• Journal of Environmental Policy
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.55-81
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• 2007

Most studies on $CO_2$ abatement cost with a computational general equilibrium(CGE) model focus on a specific country. On the contrary, this study compares and analyses the $CO_2$ abatement cost functions across 20 countries, consisting of OECD countries, China and Brazil, with a CGE model. For this purpose, we estimate the GDP loss from $CO_2$ emission reduction, assuming the 4 sector model. Our findings show that those cost curves are convex but different among the countries. However, despite of the difference in the cost curios, we have found that one group of countries has the relatively constant average abatement cost and the other group has the increasing average cost. The reason why such a pattern occurs is explained in terms of the variations of value-added and $Co_2$ emission coefficient by sector across the countries. As an environmental policy implication, this study presents information about which country is similar to one another in terms of the abatement cost.

• Environmental and Resource Economics Review
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.453-472
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• 2014

Analyzing the effects of carbon emissions trading, which is scheduled to be introduced in Korea in 2015, requires an accurate assessment of $CO_2$ abatement costs by both industries and firms. Firms faced with regulatory constraints are unlikely to minimize their production costs due to rising production costs caused by allocative inefficiency of inputs. The use of a distance function would results in underestimation of $CO_2$ abatement costs, because it fails to capture the allocative distortion costs. Recognizing the disadvantage of the previous approach, first, this paper tests for allocative efficiency of input for the Korean steel industry over the period 1990-2010, then derives the marginal $CO_2$ abatement costs by applying a cost function approach. The hypothesis of allocative efficiency in inputs is rejected and the steel industry pays an annual average cost of 92,000 won in removing an additional ton of $CO_2$ over the sample period.

• Environmental and Resource Economics Review
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.399-420
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• 2018

This study has attempted environmental economic analysis on the cost structure of offshore fisheries based on fishery management data published by the Fisheries Research Institute to examine the effect of the environmental policy on the fisheries for the effective implementation of the Paris Convention. Under the assumption that both fisheries and carbon dioxide are simultaneously produced, the cost structure of offshore fisheries were analyzed. Cost function in a translog form was estimated and SUR (Seemingly Unrelated Regression) model was used for the analysis. Here, $CO_2$ emission of offshore fishery was calculated by using National Federation of Fisheries Cooperatives' data on supply of tax exemption oil (2003~2016). The cost function estimation showed that there is a weak disposition between catches and $CO_2$ emissions during the sample period, and the marginal abatement cost (MAC) is estimated at 1,457 won per year. In addition, for the same period, when 1% of $CO_2$ per horsepower is to be reduced MAC increases by 2.2%, and when 1% of $CO_2$ per 1 ton of catch is to be reduced, MAC increases by 1.4%.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Combustion
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.14-22
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• 2017

Co-firing of renewable fuel in coal fired boilers is an attractive option to mitigate $CO_2$ emissions, since it is a relatively low cost option for efficiently converting renewable fuel to electricity by adding biomass as partial substitute of coal. However, it would cause reducing plant efficiency and operational flexibility, and increasing operation and capital cost associated with handling and firing equipment of renewable fuels. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of biomass co-firing on $CO_2$ emission and capital/operating cost. Wood pellet, PKS (palm kernel shell), EFB (empty fruit bunch) and sludge are considered as renewable fuels for co-firing with coal. Several approaches by the co-firing ratio are chosen from previous plant demonstrations and commercial co-firing operation, and they are evaluated and discussed for $CO_2$ reduction and cost estimation.

• Environmental and Resource Economics Review
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.499-520
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• 2013

This study proposes an iterative approach to the estimation of the marginal abatement costs of undesirable outputs by computing the slope of the efficient production possibilities frontier on the basis of the efficient projection points generated by the directional output distance function approach due to Fare et al. (2005) based on duality theory. In case of the latter methodology, the estimated marginal abatement costs differ significantly depending on the choice of the directional output vector. In addition, depending on the curvature of the underlying PPF the efficient projection points may be located at a significant distance away from their actually observed counterparts. While it would be more logical to estimate marginal abatement costs as a PPF slope at a point corresponding to the actually observed emissions level, the methodology based on duality theory is likely to produce unstable results due to the problems associated with applying the theorem of implicit function differentiation. Since our methodology is not based on duality theory, our results are immune to both of these problems. We apply our methodology to a sample of Western European countries for the period of 1995-2011 to illustrate our approach.

• Journal of Climate Change Research
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.213-220
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• 2017

The purpose of this study is to analyze effects of Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emission reduction in district energy business mainly based on Combined Heat and Power (CHP) plants. Firstly this paper compares the actual carbon intensity of power production between conventional power plants and district energy plants. To allocate the GHG from CHP plants, two of different methods which were Alternative Generation Method and Power Bonus Method, have been investigated. The carbon intensity of power production in district energy plants ($0.43tonCO_2e/MWh$) was relatively lower than conventional gas-fired power plants ($0.52tonCO_2e/MWh$). Secondly we assessed the cost effectiveness of reduction by district energy sector compared to the other means using TIMES model method. We find that GHG marginal abatement cost of 'expand CHP' scenario (-$134/ton$CO_2$) is even below than renewable energy scenario such as photovoltaic power generation ($87/ton$CO_2$). Finally the GHG emission reduction potential was reviewed on the projected GHG emission emitted when the same amount of energy produced in combination of conventional power plants and individual boilers as substitution of district energy. It showed there were 10.1~41.8% of GHG emission reduction potential in district energy compared to the combination of conventional power plants and individual boilers.

• Journal of Energy Engineering
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.317-324
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• 1999

This study suggests the effectiveness of an "extended" power system evaluation methodology based on LCA and energy input-output analysis techniques. This "extended" evaluation methodology is designed to incorporate total energy system costs through fuel cycle and external costs, including CO$_2$abatement cost. As an empirical test, we applied the methodology to orimulsion-fired power generation technology and found that orimulsion could be considered as in attractive base-load power generation fuel in terms of economic and environmental aspects, compared to conventional coal-fired power plant.

• Environmental and Resource Economics Review
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.459-479
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• 2013

To assess the feasibility of 'low carbon, sustainable growth' policy pursued of the Chinese government, this paper first measures technical efficiency, $CO_2$ shadow prices, and indirect Morishima elasticity of substitution between capital and energy for 24 of manufacturing sectors in Beijing and Chongqing, in which China launched pilot carbon emissions trading scheme, by estimating the input distance function. Based on these results, then the potential for $CO_2$ reduction, cost savings from emissions trading, and the effectiveness of capital investment in reducing $CO_2$ are compared across industries and provinces. In 2010, manufacturing industries in Beijing and Chongqing could potentially reduce the largest $CO_2$ emissions, amounting 5.2 and 17 million tons, respectively, by achieving 100% technical efficiency. While, on average, Chongqing has a comparative advantage in the cost savings from carbon trading over Beijing, Beijing is more likely to reduce $CO_2$ by expanding capital investment.

• Environmental and Resource Economics Review
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.67-104
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• 2018

In this paper, we compare the spread effects of the carbon tax imposition method using the real business cycle model considering the productivity and energy price shocks. Scenario 1 sets the carbon tax rate that encourages the representative firm to maintain a constant $CO_2$ reduction ratio in accordance with its green house gas reduction targets for each period. Scenario 2 sets the method of imposing the steady state value of the carbon tax rate of Scenario 1 during the analysis period. The impulse response analysis shows that the responses of $CO_2$ emissions to external shocks are relatively sensitive in scenario 2. And simulation results show that the cost of $CO_2$ abatement is more volatile in scenario 1, and $CO_2$ emissions and $CO_2$ stock are more volatile in scenario 2. In particular, the percentage changes in volatility between the two scenarios of $CO_2$ emissions and $CO_2$ stock increase as the green house gas reduction target is harder. When the green house gas reduction target is 60% and over, the percentage changes(absolute value) between the two scenarios exceed the percentage change(absolute value) of the $CO_2$ reduction cost between them.

• Advances in Energy Research
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.121-146
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• 2016

This study is concerned with the analysis of two renewable technologies for electric energy production: wind energy and photovoltaic energy. The two technologies were assessed and compared by economic point of view, by using selected indicators characterized by a clear calculation approach, requirement of information easy to be collected, clear, but even complete, interpretation of results. The used economic indicators are Levelized Cost of Energy, $CO_2$ abatement cost and fossil fuel saving specific cost; these last two specifically aimed at evaluating the different capabilities that renewable technologies have to cut down direct $CO_2$ emissions and to avoid fossil fuel extraction. The two technologies were compared also from the environmental point of view by applying Life Cycle Assessment approach and using the environmental impact categories from the Eco-indicator'95 method. The economic analysis was developed by taking into account different energy system sizes and different geographic areas in order to compare different European conditions (Italy, Germany and Denmark) in term of renewable resource availability and market trend. The environmental analysis was developed comparing two particular types of PV and wind plants, respectively residential and micro-wind turbine, located in Italy. According to the three calculated economic indicators, the wind energy emerged as more favorable than PV energy. From the environmental point of view, both the technologies are able to provide savings for almost all the considered environmental impact categories. The proposed approach, based on the use of economic and environmental indicators may be useful in supporting the policies and the decision making procedures concerned with the promotion and use of renewables, in reference to the specific geographic, economic and temporal conditions.