Going global? Renewable fuel trade and land-use conflicts in a low-carbon energy system
Abstract
Recent global integrated modelling studies indicate low intensities in trade of energy commodities between global regions in a future low-carbon global energy system. Also, research based on modelling indicates that deep greenhouse-gas emission cuts are possible in fully electrified renewable energy systems on a continental or country scale from a techno-economic perspective. However, these modelling efforts partly neglect drivers of globalization and may therefore wrongly project regionalization of energy systems. In particular, (i) new, easily tradable, low-cost renewable fuels (e.g. solar & electric fuels), (ii) global bio-physical variability of renewables (e.g. solar radiation and freshwater availability), and (iii) regional differences in social land-use restrictions associated with the expansion of energy infrastructure can cause an increase of trade flows in the energy sector. We aim at better understanding how the spatial configuration of renewables in low-carbon energy systems is affected by these drivers and develop a cutting-edge, open-source global renewable energy model that combines elements of energy system and land-use modelling. It takes into account bio-physical conditions for renewable fuel and electricity production, social land availability restrictions, and a map of existing energy infrastructure at unprecedented level of detail. Our approach integrates open data sources from public institutions, user-generated GIS data, and social networks. Existing models for Europe and Brazil are used for validation. Qualitative interviews in local case studies complement the global model and increase our understanding of land-use restrictions on the local scale. Our project has impacts beyond energy systems analysis: in particular the identification of winning and losing regions in a global renewable energy system is highly relevant in climate change mitigation negotiations, and the generated spatial indicators and maps enable many potential applications.
Global Energy Transition Trade Land-use of Renewable Energies Solar Fuels Energy system analysis
Publikationen
Reducing variability and turbines, increasing output: The potential for repowering US wind turbines
Autoren: Regner, P; Gruber, K; Schmidt, J; Klöckl, C Jahr: 2019
Conference & Workshop proceedings, paper, abstract
Die politische Ökologie der Null-Entwaldung: Amazonien zwischen (Neo-)Extraktivismus und Post-Frontier-Governance
Autoren: Klingler, M Jahr: 2022
Monographs
"Saubere Energien, schmutzige Methoden" - Der Ausbau von Windkraft und Solarenergie in Nordostbrasilien
Autoren: Klingler, M Jahr: 2023
Newspaper / Magazine article
Mitarbeiter*Innen
Johannes Schmidt
Assoc. Prof. Priv.-Doz. Dipl.-Ing. Dr.nat.techn. Johannes Schmidt
johannes.schmidt@boku.ac.at
Tel: +43 1 47654-73118
Project Leader
01.08.2018 - 31.01.2024
Patricia Galves Derolle Huber
Patricia Galves Derolle Huber MSc.
patricia.galves-derolle-huber@boku.ac.at
Project Staff
01.03.2023 - 31.01.2024
Project Staff
01.04.2020 - 28.02.2023
Katharina Gruber
Dipl.-Ing. Dr. Katharina Gruber MMSc.
katharina.gruber@boku.ac.at
Project Staff
01.09.2018 - 31.07.2023
Yannic Janal
Dipl.-Ing. Yannic Janal
yannic.janal@boku.ac.at
Tel: +43 1 47654-81824
Project Staff
01.08.2018 - 31.01.2024
Michael Klingler
Mag. Dr. Michael Klingler
michael.klingler@boku.ac.at
Tel: +43 1 47654-73118
Project Staff
01.08.2018 - 31.01.2024
Claude Klöckl
Dr. Claude Klöckl
claude.kloeckl@boku.ac.at
Tel: +43 1 47654-73118
Project Staff
01.12.2018 - 31.01.2024
Christian Mikovits
Dr. Christian Mikovits MMSc.
christian.mikovits@boku.ac.at
Tel: +43 1 47654-73119
Project Staff
01.08.2018 - 30.11.2020
Luis Eduardo Ramirez Camargo
Dipl.-Ing. Dr. Luis Eduardo Ramirez Camargo
luis.ramirez-camargo@boku.ac.at
Project Staff
01.08.2018 - 31.01.2024
Peter Regner
Dipl.-Ing. Peter Regner
peter.regner@boku.ac.at
Tel: +43 1 47654-73119
Project Staff
01.12.2018 - 31.01.2024
Olga Turkovska
Mag. Dr. Olga Turkovska
olga.turkovska@boku.ac.at
Tel: +43 1 47654-73118
Project Staff
01.11.2018 - 31.07.2023
Project Staff
01.08.2023 - 02.12.2023
Sebastian Wehrle
Mag. Sebastian Wehrle
sebastian.wehrle@boku.ac.at
Tel: +43 1 47654-73119
Project Staff
01.08.2018 - 31.01.2024