204 records from EconBiz based on author Name

1. Fukushima and German energy policy 2005-2015/2016

abstract

The Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident in 2011 led to some drastic reactions in Germany, in particular an immediate shut-down of older nuclear power plants. This event is therefore often seen as a turning point, or a major accelerator for the German Energiewende. We investigate the short term effects, but also put the event into a longer, 10-year perspective. This shows that hardly any trend in the energy policy was strongly affected by policy decisions of 2011. Major trends are the increase of renewable electricity sources, the phase out of nuclear, a slight increase in energy efficiency, while total energy consumption and also greenhouse gas emissions remained stable in the decade 2005-2015/16. We also provide some tentative explanations for these developments.

Growitsch, Christian; Höffler, Felix;
2019
Type: Graue Literatur; Non-commercial literature; Arbeitspapier; Working Paper;
Availability: Link

---

2. Competition and regulation as a means of reducing CO2 emissions : experience from U.S. fossil fuel power plants

abstract

Levels of CO2 emissions from electricity generation in the U.S. have changed considerably in the last decade. This development can be attributed to two factors. First, the shale gas revolution has reduced gas prices significantly, leading to a crowding out of the more CO2-intensive coal for electricity generation. Secondly, environmental regulations have been tightened at both the federal and the state level. In this article, we analyze the relative CO2 emission performance across 48 states in the U.S. using a two-stage empirical approach. In the first stage, we identify the states that followed best practice between 2000 and 2013, by applying nonparametric benchmarking techniques. In the second stage, we regress our CO2 emission performance indicators on the state-specific national gas prices, the states' CO2 regulatory policies and a number of other state-specific factors in order to identify the main drivers of the developments. We find that the CO2 emission performance improved on average by 15% across all states from 2000 to 2013. Furthermore, our second-stage results support the argument that decreasing natural gas prices and stringent regulatory measures, such as cap-and-trade programs, have a positive impact on the state-specific CO2 emission performance.

Growitsch, Christian; Paulus, Simon; Wetzel, Heike;
2017
Type: Arbeitspapier; Working Paper; Graue Literatur; Non-commercial literature;
Availability: Link

---

3. Competition and regulation as a means of reducing CO2 emissions : experience from U.S. fossil fuel power plants

abstract

Levels of CO2 emissions from electricity generation in the U.S. have changed considerably in the last decade. This development can be attributed to two factors. First, the shale gas revolution has reduced gas prices significantly, leading to a crowding out of the more CO2-intensive coal for electricity generation. Secondly, environmental regulations have been tightened at both the federal and the state level. In this article, we analyze the relative CO2 emission performance across 48 states in the U.S. using a two-stage empirical approach. In the first stage, we identify the states that followed best practice between 2000 and 2013, by applying nonparametric benchmarking techniques. In the second stage, we regress our CO2 emission performance indicators on the state-specific national gas prices, the states' CO2 regulatory policies and a number of other state-specific factors in order to identify the main drivers of the developments. We find that the CO2 emission performance improved on average by 15% across all states from 2000 to 2013. Furthermore, our second-stage results support the argument that decreasing natural gas prices and stringent regulatory measures, such as cap-and-trade programs, have a positive impact on the state-specific CO2 emission performance.

Growitsch, Christian; Paulus, Simon; Wetzel, Heike;
2016
Type: Arbeitspapier; Working Paper; Graue Literatur; Non-commercial literature;
Availability: Link

---

4. The digital economy

abstract

The German economy is humming. Tax receipts are pouring in, the labour market is booming, and Germany was and has remained solid as a rock during the euro crisis. That is the current situation. But is Germany also prepared for the digital revolution? A core element of Germany industry (the "German business model") is its ability to adapt quickly and comprehensively to global structural change. Digitisation currently represents a new megatrend. With its strong industry, efficient small, mid-sized and large companies, closed value chains and consistent orientation towards global markets and innovation, the German economy is fundamentally well-prepared for digital change. At the same time, there are a whole host of serious weaknesses in Germany as a location of industry which, if they are not addressed promptly, could lead to the German economy missing the digitisation boat. These include things like arrears in the digital infrastructure and deficits in software development. Digitisation is changing business and society from the inside out. People are already starting to talk about the next industrial revolution dubbed "Industry 4.0". Following on from automation, the decentralisation of production is now taking place with the interconnection of machines. Is our economic system hanging in the balance? A huge decline in marginal costs (zero-marginalcost society) in many areas of production is an important feature of the digital economy. The consequence could be excess instead of scarcity. Furthermore, a change in culture is becoming apparent: ownership is losing ground while usage opportunities are gaining in significance (the "sharing economy"). This is giving rise to speculation about alternative economic models ("the end of capitalism?"). The world after the digital revolution will, however, not be an economic paradise. Scarcity issues remain on the agenda. Thanks to digital technologies, there are a multitude of new business models that are fundamentally altering existing markets and putting old business models under pressure. The economic effect of digitisation thus goes well beyond usual efficiency gains (from falling transaction costs, for instance). Are we running out of work? Will jobs fall victim to technological progress? There was already a fear that technology would trigger unemployment during the course of past industrial revolutions. In terms of at least lasting and nationwide impact, however, this has not happened to date. That said, the increasing ability of computers to learn (by analysing big data) means that activities with higher skills profiles are also coming under pressure. The risk of technological unemployment as Industry 4.0 takes hold cannot be dismissed out of hand. In a scenario calculation, we put the additional potential for value creation from Industry 4.0 at € 17 - 25 billion a year through 2030. What is certain is constant change, which will probably take place with increasing speed ...

Hungerland, Fabian; Quitzau, Jörn; Zuber, Christopher; Ehrlich, Lars; Growitsch, Christian; Rische, Marie-Christin; Schlitte, Friso; Haß, Hans-Joachim;
2015
Type: Arbeitspapier; Working Paper; Graue Literatur; Non-commercial literature;
Availability: Link Link

---

5. Digitalökonomie

abstract

Digitalisierung ist wahrlich kein neues Phänomen. Spätestens mit der Dotcom-Euphorie der späten 1990er-Jahre war offensichtlich, dass die Wirtschaft vor einem gewaltigen Umbruch steht. Gut eineinhalb Dekaden später sind Internetkonzerne bereits etablierte Akteure der Unternehmenswelt. Wenn im Jahr 2015 das Thema Digitalisierung immer noch allgegenwärtig ist und unter dem Stichwort "Industrie 4.0" Tag für Tag Schlagzeilen in der Wirtschaftspresse macht, gibt es dafür gute Gründe. Die bisherigen Erfahrungen mit dem digitalen Umbruch - etwa in der Musikindustrie und in der Medienlandschaft - geben einen Vorgeschmack darauf, was vielen anderen Branchen noch bevorstehen mag. Big Data, Vernetzung und künstliche Intelligenz sind die Schlagworte, die für die nächste Runde des digitalen Umbruchs stehen und die den Begriff Digitalökonomie begründen. Derzeit erstaunt nicht nur die Vielzahl der Innovationen, sondern insbesondere das Tempo, mit dem Wirtschaft und Gesellschaft umgekrempelt werden. Das hohe Tempo der Veränderung kann maßgeblich damit erklärt werden, dass in der Digitalökonomie Märkte geschaffen werden, die nach dem Prinzip "The winner takes it all" funktionieren. Schnelligkeit ist also ein wichtiger Erfolgsfaktor für Unternehmer und Unternehmen, denn es besteht die Aussicht auf globale marktbeherrschende Stellungen. Dass derartige Erfolgschancen Goldgräberstimmung auslösen, ist kein Wunder. Gleichzeitig ist aber die Verunsicherung bei etablierten Unternehmen und bei Arbeitskräften, die um ihre Arbeitsplätze fürchten, zuweilen sehr groß. Mit dieser Studie möchten wir einen Beitrag zum besseren Verständnis des digitalen Umbruchs leisten und einen Ausblick auf die zu erwartenden Veränderungen in Wirtschaft und Gesellschaft geben.

Hungerland, Fabian; Quitzau, Jörn; Zuber, Christopher; Ehrlich, Lars; Growitsch, Christian; Rische, Marie-Christin; Schlitte, Friso; Haß, Hans-Joachim;
2015
Type: Arbeitspapier; Working Paper; Graue Literatur; Non-commercial literature;
Availability: Link Link Link

---

6. Fukushima and German energy policy 2005-2015/2016

Growitsch, Christian; Höffler, Felix;
2019
Type: Working Paper;
Availability:

---

7. Flexibility in Europe's power sector :an additional requirement or an automatic complement?

abstract

By 2050, the European Union aims to reduce greenhouse gases by more than 80 %. The EU member states have therefore declared to strongly increase the share of renewable energy sources (RES-E) in the next decades. Given a large deployment of wind and solar capacities, there are two major impacts on electricity systems: First, the electricity system must be flexible enough to cope with the volatile RES-E generation, i.e., ramp up supply or ramp down demand on short notice. Second, sufficient back-up capacities are needed during times with low feed-in from wind and solar capacities. This paper analyzes whether there is a need for additional incentive mechanisms for flexibility in electricity markets with a high share of renewables. For this purpose, we simulate the development of the European electricity markets up to the year 2050 using a linear investment and dispatch optimization model. Flexibility requirements are implemented in the model via ramping constraints and provision of balancing power dependent of current renewables feed-in. We find that an increase in fluctuating renewables has a tremendous impact on the volatility of the residual load and consequently on the flexibility requirements. However, any market design that incentivizes investments in least (total system) cost generation investment does not need additional incentives for flexibility. The main trigger for investing in flexible resources are the achievable full load hours and the need for backup capacity. In a competitive market, the cost-efficient technologies that are most likely to be installed, i.e. gas-fired power plants or flexibel CCS plants, provide flexibility as a by-product. Under the condition of system adequacy, flexibility never poses a challenge in a cost-minimal capacity mix. Therefore, any market design incentivizing investments in efficient generation thus provides flexibility as an automatic complement.

Bertsch, Joachim; Growitsch, Christian; Lorenczik, Stefan; Nagl, Stephan Nikolaus;
2013
Type: Arbeitspapier; Working Paper; Graue Literatur; Non-commercial literature;
Availability: Link

---

8. The costs of power interruptions in Germany : an assessment in the light of the Energiewende

abstract

The German Energiewende’s potential effects on the reliability of electricity supply as well as the corresponding economic consequences have recently entered both the political and scientific debate. However, empirical evidence of power outage costs in Germany is rather scarce. Following a macroeconomic approach, we analyse the economic costs imposed by potential power interruptions in Germany. Investigating a rich data set on industry and households we estimate both Values of Lost Load (VoLLs) and associated costs of power interruptions for different German regions and sectors and every hour of the year. This disaggregated approach allows for conclusions for optimal load shedding in case of technical necessity and the economic efficiency of measures to improve security of supply. We find that interruption costs vary significantly over time, between sectors and regions. Peaking on midday of a Monday in December at 750 Mioe per hour, the average of total national outage costs amount to approximately 430 Mioe per hour. Our results emphasize the prominent regional aspect of the German Energiewende as the regions with the highest estimated cost of interruptions in South and West Germany coincide with the areas which face nuclear power plant shut downs in the near future. -- Security of Supply ; Value of Lost Load (VoLL) ; German Energiewende ; Electricity outage costs

Growitsch, Christian; Malischek, Raimund; Nick, Sebastian; Wetzel, Heike;
2013
Type: Arbeitspapier; Working Paper; Graue Literatur; Non-commercial literature;
Availability: Link

---

9. Supply disruptions and regional price effects in a spatial oligopoly : an application to the global gas market

abstract

Supply shocks in the global gas market might affect countries differently since the market is regionally interlinked but not perfectly integrated. Additionally, high supply side concentration might expose countries to market power in different ways. To evaluate the strategic position of importing countries concerning gas supplies we disentangle import prices to price increasing and decreasing factors. Since the interrelations on the global gas market are complex we use an equilibrium model programmed as a mixed complementarity problem (MCP) and simulate the blockage of LNG flows through the Strait of Hormuz. This enables us account for the oligopolistic nature and the asymmetry of the gas supply side. We find that Japan faces the most severe price increases as it completely relies on LNG supply. In contrast, European countries like the UK bene fit from a good interconnection to the continental pipeline system and significant domestic price-taking production, both of which help to mitigate an increase in physical costs of supply as well as the exercise of market power.

Growitsch, Christian; Hecking, Harald; Panke, Timo;
2013
Type: Arbeitspapier; Working Paper; Graue Literatur; Non-commercial literature;
Availability: Link

---

10. Beiträge zu Wirtschaftspolitik und Wirtschaftsforschung : Festschrift anlässlich der Emeritierung von Professor Dr. Dr. h.c. Ulrich Blum

Growitsch, Christian; Mueller Loose, Simone; Wehrspohn, Ralf B.; Blum, Ulrich; Tietje, Christian; Becker, Claudia;
2018
Type: Aufsatzsammlung; Beiträge ; Einzelbeiträge; Sammelwerk ; Festschrift; Gedächtnisschrift ; Gedenkschrift; Festschriften; Graue Literatur; Non-commercial literature; Sammelwerk; Collection of articles of several authors;

---

Load More