The role of low carbon fuels towards net-zero in integrated assessment models and energy system models: A critical review

IF 16.3 1区工程技术 Q1 ENERGY & FUELS Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews Pub Date : 2025-06-01 Epub Date: 2025-03-19 DOI:10.1016/j.rser.2025.115608

Zipeng Liu , Meixi Zhang , Christian Bauer , Russell McKenna

{"title":"The role of low carbon fuels towards net-zero in integrated assessment models and energy system models: A critical review","authors":"Zipeng Liu , Meixi Zhang , Christian Bauer , Russell McKenna","doi":"10.1016/j.rser.2025.115608","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Low-carbon fuels (LCFs) are crucial for achieving net-zero CO<sub>2</sub> emission goals in integrated assessment model (IAM) and energy system model (ESM) scenarios. The absence of a standardized LCF classification system and inconsistencies in modeling approaches have obscured the integration of various LCFs within these models and makes a meaningful comparison of scenario outcomes difficult. This study addresses these issues by conducting a comprehensive critical review of the representation of LCFs in IAMs and ESMs, focusing on the fuel's role in shaping net-zero emission futures. We categorize LCFs into key groups, including electrification, hydrogen, synfuels, and biofuels. Our analysis reveals substantial gaps in technical modeling, lifecycle emissions data, incomplete modeling of environmental impacts beyond CO<sub>2</sub> emission, and discrepancies in LCF applications across sectors. To enhance the accuracy of future scenarios, we recommend adopting a unified LCF classification system, standardized input data, and more detailed sectoral applications. Additionally, we advocate for the integration of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) into IAMs and ESMs to improve the evaluation of LCFs' full environmental impacts, providing a more comprehensive foundation for net-zero emission pathways.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":418,"journal":{"name":"Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews","volume":"215 ","pages":"Article 115608"},"PeriodicalIF":16.3000,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews","FirstCategoryId":"1","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1364032125002813","RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"2025/3/19 0:00:00","PubModel":"Epub","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"ENERGY & FUELS","Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Abstract

Low-carbon fuels (LCFs) are crucial for achieving net-zero CO₂ emission goals in integrated assessment model (IAM) and energy system model (ESM) scenarios. The absence of a standardized LCF classification system and inconsistencies in modeling approaches have obscured the integration of various LCFs within these models and makes a meaningful comparison of scenario outcomes difficult. This study addresses these issues by conducting a comprehensive critical review of the representation of LCFs in IAMs and ESMs, focusing on the fuel's role in shaping net-zero emission futures. We categorize LCFs into key groups, including electrification, hydrogen, synfuels, and biofuels. Our analysis reveals substantial gaps in technical modeling, lifecycle emissions data, incomplete modeling of environmental impacts beyond CO₂ emission, and discrepancies in LCF applications across sectors. To enhance the accuracy of future scenarios, we recommend adopting a unified LCF classification system, standardized input data, and more detailed sectoral applications. Additionally, we advocate for the integration of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) into IAMs and ESMs to improve the evaluation of LCFs' full environmental impacts, providing a more comprehensive foundation for net-zero emission pathways.

查看原文

微信好友朋友圈 QQ好友复制链接

本刊更多论文

低碳燃料在综合评估模型和能源系统模型中实现净零排放的作用：一项批判性审查

在综合评估模型（IAM）和能源系统模型（ESM）情景中，低碳燃料（LCFs）对于实现二氧化碳净零排放目标至关重要。缺乏标准化的LCF分类系统和建模方法的不一致性使得这些模型中各种LCF的集成变得模糊，并且使得对场景结果进行有意义的比较变得困难。本研究通过对低碳燃料在iam和esm中的代表性进行全面的批判性审查来解决这些问题，重点关注燃料在塑造净零排放未来中的作用。我们将低成本燃料分类为几个关键类别，包括电气化、氢燃料、合成燃料和生物燃料。我们的分析表明，在技术建模、生命周期排放数据、二氧化碳排放以外的环境影响建模不完整以及各行业LCF应用的差异方面存在巨大差距。为了提高未来情景的准确性，我们建议采用统一的LCF分类系统、标准化的输入数据和更详细的部门应用程序。此外，我们提倡将生命周期评估（LCA）整合到iam和esm中，以改进对lfs全面环境影响的评估，为净零排放途径提供更全面的基础。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

求助全文

约1分钟内获得全文去求助

来源期刊

Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 工程技术-能源与燃料

CiteScore

31.20

自引率

5.70%

发文量

1055

审稿时长

62 days

期刊介绍： The mission of Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews is to disseminate the most compelling and pertinent critical insights in renewable and sustainable energy, fostering collaboration among the research community, private sector, and policy and decision makers. The journal aims to exchange challenges, solutions, innovative concepts, and technologies, contributing to sustainable development, the transition to a low-carbon future, and the attainment of emissions targets outlined by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews publishes a diverse range of content, including review papers, original research, case studies, and analyses of new technologies, all featuring a substantial review component such as critique, comparison, or analysis. Introducing a distinctive paper type, Expert Insights, the journal presents commissioned mini-reviews authored by field leaders, addressing topics of significant interest. Case studies undergo consideration only if they showcase the work's applicability to other regions or contribute valuable insights to the broader field of renewable and sustainable energy. Notably, a bibliographic or literature review lacking critical analysis is deemed unsuitable for publication.