Building a Healthier and More Robust Future: 2050 Low Carbon Energy Scenarios for California
Envisioning the future electricity system and pathways for deep decarbonization
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Recipient
Berkeley, CA
Recipient Location
9th
Senate District
14th
Assembly District
$700,000
Amount Spent
Completed
Project Status
Project Result
LBNL and UC Berkeley have developed several long-term energy scenarios for California. The team attempted to harmonize assumptions with E3 and UC Irvine. These two entities performed similar analyses (long-term energy scenarios) than LBNL/UCB, but using different tools. The LBNL/UCB team is modeling the entire Western Electric Coordinating Council (WECC) to investigate if a changing of geographical coverage can affect the long-term energy scenarios. They also used a more granular model of the electricity system both in space and time with, for example, several load centers in the WECC instead of representing California as one block.
The Issue
California has set an aggressive long-term climate goal of 80% GHG reduction by 2050 relative to the 1990 level. Several studies have been conducted on how to achieve this goal but they have not considered some important factors such as climate change impacts, aggressive demand response options, plug-in electric vehicle (PEV) adoption, and more realistic energy efficiency scenarios.
Project Innovation
The researchers developed long-term energy scenarios for California that comply with GHG emission targets and goals. The scenarios provide new insights about technology options and by when some of this options should be implemented.
Project Benefits
The researchers developed a stochastic version of their electricity model to explore issues such as path dependences. The preliminary final results indicates, among other things, that achieving the 2030 GHG target will be extremely difficult with a high percentage of natural gas appliances still in operation. However, this target can be met if California starts electrifying energy services and decarbonize power generation at a fast rate. The electrification of the industrial sector will be difficult even though the electrification technical potential is high. This is mostly due to the costs associated with electrification of the industrial sector. The use of PVs in disadvantages communities may not substantially improve local air quality or public health.

Affordability
The proposed analysis is providing guidance for future electricity investment that can meet carbon limits at the lowest cost. The CPUC using the results of the long-term energy scenario projects to inform their long-term procurement program.

Reliability
Energy system resilience analysis will help to ensure the electricity system is more robust to future external shocks.

Energy Security
Studying the optimal paths for developing California's energy system to meet its GHG goals may prevent inefficiency in the energy system investments and potentially avert stranded investments.
Key Project Members

Max Wei
Subrecipients

The Regents of the University of California, on behalf of the Berkeley Campus

Match Partners

The Regents of the University of California, on behalf of the Berkeley Campus
