Utilities Policy最新文献

{"title":"Modeling the impact of price and usage efficiency on domestic water demand in Saudi Arabia","authors":"Muhammad Javid","doi":"10.1016/j.jup.2025.101971","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jup.2025.101971","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The main objective of this paper is twofold. First, it seeks to identify the key drivers of domestic water demand in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) by estimating two sets of water demand models covering 1994 to 2023. The first model relates water demand to water price, income, and population, while the second model adds water use efficiency (WUE) as an additional explanatory variable to assess its impact on future domestic water demand. Second, the paper projects Saudi Arabia's domestic water demand through 2050 based on the estimates derived from both models. The estimation results show that all coefficients are significant and align with theoretical expectations. The estimated price elasticities of water demand are −0.17 and −0.20 for Models 1 and 2, respectively. The estimated elasticity of WUE is −0.39. Projections based on Model 1 suggest that total domestic water demand will rise from 3.6 billion m³/year in 2023 to approximately 8.14 billion m³/year by 2050. The results indicate that domestic water demand in KSA could be reduced by 32 % through improvements in WUE and by 4 % through water price reforms. These findings underscore the significant role of WUE enhancements in managing domestic water demand in KSA.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23554,"journal":{"name":"Utilities Policy","volume":"96 ","pages":"Article 101971"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-05-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144135180","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Decision model for selecting a portfolio of non-technical loss mitigation projects for power distribution systems","authors":"Duan Vilela Ferreira ,&nbsp;Vinicius de Oliveira ,&nbsp;Tarso Vilela Ferreira ,&nbsp;Ana Paula Henriques de Gusmão","doi":"10.1016/j.jup.2025.101967","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jup.2025.101967","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Non-technical losses (NTLs), often caused by fraud and theft, harm the quality of energy supply, increase tariffs, and impact sustainability. To address these issues, companies and researchers have increasingly invested in technologies, procedures, and projects to mitigate such losses. Considering the limited resources of distribution companies and the varied nature of NTL mitigation projects, supporting managers when selecting the most suitable projects becomes essential. This research, therefore, proposes a multicriteria model based on FITradeoff for portfolio problems to support managers in selecting a portfolio of NTL mitigation projects. The proposed model comprises several benefits, including the usage of partial information, thus reducing cognitive efforts from decision makers, and the benefit-to-cost ratio approach eliminates the need to compute and evaluate all possible portfolios, as is the case in combinatorial methods, thereby minimizing computational efforts. To demonstrate the model's effectiveness, a case study based on actual data is presented, outlining the steps followed from problem structuring and data gathering to the application through the decision support system of the FITradeoff method. Results demonstrate the model's effectiveness in capturing the decision-maker's preferences and generating recommendations accordingly, as well as its flexibility during the decision-making process and its potential to be replicated in other contexts.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23554,"journal":{"name":"Utilities Policy","volume":"95 ","pages":"Article 101967"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-05-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144098959","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A system dynamics model of the investment capacity of China's power grid under the third regulatory cycle of transmission and distribution tariff reform","authors":"Xiaomin Xu ,&nbsp;Zhiyi Wang ,&nbsp;Yingying Zhou ,&nbsp;Haoxu Cui ,&nbsp;Shipeng Zheng ,&nbsp;Xiao Guan","doi":"10.1016/j.jup.2025.101968","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jup.2025.101968","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Under the third regulatory cycle of transmission and distribution tariff (T&amp;D) reform, power grid companies' profit pattern and operation ideas have significantly changed their investment capacity. To accurately assess the investment capacity of companies, this study first reveals the impacts of the reforms on the electricity sales side profit pattern. Then, a system dynamics prediction model is constructed to analyze investment capacity based on these reforms. Finally, the trend of investment capacity is predicted with actual data for a company, and targeted management suggestions are presented based on the sensitivity analysis for power grid companies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23554,"journal":{"name":"Utilities Policy","volume":"95 ","pages":"Article 101968"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-05-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144098958","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A case study of financing zero-emission power-to-gas technologies in Spain","authors":"Pilar Portillo-Tarragona ,&nbsp;Eva Llera-Sastresa ,&nbsp;Sabina Scarpellini ,&nbsp;Darío Benito-Bentué","doi":"10.1016/j.jup.2025.101965","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jup.2025.101965","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>A zero-emissions scenario entails new energy systems minimizing short and medium-term carbon emissions and transitioning to renewable sources in the long term. In the face of these challenges, information about investments in sustainable energy technologies has to be considered a priority issue for many industry organizations, as it is still an incipient topic in academic literature. In this scenario, this study considers and prioritizes the financial resources mobilized for investments in power-to-gas technologies because they contribute to producing clean and efficient fuels from renewables or carbon-neutral sources. This process typically involves electrolysis to produce hydrogen converted to synthetic gas, which is used as a storable form of renewable energy. This study is essentially qualitative and exploratory, based on semi-structured interviews with experts to help define and classify the financial resources that investments require for these technologies in Spain. We study the institutional influence on the power-to-gas deployment and reflect on how the mobilization of specific resources can contribute to these zero-emission technologies and the related social metrics for reporting sustainable investments, also from the perspective of a Spanish financial institution as an exploratory case study. This study provides theoretical and practical insights regarding the current and future mobilization of financial resources for investments in power-to-gas technologies and energy utilities’ sustainable finance policies in a zero-emissions scenario.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23554,"journal":{"name":"Utilities Policy","volume":"95 ","pages":"Article 101965"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-05-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144084352","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The role of human capital in driving renewable energy and sustainable development in India","authors":"P.P. Nisamudheen,&nbsp;K. Hassan Shareef","doi":"10.1016/j.jup.2025.101969","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jup.2025.101969","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study explores the relationship between human capital and energy conservation in India from 1980 to 2022 using the ARDL model to assess short- and long-term effects. The findings, validated through DOLS, indicate that higher human capital reduces total energy consumption while increasing renewable energy use. Unlike prior research linking human capital to productivity and overall energy demand, this study highlights its role in driving renewable energy adoption. The results emphasise the significance of strengthening human capital to support energy conservation and sustainability, aiding India's transition toward a cleaner energy mix and reinforcing the need for investment in education.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23554,"journal":{"name":"Utilities Policy","volume":"95 ","pages":"Article 101969"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-05-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144072621","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Capacity tariff mechanism design for grid-side energy storage in China: A Stackelberg game approach","authors":"Shanshan Huang ,&nbsp;Ze Ye ,&nbsp;Yunxiang Huang","doi":"10.1016/j.jup.2025.101963","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jup.2025.101963","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In recent years, China has been developing large-scale grid-side energy storage facilities. However, the deployment of grid-side energy storage has primarily depended on government subsidies. This paper proposes a capacity tariff mechanism for grid-side energy storage using a Stackelberg game framework, where the grid operator acts as the leader and storage operators act as followers. The results demonstrate that the proposed capacity tariff method effectively balances the storage revenue with grid operational costs, ensuring fair capacity tariffs. Compared to traditional capacity tariff methods, this approach enhances renewable energy use and reduces grid costs, supporting energy transition and sustainable development.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23554,"journal":{"name":"Utilities Policy","volume":"95 ","pages":"Article 101963"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-05-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144072569","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Do publicly owned companies have lower district heating prices? An empirical analysis for Germany","authors":"Miguel Bänfer,&nbsp;Anna Billerbeck,&nbsp;Patrick Plötz","doi":"10.1016/j.jup.2025.101959","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jup.2025.101959","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>District heating (DH) networks can provide climate-neutral heating if operated using renewable energy resources. However, their operation is monopolistic and thus without price competition. Publicly owned companies have been conjectured to offer DH at lower prices than privately owned companies, but the evidence is limited. Here, we empirically analyse over 500 DH prices of 184 DH companies in Germany. Controlling for energy carrier, network size and other factors, we demonstrate that prices of publicly owned DH companies are lower by 9–15 €/MWh (10–20 %). Thus, publicly owned DH can make a cost-efficient contribution to climate-neutral heating.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23554,"journal":{"name":"Utilities Policy","volume":"95 ","pages":"Article 101959"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-05-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144068334","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Sustainable smart waste management solutions for rapidly urbanizing African Cities","authors":"Emmanuel O. Atofarati ,&nbsp;Victor O. Adogbeji ,&nbsp;Christopher C. Enweremadu","doi":"10.1016/j.jup.2025.101961","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jup.2025.101961","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The increasing waste volumes in African cities highlight the urgent need for innovative and sustainable waste management solutions to mitigate climate change, reduce health risks, and support urban development. Rapid urbanization has exacerbated these challenges, as existing waste management systems often suffer from inefficiencies, inadequate coverage, and environmental impacts such as pollution of aquatic ecosystems. This study systematically evaluates the challenges and opportunities of integrating smart waste management technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), and blockchain into waste collection and processing in African cities. Specifically, the research aims to assess the efficiency of smart waste management solutions in urban settings, identify barriers to implementing Centralized Smart Waste Management (CSWM) in African contexts, and propose a scalable framework tailored to the region's socio-economic and infrastructural conditions. Through a comprehensive review of contemporary waste management practices and global technological advancements, including case studies from South Korea and India, this study introduces a hypothetical CSWM framework. The proposed model integrates predictive waste volume sensing, real-time monitoring, and automated sorting and disposal systems to enhance operational efficiency, optimize resource utilization, and minimize environmental harm. While the CSWM framework offers economic, environmental, and social benefits, including enhanced resource recovery, job creation, and long-term cost savings, its implementation faces challenges such as infrastructure limitations, high costs, and the need for stakeholder engagement. Addressing these barriers requires collaborative efforts among governments, the private sector, and community organizations, alongside policy innovations such as tax incentives, regulatory reforms, and public-private partnerships. This study provides a structured roadmap for transitioning African cities toward efficient, resilient, and environmentally sustainable waste management systems by aligning technological advancements with sustainable policies and active stakeholder participation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23554,"journal":{"name":"Utilities Policy","volume":"95 ","pages":"Article 101961"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-05-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144068335","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Digital infrastructure investment and carbon emissions reduction based on the Broadband China policy","authors":"Mengjie Li ,&nbsp;Sunfan Liang ,&nbsp;Cheng Cheng ,&nbsp;Weijian Du","doi":"10.1016/j.jup.2025.101964","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jup.2025.101964","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>A multiphase difference-in-differences model is used to explore the impacts of digital infrastructure investment on carbon emissions based on the Broadband China (BC) policy. The benchmark analysis of pilot cities reveals that the BC policy is associated with carbon emissions reductions of approximately 0.05 %. The mechanistic analysis indicates that the BC strategy increases urban innovation capacity, motivates the public to live environmentally friendly lives, optimizes the industrial structure, and, as a result, reduces carbon emissions in cities. This study offers valuable reference data for resolving the dilemma of promoting emission reduction while maintaining economic growth to achieve the dual-carbon target.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23554,"journal":{"name":"Utilities Policy","volume":"95 ","pages":"Article 101964"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-05-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143943109","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Auctioning electricity transmission margins for competitive access to Brazil's National Interconnected System","authors":"Lucas Santos e Silva,&nbsp;Mauricio Soares Bugarin","doi":"10.1016/j.jup.2025.101962","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jup.2025.101962","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Recent transformations in the Brazilian Electricity Sector (BES) have generated intense competition for access to transmission capacity in the National Interconnected System (NIS). This situation has highlighted the inherent scarcity of transmission resources and the inadequacy of the current queue criterion for allocating remaining margins. We address the country's new reality by proposing a straightforward and transparent competitive mechanism to enhance allocative efficiency and improve access dynamics. More specifically, we propose a Transmission Margin Auction (TMA) for the BES, based on an open ascending format, according to which all the available capacity established by the National System Operator's (ONS) expansion plan is offered sequentially, and participants are allowed to compete for any available connection point.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23554,"journal":{"name":"Utilities Policy","volume":"95 ","pages":"Article 101962"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-05-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143943004","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}