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Estimating the social carbon costs from power and desalination productions in UAE

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  • Saleh, Layla
  • Zaabi, Mohamed al
  • Mezher, Toufic

Abstract

Climate change has become one of the most pervasive issues of our time, its consequences are not only affecting the natural environment but the economic development as well. Greenhouse gases, especially CO2, emitted from power plants are one of the most challenging problems facing societies. Estimating the real cost of such emissions should include both internal and external costs that include the social cost of carbon (SCC). SCC is usually estimated as the net present value of the climate change effects over the next 100 years of one ton of carbon dioxide emitted to the atmosphere today. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has one of the highest per capita rates of power and water consumptions in the world which are leading to a large amount of CO2 and other greenhouse gas emissions. The majority of the water production in the country comes from desalination plants that are energy intensive, hence the link between energy and water (the nexus). Thermal desalination technologies are the major techniques used in UAE, therefore, cogeneration-based power plants dominate the energy sector in the UAE. This nexus is resulting in a significant impact on the environment due to GHG emissions, as well as other solid and liquid wastes. This paper investigates the potential SCC in UAE from the year 2010 until the year 2030. Additionally, different mitigation strategies were analyzed to reduce SCC by including energy mix from conventional and non-conventional sources. It is estimated that by 2030 the total CO2 emissions will be around 139.252 billion tons from power generation and 18.8 million tons from water productions. SCC is estimated to be around 6.96 trillion dollars and 938.4 million dollars for energy and water productions respectively. With the implementation of mitigation strategies, the SCC can be reduced by 1.5 trillion dollars by the year 2030.

Suggested Citation

  • Saleh, Layla & Zaabi, Mohamed al & Mezher, Toufic, 2019. "Estimating the social carbon costs from power and desalination productions in UAE," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 114(C), pages 1-1.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:rensus:v:114:y:2019:i:c:36
    DOI: 10.1016/j.rser.2019.109284
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    2. Alasam Alzaabi, Mohammed S.M. & Mezher, Toufic, 2021. "Analyzing existing UAE national water, energy and food nexus related strategies," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 144(C).
    3. Saleh, Layla & Mezher, Toufic, 2021. "Techno-economic analysis of sustainability and externality costs of water desalination production," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 150(C).
    4. Zolghadr-Asli, Babak & McIntyre, Neil & Djordjevic, Slobodan & Farmani, Raziyeh & Pagliero, Liliana, 2023. "The sustainability of desalination as a remedy to the water crisis in the agriculture sector: An analysis from the climate-water-energy-food nexus perspective," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 286(C).
    5. Olabi, A.G. & Abdelkareem, Mohammad Ali, 2022. "Renewable energy and climate change," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 158(C).
    6. Zaiter, Issa & Ramadan, Mohamad & Bouabid, Ali & El-Fadel, Mutasem & Mezher, Toufic, 2023. "Potential utilization of hydrogen in the UAE's industrial sector," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 280(C).

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