Analyzing carbon emissions policies for the Bolivian electric sector

• Published in: Renewable and sustainable energy transition Vol. 2; p. 100017
• Main Authors: Fernandez Vazquez, Carlos A.A., Brecha, R.J., Fernandez Fuentes, Miguel H.
• Format: Journal Article Web Resource
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.08.2022; Elsevier BV; Elsevier
• Subjects: Bolivia; Carbon emissions; Emission reductions; Emissions reductions; Energie; Energy; Energy policy; Energy system; Energy systems; Engineering, computing & technology; Ingénierie, informatique & technologie; Natural gas; Renewable energy; Emissions reductions; Renewable energy; Energy system; Energy policy; Bolivia; Natural gas; Carbon emissions
• ISSN: 2667-095X; 2667-095X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.rset.2022.100017

A transition of the Bolivian power sector towards a renewable energy dominated system has been inhibited by a series of laws and policies including heavy subsidies for power generation using domestic natural gas. Within this context, alternative techno-economic scenarios are designed based on key characteristics of the system, and a series of six policy levers are used to analyze impacts on the development of the power sector. The energy-system optimization modeling framework OSeMOSYS is utilized to analyze power sector transition pathways. Techno-economic characteristics and policies are combined to develop bracketing scenarios for the future energy system, contrasting business-as-usual with an ambitious renewable energy policy scenario. Results from the analyzed scenarios show that achieving significant reductions of GHG emissions in the Bolivian electric system will heavily depend on:1) reducing the artificial competitiveness of thermal power plants through subsidies, but also a price on carbon emissions; 2) banning high impact power plants (mainly very large hydropower plants); and 3) defining clear long-term objectives for the participation of renewables in the system, starting with objectives in current short-term plans. By examining several scenarios, relative system costs as a function of emissions reductions are determined as well. For high penetration of variable renewable energy, addition of storage will eventually be needed as dispatchable renewable resources are limited.