CEE Seminar (ZOOM): The Energy-Climate-Health Nexus in Energy Planning

VIA Zoom Link:
https://uci.zoom.us/j/9126848538?pwd=eFJpSStqemh6OFBVUnV4RTBtdGlhQT09
Meeting ID: 912 684 8538 ~~ Password: 12345

Abstract: Global greenhouse gas emissions from energy production were approximately 40% higher in 2017 than in 2000, and ambient particulate matter – one of the byproducts from fossil fuel combustion of most concern for public health – is now the fifth largest contributor to global disease. Achieving the climate targets of the Paris Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals requires better accounting for climate and health costs in energy planning. This paper quantifies tradeoffs between selected energy infrastructure, climate and health costs when meeting future electricity demand by increasing the share of renewable energy, with a focus on variable renewable energy (VRE; here: wind and solar photovoltaic power). Using a spatially and temporally resolved approach, we analyzed three scenarios for year 2030 for Northeast Brazil, characterized by 30%, 45% and 70% of VRE (the latter corresponds to 100% renewable energy). We find that accounting for the health impacts from electricity generation is sufficient to economically justify deep decarbonization of Northeast Brazil’s power sector. Full decarbonization is economically justified when the carbon price exceeds $20/tonne CO2, which is less than Brazil’s country-level social cost of carbon and only 4.8% of the global social cost of carbon. Our study shows that regional climate and health costs from electricity generation alone can be greater than the additional infrastructure costs of decarbonization. Our results highlight how systematically accounting for health and climate costs in energy planning would economically justify the decarbonization of energy systems.

Bio: Jean-Daniel Saphores is a professor of civil and environmental engineering, planning and economics at UC Irvine and a member of UCI's Institute of Transportation Studies. He focuses on transportation, energy and environmental systems, which he analyzes using statistical and economic methods combined with simulation and optimization tools.

His active research interests include understanding the nexus between transportation, the environment, energy and health; travel behavior analysis; analyzing the demand for alternative fuel vehicles; exploring the impacts of connected and automated vehicles; sustainable infrastructure management; and decision-making under uncertainty using real options.