MEDEAS participated in REEEM project workshop in Brussels

Introduction

On the 16th April 2018, Ilaria Perissi from INSTM, member of MEDEAS project, participated in the workshop of the REEEM project on "Carbon leakage and Competitiveness: Macroeconomic projections for EU until 2050". The workshop aimed to present and discuss the results obtained in the WP3 of the REEEM project, a member of the LC21-2015 cluster. WP3 deals with the socioeconomic scenarios that could arise for European Industries as a consequence of World and EU decarbonizing policy. Moreover, it explores the role of carbon leakage on the competitiveness of industries in the EU, in particular, energy intensive industries and industries that use carbon not only as a source of energy, but also as a resource for processing the products (for instance steel industry). The issue explored is that industries could be tempted to move toward regions with less restrictive decarbonization policy (the so-called carbon leakage phenomenon), impoverishing the EU economy and risking to emit even more once outside the EU.

Participants

The participants of the workshop included the organisers from REEEM-WP3, Ilaria Perissi from MEDEAS, a participant from Set-Nav project and several stakeholders from industries, such as EUROFER - The EU Steel Association, CEMBUREAU - The EU cement association, InnoEnergy, EUROALLIAGES-Association of European Iron-alloy producers and others. The officer of the European Commission, Ms Quinn also joined the workshop and made an intervention on developments in the field of regulations of the EU carbon market (the widest in the world).

Chronicles

REEEM WP3 ‘Economy’ aims

The works started with the presentation of the workshop methodology and objectives by Ulrich Fahl from IER (Institute of Energy Economics and Rational Energy Use, Stuttgart, Germany). The workshop consisted of a combination of presentations of the REEEM WP3 on ‘Economy scenarios’ results, followed by discussions.

Two case studies were presented and participants were divided into 2 groups and thematic discussions and brainstorming followed. The aim of groups’ discussions was to validate the WP3 modelling results and assumptions and to obtain stakeholder insights regarding key issues of the study.

As already mentioned, the goal of REEEM WP3 is to assess the economic consequences of low carbon policy measures on EU and world economy for the industrial sector. Such assessment has been conducted with the modelling tool NEWAGE, a computable general equilibrium model. The method of modelling consists of a dynamic recursive procedure that explores the economic agents (consumers, firms, etc.) and their interaction, with the aim to focus on the winners and losers of decarbonization, and analyze how decarbonization can drive changes in trade patterns. The time span considered in simulations is until 2050.

pastedGraphic.png
Figure 1.  Ulrich Fahl introducing the workshop agenda, objectives and methodology

Introduction to the REEEM project

Francesco Gardumi from KTH (Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm), REEEM project manager, introduced the REEEM project objectives. REEEM aims to get a comprehensive understanding of the wide system of implications that the current energy strategies, which focus on transition pathways toward a competitive low carbon energy society, have in terms of impacts on the EU economy, environment and the society.

To carry out this investigation, REEEM methodology makes use of a large set of models, split in 3 categories, society, economy (in WP3) and RE electrification models, linked together by common guidelines, which study the role of technologies and consumers in accomplishing low carbon transition pathways. For instance, each model provides an analysis of what could be the different barriers to lead the evolution of the EU energy system. The results will be gathered in a platform to perform ‘REEEM games’ in which competing teams are required to take a policy decision, pushed by national objectives as well as by the commitments at EU level.

pastedGraphic_1.png
Figure 2. REEEM project aims and objectives introduced by Francesco Gardumi (KTH-Royal Institute of technology), REEEM project manager

 

REEEM WP3 - Economy: Scenarios and case studies

Roland Cunha (IER – Montenegro) presented the NEWAGE model structures and scenarios methodology.

pastedGraphic_2.png
Figure 3 Discussing Scenarios results presented by Ronald Cunha, IER-Montenegro

The economic scenarios were built based on different efforts in world and EU decarbonization.

At the rest of the world (countries outside the EU-28), 4 scenarios until 2050 were taken into account:

  • World no ambition: Countries worldwide emit as much CO2 as they want.
  • World BAU: Emissions outside the EU increase by 108% in 2050 compared to 1990 levels (source "Reference technology scenario" in "Energy Technology perspective 2017", IEA).
  • World Regional push: REEEM assumes that a group of selected regions decide to do more than their BAU.
  • World 2° C: Every region outside the EU reduce emissions in order to reach the 2°C target (2 DS scenarios from Energy Technology perspective 2017, IEA).

At EU-28 level, 3 scenarios until 2050 were taken into account:

  • EU BAU: EU follows the CO2 emissions proposed by "EU reference scenarios 2016: Energy, transport and GHG emissions trends by 2050", EC. Different targets are reported for ETS(1) and non-ETS (or ESD (2)) sectors, and the overall emissions in 2050 are 50% below 1990 levels.
  • EU Cluster Union: The main assumption of REEEM, corresponds at the situation proposed in the "White Paper on the Future of EU", EC, - Those who want more, do more.
  • EU Stroger Union: This is also based on the "White Paper on the Future of EU", EC – Doing much more together – in this case, EU-28 implement a new ETS that includes all sectors.

Thus, what are the outcomes of different EU policy portfolios in the selected future?

Combining present ETS and EDS policy (BAU) with possible improvements derived from the "White Paper on the Future of EU" described above, we obtain:

Current ETS and ESD defined according to "Reference technology scenario" in "Energy Technology perspective 2017", IEA.

ETS variation and new EDS target: ETS has 3 different caps (80%, 90% and 95%) for CO2 reduction in 2050 (the reference year is 1990) and a maximum price (collar) - New ESD targets according to Cluster Union EU-28 scenarios.

ETS on all sectors: EU-ETS applied to all the sectors of the economy, including households and transportation with different possible caps (80%, 90% and 95%) for CO2 reduction in 2050 (the reference year is 1990).

The combination of world and EU emissions scenarios with policy portfolio options give the REEEM future scenarios presented in Figure 4.

pastedGraphic_3.png
Figure 4 REEEM WP3 - Economy Scenarios’ matrix: World and EU decarbonization pathways, what is the possible future? REEEM evaluated that the combination of a regional push at world level (countries outside the EU) and the EU Cluster Union can lead to a satisfactory strategy for decarbonization.

World regional push

  • Reduction target of 80% by 2050 (the reference year is 1990): Norway and Switzerland decide to follow the 80% reduction target.
  • Reduction target 2° C: Republic of Korea, New Zealand and Iceland have economic resources and political will to follow this ambitious target; China also, has the urgency to decarbonize investing in RE and R&D.
  • Reduction target as the average between BAU and 2°C: USA, Japan, Canada, Mexico, Australia, are still highly dependent on fossil fuels, as they have resources, but have not yet demonstrated the willingness to decrease their emissions further.

EU-28 cluster Union

  • Non-ETS (EDS) reduction target 80% (the reference year is 2005): France, Portugal, Spain, Italy, the UK, Austria, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, Sweden, Finland and Ireland. These countries have the higher GDP/capita so they should pursue ambitious targets in areas such as transportation and heating.
  • Non-ETS reduction target of 60% (the reference year is 2005): Bulgaria, Romania, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Croatia, Hungary, Greece, Slovakia, Slovenia, Cyprus and Malta. This group has difficulty in accessing the same economic resources of the previous countries. As a consequence, they pursue less ambitious targets.
  • Of carbon leakage, non ETS reduction target of 60% (the reference year is 2005): Czech Republic and Poland rely heavily on coal for electricity production.

The intervention of the European Commission - Ms Quinn

Ms Quinn discussed the issues of competitiveness of EU industries in the ETS and their exposure to a serious risk, which explains the higher share of free allowances emission quotas compared to other industrial installations, even in the future.

  • At global level, an increasing number of carbon markets is implemented worldwide.
  • 42 carbon pricing initiatives are planned, covering 13% of the annual global GHG emissions (state and trends of carbon pricing), World Bank 2016.
  • The carbon leakage provisions at EU level should be under review in the next decade in the light of price agreement.
pastedGraphic_4.png
Figure 5. Ms Quinn, Directorate-General for Climate Action (DG-CLIMA) discusses the critical situation of some high coal dependent industries in EU and the risk of carbon leakage.

Sessions of discussions

Three sessions of discussion in groups were carried out.

A) Highlight main policy option for decarbonization and ranking them.

Results:

  • Regarding policy effectiveness, the policies that were ranked higher in meeting the policy goal were the ETS, the coal phase out, the emission performance standard for electricity and the carbon tax/fuel tax.
  • Regarding carbon leakage risk, the policies that were ranked as having no leakage risk were the incentives for RE & EE, public procurement and R&D on materials.
pastedGraphic_5.png
Figure 6 Group A discussion on policy options for decarbonization

B) Decarbonizing might have an adverse effect on industry competitiveness. Threats for the EU industry in medium-term and long-term

Results: 

  • Machinery and vehicles are practically not impacted by different policy scenarios, even the maximum emission spread between scenarios can be around 6-7 %.
  • Sectors most affected are the energy intensive: chemical, iron steel, non-ferrous metal (aluminium) and non-metallic minerals.

C) Closing sessions

Beyond the very interesting and useful results of the project, all participant agreed on the utility of similar meetings among LCE-21 projects to share ideas and competences.


1/ The EU emissions trading system (EU ETS) is a cornerstone of the EU's policy to combat climate change and its key tool for reducing greenhouse gas emissions cost-effectively. It is the world's first major carbon market and remains the biggest one (https://ec.europa.eu/clima/policies/ets_en).

2/ The Effort Sharing Decision establishes binding annual greenhouse gas emission targets for Member States for the period 2013–2020. These targets concern emissions from most sectors not included in the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS), such as transport, buildings, agriculture and waste (https://ec.europa.eu/clima/policies/effort_en).