This book reports and rationalizes the state-of-the-art concerning the social costs of electricity generation. Social costs are assessed by adding to the private generation costs, the external costs associated with damages to human health, the environment, crops, materials, and those related to the consequences of climate change. The authors consider the evolution of these costs up to 2030 for major electricity generating technologies and, using these estimates, evaluate policy options for external cost internalization, providing quantitative scenarios by country and primary fuel for 2010, 2020 and 2030. While mainly focusing on European countries, the book also examines the situation in key emerging economies such as China, India, Brazil and Turkey. With an analysis of the policies for external costs internalization, this invaluable book will appeal to energy policymakers, research institutions focusing on energy, environmental and energy NGOs and trade associations, as well as energy companies.

Contributors Foreword Introductio PART I Cost Assessment 1. External Costs 2. Electricity Supply Externalities: Energy Security 3. Private Costs 4. Social Costs of Electricity in the EU 5. Methodology and Results in Non-EU Countries PART II Policy Evaluation 6. Policy Instruments 7. Assessment of Policy Instruments and Electricity Generation Technologies PART III Electricity Scenarios 8. Electricity Scenarios in EU Countries Annexes Index.