data on energy use is analysed, efficiency and pricing in different sectors to try and identify ‘rebounds’. For the period of our data (since about 1970) we show that key measures of activity (car use, manufacturing output and structure and house area) have altered only slightly in response to changes in energy prices or efficiency, instead continuing their long-term evolution relative to GDP or other driving factors. Overall, the analysis of disaggregated sectoral and subsectoral energy-use and activity trends in a variety of IEA economies, suggests that any feedback effect is small compared to both the effects on energy use of changes in energy intensities and overall economic growth. In conclusion, most of the improvements in energy efficiencies led to reductions in energy intensities observed in the 1970s and 1980s. Weighted by 1990 activity levels, intensities were approximately 15-20% lower in 199415 than in 1973, which in turn meant real savings of energy; energy demand in IEA countries is roughly this much below what it would have been for the same GDP had these savings not occurred. Rebounds may have taken back some of the overall savings, but most remain, even after the fall of oil prices in 1986. Any boost to GDP as a result of these savings could not have been sufficient to increase energy demand enough to significantly alter these conclusions. Because the savings remained after the fall in oil prices, it supports the notion that net savings -
Fuel and Energy Abstracts
November 2000
415
18 Energy conversion and recycling
restrained energy growth relative to GDP in some formulations-arise from technological progress, even if energy prices do not increase. How far this effect can reach, however, is a matter of considerable debate. Prices, technology development and the rebound 00103713 effect Birol, F. and Keppler, H. Energy Policy, 2000, 28, (6-7), 457469. Energy efficiency is the critical parameter for policies that aim at reducing energy consumption while maintaining or even boosting economic growth. The two main options to influence energy efficiency are changes in relative prices, i.e. raising the price of energy through economic instruments, or to introduce new technologies which increase the productivity of each unit of energy. This paper is based on the notion that in an equilibrium economy the marginal economic productivity is identical for all factors, i.e. energy, tabour, knowledge and capital. From this premise two main conclusions can be drawn. First, any change in price or technology will have an impact on the whole economy by creating feed-backs through the substitution of factors of production and goods, as well as increased wealth. Second, the two policy approaches, changing relative prices and technology development, are not opposite to each other. They are the two faces of the same reality and should be developed and promoted simultaneously and consistently. Scope of energy conservation for solid-liquid 00/03714 separation in coal preparation plant-the role of surfactant ring aids Singh, B. P. and Besra, L. J. Insr. Eng. (India), Chem. Eng. Div., 1998, 79, (Sept.), IO-15 This paper outlines a technique for improved dewatering of fine clean coal filter cake using flocculants followed by surfactants. Results of dewatering experiments have shown that the use of cationic surfactant cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) leads to a reduction of 9.3% (from 21% to 11.7%) final moisture content in the cake compared to the cake formed without surfactant and the average filtration rate is significantly improved. The incentive to reduce filter cake moisture content is appreciable. The oil cost saving per tonne of dry solid can be as high as Rs 89.3 in the presence of CTAB. The enhancement has been attributed to the changes in the wetting characteristics of the coal surfaces caused by the adsorption of the surfactant. The economics of using flocculants filter aids and surfactant dewatering aids prior to thermal drying are discussed. The economics of energy efficiency: insights from 00/03715 voluntary participation programs Howarth, R. B. et al. Energy Policy, 2000, 28, (6-7), 477-486. This paper reviews experience with two programs sponsored by the US Environmental Protection Agency - the Green Lights and Energy Star Office Products programs - that promote the adoption of energy-efficient technologies through voluntary agreements with private sector firms. From the evidence it is apparent that Green Lights has induced firms to make investments in cost-saving lighting systems that firms failed to exploit prior to the program’s implementation. Energy Star Office Products, in contrast, has led suppliers of computers and electronic equipment to substantially improve the energy efficiency of their products in ways that confer net cost savings on equipment users. The paper argues that the success of these programs is based on their ability to reduce market failures related to problems of imperfect information and bounded rationality that impair the effectiveness of both intra-firm organization and the co-ordination between equipment suppliers and their customers. Given the nature of the technologies in question, these programs should have little effect on the demand for energy services so that energy efficiency improvements should lead to one-to-one reductions in the level of energy use.
much policy attention. They are expected to become the new policy issues complementing the traditional emission reduction policies which mainly aim at safeguarding the quality of air, water and soil. It is argued that superoptimizing policies engaging jointly economic, social, and ecological interests, are needed to resolve the issues at stake. ;I:!:716
The rebound
effect: some empirical
evidence
from
Roy, J. Energy Policy, 2000, 28, (6-7), 433-438. The present paper looks at the effect of technical efficiency gains on energy use in three sectors in India, at varying levels of aggregation. High positive rebqund implies that efficient technology, unless supplemented by appropriate pricing policy, will not be successful in containing demand. However, the main purpose of the paper is to focus on the unique mechanism of rebound that may occur in developing countries with unmet demand. 00103719 The role of fuel cells in energy storage Smith, W. Journal of Po~vr Sources, 2000, 86, (l-2), 74-83. A fuel cell-based energy storage system allows separation of power conversion and energy storage functions enabling each function to be individually optimized for performance, cost or other installation factors. This ability to separately optimize each element of an energy storage system can provide significant benefits for many applications. Various fuel cell/ electrolyser-based energy storage concepts and applications that employ these concepts using hydrogen as the energy storage medium are examined here. Technology and product development status of relevant PEM fuel cells, electrolysers and complete regenerative fuel cell systems are reviewed together with the status of various hydrogen storage technology options.
18 :$3720
ENERGY CONVERSION AND RECYCLING A process
for converting
waste motor oil to diesel
Wansbrough, R. W. L:Icrl. Eur. Pat. Appl. EP 940,463 (Cl. ClOG9/00), 8 Sep 1999, US Appl. 809,000, 3 Mar 1998. 15. This paper presents a process for the thermal cracking of waste motor oil into a diesel fuel product. The thermal cracking process uses low temperature cracking from 625°F to 725°F with ambient pressure to generate a column distilled fraction of diesel fuel mixed with light ends, the light ends being flashed off to produce a high quality #2 diesel fuel. The process further provides for removal from the cracking vessel and additional product stream which, when filtered, is suitable for use as a #3 fuel oil. In addition, it is possible to obtain a #5 fuel product through further blending with a bunker oil.
00/03716 the empirical relationship between energy futures prices and exchange rates Sadorsky, P. Energy Economics, 2000, 22, (2), 253-266. This paper investigates the interaction between energy futures prices and exchange rates. Results are presented to show that futures prices for crude oil, heating oil and unleaded gasoline are co-integrated with a tradeweighted index of exchange rates. This is important because it means that there exists a long-run equilibrium relationship between these four variables. Granger causality results for both the long- and short-run are presented. Evidence is also presented that suggests exchange rates transmit exogenous shocks to energy futures prices.
00103721 Analysis of the paper and wood flow in The Netherlands Hekkert, M.P. ef al. Rex. Cons. and Recycl., 2000, 30, (I), 29-48. Current production structures require large amounts of primary materials and are not likely to be sustained without large implications for the environment. A good understanding of societal metabolism is likely to contribute to more sustainable production and consumption. Material flow analysis (MFA) intends to support this understanding by providing insight in material flows. In this article a new method for analysing materials flows, called STREAMS, is tested. The method is applied to analyse the paper and wood flow through the economic system of The Netherlands. The method is based on data available from the so-called supply and use tables; these tables are made available by Statistics Netherlands and describe the economy of a country in terms of annual supply and use of goods and services by industries and consumers. The method proves to be very useful in analysing the paper and wood flow in The Netherlands. The method provides detailed information about the final consumption of paper and wood, even for packaging materials and product parts made out of paper and wood. Trends are visible that statistical offices collect less physical data about material flows. This will make the construction of material flow analyses like this one more difficult in the future.
OOlO3717 The evolution of Dutch environmental policy: the changing ecological arena from 1970-2000 and beyond Keijzers, G. Journal of Cleaner Producfion, 2000, 8, (3), 179-200. Dutch environmental policies over the past 30 years have expanded through three distinct phases. These policies gradually opened up to engage stakeholders in establishing legislation, formulating implementation plans, and finally jointly defining ecological objectives. Environmental policies became increasingly effective by ensuring the taking on of environmental responsibilities by a growing number of stakeholders. Four unresolved issues present a formidable agenda for environmental policy attention in the next decade: managing CO* emissions, controlling future infrastructure development, minimising resources use, and reducing the burden on biodiversity. These issues relate to the necessary management of stocks of energy, other non-renewable resources, space, and biodiversity, respectively. Up to now, the issue of the preservation of stocks has not received
00103722 Characterization of refuse-derived char from municipal solid waste 1. Phase-mineral and chemical composition Vassilev, S. V. et al. Fuel Process. Technol., 1999, 59, (2-3), 95-134. The thermolysis of municipal solid waste (MSW) generated refuse-derived char (RDC) which was studied to provide a detailed phase-mineral and chemical characterization of RDC and RDC ash. The examined RDC has main chemical characteristics similar to some sub-bituminous and bituminous coals, but seems to be enriched in ash and nitrogen, and depleted in VM, hydrogen and sulfur. This char is a complex mixture of intimately mixed original and newly formed organic and inorganic constituents with fluid inclusions. The organic matter consisted of char (semi-coke and coke) components generated from paper, wood, textile, plastic materials, food remains and other organic products in MSW. The major inorganic phases and minerals identified in the RDC were generally quartz, calcite, glass,
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Fuel and Energy Abstracts
November 2000