Aranya Venkatesh

2 weeks ago | nature.com | Christopher Galik |Aranya Venkatesh |Katherine Jordan |Aditya Sinha |Paulina Jaramillo |Jeremiah Johnson | +1 more

In the absence of comprehensive federal greenhouse gas mitigation policy, state-led strategies may play a pivotal role, particularly following the 2024 United States presidential election. Using a detailed energy system optimization model, we examine the outcomes of 23 climate-minded states pursuing net-zero emissions targets compared to a federal carbon cap achieving equivalent CO2-eq reductions. Here we show that state-led decarbonization results in distinct technology choices, a 0.7% increase in system costs, and nationwide emissions reduction of 46% — substantial, but insufficient for ambitious climate goals. This pathway relies more on electrification, with 952 terawatt-hours more generation in 2050, reallocating 17.2% of emissions to the power sector. Some regions favor solar, wind, and storage, while direct air capture emerges as critical, particularly in California and the Northeast. Inter-regional trading supports and complicates mitigation efforts, underscoring the need for careful policy design. Overall, our findings highlight how state-led and federal decarbonization approaches can yield differing energy portfolios to achieve similar emissions reductions. In the absence of federal decarbonization, states can drive significant greenhouse gas emissions reductions at comparable costs to federal action, with particular reliance on electrification of end uses and a decarbonized power grid.

Sep 16, 2024 | nature.com | Aditya Sinha |Aranya Venkatesh |Katherine Jordan |Hadi Eshraghi |Paulina Jaramillo

AbstractEnergy system optimization models offer insights into energy and emissions futures through least-cost optimization. However, real-world energy systems often deviate from deterministic scenarios, necessitating rigorous uncertainty exploration in macro-energy system modeling. This study uses modeling techniques to generate diverse near cost-optimal net-zero CO2 pathways for the United States’ energy system.

May 13, 2024 | energycentral.com | Aranya Venkatesh

EPRI's trusted experts collaborate with more than 450 companies in 45 countries, driving innovation to ensure the public has clean, safe, reliable, affordable, and equitable access to electricity across the globe. Rooted in science and rigor, EPRI collaborates with scientists, engineers, government, and experts from academia and industry to shape and drive technology advancements by pushing the frontier of innovation from concept, pilot, operation to end-of-life.

May 10, 2024 | nature.com | Bryan K. Mignone |Leon E. Clarke |James A. Edmonds |Angelo C. Gurgel |Howard J. Herzog |Jeremiah Johnson | +8 more

Energy transition scenarios are characterized by increasing electrification and improving efficiency of energy end uses, rapid decarbonization of the electric power sector, and deployment of carbon dioxide removal (CDR) technologies to offset remaining emissions. Although hydrocarbon fuels typically decline in such scenarios, significant volumes remain in many scenarios even at the time of net-zero emissions. While scenarios rely on different approaches for decarbonizing remaining fuels, the underlying drivers for these differences are unclear. Here we develop several illustrative net-zero systems in a simple structural energy model and show that, for a given set of final energy demands, assumptions about the use of biomass and CO2 sequestration drive key differences in how emissions from remaining fuels are mitigated. Limiting one resource may increase reliance on another, implying that decisions about using or restricting resources in pursuit of net-zero objectives could have significant tradeoffs that will need to be evaluated and managed. Assumptions about the use of biomass and CO2 sequestration drive key differences in how emissions from remaining fuels are mitigated in net-zero energy systems, with potentially significant tradeoffs that will need to be evaluated and managed.