Search formAdvanced search

We analyse the (techno- and macro-)economic and distributive effects of a transformation to a renewable electricity system in Austria by 2030, as stipulated by the Austrian government. For the analysis, the macroeconomic model DYNK and ATLANTIS, a partial model of the electricity market, were expanded and linked. Four transformation scenarios conforming with the 100 percent renewable electricity target in Austria on a national balance are examined, integrated into a consistent scenario for the development of the European electricity system. Additionally, sensitivity analyses with respect to the gas price are performed. Although all scenarios achieve 100 percent renewable electricity on a national balance, the analysis shows that electricity from gas-fired power plants will still be needed in 2030 to balance variable renewable generation, to avoid grid congestion, and for heat generation from combined heat and power plants in winter months. Another main conclusion from the simulations is that the transition towards a renewable electricity sector is almost neutral from a socio-economic perspective. It does neither reveal harmful impacts nor lead to high multiplier effects from additional investment. With high natural gas prices in the sensitivity scenarios a decrease in GDP and household income, which might motivate redistributive policies, can be observed.

A concerted worldwide effort to reach the goals of the Paris Agreement brings about a substantial increase in raw material demand for the production and deployment of clean energy technologies. Yet, raw materials required for the energy transition show high emissions intensities in mining and production. Producing secondary resources, in particular metals and critical raw materials (CRMs) like rare earth metals, from recycling End-of-Life (EoL) waste streams of PV panels, e-vehicles, and wind turbines (PEW) involves substantially less energy input than converting it from ore. With this background the aim of our project was 1) to quantify the potential of EoL waste streams of PEW, including the CRMs for recycling, 2) to project the future secondary resource potential assuming a decarbonising scenario of the Austrian economy, and 3) to assess the economic impacts from potential recycling loops using the macroeconomic model WIFO.DYNK. Results show that from an investor's point of view, recycling plants appear not profitable under the selected price assumptions. Introducing a minimum "gate-fee" for EoL waste streams can yet ensure the profitability and investments for recycling plants. From a macroeconomic perspective, recycling of EoL PEW devices generates value-added, employment as well as dividends in climate mitigation and resource or energy security.

Die Transformation zu einer CO2-armen Wirtschaft treibt die Nachfrage nach Batteriespeichersystemen und batteriebetriebenen Fahrzeugen. Dies führt weltweit zu einem deutlichen Anstieg der Nachfrage nach kritischen Funktionsmaterialien. Aus der begrenzten Lebensdauer von Energiespeichern folgt ein wachsendes Aufkommen an End-of-Life-Lithium-Ionen-Batterien (EoL-LIB) von bis zu 144.000 t pro Jahr, das entsprechend entsorgt werden müsste. Der vorliegende Beitrag analysiert exemplarisch die ökonomischen Auswirkungen der Sammlung, Behandlung und des Recyclings von EoL-LIB für Österreich unter Berücksichtigung unterschiedlicher Preisszenarien für die gewonnenen Sekundärrohstoffe. Der gesamtwirtschaftliche Effekt ist in allen untersuchten Preisszenarien positiv. Das Recycling von LIB trägt zu öffentlichen Gütern wie Klimaschutz und Rohstoffsicherheit bei.

Mit anhaltender Verkehrswende nimmt die Bedeutung von Lithium-Ionen-Batterien (LIB) in Zukunft stark zu. Im Sinne der Kreislaufwirtschaft sind einerseits die optimale und nachhaltige Nutzung vorhandener Ressourcen, andererseits das Schließen von Material-Kreisläufen durch geeignete und effiziente Recyclingverfahren unabdingbar. Der Artikel behandelt die aktuellen Problemfelder und Herausforderungen entlang der Wertschöpfungskette von LIB am Ende ihres Lebenszyklus. Dabei werden insbesondere Aspekte der Vorbehandlung und des Recyclings beleuchtet.

The paper presents two complementary quantitative analyses using a macroeconomic model of the Austrian economy, which links monetary and physical waste-related data. First, the economic and environmental impacts of the current Austrian waste economy are evaluated in terms of business-models for waste collection, treatment and secondary raw material use. Related impacts on CO2 emissions are quantified. Second, potential future employment effects that can result from further development of the Austrian waste economy are assessed.