Integrated environmental/energy policy analysis for the U.K.

Environmental issues being tackled in recent years are increasing in scope and magnitude, making linkages with economic considerations pressing to understand. In the case of greenhouse gas emissions, for example, control efforts need to be designed to integrate the goals of both energy and environmental policy, rather than treat them as separable issues. The GEMINI models of the US and the U.K. have been developed specifically to allow integrated environmental-energy system analyses over time horizon of up to 50 years. Insights using the GEMINI-U.K. model to assess carbon emissions goals show that a range of energy policies are needed to aid in achieving environmental goals without disruptive forms over economic impact. Specifically: (1) Gradual implementation of carbon or energy taxes is not compatible with steadily increasing emissions reductions. (2) Serious consideration should be given to the merits of advancing the availability of biogas on a commercial scale, particularly in face of the current ``dash to gas`` within the U.K. energy system. (3) Policies to effectuate transportation mode shifts are important in addition to promoting more efficient or less carbon-intensive transportation technologies. (4) Allowing new nuclear generation is one of the cost-effective components of an environmentally sound energy policy in themore » period through 2020.« less