2023-05-31 
Lithuanian Energy Institute, Breslaujos st. 3, Kaunas Author, Institution: Eimantas Neniškis, Lithuanian Energy Institute
Dissertation title: Integrated assessment of least-cost decarbonization pathways of transport and energy sectors
Science area, field of science: Social Sciences, Economics – S004
Defense of the dissertation: 2023-05-31, 10:00 a.m., Lithuanian Energy Institute, AK-202 auditorium, Breslaujos st. 3, Kaunas, Lithuania.
Scientific Supervisor: Dr. Arvydas Galinis (Lithuanian Energy Institute, Social Sciences, Economics, S004)
Dissertation Defense Board of Economics Science Field:
- Chairperson – Prof. Dr. Dalia Štreimikienė (Lithuania Energy Institute, Social Sciences, Economics, S004)
- Prof. Dr. Tomas Baležentis (Vilius University, Social Sciences, Economics, S004)
- Prof. Dr. Daiva Dumčiuvienė (Kaunas University of Technology, Social Sciences, Economics, S004)
- Dr. Linas Martišauskas (Vutautas Magnus University, Technological Sciences, Energetics and Power Engineering, T006)
- Prof. Dr. Vytautas Snieška (Kaunas University of Technology, Social Sciences, Economics, S004)
The doctoral dissertation is available on the internet and at the library of Kaunas University of Technology (K. Donelaičio g. 20, Kaunas) and Lithuania Energy Institute (Breslaujos st. 3, Kaunas)
Annotation
The decarbonization of the economies needs radical changes in all economic sectors that require massive investments. Therefore, decarbonization actions should be based on detailed analyses of the future development of various sectors and the cost-effectiveness of different emission abatement measures. Energy planning models that work based on minimizing total discounted costs are commonly used to determine how the energy sector should develop to reach various strategic targets, including emission reduction in a least-cost way. However, the cross-sectoral interrelations between the power and transport sectors are often neglected, even though they might have a substantial impact. This doctoral thesis presents a developed model within the MESSAGE modelling framework for assessing least-cost decarbonization pathways of power, district heating and transport sectors, considering the potential of sectoral interrelations in increasing power system flexibility. The developed model optimizes operation and investments in all modelled sectors using perfect foresight optimization. Also, the created model has two unique features: probabilistic wind speed representation for wind power plants and vehicle age distributions. Furthermore, to account for some of the transport sector’s behavioural aspects, travel time budget and inconvenience costs for electric vehicles were modelled. This doctoral thesis presents the results of an integrated least-cost decarbonization analysis of the electricity, district heating and transport sectors for the case of Lithuania that has been carried out using the developed model.