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Integration of Renewable Energy Resources Into the Water-Energy-Food Nexus: Modeling a Demand Side Management Approach and Application to a Microgrid Farm in Morocco

This paper introduces a framework aimed at analyzing the water-energy-food nexus (WEF) within the context of sustainable farming practices utilizing renewable energy sources, specifically Solar PV, to optimize water management efficiency. The focus lies on investigating the interplay between the water-energy-food nexus and both technical and institutional factors. The study particularly delves into ...

Heat Monitor 2023: Despite Continued Price Increases, Lower Decline in Households’ Heating Energy Consumption

In 2023, heating energy prices increased by substantial 31 percent compared to the previous year, following a 33 percent increase already seen in 2022. Calculations based on data from the energy service provider ista show average price increases were the highest in the German state of Rhineland- Palatinate, and the lowest in Hamburg. Owing to these price hikes and ongoing energy-saving efforts, the ...

The Political Economy of Fossil Fuel Subsidy Removal: Evidence from Bolivia and Mexico

We study the impact of fossil fuel subsidy removal on presidential popularity using difference-indifference approaches and a stylized theoretical model. Analyzing macro level data for two subsidy removal events in Mexico and Bolivia in the early 2010s, we find evidence of a negative impact on presidential approval. Our theoretical probabilistic voting model predicts that the decline in popularity is ...

Thermal Retrofitting of Worst Performing Buildings Mitigates Risk of High Heating Costs

The pace of thermal retrofit of buildings in Germany remains slow. A Worst-First approach, prioritizing the retrofit of inefficient buildings, would address energy- and social policy objectives and deliver economic and climate benefits. Data from the German Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) show how such an approach would protect especially low-income households often living in very inefficient buildings ...

Electricity Markets Stabilized Following the Energy Crisis; 80 Percent Renewable Energy and Coal Phase-out by 2030 Are Possible

The German electricity market has recovered well from the 2022 energy crisis. Policymakers should now redirect the focus of energy policy to further expanding renewable energy sources. The year 2023 showed that the German electricity supply remained secure following the shutdown of nuclear power plants. It is possible, affordable, and plausible in light of climate policy to cover 80 percent of electricity ...

A Renewable Energy Pool Brings Benefits of Energy Transition to Consumers

German companies view high and uncertain electricity prices a major challenge. A Renewable Energy Pool (RE-Pool), wherein the favorable conditions of competitive tenders for new wind and solar power projects are passed on to electricity consumers, could hedge such price risks. Consumers’ electricity prices are thus hedged for the share of their consumption that corresponds to the RE-Pool’s generation ...

Assessing the Social and Environmental Impacts of Critical Mineral Supply Chains for the Energy Transition in Europe

Advanced technologies are inherently dependent on critical minerals and their related metals. The mining extraction of these critical minerals leads to significant social and environmental impacts that extend beyond the regions where those advanced technologies are ultimately used. This study explores the global socio-environmental challenges arising from the European Climate Law's aim for net-zero ...

Sanctions against Russian Gas Would Not Endanger EU or German Gas Supply

As a result of the Russian attack on Ukraine, natural gas prices skyrocketed in 2022 and Germany in particular felt the impact of its strong dependency on Russia. Prices have since relaxed, the European natural gas industry has overcome the uncertainty due to the energy crisis in 2022, and the industry also survived the slump in Russian natural gas imports without supply interruptions. However, Russia ...

Loss of Russian natural gas can be compensated for

Firm Heterogeneity and Carbon Leakage in the Production Network