• Energy Research

Abstract The widespread use of the renewable energy sources in the future's energy production is necessary, in order to avoid the predicted environmental, economic and social effects which can be derived from the overuse of fossil fuels. Denmark has announced to be fossil fuel independent with a renewable energy based heat and power source by 2050. Theoretically, the centralized biogas combined heat and power plants can play a determinant role in the subsequent Danish energy supply scheme, due to its feature to satisfy base load demand. The productivity and efficiency analysis of the currently operating Danish centralizes biogas CHP power plants is crucial in order to study whether there is a most efficient power plant which can be introduced as a “best practice” innovative technology for the future's Danish biogas power plants. In this paper we use the intertemporal Malmquist total factor productivity DEA method to analyze the change in the efficiency and productivity of the Danish centralized biogas power plants in the period 1992–2005.

Economic development and rising welfare lead to higher demand for energy services, which can limit or even negate the results of costly energy efficiency (EE) upgrades. At present, some consumption patterns in Central and Eastern European countries are more sustainable compared to the European Union (EU) average but are rapidly approaching it. Energy sufficiency (ES) leading to an absolute reduction in energy demand will be essential for achieving net zero climate goals, as it will contribute to reducing energy use and the significant investment needs associated with the electrification of the energy system. Various regulatory solutions can be deployed in pursuit of ES targets, but little information is available on the possible impacts on energy use and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, especially at the national level. This paper focuses on the residential building sector of two Central and Eastern European countries: Lithuania and Hungary. It attempts to quantify the potential energy demand reduction, associated GHG savings and the resulting change in the energy mix from limiting the per capita heated floor area using scenario analysis with the MESSAGE and HU-TIMES energy system models. The findings suggest that final energy demand could be reduced by 3.6% in Lithuania and 0.9% in Hungary. This would lead to a change in the energy production mix resulting in lower GHG emissions and savings on new energy generation capacity. The results of the research are indicative, as no costs were assigned to ES measures and the calculations were based on assumed levels of ES indicators. However, they suggest that it is worth identifying the consumption segments with ES potential, as a combination of the relevant measures can largely contribute to the achievement of net zero emissions.

A 2021-ben elfogadott Nemzeti Tiszta Fejlődési Stratégia (NTFS) kimondja, hogy Magyarországnak 2050-ig fokozatosan klímasemleges országgá kell válnia. Cikkünkben az e stratégia háttérszámításához használt HU-TIMES modellel elhárításiköltség-becslést végzünk. Parciális egyensúlyi modell használatával megállapítható, hogy az alapforgatókönyvhöz képest, amikor nincsenek emissziós korlátok - azaz a 2020. évi, szén-dioxid-egyenértékben kifejezett 46 millió tonna kibocsátáshoz képest -, 2050-re az üvegházhatású gázok kibocsátása 29,5 millió tonnára csökken. Számításaink szerint a jelenleg elérhető technológiai információk alapján a kitűzött céldátumra maximum 2 millió tonna szén-dioxid-egyenértékre csökkenthető a hazai energiaszektor kibocsátása. Ennek költségtöbblete 22 ezer milliárd forintot tesz ki a következő három évtizedben. Továbbá megvizsgáljuk, hogy az üvegházhatású gázok különböző mértékű csökkentése 2050-re mekkora többletköltséget jelent, és ezek a költségek mely szektorokban jelennek meg. Ehhez meghatározzuk a hazai energiaszektor üvegházhatásúgáz-elhárítási költséggörbéjét.