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This work aims to assess the impacts of climate change on photovoltaic (PV) electricity in two Italian cities, with different latitudes and Köppen–Geiger climate classifications. This was undertaken using the recent EURO-CORDEX set of high-resolution climate projections and PV power generation models, implemented on TRNSYS software. Data for two variables (surface air temperature and solar radiation) were analysed over a long period from 1971 to 2100. For future periods, two of the Representative Concentration Pathway scenarios (RCP4.5 and RCP8.5) used in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Fifth Assessment Report were considered. In both RCP scenarios and both locations, it is estimated that the yearly PV energy produced in the future period will not undergo significant variations on average given that the rate of decrease is foreseen almost constant; instead, a slight reduction in the PV energy was detected in the past period. It can be concluded that the PV market in Italy will grow in the next years considering that the reduction in the foreseen PV purchase costs will be also supported by the slight positive effect of climate change on PV manufacturability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The newly established Shanghai crude oil futures market provides a natural experimental setting for studying the price cointegration and causal relationships between the Chinese domestic benchmark (Daqing) and international benchmarks (West Texas Intermediate and Brent). We find a significant change in the relationships between domestic and global oil prices before and after the launch of the Shanghai market. Moreover, using a Johansen cointegration test and a vector error correction model, we find long-term equilibrium and short-term relationships between the Shanghai market and global benchmarks. Shanghai crude oil futures prices also play a leading role in the price discovery of domestic crude oil spot prices, reflecting their dominant influence on the domestic market. The prices of the domestic crude oil market are thus becoming less influenced by global benchmarks but more influenced by the Shanghai crude oil futures market. The examined results of dynamic ARDL simulations model support the long run and short run relations between the Shanghai market and global benchmarks. The results also shows that the Shanghai crude oil futures market has response lags relative to those benchmarks. • Study the change of the price cointegration and causal relationships. • A natural experimental setting to study the price discovery in a closed economy. • Show an influential oil price change from the launch of the Shanghai market. • Study long-term and short-term relationships among Shanghai and different markets. • Dynamic ARDL simulation model is applied in the study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Existing approaches to EPCs in Europe reviewed. • Limitations to current and future applications highlighted. • New forms of modelling for future EPCs documented. • A framework of criteria for evaluating new assessment approaches proposed. As our need for energy information of buildings evolves, and the tools and methods at our disposal increase in scale and complexity, it is perhaps reasonable to expect a similar level of change in the way energy in buildings is assessed within national energy compliance frameworks. By comparing the available opportunities for building energy modelling with the current methodologies underlying Energy Performance Certificates, this study proposes future directions for standardised energy assessment of residential buildings and the impact this could have on different facets of energy policy. In carrying out this exercise, a number of criteria are proposed that could be used to appraise methodologies that align with future requirements of energy assessment, with two potential candidates for future energy assessment considered as part of this appraisal. An argument is thus proposed for better aligning future forms of standardised energy assessment with directions and requirements of future low-carbon energy policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]