Pathways toward Zero-Carbon Electricity Required for Climate Stabilization

Audoly, Richard ; Vogt-Schilb, Adrien ; Guivarch, Celine

World Bank Group, Washington, DC

关键词: AIR;    ANNUAL GREENHOUSE GAS;    ANTHROPOGENIC GREENHOUSE;    ANTHROPOGENIC GREENHOUSE GAS;    APPROACH;   

DOI  :  10.1596/1813-9450-7075
RP-ID  :  WPS7075

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: World Bank Open Knowledge Repository

【 摘 要 】

This paper covers three policy-relevantaspects of the carbon content of electricity that are wellestablished among integrated assessment models butunder-discussed in the policy debate. First, climatestabilization at any level from 2 to 3°C requireselectricity to be almost carbon-free by the end of thecentury. As such, the question for policy makers is notwhether to decarbonize electricity but when to do it.Second, decarbonization of electricity is still possible andrequired if some of the key zero-carbon technologies -- suchas nuclear power or carbon capture and storage -- turn outto be unavailable. Third, progressive decarbonization ofelectricity is part of every country's cost-effectivemeans of contributing to climate stabilization. In addition,this paper provides cost-effective pathways of the carboncontent of electricity -- computed from the results ofAMPERE, a recent integrated assessment model comparisonstudy. These pathways may be used to benchmark existingdecarbonization targets, such as those set by the EuropeanEnergy Roadmap or the Clean Power Plan in the United States,or inform new policies in other countries. The pathways canalso be used to assess the desirable uptake rates ofelectrification technologies, such as electric and plug-inhybrid vehicles, electric stoves and heat pumps, orindustrial electric furnaces.