Communicating complexity and informing decision-makers : challenges in the data and computation of environmental benefits of renewable energy

This thesis contrasts the quantification of avoided emission benefits of renewable generation as determined by a marginal emissions analysis and the methodology specified by the Massachusetts Greenhouse Gas Policy and Protocol. Both methodologies are applied to an offshore wind installation that is currently being proposed by the Town of Hull, Massachusetts. The key finding is that the Massachusetts Greenhouse Gas Policy undercounts the avoided emissions benefits of the proposed installation by a range of 30%-50%, depending on the emission. Finally, the policy implications of this finding is explored and expounded upon.

Department dc:contributor.department

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Engineering Systems Division

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2008

Author dc:creator

• Rached, Tarek

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Stephen R. Connors.

• Technology and Policy Program.

Statement dc:rights

• M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/42933

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/42933