Ines M. L. Azevedo

All Publications

• Ensuring greenhouse gas reductions from electric vehicles compared to hybrid gasoline vehicles requires a cleaner U.S. electricity grid. Scientific reports Singh, M., Yuksel, T., Michalek, J. J., Azevedo, I. M. 2024; 14 (1): 1639

  Abstract

  Emissions from electric vehicles depend on when they are charged and which power plants meet the electricity demand. We introduce a new metric, the critical emissions factors (CEFs), as the emissions intensity of electricity that needs to be achieved when charging to ensure electric vehicles achieve lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions parity with some of the most efficient gasoline hybrid vehicles across the United States. We use a consequential framework, consider 2018 as our reference year, and account for the effects of temperature and drive cycle on vehicle efficiency to account for regional climate and use conditions. We find that the Nissan Leaf and Chevy Bolt battery electric vehicles reduce lifecycle emissions relative to Toyota Prius and Honda Accord gasoline hybrids in most of the United States. However, in rural counties of the Midwest and the South, power grid marginal emissions reductions of up to 208 gCO2/kWh are still needed for these electric vehicles to have lower lifecycle emissions than gasoline hybrids. Except for the Northeast and Florida, the longer-range Tesla Model S battery-electric luxury sedan has higher emissions than the hybrids across the U.S., and the emissions intensity of the grid would need to decrease by up to 342 gCO2/kWh in some locations for it to achieve carbon parity with hybrid gasoline vehicles. Finally, we conclude that coal retirements and stricter standards on fossil fuel generators are more effective in the medium term at reducing consequential electric vehicle emissions than expansion of renewable capacity.

  View details for DOI 10.1038/s41598-024-51697-1

  View details for PubMedID 38238349

• How COVID-19 altered perceived household resource consumption in the United States: Results from a survey ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS Shivaram, R., Azevedo, I. L. 2023; 18 (8)

  View details for DOI 10.1088/1748-9326/ace72d

  View details for Web of Science ID 001037375200001

• Drought impacts on the electricity system, emissions, and air quality in the western United States. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America Qiu, M., Ratledge, N., Azevedo, I. M., Diffenbaugh, N. S., Burke, M. 2023; 120 (28): e2300395120

  Abstract

  The western United States has experienced severe drought in recent decades, and climate models project increased drought risk in the future. This increased drying could have important implications for the region's interconnected, hydropower-dependent electricity systems. Using power-plant level generation and emissions data from 2001 to 2021, we quantify the impacts of drought on the operation of fossil fuel plants and the associated impacts on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, air quality, and human health. We find that under extreme drought, electricity generation from individual fossil fuel plants can increase up to 65% relative to average conditions, mainly due to the need to substitute for reduced hydropower. Over 54% of this drought-induced generation is transboundary, with drought in one electricity region leading to net imports of electricity and thus increased pollutant emissions from power plants in other regions. These drought-induced emission increases have detectable impacts on local air quality, as measured by proximate pollution monitors. We estimate that the monetized costs of excess mortality and GHG emissions from drought-induced fossil generation are 1.2 to 2.5x the reported direct economic costs from lost hydro production and increased demand. Combining climate model estimates of future drying with stylized energy-transition scenarios suggests that these drought-induced impacts are likely to remain large even under aggressive renewables expansion, suggesting that more ambitious and targeted measures are needed to mitigate the emissions and health burden from the electricity sector during drought.

  View details for DOI 10.1073/pnas.2300395120

  View details for PubMedID 37410866

• Inequality in air pollution mortality from power generation in India ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS Sengupta, S., Thakrar, S. K., Singh, K., Tongia, R., Hill, J. D., Azevedo, I. L., Adams, P. J. 2023; 18 (1)

  View details for DOI 10.1088/1748-9326/aca8bb

  View details for Web of Science ID 000898938000001

• The Global Technical, Economic, and Feasible Potential of Renewable Electricity ANNUAL REVIEW OF ENVIRONMENT AND RESOURCES de La Beaumelle, N., Blok, K., de Chalendar, J. A., Clarke, L., Hahmann, A. N., Huster, J., Nemet, G. F., Suri, D., Wild, T. B., Azevedo, I. L. 2023; 48: 419-449

  View details for DOI 10.1146/annurev-environ-112321-091140

  View details for Web of Science ID 001101629000016

• Subnational implications from climate and air pollution policies in India's electricity sector. Science (New York, N.Y.) Sengupta, S., Adams, P. J., Deetjen, T. A., Kamboj, P., D'Souza, S., Tongia, R., Azevedo, I. M. 2022; 378 (6620): eabh1484

  Abstract

  Emissions of greenhouse gases and air pollutants in India are important contributors to climate change and health damages. This study estimates current emissions from India's electricity sector and simulates the state-level implications of climate change and air pollution policies. We find that (i) a carbon tax results in little short-term emissions reductions because there is not enough dispatchable lower emission spare capacity to substitute coal; (ii) moving toward regional dispatch markets rather than state-level dispatch decisions will not lead to emissions reductions; (iii) policies that have modest emissions effects at the national level nonetheless have disparate state-level emissions impacts; and (iv) pricing or incentive mechanisms tied to production or consumption will result in markedly different costs to states.

  View details for DOI 10.1126/science.abh1484

  View details for PubMedID 36356126

• Sustained cost declines in solar PV and battery storage needed to eliminate coal generation in India ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS Mohan, A., Sengupta, S., Vaishnav, P., Tongia, R., Ahmed, A., Azevedo, I. L. 2022; 17 (11)

  View details for DOI 10.1088/1748-9326/ac98d8

  View details for Web of Science ID 000882601500001

• Charging infrastructure access and operation to reduce the grid impacts of deep electric vehicle adoption NATURE ENERGY Powell, S., Cezar, G., Min, L., Azevedo, I. L., Rajagopal, R. 2022

  View details for DOI 10.1038/s41560-022-01105-7

  View details for Web of Science ID 000860193900001

• Current and Future Estimates of Marginal Emission Factors for Indian Power Generation. Environmental science & technology Sengupta, S., Spencer, T., Rodrigues, N., Pachouri, R., Thakare, S., Adams, P. J., Tongia, R., Azevedo, I. M. 2022

  Abstract

  Emission factors from Indian electricity remain poorly characterized, despite known spatial and temporal variability. Limited publicly available emissions and generation data at sufficient detail make it difficult to understand the consequences of emissions to climate change and air pollution, potentially missing cost-effective policy designs for the world's third largest power grid. We use reduced-form and full-form power dispatch models to quantify current (2017-2018) and future (2030-2031) marginal CO2, SO2, NOX, and PM2.5 emission factors from Indian power generation. These marginal emissions represent emissions changes due to small changes in demand. For 2017-2018, spatial variability in marginal CO2 emission factors range 3 orders of magnitude across India's states. There is limited seasonal and intraday variability with coal generation likely to meet changes in demand more than half the time in more than half of the states. Assuming the Government of India approximate 2030 targets, the median marginal CO2 emission factor across states decreases by approximately a factor of 2, but emission factors still span 3 orders of magnitude across states. Under 2030-2031 assumptions there is greater seasonal and intraday variability by up to factors of two and four, respectively. Estimates provide emission factors to evaluate interventions such as electric vehicles, increased air conditioning, and energy efficiency.

  View details for DOI 10.1021/acs.est.1c07500

  View details for PubMedID 35748433

• Should India Move toward Vehicle Electrification? Assessing Life-Cycle Greenhouse Gas and Criteria Air Pollutant Emissions of Alternative and Conventional Fuel Vehicles in India. Environmental science & technology Peshin, T., Sengupta, S., Azevedo, I. M. 2022

  Abstract

  We perform a state-specific life-cycle assessment of greenhouse gases (GHG) (CO2eq) and sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions in India for representative passenger vehicles (two-wheelers, three-wheelers, four-wheelers, and buses) and technologies (internal combustion engine, battery electric, hybrid electric, and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles). We find that in most states, four-wheeler battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) have higher GHG and SO2 emissions than other conventional or alternative vehicles. Electrification of those vehicle classes under present conditions would not lead to emission reductions. Electrified buses and three-wheelers are the best strategies to reduce GHG emissions in many states, but they are also the worst strategy in terms of SO2 emissions. Electrified two-wheelers have lower SO2 emissions than gasoline in one state. The Indian grid would need to decrease its carbon dioxide emissions by 38-52% and SO2 emissions by 58-97% (depending on the state) for widespread vehicle electrification for sustainability purposes to make sense. If the 2030 goals for India under the Glasgow COP are met, we find that four-wheeler BEVs still have higher GHG emissions in 18 states compared to a conventional gasoline compact four wheeler, and all states will have higher SO2 emissions for BEVs across all vehicle types compared to their conventional counterparts.

  View details for DOI 10.1021/acs.est.1c07718

  View details for PubMedID 35696339

• Bidding on a Peer-to-Peer Energy Market: An Exploratory Field Study INFORMATION SYSTEMS RESEARCH Worner, A., Tiefenbeck, V., Wortmann, F., Meeuw, A., Ableitner, L., Fleisch, E., Azevedo, I. 2022

  View details for DOI 10.1287/isre.2021.1098

  View details for Web of Science ID 000810438000001

• Distributional health impacts of electricity imports in the United States ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS Hennessy, E. M., de Chalendar, J. A., Benson, S. M., Azevedo, I. L. 2022; 17 (6)

  View details for DOI 10.1088/1748-9326/ac6cfa

  View details for Web of Science ID 000797697500001

• Expert elicitation on paths to advance fuel cell electric vehicles ENERGY POLICY Whiston, M. M., Azevedo, I., Litster, S., Samaras, C., Whitefoot, K. S., Whitacre, J. F. 2022; 160

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.enpol.2021.112671

  View details for Web of Science ID 000718913800001

• The Great Intergenerational Robbery: A Call for Concerted Action Against Environmental Crises ANNUAL REVIEW OF ENVIRONMENT AND RESOURCES Gadgil, A., Tomich, T. P., Agrawal, A., Allouche, J., Azevedo, I. L., Bakarr, M., Jannuzzi, G. M., Liverman, D., Malhi, Y., Polasky, S., Roy, J., Urge-Vorsatz, D., Wang, Y. 2022; 47: 1-4

  View details for DOI 10.1146/annurev-environ-061322-013248

  View details for Web of Science ID 000869731800001

• Paths to market for stationary solid oxide fuel cells: Expert elicitation and a cost of electricity model APPLIED ENERGY Whiston, M. M., Azevedo, I., Litster, S., Samaras, C., Whitefoot, K. S., Whitacre, J. F. 2021; 304

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.apenergy.2021.117641

  View details for Web of Science ID 000703563100002

• Recent developments at energy policy ENERGY POLICY Thomas, S., Antunes, C., Azevedo, I., Madlener, R., Yeh, S., Zhou, P., Du, H., Goutte, S. 2021; 159

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.enpol.2021.112574

  View details for Web of Science ID 000708580500001

• Energy systems in scenarios at net-zero CO2 emissions. Nature communications DeAngelo, J., Azevedo, I., Bistline, J., Clarke, L., Luderer, G., Byers, E., Davis, S. J. 2021; 12 (1): 6096

  Abstract

  Achievingnet-zero CO2 emissions has become the explicitgoal of many climate-energy policiesaround the world. Although many studies have assessed net-zero emissions pathways, the common features and tradeoffs of energy systems across global scenarios at the point of net-zero CO2 emissions have not yet been evaluated. Here, we examine the energy systems of 177 net-zero scenarios and discuss their long-term technological and regional characteristics in the context of current energy policies. We find that, on average, renewable energy sources account for 60% of primary energy at net-zero (compared to 14% today), with slightly less than half of that renewable energy derived from biomass. Meanwhile, electricity makes up approximately half of final energy consumed (compared to 20% today), highlighting the extent to which solid, liquid, and gaseous fuels remain prevalent in the scenarios even when emissions reach net-zero. Finally, residual emissions and offsetting negative emissions are not evenly distributed across world regions, which may have important implications for negotiations on burden-sharing, human development, and equity.

  View details for DOI 10.1038/s41467-021-26356-y

  View details for PubMedID 34671014

• The food we eat, the air we breathe: a review of the fine particulate matter-induced air quality health impacts of the global food system ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS Balasubramanian, S., Domingo, N. G., Hunt, N. D., Gittlin, M., Colgan, K. K., Marshall, J. D., Robinson, A. L., Azevedo, I. L., Thakrar, S. K., Clark, M. A., Tessum, C. W., Adams, P. J., Pandis, S. N., Hill, J. D. 2021; 16 (10)

  View details for DOI 10.1088/1748-9326/ac065f

  View details for Web of Science ID 000704876900001

• Welfare analysis of the ecological impacts of electricity production in Chile using the sparse multinomial logit model ECOLOGICAL ECONOMICS De La Maza, C., Davis, A., Azevedo, I. 2021; 184

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.ecolecon.2021.107010

  View details for Web of Science ID 000636442900005

• Do LED lightbulbs save natural gas? Interpreting simultaneous cross-energy program impacts using electricity and natural gas billing data (vol 3, 015003, 2021) ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS Adekanye, O. G., Davis, A., Azevedo, I. L. 2021; 3 (5)

  View details for DOI 10.1088/2515-7620/abffd6

  View details for Web of Science ID 000655751300001

• The impact of Uber and Lyft on vehicle ownership, fuel economy, and transit across U.S. cities. iScience Ward, J. W., Michalek, J. J., Samaras, C., Azevedo, I. L., Henao, A., Rames, C., Wenzel, T. 2021; 24 (1): 101933

  Abstract

  We estimate the effects of transportation network companies (TNCs) Uber and Lyft on vehicle ownership, fleet average fuel economy, and transit use in U.S. urban areas using a set of difference-in-difference propensity score-weighted regression models that exploit staggered market entry across the U.S. from 2011 to 2017. We find evidence that TNC entry into urban areas causes an average 0.7% increase in vehicle registrations with significant heterogeneity in these effects across urban areas: TNC entry produces larger vehicle ownership increases in urban areas with higher initial ownership (car-dependent cities) and in urban areas with lower population growth (where TNC-induced vehicle adoption outpaces population growth). We also find no statistically significant average effect of TNC entry on fuel economy or transit use but find evidence of heterogeneity in these effects across urban areas, including larger transit ridership reductions after TNC entry in areas with higher income and more childless households.

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.isci.2020.101933

  View details for PubMedID 33532711

• Do LED lightbulbs save natural gas? Interpreting simultaneous cross-energy program impacts using electricity and natural gas billing data ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS Adekanye, O. G., Davis, A., Azevedo, I. L. 2021; 3 (1)

  View details for DOI 10.1088/2515-7620/abddc7

  View details for Web of Science ID 000615204900001

• Energy Efficiency: What Has Research Delivered in the Last 40 Years? ANNUAL REVIEW OF ENVIRONMENT AND RESOURCES, VOL 46, 2021 Saunders, H. D., Roy, J., Azevedo, I. L., Chakravarty, D., Dasgupta, S., Du Can, S., Druckman, A., Fouquet, R., Grubb, M., Lin, B., Lowe, R., Madlener, R., Mccoy, D. M., Mundaca, L., Oreszczyn, T., Sorrell, S., Stern, D., Tanaka, K., Wei, T., Gadgil, A., Tomich, T. P. 2021; 46: 135-165

  View details for DOI 10.1146/annurev-environ-012320-084937

  View details for Web of Science ID 000713670600007

• How does new energy storage affect the operation and revenue of existing generation? Applied Energy Goteti, N. S., Hittinger, E., Azevedo, I. L. 2021; 285 (116383)

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.apenergy.2020.116383

• Effects of Air Emission Externalities on Optimal Ridesourcing Fleet Electrification and Operations. Environmental science & technology Bruchon, M. B., Michalek, J. J., Azevedo, I. L. 2021

  Abstract

  Ridesourcing services from transportation network companies, like Uber and Lyft, serve the fastest growing share of U.S. passenger travel demand.1 Ridesourcing vehicles' high use intensity is economically attractive for electric vehicles, which typically have lower operating costs and higher capital costs than conventional vehicles. We optimize fleet composition (mix of conventional vehicles (CVs), hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), and battery electric vehicles (BEVs)) and operations to satisfy demand at minimum cost and compare findings across a wide range of present-day and future scenarios for three cities. In nearly all cases, the optimal fleet includes a mix of technologies, HEVs and BEVs make up the majority of distance traveled, and CVs are used primarily for periods of peak demand (if at all). When life cycle air pollution and greenhouse gas emission externalities are internalized via a Pigovian tax, fleet electrification increases and externalities decrease, suggesting a role for policy. Externality reductions vary from 10% in New York (where externality costs for both gasoline and electricity consumption are relatively high and a Pigovian tax induces a partial shift to BEVs), to 22% in Los Angeles (where high gasoline and low electric grid externalities lead a Pigovian tax to induce a near-complete shift to BEVs).

  View details for DOI 10.1021/acs.est.0c05141

  View details for PubMedID 33601882

• Global food system emissions could preclude achieving the 1.5° and 2°C climate change targets. Science (New York, N.Y.) Clark, M. A., Domingo, N. G., Colgan, K., Thakrar, S. K., Tilman, D., Lynch, J., Azevedo, I. L., Hill, J. D. 2020; 370 (6517): 705–8

  Abstract

  The Paris Agreement's goal of limiting the increase in global temperature to 1.5° or 2°C above preindustrial levels requires rapid reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. Although reducing emissions from fossil fuels is essential for meeting this goal, other sources of emissions may also preclude its attainment. We show that even if fossil fuel emissions were immediately halted, current trends in global food systems would prevent the achievement of the 1.5°C target and, by the end of the century, threaten the achievement of the 2°C target. Meeting the 1.5°C target requires rapid and ambitious changes to food systems as well as to all nonfood sectors. The 2°C target could be achieved with less-ambitious changes to food systems, but only if fossil fuel and other nonfood emissions are eliminated soon.

  View details for DOI 10.1126/science.aba7357

  View details for PubMedID 33154139

• Regional and county flows of particulate matter damage in the US ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS Sergi, B., Azevedo, I., Davis, S. J., Muller, N. Z. 2020; 15 (10)

  View details for DOI 10.1088/1748-9326/abb429

  View details for Web of Science ID 000575675700001

• Characterizing the association between low-income electric subsidies and the intra-day timing of electricity consumption ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS Sherwin, E. D., Azevedo, I. L. 2020; 15 (9)

  View details for DOI 10.1088/1748-9326/aba030

  View details for Web of Science ID 000570724400001

• The COVID-19 lockdowns: a window into the Earth System NATURE REVIEWS EARTH & ENVIRONMENT Diffenbaugh, N. S., Field, C. B., Appel, E. A., Azevedo, I. L., Baldocchi, D. D., Burke, M., Burney, J. A., Ciais, P., Davis, S. J., Fiore, A. M., Fletcher, S. M., Hertel, T. W., Horton, D. E., Hsiang, S. M., Jackson, R. B., Jin, X., Levi, M., Lobell, D. B., McKinley, G. A., Moore, F. C., Montgomery, A., Nadeau, K. C., Pataki, D. E., Randerson, J. T., Reichstein, M., Schnell, J. L., Seneviratne, S., Singh, D., Steiner, A. L., Wong-Parodi, G. 2020; 1 (9): 470-481

  View details for DOI 10.1038/s43017-020-0079-1

  View details for Web of Science ID 000649448400008

• Climate and Health Benefits of Rapid Coal-to-Gas Fuel Switching in the U.S. Power Sector Offset Methane Leakage and Production Cost Increases. Environmental science & technology Deetjen, T. A., Azevedo, I. L. 2020

  Abstract

  In this paper, we ask whether rapidly displacing coal electricity generation with underutilized, existing natural gas capacity has net societal benefits or net costs when considering climate change, economics, and air pollution. We use a power plant dispatch model to quantify the effects of dispatching because of a tax on carbon or because of a tax on carbon, methane leakage, and air pollution. We explicitly model exhaust stack CO2 emissions, production costs, health damages caused by criteria air pollutants, and methane leakage from the natural gas infrastructure. We show that (1) the optimal coal-to-gas redispatch displaces 62-77% of coal energy, leaving some coal online, (2) the health benefits of redispatch are larger in magnitude than the climate benefits, (3) reducing methane leakage rates from 2.3 to 2.0% increases the net climate benefits of redispatch by $1.1B-$1.4B, (4) although internalizing methane leakage, climate damages, and health damages in the power plant dispatch maximizes the net benefits of redispatch, 75-87% of these benefits can be achieved using a carbon tax mechanism alone, and (5) when choosing an optimal carbon tax, focusing on climate at the exclusion of health-and vice-versa-provides less net benefit than looking at both issues jointly.

  View details for DOI 10.1021/acs.est.9b06499

  View details for PubMedID 32841565

• What are the best combinations of fuel-vehicle technologies to mitigate climate change and air pollution effects across the United States? ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS Tong, F., Azevedo, I. L. 2020; 15 (7)

  View details for DOI 10.1088/1748-9326/ab8a85

  View details for Web of Science ID 000552685300001

• Optimizing Emissions Reductions from the U.S. Power Sector for Climate and Health Benefits. Environmental science & technology Sergi, B. J., Adams, P. J., Muller, N. Z., Robinson, A. L., Davis, S. J., Marshall, J. D., Azevedo, I. L. 2020

  Abstract

  Improved air quality and human health are often discussed as "co-benefits" of mitigating climate change, yet they are rarely considered when designing or implementing climate policies. We analyze the implications of integrating health and climate when determining the best locations for replacing power plants with new wind, solar, or natural gas to meet a CO2 reduction target in the United States. We employ a capacity expansion model with integrated assessment of climate and health damages, comparing portfolios optimized for benefits to climate alone or both health and climate. The model estimates county-level health damages and accounts for uncertainty by using a range of air quality models (AP3, EASIUR, and InMAP) and concentration-response functions (American Cancer Society and Harvard Six Cities). We find that reducing CO2 by 30% yields $21-68 billion in annual health benefits, with an additional $9-36 billion possible when co-optimizing for climate and health benefits. Additional benefits accrue from prioritizing emissions reductions in counties with high population exposure. Total health benefits equal or exceed climate benefits across a wide range of modeling assumptions. Our results demonstrate the value of considering health in climate policy design and the need for interstate cooperation to achieve additional health benefits equitably.

  View details for DOI 10.1021/acs.est.9b06936

  View details for PubMedID 32392045

• The Paths to Net Zero How Technology Can Save the Planet FOREIGN AFFAIRS Azevedo, I., Davidson, M. R., Jenkins, J. D., Karplus, V. J., Victor, D. G. 2020; 99 (3): 18–27

  View details for Web of Science ID 000526776900002

• Simulating a residential building stock to support regional efficiency policy APPLIED ENERGY Glasgo, B., Khan, N., Azevedo, I. 2020; 261

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.apenergy.2019.114223

  View details for Web of Science ID 000515117500010

• Reducing Mortality from Air Pollution in the United States by Targeting Specific Emission Sources Environmental Science & Technology Letters Thakrar, S. K., Balasubramanian, S. X., Adams, P. J., Azevedo, I. M., Muller , N. Z., Pandis, S. N., Polasky, S., Pope III, C. A., Robinson, A. L., Apte, J. S., Tessum, C. W., Marshall, J. D., Hill, J. D. 2020; 7 (9): 639-645

  View details for DOI 10.1021/acs.estlett.0c00424

• Life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions of alternative and conventional fuel vehicles in India Peshin, T., Azevedo, I. L., Sengupta, S., IEEE IEEE. 2020

  View details for DOI 10.1109/VPPC49601.2020.9330819

  View details for Web of Science ID 000657274800002

• Characterizing the association between low-income electric subsidies and the intra-day timing of electricity consumption Environmental Research Letters Sherwin, E. D., Azevedo, I. M. 2020; 15 (9)

  View details for DOI 10.1088/1748-9326/aba030/meta

• Regional and county flows of particulate matter damage in the US Environmental Research Letters Sergi, B., Azevedo, I., Davis, S. J., Muller, N. Z. 2020; 15 (10)

  View details for DOI 10.1088/1748-9326/abb429/meta

• The COVID-19 lockdowns: a window into the Earth system Earth & Environment Diffenbaugh, N. S., Field, C. B., Appel, E. A., Azevedo, I. L., et al 2020; 1: 470-481
• Trace element allocation across air pollution control devices in coal fired power plants Philip L. Dowd Fellowship Award Sun, X., Gingerich, D. B., Azevedo, I. L., Mauter, M. S. 2020
• Federal policy, local policy, and green building certifications in the U.S. Energy and Buildings Adekanye, O. G., Davis, A., Azevedo, I. L. 2020; 209 (15)

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.enbuild.2019.109700

• Hydrogen Storage for Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles: Expert Elicitation and a Levelized Cost of Driving Model Environmental Science & Technology Whiston, M. M., Azevedo, I. M., Litster, S., Samaras, C., Whitefoot, K. S., Whitacre, J. F. 2020; 55 (1): 553-562

  Abstract

  A cost-effective and compact hydrogen storage system could advance fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs). Today's commercial FCEVs incorporate storage that is projected to be heavier, larger, and costlier than targets set by the U.S. Driving Research and Innovation for Vehicle efficiency and Energy sustainability Partnership (U.S. DRIVE). To inform research and development (R&D), we elicited 31 experts' assessments of expected future costs and capacities of storage systems. Experts suggested that systems would approach U.S. DRIVE's ultimate capacity targets but fall short of cost targets at a high production volume. The 2035 and 2050 median costs anticipated by experts were $13.5 and $10.53/kWhH2, gravimetric capacities of 5.2 and 5.6 wt %, and volumetric capacities of 0.93 and 1.33 kWhH2/L, respectively. To meet U.S. DRIVE's targets, experts recommended allocating the majority of government hydrogen storage R&D funding to materials development. Furthermore, we incorporated experts' cost assessments into a levelized cost of driving model. Given technical and fuel price uncertainty, FCEV costs ranged from $0.38 to $0.45/mile ($0.24-$0.28/km) in 2020, $0.30 to $0.33/mile ($0.19-$0.21/km) in 2035-2050, and $0.27 to $0.31/mile ($0.17-$0.19/km) in 2050. Depending on fuel, electricity, and battery prices, our findings suggest that FCEVs could compete with conventional and alternative fuel vehicles by 2035.

  View details for DOI 10.1021/acs.est.0c04145

• Techno-economic analysis of forest biomass blends gasification for small-scale power production facilities in the Azores Fuel Cardoso, J. C., Silva, V., Eusébio, D., Azevedo, I. L., Tarelho, L. A. 2020; 279 (1)

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.fuel.2020.118552

• Keep wind projects close? A case study of distance, culture, and cost in offshore and onshore wind energy siting Energy Research & Social Science Lamy, J., Bruine de Bruin, W., Azevedo, I. M., Morgan, M. 2020; 63

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.erss.2019.101377

• Quantifying the social equity state of an energy system: environmental and labor market equity of the shale gas boom in Appalachia ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS Mayfield, E. N., Cohon, J. L., Muller, N. Z., Azevedo, I. L., Robinson, A. L. 2019; 14 (12)

  View details for DOI 10.1088/1748-9326/ab59cd

  View details for Web of Science ID 000514833200047

• Effects of on-demand ridesourcing on vehicle ownership, fuel consumption, vehicle miles traveled, and emissions per capita in US States TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH PART C-EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES Ward, J. W., Michalek, J. J., Azevedo, I. L., Samaras, C., Ferreira, P. 2019; 108: 289–301

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.trc.2019.07.026

  View details for Web of Science ID 000498753900017

• Fine particulate matter damages and value added in the US economy. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America Tschofen, P., Azevedo, I. L., Muller, N. Z. 2019

  Abstract

  Emissions of most pollutants that result in fine particulate matter (PM2.5) formation have been decreasing in the United States. However, this trend has not been uniform across all sectors or regions of the economy. We use integrated assessment models (IAMs) to compute marginal damages for PM2.5-related emissions for each county in the contiguous United States and match location-specific emissions with these marginal damages to compute economy-wide gross external damage (GED) due to premature mortality. We note 4 key findings: First, economy-wide, GED has decreased by more than 20% from 2008 to 2014. Second, while much of the air pollution policies have focused to date on the electricity sector, damages from farms are now larger than those from utilities. Indeed, farms have become the largest contributor to air pollution damages from PM2.5-related emissions. Third, 4 sectors, comprising less than 20% of the national gross domestic product (GDP), are responsible for 75% of GED attributable to economic activities. Fourth, uncertainty in GED estimates tends to be high for sectors with predominantly ground-level emissions because these emissions are usually estimated and not measured. These findings suggest that policymakers should target further emissions reductions from such sectors, particularly in transportation and agriculture.

  View details for DOI 10.1073/pnas.1905030116

  View details for PubMedID 31501345

• How Much Are We Saving after All? Characterizing the Effects of Commonly Varying Assumptions on Emissions and Damage Estimates in PJM. Environmental science & technology Donti, P. L., Kolter, J. Z., Azevedo, I. L. 2019

  Abstract

  In recent years, several methods have emerged to estimate the emissions and health, environmental, and climate change damages avoided by interventions such as energy efficiency, demand response, and the integration of renewables. However, differing assumptions employed in these analyses could yield contradicting recommendations regarding intervention implementation. We test the magnitude of the effect of using different key assumptions-average vs marginal emissions, year of calculation, temporal and regional scope, and inclusion of nonemitting generation-to estimate Mid-Atlantic region power pool (PJM) emissions and damage factors. We further highlight the importance of factor selection by evaluating three illustrative 2017 power system examples in PJM. We find that for a simple building lighting intervention, using average emissions factors incorporating nonemitting generation underestimates avoided damages by 45% compared to marginal factors. For PJM demand response, outdated marginal emissions factors from 2016 overestimate avoided damages by 25% compared to 2017 factors. Our assessment of PJM summer load further suggests that fossil-only average emissions factors overestimate damages by 63% compared to average factors incorporating nonemitting generation. We recommend that energy modelers carefully select appropriate emissions metrics when performing their analyses. Furthermore, since the U.S. electric grid is rapidly changing, we urge decision-makers to frequently update (and consider forecasting) grid emissions factors.

  View details for DOI 10.1021/acs.est.8b06586

  View details for PubMedID 31380628

• Aligning evidence generation and use across health, development, and environment CURRENT OPINION IN ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY Tallis, H., Kreis, K., Olander, L., Ringler, C., Ameyaw, D., Borsuk, M. E., Fletschner, D., Game, E., Gilligan, D. O., Jeuland, M., Kennedy, G., Masuda, Y. J., Mehta, S., Miller, N., Parker, M., Pollino, C., Rajaratnam, J., Wilkie, D., Zhang, W., Ahmed, S., Ajayi, O. C., Alderman, H., Arhonditsis, G., Azevedo, I., Badola, R., Bailis, R., Balvanera, P., Barbour, E., Bardini, M., Barton, D. N., Baumgartner, J., Benton, T. G., Bobrow, E., Bossio, D., Bostrom, A., Braimoh, A., Brondizio, E., Brown, J., Bryant, B. P., Calder, R., Chaplin-Kramer, B., Cullen, A., DeMello, N., Dickinson, K. L., Ebi, K. L., Eves, H. E., Fanzo, J., Ferraro, P. J., Fisher, B., Frongillo, E. A., Galford, G., Garrity, D., Gatere, L., Grieshop, A. P., Grigg, N. J., Groves, C., Gugerty, M., Hamm, M., Hou, X., Huang, C., Imhoff, M., Jack, D., Jones, A. D., Kelsey, R., Kothari, M., Kumar, R., Lachat, C., Larsen, A., Lawrence, M., DeClerck, F., Levin, P. S., Mabaya, E., Gibson, J., McDonald, R., Mace, G., Maertens, R., Mangale, D., Martino, R., Mason, S., Mehta, L., Meinzen-Dick, R., Merz, B., Msangi, S., Murray, G., Murray, K. A., Naude, C. E., Newlands, N. K., Nkonya, E., Peterman, A., Petruney, T., Possingham, H., Puri, J., Remans, R., Remlinger, L., Ricketts, T. H., Reta, B., Robinson, B. E., Roe, D., Rosenthal, J., Shen, G., Shindell, D., Stewart-Koster, B., Sunderland, T., Sutherland, W. J., Tewksbury, J., Wasser, H., Wear, S., Webb, C., Whittington, D., Wilkerson, M., Wittmer, H., Wood, B. K., Wood, S., Wu, J., Yadama, G., Zobrist, S. 2019; 39: 81–93

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.cosust.2019.09.004

  View details for Web of Science ID 000502823600012

• Choice at the pump: measuring preferences for lower-carbon combustion fuels ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS Helveston, J. P., Seki, S. M., Min, J., Fairman, E., Boni, A. A., Michalek, J. J., Azevedo, I. L. 2019; 14 (8)

  View details for DOI 10.1088/1748-9326/ab2bd2

  View details for Web of Science ID 000479108500004

• Alternative-fuel-vehicle policy interactions increase US greenhouse gas emissions TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH PART A-POLICY AND PRACTICE Jenn, A., Azevedo, I. L., Michalek, J. J. 2019; 124: 396–407

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.tra.2019.04.003

  View details for Web of Science ID 000474318900022

• Trace Element Mass Flow Rates from US Coal Fired Power Plants ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY Sun, X., Gingerich, D. B., Azevedo, I. L., Mauter, M. S. 2019; 53 (10): 5585–95

  Abstract

  Trace elements (TEs) exit coal-fired power plants (CFPPs) via solid, liquid, and gaseous waste streams. Estimating the TE concentrations of these waste streams is essential to selecting pollution controls and estimating emission reduction benefits. This work introduces a generalizable mass balance model for estimating TE mass flow rates in CFPP waste streams and evaluates model accuracy for the U.S. coal fleet given current data constraints. We stochastically estimate, using a bootstrapping approach, the 2015 plant-level mass flow rates of Hg, Se, As, and Cl to solid, liquid, and gas phase waste streams by combining publicly available data for combusted coal TE concentrations with estimates of TE partitioning within installed air pollution control processes. When compared with measured and reported data on TE mass flow rates, this model generally overestimates masses by 30-50%, with larger errors for Hg. The partitioning estimates are consistent for Se, As, and Cl removal from flue gas, but tend to underestimate Hg removal. While our model is suitable for first-order estimates of TE mass flows, future work to improve model performance should focus on collecting and using new data on TE concentrations in the coal blend, where data quality is the weakest.

  View details for DOI 10.1021/acs.est.9b01039

  View details for Web of Science ID 000469288100008

  View details for PubMedID 31074623

• Support for Emissions Reductions Based on Immediate and Long-term Pollution Exposure in China ECOLOGICAL ECONOMICS Sergi, B., Azevedo, I., Xia, T., Davis, A., Xu, J. 2019; 158: 26–33

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.ecolecon.2018.12.009

  View details for Web of Science ID 000458222400004

• Solar PV as a mitigation strategy for the US education sector ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS Hanus, N. L., Wong-Parodi, G., Vaishnav, P. T., Darghouth, N. R., Azevedo, I. L. 2019; 14 (4)

  View details for DOI 10.1088/1748-9326/aafbcf

  View details for Web of Science ID 000462623300003

• Expert assessments of the cost and expected future performance of proton exchange membrane fuel cells for vehicles PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Whiston, M. M., Azevedo, I. L., Litster, S., Whitefoot, K. S., Samaras, C., Whitacre, J. F. 2019; 116 (11): 4899–4904

  Abstract

  Despite decades of development, proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) still lack wide market acceptance in vehicles. To understand the expected trajectories of PEMFC attributes that influence adoption, we conducted an expert elicitation assessment of the current and expected future cost and performance of automotive PEMFCs. We elicited 39 experts' assessments of PEMFC system cost, stack durability, and stack power density under a hypothetical, large-scale production scenario. Experts assessed the median 2017 automotive cost to be $75/kW, stack durability to be 4,000 hours, and stack power density to be 2.5 kW/L. However, experts ranged widely in their assessments. Experts' 2017 best cost assessments ranged from $40 to $500/kW, durability assessments ranged from 1,200 to 12,000 hours, and power density assessments ranged from 0.5 to 4 kW/L. Most respondents expected the 2020 cost to fall short of the 2020 target of the US Department of Energy (DOE). However, most respondents anticipated that the DOE's ultimate target of $30/kW would be met by 2050 and a power density of 3 kW/L would be achieved by 2035. Fifteen experts thought that the DOE's ultimate durability target of 8,000 hours would be met by 2050. In general, experts identified high Pt group metal loading as the most significant barrier to reducing cost. Recommended research and development (R&D) funding was allocated to "catalysts and electrodes," followed in decreasing amount by "fuel cell performance and durability," "membranes and electrolytes," and "testing and technical assessment." Our results could be used to inform public and private R&D decisions and technology roadmaps.

  View details for DOI 10.1073/pnas.1804221116

  View details for Web of Science ID 000460911500030

  View details for PubMedID 30804192

  View details for PubMedCentralID PMC6421432

• Economic Viability of a Natural Gas Refueling Infrastructure for Long-Haul Trucks JOURNAL OF INFRASTRUCTURE SYSTEMS Tong, F., Azevedo, I., Jaramillo, P. 2019; 25 (1)

  View details for DOI 10.1061/(ASCE)IS.1943-555X.0000460

  View details for Web of Science ID 000457274600009

• Understanding Cumulative Risk Perception from Judgments and Choices: An Application to Flood Risks RISK ANALYSIS De La Maza, C., Davis, A., Gonzalez, C., Azevedo, I. 2019; 39 (2): 488–504

  Abstract

  Catastrophic events, such as floods, earthquakes, hurricanes, and tsunamis, are rare, yet the cumulative risk of each event occurring at least once over an extended time period can be substantial. In this work, we assess the perception of cumulative flood risks, how those perceptions affect the choice of insurance, and whether perceptions and choices are influenced by cumulative risk information. We find that participants' cumulative risk judgments are well represented by a bimodal distribution, with a group that severely underestimates the risk and a group that moderately overestimates it. Individuals who underestimate cumulative risks make more risk-seeking choices compared to those who overestimate cumulative risks. Providing explicit cumulative risk information for relevant time periods, as opposed to annual probabilities, is an inexpensive and effective way to improve both the perception of cumulative risk and the choices people make to protect against that risk.

  View details for DOI 10.1111/risa.13206

  View details for Web of Science ID 000458171100016

  View details for PubMedID 30368850

• Cumulative environmental and employment impacts of the shale gas boom. Nature sustainability Mayfield, E. N., Cohon, J. L., Muller, N. Z., Azevedo, I. M., Robinson, A. L. 2019; 2: 1122–31

  Abstract

  Natural gas has become the largest fuel source for electricity generation in the United States and accounts for a third of energy production and consumption. However, the environmental and socioeconomic impacts across the supply chain and over the boom-and-bust cycle have not been comprehensively characterized. To provide insight for long-term decision making for energy transitions, we estimate the cumulative impacts of the shale gas boom in the Appalachian basin from 2004 to 2016 on air quality, climate change, and employment. We find that air quality impacts (1200 to 4600 deaths; $23B +99%/-164%) and employment impacts (469,000 job-years ±30%; $21B ±30%) follow the boom-and-bust cycle, while climate impacts ($12B to $94B) persist for generations well beyond the period of natural gas activity. Employment effects concentrate in rural areas where production occurs. However, almost half of cumulative premature mortality due to air pollution is downwind of these areas, occurring in urban regions of the Northeast. The cumulative temperature impacts of methane and carbon dioxide over a 30-year time horizon are nearly equivalent, but over the long term, the cumulative climate impact is largely due to carbon dioxide. We estimate that a tax on production of $2 per thousand cubic foot (+172%/-76%) would compensate for cumulative climate and air quality externalities across the supply chain.

  View details for DOI 10.1038/s41893-019-0420-1

  View details for PubMedID 31844682

• Fine Particulate Air Pollution from Electricity Generation in the US: Health Impacts by Race, Income, and Geography. Environmental science & technology Thind, M. P., Tessum, C. W., Azevedo, I. L., Marshall, J. D. 2019

  Abstract

  Electricity generation is a large contributor to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) air pollution. However, the demographic distribution of the resulting exposure is largely unknown. We estimate exposures to and health impacts of PM2.5 from electricity generation in the US, for each of the seven Regional Transmission Organizations (RTOs), for each US state, by income and by race. We find that average exposures are the highest for blacks, followed by non-Latino whites. Exposures for remaining groups (e.g., Asians, Native Americans, Latinos) are somewhat lower. Disparities by race/ethnicity are observed for each income category, indicating that the racial/ethnic differences hold even after accounting for differences in income. Levels of disparity differ by state and RTO. Exposures are higher for lower-income than for higher-income, but disparities are larger by race than by income. Geographically, we observe large differences between where electricity is generated and where people experience the resulting PM2.5 health consequences; some states are net exporters of health impacts, other are net importers. For 36 US states, most of the health impacts are attributable to emissions in other states. Most of the total impacts are attributable to coal rather than other fuels.

  View details for DOI 10.1021/acs.est.9b02527

  View details for PubMedID 31746196

• Meeting U.S. Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Targets Joule Whiston, M. M., Azevedo, I. M., Litster, S., Samaras, C., Whitefoot, K. S., Whitacre, J. F. 2019; 3 (9): 2060-2065

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.joule.2019.07.018

• Reducing the fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions of medium- and heavy-duty vehicles, phase two, final report Research Council, N. The National Academies Press. Washington, DC. 2019
• Comparing consumer perceptions of appliances’ electricity use to appliances’ actual direct-metered consumption Environmental Research Communications Lesic, V., Glasgo, B., Krishnamurti, T., Bruine de Bruin, W., Davis, M., Azevedo, I. 2019; 1 (11)

  View details for DOI 10.1088/2515-7620/ab4a99

• Science and technology advice to European governments and to the European Union Theory and Practice in Policy Analysis Morgan, M. 2019
• Reduced-Order Dispatch Model for Simulating Marginal Emissions Factors for the United States Power Sector. Environmental science & technology Deetjen, T. A., Azevedo, I. L. 2019

  Abstract

  This study develops a reduced-order power plant dispatch model and uses it to simulate marginal emissions factors (MEFs) for the 2014-2017 United States (U.S.) electric grid at the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) regional level. MEFs help quantify the health, environmental, and climate change impacts caused by changes in marginal net electricity consumption, which could result, for example, from new technologies or policies. This study develops the model, validates it against historical data, and compares its simulated MEFs against historically derived regression-based MEFs. Our method accurately reproduces CO2, SO2, and NO x emissions for multiple U.S. NERC regions and years and enables us to analyze future scenarios that are absent from the historical data. Though historically derived regression-based MEFs are generally more accurate, our simulated MEFs provide a more nuanced picture of how clusters of low- or high-emitting power plants of similar production cost create large swings in MEFs throughout the day. Policymakers could use these dynamic MEFs to target demand-reduction strategies at high-emissions portions of the power plant merit order.

  View details for DOI 10.1021/acs.est.9b02500

  View details for PubMedID 31436968

• The implications of scope and boundary choice on the establishment and success of metropolitan greenhouse gas reduction targets in the United States ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS Markolf, S. A., Matthews, H., Azevedo, I. L., Hendrickson, C. 2018; 13 (12)

  View details for DOI 10.1088/1748-9326/aaea8c

  View details for Web of Science ID 000452046500003

• Global carbon intensity of crude oil production. Science (New York, N.Y.) Masnadi, M. S., El-Houjeiri, H. M., Schunack, D., Li, Y., Englander, J. G., Badahdah, A., Monfort, J., Anderson, J. E., Wallington, T. J., Bergerson, J. A., Gordon, D., Koomey, J., Przesmitzki, S., Azevedo, I. L., Bi, X. T., Duffy, J. E., Heath, G. A., Keoleian, G. A., McGlade, C., Meehan, D. N., Yeh, S., You, F., Wang, M., Brandt, A. R. 2018; 361 (6405): 851–53

  View details for DOI 10.1126/science.aar6859

  View details for PubMedID 30166477

• Decarbonizing intraregional freight systems with a focus on modal shift ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS Kaack, L. H., Vaishnav, P., Morgan, M., Azevedo, I. L., Rai, S. 2018; 13 (8)

  View details for DOI 10.1088/1748-9326/aad56c

  View details for Web of Science ID 000441823000001

• Expert assessments on the future of direct current in buildings ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS Glasgo, B., Azevedo, I., Hendrickson, C. 2018; 13 (7)

  View details for DOI 10.1088/1748-9326/aaca42

  View details for Web of Science ID 000436603900002

• Net-zero emissions energy systems SCIENCE Davis, S. J., Lewis, N. S., Shaner, M., Aggarwal, S., Arent, D., Azevedo, I. L., Benson, S. M., Bradley, T., Brouwer, J., Chiang, Y., Clack, C. M., Cohen, A., Doig, S., Edmonds, J., Fennell, P., Field, C. B., Hannegan, B., Hodge, B., Hoffert, M. I., Ingersoll, E., Jaramillo, P., Lackner, K. S., Mach, K. J., Mastrandrea, M., Ogden, J., Peterson, P. F., Sanchez, D. L., Sperling, D., Stagner, J., Trancik, J. E., Yang, C., Caldeira, K. 2018; 360 (6396): 1419-+

  Abstract

  Some energy services and industrial processes-such as long-distance freight transport, air travel, highly reliable electricity, and steel and cement manufacturing-are particularly difficult to provide without adding carbon dioxide (CO2) to the atmosphere. Rapidly growing demand for these services, combined with long lead times for technology development and long lifetimes of energy infrastructure, make decarbonization of these services both essential and urgent. We examine barriers and opportunities associated with these difficult-to-decarbonize services and processes, including possible technological solutions and research and development priorities. A range of existing technologies could meet future demands for these services and processes without net addition of CO2 to the atmosphere, but their use may depend on a combination of cost reductions via research and innovation, as well as coordinated deployment and integration of operations across currently discrete energy industries.

  View details for PubMedID 29954954

• Assessing the evolution of power sector carbon intensity in the United States ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS Schivley, G., Azevedo, I., Samaras, C. 2018; 13 (6)

  View details for DOI 10.1088/1748-9326/aabe9d

  View details for Web of Science ID 000434258500002

• Estimation of the year-on-year volatility and the unpredictability of the United States energy system NATURE ENERGY Sherwin, E. D., Henrion, M., Azevedo, I. L. 2018; 3 (4): 341–46

  View details for DOI 10.1038/s41560-018-0121-4

  View details for Web of Science ID 000430252700020

• Towards demand-side solutions for mitigating climate change NATURE CLIMATE CHANGE Creutzig, F., Roy, J., Lamb, W. F., Azevedo, I. L., de Bruin, W., Dalkmann, H., Edelenbosch, O. Y., Geels, F. W., Grubler, A., Hepburn, C., Hertwich, E. G., Khosla, R., Mattauch, L., Minx, J. C., Ramakrishnan, A., Rao, N. D., Steinberger, J. K., Tavoni, M., Uerge-Vorsatz, D., Weber, E. U. 2018; 8 (4): 268–71

  View details for DOI 10.1038/s41558-018-0121-1

  View details for Web of Science ID 000429194600005

• A sunny future: expert elicitation of China's solar photovoltaic technologies ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS Lam, L. T., Branstetter, L., Azevedo, I. L. 2018; 13 (3)

  View details for DOI 10.1088/1748-9326/aaab70

  View details for Web of Science ID 000427493300003

• Consumers' perceptions of energy use and energy savings: A literature review. Environmental research letters : ERL [Web site] Lesic, V., de Bruin, W. B., Davis, M. C., Krishnamurti, T., Azevedo, I. M. 2018; 13 (3)

  Abstract

  Policy makers and program managers need to better understand consumers' perceptions of their energy use and savings to design effective strategies for promoting energy savings.We reviewed 14 studies from the emerging interdisciplinary literature examining consumers' perceptions electricity use by specific appliances, and potential savings.We find that: (1) electricity use is often overestimated for low-energy consuming appliances, and underestimated for high-energy consuming appliances; (2) curtailment strategies are typically preferred over energy efficiency strategies; (3) consumers lack information about how much electricity can be saved through specific strategies; (4) consumers use heuristics for assessing the electricity use of specific appliances, with some indication that more accurate judgments are made among consumers with higher numeracy and stronger pro-environmental attitudes. However, design differences between studies, such as variations in reference points, reporting units and assessed time periods, may affect consumers' reported perceptions. Moreover, studies differ with regard to whether accuracy of perceptions was evaluated through comparisons with general estimates of actual use, self-reported use, household-level meter readings, or real-time smart meter readings.Although emerging findings are promising, systematic variations in the measurement of perceived and actual electricity use are potential cause for concern. We propose avenues for future research, so as to better understand, and possibly inform, consumers' perceptions of their electricity use. Ultimately, this literature will have implications for the design of effective electricity feedback for consumers, and related policies.

  View details for DOI 10.1088/1748-9326/aaab92

  View details for PubMedID 37063497

  View details for PubMedCentralID PMC10101274

• Induced seismicity hazard and risk by enhanced geothermal systems: an expert elicitation approach ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS Trutnevyte, E., Azevedo, I. L. 2018; 13 (3)

  View details for DOI 10.1088/1748-9326/aa9eb2

  View details for Web of Science ID 000425435300004

• Consumers' perceptions of energy use and energy savings: A literature review ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS Lesic, V., de Bruin, W., Davis, M. C., Krishnamurti, T., Azevedo, I. L. 2018; 13 (3)

  View details for DOI 10.1088/1748-9326/aaab92

  View details for Web of Science ID 000426958700002

• Quantifying the capacity value of natural gas efficiency in New England UTILITIES POLICY Gilbraith, N., Jaramillo, P., Azevedo, I. 2018; 50: 101–10

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.jup.2017.11.003

  View details for Web of Science ID 000425576200010

• Distributional costs of wind energy production in Portugal under the liberalized Iberian market regime ENERGY POLICY Prata, R., Carvalho, P. S., Azevedo, I. L. 2018; 113: 500–512

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.enpol.2017.11.030

  View details for Web of Science ID 000423009500048

• Do tidal stream energy projects offer more value than offshore wind farms? A case study in the United Kingdom ENERGY POLICY Lamy, J. V., Azevedo, I. L. 2018; 113: 28–40

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.enpol.2017.10.030

  View details for Web of Science ID 000423009500004

• The effect of providing climate and health information on support for alternative electricity portfolios ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS Sergi, B., Davis, A., Azevedo, I. 2018; 13 (2)

  View details for DOI 10.1088/1748-9326/aa9fab

  View details for Web of Science ID 000425019000002

• Integrating climate and health objectives to inform clean energy siting in capacity expansion modeling Energy Policy Research Conference Adams, S. B., Muller, P., Robinson, N., Davis, S., Azevedo, I. 2018
• Inverse Optimal Power Flow: Assessing the Vulnerability of Power Grid Data AI for Social Good Workshop at NeurIPS 2018 Donti, P., Azevedo, I., Kolter, J. 2018
• Marginal Emissions Factors for Electricity Generation in the Midcontinent ISO ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY Thind, M. S., Wilson, E. J., Azevedo, I. L., Marshall, J. D. 2017; 51 (24): 14445–52

  Abstract

  Environmental consequences of electricity generation are often determined using average emission factors. However, as different interventions are incrementally pursued in electricity systems, the resulting marginal change in emissions may differ from what one would predict based on system-average conditions. Here, we estimate average emission factors and marginal emission factors for CO2, SO2, and NOx from fossil and nonfossil generators in the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) region during years 2007-2016. We analyze multiple spatial scales (all MISO; each of the 11 MISO states; each utility; each generator) and use MISO data to characterize differences between the two emission factors (average; marginal). We also explore temporal trends in emissions factors by hour, day, month, and year, as well as the differences that arise from including only fossil generators versus total generation. We find, for example, that marginal emission factors are generally higher during late-night and early morning compared to afternoons. Overall, in MISO, average emission factors are generally higher than marginal estimates (typical difference: ∼20%). This means that the true environmental benefit of an energy efficiency program may be ∼20% smaller than anticipated if one were to use average emissions factors. Our analysis can usefully be extended to other regions to support effective near-term technical, policy and investment decisions based on marginal rather than only average emission factors.

  View details for DOI 10.1021/acs.est.7b03047

  View details for Web of Science ID 000418625900048

  View details for PubMedID 29152978

• Estimating the Quantity of Wind and Solar Required To Displace Storage-Induced Emissions ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY Hittinger, E., Azevedo, I. L. 2017; 51 (21): 12988–97

  Abstract

  The variable and nondispatchable nature of wind and solar generation has been driving interest in energy storage as an enabling low-carbon technology that can help spur large-scale adoption of renewables. However, prior work has shown that adding energy storage alone for energy arbitrage in electricity systems across the U.S. routinely increases system emissions. While adding wind or solar reduces electricity system emissions, the emissions effect of both renewable generation and energy storage varies by location. In this work, we apply a marginal emissions approach to determine the net system CO2 emissions of colocated or electrically proximate wind/storage and solar/storage facilities across the U.S. and determine the amount of renewable energy required to offset the CO2 emissions resulting from operation of new energy storage. We find that it takes between 0.03 MW (Montana) and 4 MW (Michigan) of wind and between 0.25 MW (Alabama) and 17 MW (Michigan) of solar to offset the emissions from a 25 MW/100 MWh storage device, depending on location and operational mode. Systems with a realistic combination of renewables and storage will result in net emissions reductions compared with a grid without those systems, but the anticipated reductions are lower than a renewable-only addition.

  View details for DOI 10.1021/acs.est.7b03286

  View details for Web of Science ID 000414887200104

  View details for PubMedID 29016129

• Assessing the value of information in residential building simulation: Comparing simulated and actual building loads at the circuit level APPLIED ENERGY Glasgo, B., Hendrickson, C., Azevedo, I. 2017; 203: 348–63

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.apenergy.2017.05.164

  View details for Web of Science ID 000412379300025

• Was it worthwhile? Where have the benefits of rooftop solar photovoltaic generation exceeded the cost? ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS Vaishnav, P., Horner, N., Azevedo, I. L. 2017; 12 (9)

  View details for DOI 10.1088/1748-9326/aa815e

  View details for Web of Science ID 000410833600002

• China's wind industry: Leading in deployment, lagging in innovation ENERGY POLICY Lam, L. T., Branstetter, L., Azevedo, I. L. 2017; 106: 588–99

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.enpol.2017.03.023

  View details for Web of Science ID 000402343600055

• Consistency and robustness of forecasting for emerging technologies: The case of Li-ion batteries for electric vehicles ENERGY POLICY Sakti, A., Azevedo, I. L., Fuchs, E. H., Michalek, J. J., Gallagher, K. G., Whitacre, J. F. 2017; 106: 415–26

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.enpol.2017.03.063

  View details for Web of Science ID 000402343600041

• Rethinking the Social Cost of Carbon Dioxide ISSUES IN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY Morgan, M., Vaishnav, P., Dowlatabadi, H., Azevedo, I. L. 2017; 33 (4): 43–50

  View details for Web of Science ID 000405260400010

• Estimating the effect of multiple environmental stressors on coral bleaching and mortality PLOS ONE Welle, P. D., Small, M. J., Doney, S. C., Azevedo, I. L. 2017; 12 (5): e0175018

  Abstract

  Coral cover has been declining in recent decades due to increased temperatures and environmental stressors. However, the extent to which different stressors contribute both individually and in concert to bleaching and mortality is still very uncertain. We develop and use a novel regression approach, using non-linear parametric models that control for unobserved time invariant effects to estimate the effects on coral bleaching and mortality due to temperature, solar radiation, depth, hurricanes and anthropogenic stressors using historical data from a large bleaching event in 2005 across the Caribbean. Two separate models are created, one to predict coral bleaching, and the other to predict near-term mortality. A large ensemble of supporting data is assembled to control for omitted variable bias and improve fit, and a significant improvement in fit is observed from univariate linear regression based on temperature alone. The results suggest that climate stressors (temperature and radiation) far outweighed direct anthropogenic stressors (using distance from shore and nearby human population density as a proxy for such stressors) in driving coral health outcomes during the 2005 event. Indeed, temperature was found to play a role ~4 times greater in both the bleaching and mortality response than population density across their observed ranges. The empirical models tested in this study have large advantages over ordinary-least squares-they offer unbiased estimates for censored data, correct for spatial correlation, and are capable of handling more complex relationships between dependent and independent variables. The models offer a framework for preparing for future warming events and climate change; guiding monitoring and attribution of other bleaching and mortality events regionally and around the globe; and informing adaptive management and conservation efforts.

  View details for DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0175018

  View details for Web of Science ID 000400648500007

  View details for PubMedID 28472031

  View details for PubMedCentralID PMC5417430

• Lessons from wind policy in Portugal ENERGY POLICY Pena, I., Azevedo, I. L., Fialho Marcelino Ferreira, L. 2017; 103: 193–202

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.enpol.2016.11.033

  View details for Web of Science ID 000397356000015

• Spatially resolved air-water emissions tradeoffs improve regulatory impact analyses for electricity generation PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Gingerich, D. B., Sun, X., Behrer, A., Azevedo, I. L., Mauter, M. S. 2017; 114 (8): 1862–67

  Abstract

  Coal-fired power plants (CFPPs) generate air, water, and solids emissions that impose substantial human health, environmental, and climate change (HEC) damages. This work demonstrates the importance of accounting for cross-media emissions tradeoffs, plant and regional emissions factors, and spatially variation in the marginal damages of air emissions when performing regulatory impact analyses for electric power generation. As a case study, we assess the benefits and costs of treating wet flue gas desulfurization (FGD) wastewater at US CFPPs using the two best available treatment technology options specified in the 2015 Effluent Limitation Guidelines (ELGs). We perform a life-cycle inventory of electricity and chemical inputs to FGD wastewater treatment processes and quantify the marginal HEC damages of associated air emissions. We combine these spatially resolved damage estimates with Environmental Protection Agency estimates of water quality benefits, fuel-switching benefits, and regulatory compliance costs. We estimate that the ELGs will impose average net costs of $3.01 per cubic meter for chemical precipitation and biological wastewater treatment and $11.26 per cubic meter for zero-liquid discharge wastewater treatment (expected cost-benefit ratios of 1.8 and 1.7, respectively), with damages concentrated in regions containing a high fraction of coal generation or a large chemical manufacturing industry. Findings of net cost for FGD wastewater treatment are robust to uncertainty in auxiliary power source, location of chemical manufacturing, and binding air emissions limits in noncompliant regions, among other variables. Future regulatory design will minimize compliance costs and HEC tradeoffs by regulating air, water, and solids emissions simultaneously and performing regulatory assessments that account for spatial variation in emissions impacts.

  View details for DOI 10.1073/pnas.1524396114

  View details for Web of Science ID 000395099500058

  View details for PubMedID 28167772

  View details for PubMedCentralID PMC5338367

• An integrated approach for estimating greenhouse gas emissions from 100 US metropolitan areas ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS Markolf, S. A., Matthews, H., Azevedo, I. L., Hendrickson, C. 2017; 12 (2)

  View details for DOI 10.1088/1748-9326/aa5731

  View details for Web of Science ID 000395440600002

• Assessing the value of information in residential building simulation: Comparing simulated and actual building loads at the circuit level 9th International Conference on Energy Efficiency in Domestic Appliances and Lighting Glasgo, B., Azevedo, I., Hendrickson, C. 2017
• Do Low-income Electric Subsidies Change Electricity Consumption Behavior? International Energy Program Evaluation Conference Sherwin, E., Azevedo, I. 2017
• Characterization of utility programs’ enrollment by income and region European Council for an Energy Efficient Economy Summer Study Sherwin, E., Azevedo, I., Meyer, R. 2017
• Do Low-income Electric Subsidies Make Electricity Consumption More Peaky? Energy Efficiency in Domestic Appliances and Lighting Sherwin, E., Azevedo, I. 2017
• Task-based End-to-end Model Learning in Stochastic Optimization Advances in Neural Information Processing Systems 30 Donti, P., Amos, B., Kolter, J. 2017
• PV technical potential in the United States with a focus on non-profit buildings and the associated regional health and environmental benefits 9th International Conference on Energy Efficiency in Domestic Appliances and Lighting Hanus, N., Wong-Parodi, G., Azevedo, I., Davis, A. 2017
• How much electricity can we save by using direct current circuits in homes? Understanding the potential for electricity savings and assessing feasibility of a transition towards DC powered buildings APPLIED ENERGY Glasgo, B., Azevedo, I., Hendrickson, C. 2016; 180: 66–75

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.apenergy.2016.07.036

  View details for Web of Science ID 000383291900006

• Known unknowns: indirect energy effects of information and communication technology ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS Horner, N. C., Shehabi, A., Azevedo, I. L. 2016; 11 (10)

  View details for DOI 10.1088/1748-9326/11/10/103001

  View details for Web of Science ID 000385937100001

• Should we build wind farms close to load or invest in transmission to access better wind resources in remote areas? A case study in the MISO region ENERGY POLICY Lamy, J. V., Jaramillo, P., Azevedo, I. L., Wiser, R. 2016; 96: 341–50

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.enpol.2016.06.011

  View details for Web of Science ID 000381530700028

• Air emission implications of expanded wastewater treatment at coal-fired generators Gingerich, D., Sun, X., Behrer, A., Azevedo, I., Mauter, M. AMER CHEMICAL SOC. 2016

  View details for Web of Science ID 000431460204534

• Trace element allocation across air pollution control devices in coal fired power plants Sun, X., Gingerich, D., Azevedo, I., Mauter, M. AMER CHEMICAL SOC. 2016

  View details for Web of Science ID 000431460204535

• China's wind electricity and cost of carbon mitigation are more expensive than anticipated ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS Lam, L. T., Branstetter, L., Azevedo, I. L. 2016; 11 (8)

  View details for DOI 10.1088/1748-9326/11/8/084015

  View details for Web of Science ID 000381828300016

• Effect of regional grid mix, driving patterns and climate on the comparative carbon footprint of gasoline and plug-in electric vehicles in the United States ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS Yuksel, T., Tamayao, M. M., Hendrickson, C., Azevedo, I. L., Michalek, J. J. 2016; 11 (4)

  View details for DOI 10.1088/1748-9326/11/4/044007

  View details for Web of Science ID 000375746800011

• Alternative Fuel Vehicle Adoption Increases Fleet Gasoline Consumption and Greenhouse Gas Emissions under United States Corporate Average Fuel Economy Policy and Greenhouse Gas Emissions Standards ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY Jenn, A., Azevedo, I. L., Michalek, J. J. 2016; 50 (5): 2165–74

  Abstract

  The United States Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards and Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emission standards are designed to reduce petroleum consumption and GHG emissions from light-duty passenger vehicles. They do so by requiring automakers to meet aggregate criteria for fleet fuel efficiency and carbon dioxide (CO2) emission rates. Several incentives for manufacturers to sell alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs) have been introduced in recent updates of CAFE/GHG policy for vehicles sold from 2012 through 2025 to help encourage a fleet technology transition. These incentives allow automakers that sell AFVs to meet less-stringent fleet efficiency targets, resulting in increased fleet-wide gasoline consumption and emissions. We derive a closed-form expression to quantify these effects. We find that each time an AFV is sold in place of a conventional vehicle, fleet emissions increase by 0 to 60 t of CO2 and gasoline consumption increases by 0 to 7000 gallons (26,000 L), depending on the AFV and year of sale. Using projections for vehicles sold from 2012 to 2025 from the Energy Information Administration, we estimate that the CAFE/GHG AFV incentives lead to a cumulative increase of 30 to 70 million metric tons of CO2 and 3 to 8 billion gallons (11 to 30 billion liters) of gasoline consumed over the vehicles' lifetimes - the largest share of which is due to legacy GHG flex-fuel vehicle credits that expire in 2016. These effects may be 30-40% larger in practice than we estimate here due to optimistic laboratory vehicle efficiency tests used in policy compliance calculations.

  View details for DOI 10.1021/acs.est.5b02842

  View details for Web of Science ID 000371371700006

  View details for PubMedID 26867100

• Forecasting light-duty vehicle demand using alternative-specific constants for endogeneity correction versus calibration TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH PART B-METHODOLOGICAL Haaf, C., Morrow, W., Azevedo, I. L., Feit, E., Michalek, J. J. 2016; 84: 182–210

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.trb.2015.11.012

  View details for Web of Science ID 000371450300008

• Dynamic Data Center Load Response to Variability in Private and Public Electricity Costs Horner, N., Azevedo, I., Sicker, D., Agarwal, Y., IEEE IEEE. 2016

  View details for Web of Science ID 000390711400014

• United States Data Center Energy Usage Report Shehabi, A., Smith, S., Sartor, D., Brown, R., Herrlin, M., Koomey, J., Masanet, E., Horner, N., Azevedo, I., Lintner, W. ERNEST ORLANDO LAWRENCE BERKELEY NATIONAL LABORATORY. 2016
• Heterogeneity in the response to gasoline prices: Evidence from Pennsylvania and implications for the rebound effect ENERGY ECONOMICS Gillingham, K., Jenn, A., Azevedo, I. L. 2015; 52: S41–S52

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.eneco.2015.08.011

  View details for Web of Science ID 000367858700005

• A review of learning rates for electricity supply technologies ENERGY POLICY Rubin, E. S., Azevedo, I. L., Jaramillo, P., Yeh, S. 2015; 86: 198–218

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.enpol.2015.06.011

  View details for Web of Science ID 000364246100019

• Comparison of Life Cycle Greenhouse Gases from Natural Gas Pathways for Light-Duty Vehicles ENERGY & FUELS Tong, F., Jaramillo, P., Azevedo, I. L. 2015; 29 (9): 6008–18

  View details for DOI 10.1021/acs.energyfuels.5b01063

  View details for Web of Science ID 000363068200051

• Regional Variability and Uncertainty of Electric Vehicle Life Cycle CO2 Emissions across the United States ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY Tamayao, M. M., Michalek, J. J., Hendrickson, C., Azevedo, I. L. 2015; 49 (14): 8844–55

  Abstract

  We characterize regionally specific life cycle CO2 emissions per mile traveled for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) and battery electric vehicles (BEVs) across the United States under alternative assumptions for regional electricity emission factors, regional boundaries, and charging schemes. We find that estimates based on marginal vs average grid emission factors differ by as much as 50% (using National Electricity Reliability Commission (NERC) regional boundaries). Use of state boundaries versus NERC region boundaries results in estimates that differ by as much as 120% for the same location (using average emission factors). We argue that consumption-based marginal emission factors are conceptually appropriate for evaluating the emissions implications of policies that increase electric vehicle sales or use in a region. We also examine generation-based marginal emission factors to assess robustness. Using these two estimates of NERC region marginal emission factors, we find the following: (1) delayed charging (i.e., starting at midnight) leads to higher emissions in most cases due largely to increased coal in the marginal generation mix at night; (2) the Chevrolet Volt has higher expected life cycle emissions than the Toyota Prius hybrid electric vehicle (the most efficient U.S. gasoline vehicle) across the U.S. in nearly all scenarios; (3) the Nissan Leaf BEV has lower life cycle emissions than the Prius in the western U.S. and in Texas, but the Prius has lower emissions in the northern Midwest regardless of assumed charging scheme and marginal emissions estimation method; (4) in other regions the lowest emitting vehicle depends on charge timing and emission factor estimation assumptions.

  View details for DOI 10.1021/acs.est.5b00815

  View details for Web of Science ID 000358557900066

  View details for PubMedID 26125323

• Comparison of Life Cycle Greenhouse Gases from Natural Gas Pathways for Medium and Heavy-Duty Vehicles ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY Tong, F., Jaramillo, P., Azevedo, I. L. 2015; 49 (12): 7123–33

  Abstract

  The low-cost and abundant supply of shale gas in the United States has increased the interest in using natural gas for transportation. We compare the life cycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from different natural gas pathways for medium and heavy-duty vehicles (MHDVs). For Class 8 tractor-trailers and refuse trucks, none of the natural gas pathways provide emissions reductions per unit of freight-distance moved compared to diesel trucks. When compared to the petroleum-based fuels currently used in these vehicles, CNG and centrally produced LNG increase emissions by 0-3% and 2-13%, respectively, for Class 8 trucks. Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) powered with natural gas-produced electricity are the only fuel-technology combination that achieves emission reductions for Class 8 transit buses (31% reduction compared to the petroleum-fueled vehicles). For non-Class 8 trucks (pick-up trucks, parcel delivery trucks, and box trucks), BEVs reduce emissions significantly (31-40%) compared to their diesel or gasoline counterparts. CNG and propane achieve relatively smaller emissions reductions (0-6% and 19%, respectively, compared to the petroleum-based fuels), while other natural gas pathways increase emissions for non-Class 8 MHDVs. While using natural gas to fuel electric vehicles could achieve large emission reductions for medium-duty trucks, the results suggest there are no great opportunities to achieve large emission reductions for Class 8 trucks through natural gas pathways with current technologies. There are strategies to reduce the carbon footprint of using natural gas for MHDVs, ranging from increasing vehicle fuel efficiency, reducing life cycle methane leakage rate, to achieving the same payloads and cargo volumes as conventional diesel trucks.

  View details for DOI 10.1021/es5052759

  View details for Web of Science ID 000356755200005

  View details for PubMedID 25938939

• How will we fund our roads? A case of decreasing revenue from electric vehicles TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH PART A-POLICY AND PRACTICE Jenn, A., Azevedo, I., Fischbeck, P. 2015; 74: 136–47

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.tra.2015.02.004

  View details for Web of Science ID 000353085200010

• Nonproliferation improvements and challenges presented by small modular reactors PROGRESS IN NUCLEAR ENERGY Prasad, S., Abdulla, A., Morgan, M., Azevedo, I. 2015; 80: 102–9

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.pnucene.2014.11.023

  View details for Web of Science ID 000350779500011

• Bulk Energy Storage Increases United States Electricity System Emissions ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY Hittinger, E. S., Azevedo, I. L. 2015; 49 (5): 3203–10

  Abstract

  Bulk energy storage is generally considered an important contributor for the transition toward a more flexible and sustainable electricity system. Although economically valuable, storage is not fundamentally a "green" technology, leading to reductions in emissions. We model the economic and emissions effects of bulk energy storage providing an energy arbitrage service. We calculate the profits under two scenarios (perfect and imperfect information about future electricity prices), and estimate the effect of bulk storage on net emissions of CO2, SO2, and NOx for 20 eGRID subregions in the United States. We find that net system CO2 emissions resulting from storage operation are nontrivial when compared to the emissions from electricity generation, ranging from 104 to 407 kg/MWh of delivered energy depending on location, storage operation mode, and assumptions regarding carbon intensity. Net NOx emissions range from -0.16 (i.e., producing net savings) to 0.49 kg/MWh, and are generally small when compared to average generation-related emissions. Net SO2 emissions from storage operation range from -0.01 to 1.7 kg/MWh, depending on location and storage operation mode.

  View details for DOI 10.1021/es505027p

  View details for Web of Science ID 000350611100077

  View details for PubMedID 25629631

• Assessing regional differences in lighting heat replacement effects in residential buildings across the United States APPLIED ENERGY Min, J., Azevedo, I., Hakkarainen, P. 2015; 141: 12–18

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.apenergy.2014.11.031

  View details for Web of Science ID 000349880400002

• Changing the Renewable Fuel Standard to a Renewable Material Standard: Bioethylene Case Study ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY Posen, I., Griffin, W., Matthews, H., Azevedo, I. L. 2015; 49 (1): 93–102

  Abstract

  The narrow scope of the U.S. renewable fuel standard (RFS2) is a missed opportunity to spur a wider range of biomass use. This is especially relevant as RFS2 targets are being missed due to demand-side limitations for ethanol consumption. This paper examines the greenhouse gas (GHG) implications of a more flexible policy based on RFS2, which includes credits for chemical use of bioethanol (to produce bioethylene). A Monte Carlo simulation is employed to estimate the life-cycle GHG emissions of conventional low-density polyethylene (LDPE), made from natural gas derived ethane (mean: 1.8 kg CO2e/kg LDPE). The life-cycle GHG emissions from bioethanol and bio-LDPE are examined for three biomass feedstocks: U.S. corn (mean: 97g CO2e/MJ and 2.6 kg CO2e/kg LDPE), U.S. switchgrass (mean: -18g CO2e/MJ and -2.9 kg CO2e/kg LDPE), and Brazilian sugar cane (mean: 33g CO2e/MJ and -1.3 kg CO2e/kg LDPE); bioproduct and fossil-product emissions are compared. Results suggest that neither corn product (bioethanol or bio-LDPE) can meet regulatory GHG targets, while switchgrass and sugar cane ethanol and bio-LDPE likely do. For U.S. production, bioethanol achieves slightly greater GHG reductions than bio-LDPE. For imported Brazilian products, bio-LDPE achieves greater GHG reductions than bioethanol. An expanded policy that includes bio-LDPE provides added flexibility without compromising GHG targets.

  View details for DOI 10.1021/es503521

  View details for Web of Science ID 000347589300011

  View details for PubMedID 25478782

• Evaluating the Benefits of Commercial Building Energy Codes and Improving Federal Incentives for Code Adoption ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY Gilbraith, N., Azevedo, I. L., Jaramillo, P. 2014; 48 (24): 14121–30

  Abstract

  The federal government has the goal of decreasing commercial building energy consumption and pollutant emissions by incentivizing the adoption of commercial building energy codes. Quantitative estimates of code benefits at the state level that can inform the size and allocation of these incentives are not available. We estimate the state-level climate, environmental, and health benefits (i.e., social benefits) and reductions in energy bills (private benefits) of a more stringent code (ASHRAE 90.1-2010) relative to a baseline code (ASHRAE 90.1-2007). We find that reductions in site energy use intensity range from 93 MJ/m(2) of new construction per year (California) to 270 MJ/m(2) of new construction per year (North Dakota). Total annual benefits from more stringent codes total $506 million for all states, where $372 million are from reductions in energy bills, and $134 million are from social benefits. These total benefits range from $0.6 million in Wyoming to $49 million in Texas. Private benefits range from $0.38 per square meter in Washington State to $1.06 per square meter in New Hampshire. Social benefits range from $0.2 per square meter annually in California to $2.5 per square meter in Ohio. Reductions in human/environmental damages and future climate damages account for nearly equal shares of social benefits.

  View details for DOI 10.1021/es502894m

  View details for Web of Science ID 000346686100010

  View details for PubMedID 25383692

• Economic analysis of the profitability of existing wind parks in Portugal ENERGY ECONOMICS Pena, I., Azevedo, I., Fialho Marcelino Ferreira, L. 2014; 45: 353–63

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.eneco.2014.06.013

  View details for Web of Science ID 000343613500032

• Comparing the magnitude of simulated residential rebound effects from electric end-use efficiency across the US ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS Thomas, B. A., Hausfather, Z., Azevedo, I. L. 2014; 9 (7)

  View details for DOI 10.1088/1748-9326/9/7/074010

  View details for Web of Science ID 000341873200011

• The role of energy storage in accessing remote wind resources in the Midwest ENERGY POLICY Lamy, J., Azevedo, I. L., Jaramillo, P. 2014; 68: 123–31

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.enpol.2014.01.008

  View details for Web of Science ID 000334130900012

• Should policy-makers allocate funding to vehicle electrification or end-use energy efficiency as a strategy for climate change mitigation and energy reductions? Rethinking electric utilities efficiency programs ENERGY POLICY Thomas, B. A., Azevedo, I. L. 2014; 67: 28–36

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.enpol.2013.11.015

  View details for Web of Science ID 000332815300004

• Consumer End-Use Energy Efficiency and Rebound Effects ANNUAL REVIEW OF ENVIRONMENT AND RESOURCES, VOL 39 Azevedo, I. L., Gadgil, A., Liverman, D. M. 2014; 39: 393–418

  View details for DOI 10.1146/annurev-environ-021913-153558

  View details for Web of Science ID 000348446900015

• Difusión de energía eólica: comparación de políticas de incentivos en Estados Unidos y Europa Peña-Cabra, I., González, E., Azevedo, I., Ferreira, L. Revista Nano Ciencia y Tecnologia. 2014
• The unsustainable rise of the Chinese wind turbine manufacturing industry NBER conference on The Economics of Environmental Protection Lam, L., Azevedo, I., Branstetter, L. 2014
• Reducing the fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions of medium- and heavy-duty vehicles, phase two, first report Research Council, N. The National Academies Press. Washington, DC. 2014
• Labeling energy cost on light bulbs lowers implicit discount rates ECOLOGICAL ECONOMICS Min, J., Azevedo, I. L., Michalek, J., de Bruin, W. 2014; 97: 42–50

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.ecolecon.2013.10.015

  View details for Web of Science ID 000331480200006

• The impact of federal incentives on the adoption of hybrid electric vehicles in the United States ENERGY ECONOMICS Jenn, A., Azevedo, I. L., Ferreira, P. 2013; 40: 936–42

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.eneco.2013.07.025

  View details for Web of Science ID 000329081300088

• Effects of government incentives on wind innovation in the United States ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS Horner, N., Azevedo, I., Hounshell, D. 2013; 8 (4)

  View details for DOI 10.1088/1748-9326/8/4/044032

  View details for Web of Science ID 000329604900039

• Regional variations in the health, environmental, and climate benefits of wind and solar generation PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Siler-Evans, K., Azevedo, I., Morgan, M., Apt, J. 2013; 110 (29): 11768–73

  Abstract

  When wind or solar energy displace conventional generation, the reduction in emissions varies dramatically across the United States. Although the Southwest has the greatest solar resource, a solar panel in New Jersey displaces significantly more sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter than a panel in Arizona, resulting in 15 times more health and environmental benefits. A wind turbine in West Virginia displaces twice as much carbon dioxide as the same turbine in California. Depending on location, we estimate that the combined health, environmental, and climate benefits from wind or solar range from $10/MWh to $100/MWh, and the sites with the highest energy output do not yield the greatest social benefits in many cases. We estimate that the social benefits from existing wind farms are roughly 60% higher than the cost of the Production Tax Credit, an important federal subsidy for wind energy. However, that same investment could achieve greater health, environmental, and climate benefits if it were differentiated by region.

  View details for DOI 10.1073/pnas.1221978110

  View details for Web of Science ID 000322086100036

  View details for PubMedID 23798431

  View details for PubMedCentralID PMC3718187

• Expert assessments of the cost of light water small modular reactors PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Abdulla, A., Azevedo, I., Morgan, M. 2013; 110 (24): 9686–91

  Abstract

  Analysts and decision makers frequently want estimates of the cost of technologies that have yet to be developed or deployed. Small modular reactors (SMRs), which could become part of a portfolio of carbon-free energy sources, are one such technology. Existing estimates of likely SMR costs rely on problematic top-down approaches or bottom-up assessments that are proprietary. When done properly, expert elicitations can complement these approaches. We developed detailed technical descriptions of two SMR designs and then conduced elicitation interviews in which we obtained probabilistic judgments from 16 experts who are involved in, or have access to, engineering-economic assessments of SMR projects. Here, we report estimates of the overnight cost and construction duration for five reactor-deployment scenarios that involve a large reactor and two light water SMRs. Consistent with the uncertainty introduced by past cost overruns and construction delays, median estimates of the cost of new large plants vary by more than a factor of 2.5. Expert judgments about likely SMR costs display an even wider range. Median estimates for a 45 megawatts-electric (MWe) SMR range from $4,000 to $16,300/kWe and from $3,200 to $7,100/kWe for a 225-MWe SMR. Sources of disagreement are highlighted, exposing the thought processes of experts involved with SMR design. There was consensus that SMRs could be built and brought online about 2 y faster than large reactors. Experts identify more affordable unit cost, factory fabrication, and shorter construction schedules as factors that may make light water SMRs economically viable.

  View details for DOI 10.1073/pnas.1300195110

  View details for Web of Science ID 000320930100033

  View details for PubMedID 23716682

  View details for PubMedCentralID PMC3683777

• Reducing US Residential Energy Use and CO2 Emissions: How Much, How Soon, and at What Cost? ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY Azevedo, I., Morgan, M., Palmer, K., Lave, L. B. 2013; 47 (6): 2502–11

  Abstract

  There is growing interest in reducing energy use and emissions of carbon dioxide from the residential sector by deploying cost-effectiveness energy efficiency measures. However, there is still large uncertainty about the magnitude of the reductions that could be achieved by pursuing different energy efficiency measures across the nation. Using detailed estimates of the current inventory and performance of major appliances in U.S. homes, we model the cost, energy, and CO2 emissions reduction if they were replaced with alternatives that consume less energy or emit less CO2. We explore trade-offs between reducing CO2, reducing primary or final energy, or electricity consumption. We explore switching between electricity and direct fuel use, and among fuels. The trade-offs between different energy efficiency policy goals, as well as the environmental metrics used, are important but have been largely unexplored by previous energy modelers and policy-makers. We find that overnight replacement of the full stock of major residential appliances sets an upper bound of just over 710 × 10(6) tonnes/year of CO2 or a 56% reduction from baseline residential emissions. However, a policy designed instead to minimize primary energy consumption instead of CO2 emissions will achieve a 48% reduction in annual carbon dioxide emissions from the nine largest energy consuming residential end-uses. Thus, we explore the uncertainty regarding the main assumptions and different policy goals in a detailed sensitivity analysis.

  View details for DOI 10.1021/es303688k

  View details for Web of Science ID 000316594000010

  View details for PubMedID 23398047

• Estimating direct and indirect rebound effects for US households with input-output analysis Part 1: Theoretical framework ECOLOGICAL ECONOMICS Thomas, B. A., Azevedo, I. L. 2013; 86: 199–210

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.ecolecon.2012.12.003

  View details for Web of Science ID 000317803500021

• Estimating direct and indirect rebound effects for US households with input-output analysis. Part 2: Simulation ECOLOGICAL ECONOMICS Thomas, B. A., Azevedo, I. L. 2013; 86: 188–98

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.ecolecon.2012.12.002

  View details for Web of Science ID 000317803500020

• Assessment of solid-state lighting Research Council, N. THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES PRESS. 2013
• Modeling technology learning for electricity supply technologies, Phase I report Azevedo, I., Jaramillo, P., Rubin, E., Yeh, S. Electric Power Research Institute. 2013
• Modeling technology learning for electricity supply technologies, Phase II report Azevedo, I., Jaramillo, P., Rubin, E., Yeh, S. Electric Power Research Institute. 2013
• Managing Variable Energy Resources to Increase Renewable Electricity's Contribution to the Grid Scott Institute for Energy Innovation, W. Carnegie Mellon University. 2013
• The Rebound Effect: Implications of Consumer Behaviour for Robust Energy Policies Azevedo, I., Sonnberger, M., Thomas, B., Morgan, G., Renn, O. International Risk Governance Council. 2013
• Electricity consumption and energy savings potential of video game consoles in the United States ENERGY EFFICIENCY Hittinger, E., Mullins, K. A., Azevedo, I. L. 2012; 5 (4): 531–45

  View details for DOI 10.1007/s12053-012-9152-z

  View details for Web of Science ID 000310234200006

• Edison Revisited: Should we use DC circuits for lighting in commercial buildings? ENERGY POLICY Thomas, B. A., Azevedo, I. L., Morgan, G. 2012; 45: 399–411

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.enpol.2012.02.048

  View details for Web of Science ID 000303956700042

• Marginal Emissions Factors for the U.S. Electricity System ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY Siler-Evans, K., Azevedo, I., Morgan, M. 2012; 46 (9): 4742–48

  Abstract

  There is growing interest in reducing emissions from electricity generation in the United States (U.S.). Renewable energy, energy efficiency, and energy conservation are all commonly suggested solutions. Both supply- and demand-side interventions will displace energy-and emissions-from conventional generators. Marginal emissions factors (MEFs) give a consistent metric for assessing the avoided emissions resulting from such interventions. This paper presents the first systematic calculation of MEFs for the U.S. electricity system. Using regressions of hourly generation and emissions data from 2006 through 2011, we estimate regional MEFs for CO(2), NO(x), and SO(2), as well as the share of marginal generation from coal-, gas-, and oil-fired generators. Trends in MEFs with respect to system load, time of day, and month are explored. We compare marginal and average emissions factors (AEFs), finding that AEFs may grossly misestimate the avoided emissions resulting from an intervention. We find significant regional differences in the emissions benefits of avoiding one megawatt-hour of electricity: compared to the West, an equivalent energy efficiency measure in the Midwest is expected to avoid roughly 70% more CO(2), 12 times more SO(2), and 3 times more NO(x) emissions.

  View details for DOI 10.1021/es300145v

  View details for Web of Science ID 000303348800014

  View details for PubMedID 22486733

• Distributed cogeneration for commercial buildings: Can we make the economics work? ENERGY POLICY Siler-Evans, K., Morgan, M., Azevedo, I. 2012; 42: 580–90

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.enpol.2011.12.028

  View details for Web of Science ID 000301616000057

• ICT solutions in transportation systems: estimating the benefits and environmental impacts in the Lisbon Baptista, P. C., Azevedo, I. L., Farias, T. L., Aguilera, Bhouri, N., Farhi, N., Leurent, F., Seidowsky, R. ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV. 2012: 716–25

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.sbspro.2012.09.789

  View details for Web of Science ID 000313206300071

• Designing building energy efficiency programs for greenhouse gas reductions ENERGY POLICY Blackhurst, M., Azevedo, I., Matthews, H., Hendrickson, C. T. 2011; 39 (9): 5269–79

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.enpol.2011.05.037

  View details for Web of Science ID 000294594200058

• Preparing US community greenhouse gas inventories for climate action plans ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS Blackhurst, M., Matthews, H., Sharrard, A. L., Hendrickson, C. T., Azevedo, I. 2011; 6 (3)

  View details for DOI 10.1088/1748-9326/6/3/034003

  View details for Web of Science ID 000295327900006

• Residential electricity consumption in Portugal: Findings from top-down and bottom-up models ENERGY POLICY Wiesmann, D., Azevedo, I., Ferrao, P., Fernandez, J. E. 2011; 39 (5): 2772–79

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.enpol.2011.02.047

  View details for Web of Science ID 000290237600056

• A contribution for a better understanding of the residential sector electricity demand Proceedings of the European Energy Efficiency Council (ECEEE) Summer Study Abreu, J., Azevedo, I., Pereira, F. 2011
• The Transition to Solid-State Lighting PROCEEDINGS OF THE IEEE Azevedo, I., Morgan, M., Morgan, F. 2009; 97 (3): 481–510

  View details for DOI 10.1109/JPROC.2009.2013058

  View details for Web of Science ID 000265092700004

• The open source stochastic building simulation tool SLBM and its capabilities to capture uncertainty of policymaking in the U.S. building sector Stadler, M., Marnay, C., Azevedo, I., Komiyama, R., Lai, J. ERNEST ORLANDO LAWRENCE BERKELEY NATIONAL LABORATORY. 2009
• Energy efficiency and conservation: a bright idea with solid-state lighting? European Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ECEEE) Summer Study Azevedo, I. 2007