1. Mismatch of wind power capacity and generation: causing factors, GHG emissions and potential policy responses
- Author
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Jeroen C.J.M. van den Bergh, Juliana Subtil Lacerda, Spatial Economics, and Environmental Economics
- Subjects
Engineering ,Wind power ,Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment ,Natural resource economics ,business.industry ,020209 energy ,Strategy and Management ,Environmental engineering ,Climate change ,02 engineering and technology ,Energy security ,010501 environmental sciences ,01 natural sciences ,Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering ,Renewable energy ,Nameplate capacity ,Electricity generation ,Greenhouse gas ,0202 electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering ,SDG 13 - Climate Action ,Electricity ,business ,0105 earth and related environmental sciences ,General Environmental Science - Abstract
Policies to assure combatting climate change and realising energy security have stimulated a rapid growth in global installed capacity of renewable energy generation. The expansion of power generation from renewables, though, has so far lagged behind the growth in generation capacity. This indicates missed and relatively cheap opportunities to reduce GHG emissions. This paper sheds light on the mismatch between installed capacity and power generation for the case of wind power. It analyses and compares wind power developments in the four countries that contributed most to the increase in wind power capacity during the last decade: namely, China, the United States, Germany and Spain. We estimate the dynamics of capacity utilisation of wind power installations and identify its drivers. Finally, we identify potential policies to reduce the gap between power capacity and generation, which will contribute to cost-effective reduction of GHG emissions.
- Published
- 2016