Coal-based generators’ corporate response to an emissions trading scheme in Kazakhstan

IF 3.8 3区经济学 Q3 ENERGY & FUELS

Utilities Policy Pub Date : 2024-07-04 DOI:10.1016/j.jup.2024.101797

Daulet Akhmetov , Peter Howie

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

The power industry remains a central focus of modern climate mitigation policies because of its significant contribution to global GHG emissions and increased global electricity demand. This paper examines Kazakhstan's coal-based power-generation companies' responses to a national emissions trading scheme (ETS) regulation introduced in 2013 by applying corporate climate strategy and sociotechnical systems frameworks. The in-depth case study is based on 20 interviews with managers of the six largest Kazakhstan coal-based generators and ten interviews with independent industry experts. The empirical data indicate that Kazakhstan's ETS has impacted the country's generators. The companies have responded in the form of non-compliance (i.e., application for additional free allowances), compliance (i.e., purchase of allowances from the ETS), and compliance-plus activities (i.e., exploring investment into renewable energy and fuel switching to natural gas). At the same time, Kazakhstan's generators continue the business-as-usual approach by investing in modernizing their coal-generating assets. Therefore, Kazakhstan may consider complementing its ETS regulation with additional policy reforms to support its ambitious objective to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060.

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煤炭发电企业对哈萨克斯坦排放交易计划的回应

由于电力行业对全球温室气体排放和全球电力需求的增加做出了重大贡献，因此电力行业仍然是现代气候减缓政策的核心重点。本文运用企业气候战略和社会技术系统框架，研究了哈萨克斯坦煤炭发电企业对 2013 年出台的国家排放交易计划（ETS）法规的应对措施。该深入案例研究基于对哈萨克斯坦六家最大煤炭发电公司经理的 20 次访谈和对独立行业专家的 10 次访谈。实证数据表明，哈萨克斯坦的排放交易计划对该国的发电企业产生了影响。这些公司的应对方式包括：不遵守规定（即申请额外的免费配额）、遵守规定（即从排放交易计划中购买配额）以及遵守规定之外的活动（即探索对可再生能源的投资以及将燃料转换为天然气）。与此同时，哈萨克斯坦的发电企业继续 "一切照旧"，投资于煤炭发电资产的现代化。因此，哈萨克斯坦可以考虑通过额外的政策改革来补充其排放交易计划法规，以支持其到 2060 年实现碳中和的宏伟目标。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Utilities Policy ENERGY & FUELS-ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES

CiteScore

6.80

自引率

10.00%

发文量

审稿时长

66 days

期刊介绍： Utilities Policy is deliberately international, interdisciplinary, and intersectoral. Articles address utility trends and issues in both developed and developing economies. Authors and reviewers come from various disciplines, including economics, political science, sociology, law, finance, accounting, management, and engineering. Areas of focus include the utility and network industries providing essential electricity, natural gas, water and wastewater, solid waste, communications, broadband, postal, and public transportation services. Utilities Policy invites submissions that apply various quantitative and qualitative methods. Contributions are welcome from both established and emerging scholars as well as accomplished practitioners. Interdisciplinary, comparative, and applied works are encouraged. Submissions to the journal should have a clear focus on governance, performance, and/or analysis of public utilities with an aim toward informing the policymaking process and providing recommendations as appropriate. Relevant topics and issues include but are not limited to industry structures and ownership, market design and dynamics, economic development, resource planning, system modeling, accounting and finance, infrastructure investment, supply and demand efficiency, strategic management and productivity, network operations and integration, supply chains, adaptation and flexibility, service-quality standards, benchmarking and metrics, benefit-cost analysis, behavior and incentives, pricing and demand response, economic and environmental regulation, regulatory performance and impact, restructuring and deregulation, and policy institutions.