Energy security and renewable electricity trade - Will Desertec make Europe vulnerable to the "energy weapon"?

Lilliestam, J. & Ellenbeck, S. (2011). Energy security and renewable electricity trade - Will Desertec make Europe vulnerable to the "energy weapon"? Energy Policy 39 (6) 3380-3391. 10.1016/j.enpol.2011.03.035.

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Abstract

Solar power imports to Europe from the deserts of North Africa, as foreseen in the Desertec concept, is one possible way to help decarbonising the European power sector by 2050. However, this approach raises questions of threats to European energy security in such an import scenario, particularly in the light of increasing import dependency and Russia's use of the "energy weapon" in recent years. In this paper we investigate the threat of North African countries using the Desertec electricity exports as an "energy weapon". We develop and use a new model to assess the interdependence - the bargaining power symmetry, operationalised as costs - of a disruption in a future renewable electricity trade between North Africa and Europe. If Europe maintains current capacity buffers, some demand-response capability and does not import much more than what is described in the Desertec scenario, it is susceptible to extortion and political pressure only if all five exporter countries unite in using the energy weapon. Europe is not vulnerable to extortion by an export cut from only one country, as the European capacity buffers are sufficient to restore the power supply: no single exporter country would have sustained bargaining power over Europe.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: Energy security; Desertec; Interdependence
Research Programs: Risk, Policy and Vulnerability (RPV)
Risk & Resilience (RISK)
Bibliographic Reference: Energy Policy; 39(6):3380-3391 (June 2011) (Published online 7 April 2011)
Depositing User: IIASA Import
Date Deposited: 15 Jan 2016 08:45
Last Modified: 27 Aug 2021 17:39
URI: https://pure.iiasa.ac.at/9616

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