Technology Transforming Markets: Large-Scale Field Experiments in Electricity Use. Advances in information technology are transforming electricity markets. Victoria is rolling out ‘smart’ meters, which record half-hourly consumption data. Some retailers also provide web portals that facilitate customer access to this information. Together with an innovative start-up company, this project aims to use large-scale field experiments to evaluate the impact of these technologies on how consumers: use ....Technology Transforming Markets: Large-Scale Field Experiments in Electricity Use. Advances in information technology are transforming electricity markets. Victoria is rolling out ‘smart’ meters, which record half-hourly consumption data. Some retailers also provide web portals that facilitate customer access to this information. Together with an innovative start-up company, this project aims to use large-scale field experiments to evaluate the impact of these technologies on how consumers: use electricity; opt for new pricing plans; and switch retailers. The aims have important implications for environmental policies designed to conserve energy, for consumer choice and welfare, and for retail market competitiveness.Read moreRead less
Energy Efficiency Innovation, Diffusion and the Rebound Effect. This project aims to help quantify the net energy saved globally from energy efficiency policies and programs. It aims to investigate the speed at which energy efficiency innovations spread to countries across the world from technologically leading countries and to measure empirically the size of the rebound effect that offsets energy efficiency improvements at the economy-wide level. Governments and international organisations are ....Energy Efficiency Innovation, Diffusion and the Rebound Effect. This project aims to help quantify the net energy saved globally from energy efficiency policies and programs. It aims to investigate the speed at which energy efficiency innovations spread to countries across the world from technologically leading countries and to measure empirically the size of the rebound effect that offsets energy efficiency improvements at the economy-wide level. Governments and international organisations are increasingly looking to energy efficiency policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve energy security, but there is little information on the potential for these policies to actually save energy and, therefore, reduce emissions. Project results may help in the design of cost-effective energy and climate policies.Read moreRead less
Energy transitions: past, present and future. Uncertainty about the costs of transitioning to a low carbon economy in Australia and other countries will be reduced by improving our knowledge of the costs of reducing fossil fuel use and the role of energy in economic growth. Energy economics research capabilities in Australia will be enhanced.
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE160100750
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$370,000.00
Summary
The Effects of Energy Subsidy Reform: The Case of Indonesia. This project plans to analyse and quantify the effects of energy subsidy reductions on environmental, transport, health, socioeconomic and industrial outcomes. Using econometric methods, the project aims to assess recent reductions in subsidies for fuel and electricity in Indonesia. Energy subsidies have been a large drain on many governments’ budgets and are often thought to bring perverse effects. The project may provide a blueprint ....The Effects of Energy Subsidy Reform: The Case of Indonesia. This project plans to analyse and quantify the effects of energy subsidy reductions on environmental, transport, health, socioeconomic and industrial outcomes. Using econometric methods, the project aims to assess recent reductions in subsidies for fuel and electricity in Indonesia. Energy subsidies have been a large drain on many governments’ budgets and are often thought to bring perverse effects. The project may provide a blueprint for the design of future reforms in Indonesia and elsewhere, with the goal of addressing serious issues such as air pollution and traffic congestion while avoiding adverse consequences for the poor. The project also aims to assist budget forecasting and guide economic models on the effects of fiscal settings for energy.Read moreRead less
Assessing willingness to pay for urban water, wastewater, gas and electricity delivery service standards. The utility industry is a substantial component of the Australian economy (2.2 % of GDP), underpinning national production. Recent infrastructure failures, costing up to $200 million per week, have been blamed largely on regulatory approaches that emphasise minimum price and cost solutions to utility service provision without any assessment or consideration of the willingness to pay for serv ....Assessing willingness to pay for urban water, wastewater, gas and electricity delivery service standards. The utility industry is a substantial component of the Australian economy (2.2 % of GDP), underpinning national production. Recent infrastructure failures, costing up to $200 million per week, have been blamed largely on regulatory approaches that emphasise minimum price and cost solutions to utility service provision without any assessment or consideration of the willingness to pay for service quality and the value people place on surety of supply. Research on the role of WTP for service standards in regulating price and service quality is required to prevent future infrastructure failures. This research will provide substantial economic benefits to Australia through improved regulation and better targeting of infrastructure investment.Read moreRead less
Solving the water crisis in Australian cities and towns with options contracts between urban and rural water users. We will equip water resource managers with a powerful and effective tool for the allocation of water resources between rural and urban sectors. The importance of this bridge cannot be understated. To date urban centres have endured stringent water restrictions to manage dwindling urban suppliers, while ignoring the potential benefits of purchasing water from the irrigated agricul ....Solving the water crisis in Australian cities and towns with options contracts between urban and rural water users. We will equip water resource managers with a powerful and effective tool for the allocation of water resources between rural and urban sectors. The importance of this bridge cannot be understated. To date urban centres have endured stringent water restrictions to manage dwindling urban suppliers, while ignoring the potential benefits of purchasing water from the irrigated agriculture sector. Furthermore, rural communities have suffered hardship due to restricted agricultural production during times of drought. This research proposal represents an exciting solution to both problems and offers the tantalising prospect of water shortages in our capital cities and towns becoming distant memories.Read moreRead less
Special Research Initiatives - Grant ID: SR0354852
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$10,000.00
Summary
Sustainable Regions for a Competitive Australia. How can metropolitan, rural and remote regions balance economic and job growth, with environmental and social sustainability? This Initiative establishes a Network of researchers to work collaboratively on questions of environmental best practice, community development, regional governance, labour markets, economic development and technology transfer. The Network's vision is to find ways to use existing and future research to help make Australia ....Sustainable Regions for a Competitive Australia. How can metropolitan, rural and remote regions balance economic and job growth, with environmental and social sustainability? This Initiative establishes a Network of researchers to work collaboratively on questions of environmental best practice, community development, regional governance, labour markets, economic development and technology transfer. The Network's vision is to find ways to use existing and future research to help make Australia's regions more competitive on world markets and more environmentally sustainable, and to help build stronger regional communities. The Network cuts across traditional discipline boundaries to find integrated solutions to the real problems confronting Australian regions.Read moreRead less
Water derivatives: conceptualisation, price modelling and economic impacts. Introducing water options is likely to provide farmers with more choices on trading their water allocation and enhance water price certainty. Recent seasons have accentuated the potential benefit of water options: regions with highly secure water in the past have suffered repeated shortfalls in allocations. Water options would alter the behaviour of water managers who would need to ensure sufficient carryover to future s ....Water derivatives: conceptualisation, price modelling and economic impacts. Introducing water options is likely to provide farmers with more choices on trading their water allocation and enhance water price certainty. Recent seasons have accentuated the potential benefit of water options: regions with highly secure water in the past have suffered repeated shortfalls in allocations. Water options would alter the behaviour of water managers who would need to ensure sufficient carryover to future seasons to allow for drought. Options markets may improve the allocation of water between competing users. Such markets, by reducing uncertainty, may reduce excessive adjustment costs arising from drought by improving water access security.Read moreRead less
Auctions of Standing Trees. This project is critical to the ecological well-being of Australia. Standing trees are extremely important in Australia because they prevent soil erosion and stabilize water tables; their location influences fire risks. Much timber is sold at auction. While it is possible and desirable to learn how other nations use auctions to sell standing trees, information from those locales needs to be used with care when adapting it to the Australian experience. The project ....Auctions of Standing Trees. This project is critical to the ecological well-being of Australia. Standing trees are extremely important in Australia because they prevent soil erosion and stabilize water tables; their location influences fire risks. Much timber is sold at auction. While it is possible and desirable to learn how other nations use auctions to sell standing trees, information from those locales needs to be used with care when adapting it to the Australian experience. The project will use state-of-the art theory and methods to implement novel public policy. It will also develop expertise necessary to implement modern economic methods in environmental policy settings.Read moreRead less
Economics of Conserving Australian Tropical Wildlife: An Analysis of the Role of Economic Valuation, Property Rights and Commercialisation. Australian tropical native animals are selected to analyse economic valuation (use and non-use valuation) of wildlife species and to assess systematically the role of property rights and commercialisation in conservation. The project will (1) reduce bias of Australian economic studies in favour of temperate species; (2) answer several unresolved questions ra ....Economics of Conserving Australian Tropical Wildlife: An Analysis of the Role of Economic Valuation, Property Rights and Commercialisation. Australian tropical native animals are selected to analyse economic valuation (use and non-use valuation) of wildlife species and to assess systematically the role of property rights and commercialisation in conservation. The project will (1) reduce bias of Australian economic studies in favour of temperate species; (2) answer several unresolved questions raised in the Parlimentary Report on Commercial Utilisation of Australian Wildlife; (3) advance economic theory (e.g. relating to dynamic influences on economic valuation) and provide new insights into property rights making use of empirical and experimental results, and (4) thereby contribute to public policy decision-making.Read moreRead less