Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2001. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references. Available also from UMI/Dissertation Abstracts International.

Thesis (MSocSci Community Development (Research)) -- University of Pretoria, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 139-151)

Thesis (M. Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 2007.

The objective of this thesis is to perform a cost benefits analysis of the wind power sector in Germany, with the horizon of 2030. Various costs and benefits stemming from the expansion of wind power are inferred from literature review and studying the peculiarities of the German case. The magnitude of governmental support is calculated by applying the Weibull distribution of wind at different zones across Germany and power curves of 5 modern wind turbines, as specified by the law. A number of sensitivity analyses is performed on the main inputs for onshore installations. Under the baseline assumptions, the onshore sector is found as non-beneficial to the society, without a visible improving trend for the future. While the offshore sector does not reach a point where the benefits would start overweighing the cost until 2030, the overall trend look much more promising. Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)

Drastic changes have taken place in UK electricity policy over recent years as government has sought to address the challenges associated with energy security, affordability and commitments to reduce carbon emissions. This study investigates the underlying policy changes between the year 2000 and 2012, particularly the Electricity Market Reform, as the most fundamental transformation in the British power market since liberalisation, almost three decades ago. It illustrates that although this policy had revised the long legacy of market-based and technology neutral electricity policymaking, it was yet to be claimed as a wholesale paradigmatic shift, because, as of 2012, it still suffered from a form of paradigm ambivalence and socio-technical lock-in. Furthermore, this research identifies an accumulative process of policy change explaining how a complex set of dynamics transformed the UK electricity policy mix. The thesis relies empirically on conducting 53 semi-structured interviews as well as scrutinising policy documents and relevant secondary studies. The thesis draws relevant approaches within policy studies that attend to address continuity and change in policy frameworks, in particular the Advocacy Coalition Framework (Sabatier 1999) and Policy Paradigm (Hall 1993) perspectives. The study contributes to this literature in three distinctive ways. First, it questions the adequacy of existing frameworks for conceptualising policy change in ‘large-technical’ and ‘techno-centric’ subsystems, such as electricity policy. In return, it introduces technology preference, as a policy component capturing the socio-technical elements of electricity policymaking. Second, to explain why and how such significant changes had been undergone, it forms a bridge between the characteristics of policy change and the extent that existing policies are perceived as irreconcilable policy failures. By this, it, albeit, moves beyond the conventional typology of change drivers in policy literature. Third, this research extends the emerging concept of negotiated agreement and policy compromise as a pathway to evolutionary changes (Sabatier & Weible 2007). Inspired by Institutional Change theory (Mahoney & Thelen 2010), it proposes that compromised policies are often at the risk of policy reversibility and retrenchment, subject to any shift in the contextual conditions they have originated in. Overall, the thesis provides an understanding of one of the very complex and contemporary cases for studying policy change theories.

Recently, electric vehicles (EVs) have been gaining attention in passenger transportation due to their greater fuel economy and reduced greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions compared to conventional vehicles (CVs). The amount of GHG emissions reduction from EVs depends on the energy sources used to generate electricity. Wind is a clean, renewable energy source and EVs charged from wind-generated electricity do not produce any emissions. However, wind is variable in nature. This thesis examines the potential impact of EVs on reducing a jurisdiction’s vehicular GHG emissions using locally available wind-electricity. Four methods of charging EVs using wind-electricity are considered, with grid-electricity as a backup, and the overall well-to-wheels GHG emission reductions are discussed. The thesis includes a case study of Summerside. The results show that up to 68% of the EVs’ demands were met with wind-electricity, and Summerside’s vehicular GHG emissions were reduced by between 56% and 73% when compared to CVs.

The thesis discusses Turkish energy sector by using examples, projections made by the European Union, and positions of the experts and scholars. The work discusses the process of reformation of Energy sector, and what the obstacles and difficulties are. It is important that Turkey needs progress in the process of reformation that can be satisfied by using a functioning model in the field. Turkey has to apply the legislation of the European Union as an applicant country. Turkey needs a strategy for achieving the application of the energy legislation. Different countries in the European Union have been examined in the work for finding the strategy for Turkish energy sector. The countries have been selected for their peculiarities (Greece) and their strategical approaches for shaping their markets (France, Italy, Germany, United Kingdom &ndash / G8 countries in the European Union). The result of the study shows that the energy pool applied in England and Wales of the United Kingdom is a successful example, and it can be used for electricity policy along with some other developments in the field. The work tries to propose a model for the reform to be done, for the benefit of the society.

Proefschrift--Utrecht. / Errata slip inserted. "Stellingen" : [3] p. inserted. Bibliography: p. [74]-75.

Proefschrift--Utrecht. / Errata slip inserted. "Stellingen" : [3] p. inserted. Bibliography: p. [74]-75.

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