Publikationen der Abteilung Energie, Verkehr, Umwelt

Split Between Accelerationists, Pivoters, and the Unwavering: CEE Energy Policy Responses to Russia’s 2022 Invasion

Baseload Power Plants Are Not Essential for Future Power Systems

The transition to decarbonized energy systems has fueled a controversial debate over the necessity of traditional ‘‘baseload’’ power. Skepticism remains regarding the reliability and economic feasibility of power systems relying mainly on cheap variable renewable energy (VRE) sources. Addressing this, the German Academies’ project ‘‘Energy Systems of the Future’’ (ESYS) analyzed the role of baseload ...

Locked in a Fossil-Centric System Paradigm: LNG Expansion Impedes Socio-Ecological Transition Toward a Just and Renewable Energy Future

The expansion of liquefied natural gas (LNG) infrastructure in Europe significantly impedes the necessary socio-ecological transformation (SET) required to shift toward a decentralized, 100% renewable energy system (RES). By reinforcing a fossil-centric system paradigm, LNG infrastructure deepens Europe’s dependence on fossil fuels, thereby delaying climate goals and increasing greenhouse gas emissions. ...

Decline in Job Satisfaction and How It Relates to Investment Decisions of the Self-Employed

Despite substantial research on job satisfaction in self-employment, we know little about the specific consequences for the venture when job satisfaction declines after an external shock. Taking the COVID-19 pandemic as an example of an external shock and drawing on a sample of nearly 7000 self-employed individuals living in Germany, we investigate how declines in job satisfaction are related to the ...

External Costs of Water Pollution in the Drinking Water Supply Sector

Nitrate pollution from agricultural production is a major threat to water resources worldwide. This study quantifies the consequences of groundwater nitrate pollution for the drinking water supply sector by estimating the effect of groundwater nitrate pollution on the costs of water utilities. In doing so, we contribute to the estimation of the external costs of agricultural nonpoint pollution associated ...

From Low Emission Zone to Academic Track: Environmental Policy Effects on Educational Achievement in Elementary School

Do long-term improvements in air quality influence children’s educational outcomes? This paper investigates the impact of Low Emission Zones (LEZs), which restrict access to designated areas for emission-intensive vehicles, on the educational achievement of elementary school students in Germany. Using school-level data from North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany’s most populous state, we exploit the staggered ...

Germany Should Accelerate Its Renewable Energy Transition

Germany’s energy transition relies on variable renewables and electricity use across sectors, and it needs to accelerate. We argue that consistent policy commitments to proven technologies, such as wind and solar power, heat pumps and electric cars are needed.

Integrating Renewable Energy Resources in Electricity Distribution Systems—a Firm-Level Efficiency Analysis for Sweden Controlling for Weather Conditions

Sweden is at the forefront of the transition of its energy sector to low-carbon technologies with profound consequences for both energy generation and its distribution. However, the impact of this transition on the performance of Electricity Distribution System Operators (DSOs) has not been thoroughly studied. The article addresses this gap by using a novel approach and detailed georeferenced firm-level, ...

Is Russian Gas Still Needed in the European Union? Model-Based Analysis of Long-Term Scenarios

Aligned with the war in Ukraine, Russia has significantly withheld natural gas exports to Europe since 2021. As there are no EU-wide sanctions on imports of Russian natural gas, the Ukraine transit as well as imports via Turkey and LNG have remained active during 2022–24. However, the Russian-Ukrainian transit agreement expires at the end of 2024 and discussions about new sanctions on natural gas as ...

Mode Choice Inertia and Shock: Three Months of Almost Fare-Free Public Transport in Germany

This study analyses travellers’ behavioural responses to two temporal measures implemented by the German government: the reduction in public transport prices, making it almost fare-free, and a decrease in fuel taxes to the minimum level permitted by European law. Based on a panel dataset of GPS-tracked trips collected before and during the price intervention from a representative sample of 276 individuals, ...