Meeting targets aimed at tackling the climate change challenge requires moving towards a low-carbon economy. These targets can only be met with major reductions in carbon emissions from the electricity sector. Written by a team of leading academics and industry experts, Delivering a Low Carbon Electricity System analyses the social, technological, economic and political issues that affect the attempt to create a low-carbon electricity sector and assesses the main instruments for achieving this aim. The book begins by looking at how low-carbon generation technologies might be added in sufficient quantity to the electricity system. Next, it examines how networks and the demand side can help to decarbonise the sector. It then highlights the role of innovation and discusses instruments for promoting technological progress. Finally, given the economic framework and technological possibilities, it presents a number of general and specific policy instruments and options for the future.

A systematic analysis of the issues surrounding the creation of a low-carbon electricity sector.

List of figures List of tables 1 A low-carbon electricity sector for the UK: issues and options Michael Grubb Grubb, Michael Tooraj Jamasb Jamasb, Tooraj Michall G. Pollitt Pollitt, Michall G. 1 Pt. I The Fundamentals 29 2 Calculating the social cost of carbon Chris Hope Hope, Chris David Newbery Newbery, David 31 3 Technologies for a low-carbon electricity system: an assessment of the UK's issues and options Tooraj Jamasb Jamasb, Tooraj William J. Nuttall Nuttall, William J. Michael G. Pollitt Pollitt, Michael G. Alexandra Maratou Maratou, Alexandra 64 4 The benefits of fuel mix diversity Fabien A. Roques Roques, Fabien A. 100 5 Variability and renewables Graham Sinden Sinden, Graham 133 6 Implications of intermittency and transmission constraints for renewables deployment Karsten Neuhoff Neuhoff, Karsten Jim Cust Cust, Jim Kim Keats-Martinez Keats-Martinez, Kim 157 Pt. II Incentives and the Demand Side: Demand-Side Management and System Requirements 181 7 Electricity network investment and regulation for a low-carbon future Michael G. Pollitt Pollitt, Michael G. Janusz Bialek Bialek, Janusz 183 8 Domestic electricity consumption and demand-side participation: opportunities and challenges for the UK power system Mark Bilton Bilton, Mark Charlotte Ramsay Ramsay, Charlotte Matthew Leach Leach, Matthew Hannah Devine-Wright Devine-Wright, Hannah Patrick Devine-Wright Devine-Wright, Patrick Daniel Kirschen Kirschen, Daniel 207 9 Enhancing the efficient use of electricity in the business and public sectors Michael Grubb Grubb, Michael James Wilde Wilde, James Steven Sorrell Sorrell, Steven 229 Pt. III Investment, Price and Innovation 257 10 Will themarket choose the right technologies? Karsten Neuhoff Neuhoff, Karsten Paul Twomey Twomey, Paul 259 11 Pricing carbon for electricity generation: national and international dimensions Michael Grubb Grubb, Michael David Newbery Newbery, David 278 12 Learning curves for energy technologies: a critical assessment Tooraj Jamasb Jamasb, Tooraj Jonathan Kohler Kohler, Jonathan 314 13 Accelerating innovation and strategic deployment in UK electricity: applications to renewable energy Michael Grubb Grubb, Michael Nadine Haj-Hasan Haj-Hasan, Nadine David Newbery Newbery, David 333 Pt. IV Scenarios, Options and Public Attitudes 361 14 Scenarios of the electricity industry in Great Britain in 2020: networks, generation and decarbonisation Ian Elders Elders, Ian Graham Ault Ault, Graham Graeme Burt Burt, Graeme Ryan Tumilty Tumilty, Ryan Jim McDonald McDonald, Jim Jonathan Kohler Kohler, Jonathan 363 15 Modelling the economic impact of low-carbon electricity Milton Yago Yago, Milton Jonathan P. Atkins Atkins, Jonathan P. Keshab Bhattarai Bhattarai, Keshab Richard Green Green, Richard Stephen Trotter Trotter, Stephen 394 16 Bridging technologies: can carbon capture and storage offer a bridge to a sustainable energy future in the UK? David M. Reiner Reiner, David M. Jon Gibbins Gibbins, Jon Sam Holloway Holloway, Sam 414 17 Reconsidering public acceptance of renewable energy technologies: a critical review Patrick Devine-Wright Devine-Wright, Patrick 443 18 A low-carbon electricity sector for the UK: what can be done and how much will it cost? Michael Grubb Grubb, Michael Tooraj Jamasb Jamasb, Tooraj Michael G. Pollitt Pollitt, Michael G. 462 Index 498