Sustainability efficiency assessment of the electricity mix of the 28 EU member countries combining data envelopment analysis and optimized projections

• Published in: Energy policy Vol. 134; p. 110921
• Main Authors: Zurano-Cervelló, Patricia, Pozo, Carlos, Mateo-Sanz, Josep María, Jiménez, Laureano, Guillén-Gosálbez, Gonzalo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.11.2019; Elsevier Science Ltd
• Subjects: Carbon sequestration; Criteria; Data analysis; Data envelopment analysis; Data envelopment analysis (DEA); Deployment; Eco-efficiency; Electricity; Electricity generation; Electricity mix; Energy policy; Energy systems; Hydroelectric power; Life cycle analysis; Life cycle assessment; Life cycles; Mathematical analysis; Mathematical programming; Operations research; Optimization; Portfolios; Power; Projections; Renewable energy; Storage; Sustainability; Data envelopment analysis (DEA); Energy systems; Electricity mix; Eco-efficiency; Sustainability; Optimization
• ISSN: 0301-4215; 1873-6777
• DOI: 10.1016/j.enpol.2019.110921

Assessing the sustainability level of the power sector can aid the transition towards a sustainable energy system. In this contribution, we propose a novel approach to compare and optimize electricity mixes according to sustainability criteria and apply it to the 28 EU members. Our method combines life cycle assessment, data envelopment analysis (DEA) and rigorous mathematical programming tools in three main steps. Firstly, DEA is applied to assess the efficiency level of electricity mixes of EU member countries considering the three dimensions of sustainability. Then, electricity portfolios of inefficient countries are optimized by solving a model that seeks to attain the targets provided by DEA while simultaneously considering the technical aspects governing electricity generation. This model, which constitutes the cornerstone of our approach, complements standard DEA by ensuring realistic and meaningful targets. In the third step, we evaluate the electricity portfolios optimized previously by running DEA again. Our results suggest that energy policies in the EU should favor the deployment of hydropower, wind and solar, while simultaneously displacing non-renewable sources and bioenergy. The deployment of carbon capture and storage is also a potential alternative that could be incentivized via policies worded in terms of carbon intensity targets. •We assess the sustainability level of electricity mixes of EU members in 2015.•Our framework combines LCA, DEA and rigorous mathematical programming tools.•Eight countries are found inefficient, being LT the one with the lowest efficiency.•Inefficient mixes are optimized with model coupling energy systems aspects with DEA.•Policies should favor hydro, wind and solar to the detriment of fossil sources.