Simultaneously, the world is gradually increasingly electrifying. In the not so far future, carbon emissions from the electricity sector are likely to surpass that of the other sectors combined. By the mid-century half of global anthropogenic emissions are likely to be shared by power generation. Correspondingly any attempt to curb global emissions will need to have power generation at its centre of interest, without that it will be missing the right target. Therefore, decarbonising the power sector is becoming a focus of interest. Such strategy is demonstrated in the UK Electricity White Paper 2011, and US Climate Action Plan 2013, as well as all climate conventions. It also aims at encouraging generation of non-fossil fuels and phasing out harmful subsidies.

Chapter Contents:

• 9.1 Introduction: the carbon dilemma
• 9.2 UK Electricity White Paper 2011
• 9.3 US Climate Action Plan 2013
• 9.4 Climate conventions: Kyoto and beyond
• 9.5 Electricity generation and climatic change agreements
• 9.5.1 Carbon taxation
• 9.5.2 Emissions trading
• 9.5.3 Flexible project mechanisms
• 9.6 The negative effect of power sector subsidies
• 9.7 Prospects for non-fossil-fuel power generation
• 9.7.1 Prospects for nuclear energy
• 9.7.2 Prospects for wind power
• 9.7.3 Future prospects for solar cells
• 9.7.4 The virtual power plant
• References

Inspec keywords: air pollution control; electricity supply industry

Other keywords: US Climate Action Plan 2013; global anthropogenic emissions; carbon dioxide emissions; UK Electricity White Paper 2011; power generation; global emissions; electricity generation; power sector decarbonisation; carbon-constrained world; IEA projections

Subjects: Pollution detection and control; Power system management, operation and economics