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Environmental co-benefits and adverse side-effects of alternative power sector decarbonization strategies

Author

Listed:
  • Gunnar Luderer

    (PIK - Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research)

  • Michaja Pehl
  • Anders Arvesen
  • Thomas Gibon

    (LIST - Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology)

  • Benjamin L Bodirsky

    (PIK - Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research)

  • Harmen Sytze de Boer

    (PBL Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency)

  • Oliver Fricko
  • Mohamad Hejazi
  • Florian Humpenöder

    (PIK - Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research)

  • Gokul Iyer
  • Silvana Mima

    (GAEL - Laboratoire d'Economie Appliquée de Grenoble - Grenoble INP - Institut polytechnique de Grenoble - Grenoble Institute of Technology - INRA - Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - UGA [2016-2019] - Université Grenoble Alpes [2016-2019])

  • Ioanna Mouratiadou

    (Scottish Agricultural College - Edin. - University of Edinburgh)

  • Robert Pietzcker

    (PIK - Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research)

  • Alexander Popp

    (PIK - Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research)

  • Maarten van den Berg
  • Detlef van Vuuren

    (Universiteit Utrecht / Utrecht University [Utrecht])

  • Edgar Hertwich
Abstract
A rapid and deep decarbonization of power supply worldwide is required to limit global warming to well below 2?°C. Beyond greenhouse gas emissions, the power sector is also responsible for numerous other environmental impacts. Here we combine scenarios from integrated assessment models with a forward-looking life-cycle assessment to explore how alternative technology choices in power sector decarbonization pathways compare in terms of non-climate environmental impacts at the system level. While all decarbonization pathways yield major environmental co-benefits, we find that the scale of co-benefits as well as profiles of adverse side-effects depend strongly on technology choice. Mitigation scenarios focusing on wind and solar power are more effective in reducing human health impacts compared to those with low renewable energy, while inducing a more pronounced shift away from fossil and toward mineral resource depletion. Conversely, non-climate ecosystem damages are highly uncertain but tend to increase, chiefly due to land requirements for bioenergy.

Suggested Citation

  • Gunnar Luderer & Michaja Pehl & Anders Arvesen & Thomas Gibon & Benjamin L Bodirsky & Harmen Sytze de Boer & Oliver Fricko & Mohamad Hejazi & Florian Humpenöder & Gokul Iyer & Silvana Mima & Ioanna Mo, 2019. "Environmental co-benefits and adverse side-effects of alternative power sector decarbonization strategies," Post-Print hal-02380468, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:journl:hal-02380468
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-13067-8
    Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://hal.science/hal-02380468v1
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Keywords

    life-cycle assessment; climate-change mitigation; land-use; integrated assessment; water demand; transformation pathways; electricity-generation; severe accidents; impact assessment; air-pollution;
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