Olivier Bahn

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Verified

Olivier verified their affiliation via an institutional email.

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• Ph.D.
• Professor (Full) at HEC Montréal

https://www.gerad.ca/fr/papers/G-2024-20

Low emission and green hydrogen as a carbon-free energy carrier has attracted worldwide attention in decarbonizing the energy system and meeting the Paris agreement target of limiting warming to 2 °C or below. This study investigates the contribution of different hydrogen pathways to the energy transition and sheds light on adopting different decar...

Canada has pledged ambitious emission targets, aiming to achieve a reduction of at least 40–45% below 2005 levels by 2030 and net-zero emissions by 2050. Being amongst the major economies with high dependence on fossil fuels, however, this path is far from straightforward. This research employs NATEM, a TIMES-based regional energy system model for...

Global pathways limiting warming to 2 °C or below require deep carbon dioxide removal through a large-scale transformation of the land surface, an increase in forest cover, and the deployment of negative emission technologies (NETs). Government initiatives endorse bioenergy as an alternative, carbon-neutral energy source for fossil fuels. However,...

Battery charging of electric vehicles (EVs) needs to be properly coordinated by electricity producers to maintain the network reliability. In this paper, we propose a robust approach to model the interaction between a large fleet of EV users and utilities in a long-term generation expansion planning problem. In doing so, we employ a robust multi-pe...

The feasibility of using carbonation-activated steel slag as the exclusive binder for the production of slag-bonded strand boards was studied in an attempt to replace the cement-bonded fiberboards and resin-bonded strand boards. After 12-hours of carbonation curing, the developed slag-bonded strand board displayed excellent compatibility and enhanc...

More than half of the world's population live in cities, and by 2050, it is expected that this proportion will reach almost 68%. These densely populated cities consume more than 75% of the world's primary energy and are responsible for the emission of around 70% of anthropogenic carbon. Providing sustainable energy for the growing demand in cities...

The feasibility of making a cleaner cement via elevated-temperature carbonation of steel slag was investigated. Two types of steel slags were examined, a high-lime ladle steel slag (LSS) and a low-lime electric-arc furnace steel slag (ESS). In comparison to ambient-temperature (23 °C) carbonation, the optimized elevated temperature (55 °C) carbonat...

Generation expansion planning is a classical problem that determines an optimal investment plan for the expansion of electricity network. With the advent of demand response as a reserved capacity in smart power systems, recent versions of this class of problems model demand response as an alternative for the expansion of the network. This adds unce...

This study assesses the contribution of various forest-based bioenergy technologies when transitioning to a low carbon economy. A detailed modeling of different forest-based bioenergy pathways is provided following a techno-economic (bottom-up) approach. As an illustration, these pathways are implemented in NATEM-Québec, a detailed bottom-up energy...

In this paper, we study how uncertainties weighing on the climate system impact the optimal technological pathways the world energy system should take to comply with stringent mitigation objectives. We use the TIAM-World model that relies on the TIMES modelling approach. Its climate module is inspired by the DICE model. Using robust optimization te...

In this paper, we propose a simple oligopoly game model to represent the interactions between coalitions of countries in deploying carbon dioxide removal (CDR) strategies in a steady-state net-zero emission climate regime that could take place by the end of the twenty-first century. The emission quotas and CDR activities obtained in the solution of...

Adding renewable energy sources (RES) to an electricity market has an ambiguous effect on wholesale prices. The merit order effect (MoE) has a downward pressure on prices while, with market power, higher inframarginal rents will tend to increase prices. We quantify the interaction of the two effects in the Ontario electricity market. We identify th...

The power sector needs to ensure a rapid transition towards a low-carbon energy system to avoid the dangerous consequences of greenhouse gas emissions. Storage technologies are a promising option to provide the power system with the flexibility required when intermittent renewables are present in the electricity generation mix. This paper focuses o...

We study how changes in cross-border energy infrastructure in North America will impact local and national markets. Electricity and natural gas are all transported across the borders of Canada, US, and Mexico. However, future changes in the energy production mix will lead to the further development of these infrastructures, as energy supply and dem...

This paper proposes a detailed analysis of the evolution of Canadian energy systems under some selected EMF (Energy Modeling Forum) 34 scenarios. Our analysis is based on NATEM, an energy model that follows the TIMES approach of the International Energy Agency to represent in detail the energy sector of each of the 13 Canadian provinces and territo...

Mathematical models of energy-economy-environmental systems (E3) provide a rational framework for exploring the effects of energy and climate policies and support adequate decision-making. Numerous models have been developed over the years with different solution approaches, features, geographical scope and time resolution. There is no complete or...

In this paper we propose a very simple steady-state game model that represents schematically interactions between coalitions of countries in achieving a necessary net-zero emission of GHGs in order to stabilize climate over the long term. We start from a situation where m coalitions exist and behave as m players in a game of sharing a global emissi...

Climate change is one of the greatest environmental challenges facing our planet in the foreseeable future, yet, despite international environmental agreements, global GHG emissions are still increasing. In this context, adaptation measures can play an important role in reducing climate impacts. These measures involve adjustments to economic or soc...

Bien que la nécessité de réduire les émissions de gaz à effet de serre soit généralement admise, plusieurs organisations ne considèrent pas la question énergétique comme une priorité. Comment convaincre leurs dirigeants de faire de la transition énergétique un enjeu stratégique ?

The Canadian province of Quebec has set for 2030 a greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction target of 37.5% below 1990 levels. Meeting such a reduction target requires in particular a rapid transition to a low-carbon energy system. This paper proposes prospective energy scenarios for Quebec up to 2030, under different GHG emission reduction constrai...

Energy and the environment are closely interconnected. In particular, energy-related carbon dioxide emissions are major contributors to climate change. To analyze options within the energy sector to curb greenhouse gas emissions, or to study alternative climate strategies such as adaptation and geoengineering measures, policy-makers can rely on mat...

This paper proposes energy scenarios to 2050 for the Province of Quebec under GHG emission reduction constraints with and without new hydrocarbon exploitation. The main objective is to measure the impact of new hydrocarbon projects on achieving stringent GHG reduction objectives (upto −80%). Our analysis relies on the North American TIMES Energy Mo...

Canada committed to reduce its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 30% below 2005 levels by 2030, and by 70–90% below 2005 levels by 2050. These challenging commitments require special consideration of the energy sector in Canada. The main objective of this chapter is to identify different decarbonization pathways that would allow Canada to participa...

This paper deals with a family of dynamic game models that represent schematically the interaction between groups of countries in achieving the necessary limitation of carbon atmospheric emissions in order to control climate change. We start from a situation where m coalitions of countries exist and behave as m players in a game of sharing a global...

The main objective of this paper is to explore deep decarbonization pathways for the Canadian energy sector that would allow Canada to participate in global mitigation efforts to keep global mean surface temperatures from increasing by more than 2 °C by 2100. Our approach consists in deriving minimum cost solutions for achieving progressive emissio...

The life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology is increasingly used to ensure environmental sustainability of emerging biofuels. However, LCA studies are usually not performed at the process design stage, when it would be more efficient to identify and control environmental aspects. Moreover, the long-term economic profitability of biofuels depends on...

We use a newly developed model of the entire Canadian energy system (TIMES-Canada) to assess the climate change mitigation potential of different agri-food consumption patterns in Canada. For this, our model has been extended by disaggregating the agricultural demand sector into individual agri-food demands to allow for a more in-depth analysis. Be...

In this paper we show how to robustify the computation of equilibria in two integrated assessment models for climate change. Both models deal with the optimal timing of a transition to a ‘clean’ economy where a technology with low emissions but high energy cost can be used in the production process. The game represents the competition between indus...

We investigate geoengineering as a possible substitute for mitigation and adaptation measures to address climate change. Relying on an integrated assessment model, we distinguish between the effects of solar radiation management (SRM) on atmospheric temperature levels and its side-effects on the environment. The optimal climate portfolio is a mix o...

The oil industry currently plays a major role in the Canadian economy. In the future, further developments of the oil sector will be affected by the ability to transport crude oil (mainly from Western Canada) to consuming regions in Canada and abroad. This chapter analyzes different crude oil exportation scenarios based on existing pipeline expansi...

In this paper, we propose a differential game model with a coupled constraint to represent the possible effects of climate agreements between industrialized, emerging and developing countries. Each group of countries is represented by an economic growth model where two different types of economies, called, respectively, ‘low-carbon’ and ‘carbon,’ c...

Les textes publiés dans la série des rapports de recherche HEC n'engagent que la responsabilité de leurs auteurs. La publication de ces rapports de recherche bénéficie d'une subvention du Fonds de recherche du Québec – Nature et technologies.

This paper presents an analysis of Canadian energy and climate policies in terms of the coherence between federal and provincial/territorial strategies. After briefly describing the institutional, energy, and climate contexts, we perform a SWOT analysis on the themes of energy security, energy efficiency, and technology and innovation. Within this...

We use a newly developed bottom-up model of the entire Canadian energy system (TIMES-Canada) to assess potentials for electrification of the road transport sector. A special emphasis has been put on the modelling of the Canadian road transport, by considering a variety of vehicles for passenger and freight transportation. Besides a business-as-usua...

It is increasingly important to provide the relevant data for strategic decisions related to oil production and the marketing of oil products. We propose the use of a forecasting model to define a production profile for the Canadian oil sector to 2050. Our approach considers both economic variables (prices) and physical variables (production and in...

In terms of energy resources, Canada is an important player on the world scene. However, the energy systems of the Canadian provinces and territories are much diversified and a national energy strategy is missing in order to optimize the management of energy systems. The objective of this paper is two-fold. First, we introduce TIMES-Canada, a new m...

Climate change is one of the greatest challenges facing our planet in the foreseeable future and despite the urgency of the situation global GHG emissions are still increasing. In this context, and since future climate changes appear now unavoidable to some extent, adaptation measures have recently gained a new political momentum as an important co...

Organizational behavior and stakeholder processes continually influence energy strategy choices and decisions. Although theoretical optimizations can provide guidance for energy mix decisions from a pure physical systems engineering point of view, these solutions might not be optimal from a political or social perspective. Improving the transparenc...

Les textes publiés dans la série des rapports de recherche HEC n'engagent que la responsabilité de leurs auteurs. La publication de ces rapports de recherche bénéficie d'une subvention du Fonds québécois de la recherche sur la nature et les technologies.

Paleoclimate evidence and climate models indicate that certain elements of the climate system may exhibit thresholds, with small changes in greenhouse gas emissions resulting in non-linear and potentially irreversible regime shifts with serious consequences for socio-economic systems. Such thresholds or tipping points in the climate system are like...

This paper deals with an application of dynamic games for the design of efficient climate policies involving both adaptation and mitigation elements. More precisely, this paper extends the integrated assessment model Ada-BaHaMa to a game theoretic framework where several world regions define non-cooperatively their energy and climate policies all t...

This chapter deals with an application of stochastic control or stochastic game methods to the design of optimal timing of climate policies. In the first part, we propose a stochastic control approach for a cost-benefit model that takes into account the uncertainty on the access to a backstop (clean) technology. In a second part, we show how this m...

In this paper we use a dynamic model to analyze the composition and stability of international environmental agreements (IEAs) in an asymmetrical framework. Signatory countries are assumed to optimize the total welfare of the international agreement's members, while non-signatory countries optimize their own individual welfare, taking into account...

This paper deals with the design of equilibrium solutions with coupled constraints in dynamic games of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions abatement. Self enforcing International Environmental Agreements (IEA) among different groups of countries call for Nash equilibrium solutions when the abatement strategies of the countries are defined. In this paper...

A stochastic control model is proposed as a paradigm for the design of optimal timing of greenhouse gas (GHG) emission abatement. The resolution of uncertainty concerning climate sensitivity and the technological breakthrough providing access to a carbon-free production economy are modeled as controlled stochastic jump processes. The optimal policy...

We modify a model of climate and economy to address the effects of the reduction in atmospheric pollutants which occurs as a result of climate change mitigation policies. In particular, the reduction of sulphur dioxide (SO2) emissions as a result of climate change policies leads to reduced statistical morbidity and infant mortality, but increased s...

In this paper, we study optimal economic growth programs coupled with climate change dynamics. The study is based on models derived from MERGE, a well established integrated assessment model (IAM). We discuss first the introduction in MERGE of a set of “tolerable window” constraints which limit both the temperature change and the rate of temperatur...

We have developed a new version of the MERGE model, called MERGE-ETL, to analyse the dynamics of endogenous technological learning (ETL) in the energy system. This paper describes the basic formulation of MERGE-ETL, the solving techniques used for this model and some first numerical results in the context of policies designed to mitigate global cli...

This paper presents the implementation of endogenous technological change, following either a one-factor or a two-factor learning curve, in the MERGE model. We have indeed developed a new version of this model, called MERGE-ETL, to analyse the dynamics of endogenous technological learning (ETL) in the energy system. This paper describes first the b...

The aim of this paper is to evaluate two policies Switzerland could follow to curb its CO2 emissions: the imposition of a domestic carbon tax, and the combining of such a tax with the buying of CO2 permits on an international market. These evaluations are done with the general equilibrium model GEM-E3 Switzerland. Besides contributing to the Swiss...

The Kyoto Protocol has set greenhouse gas emission reduction targets for selected countries. To comply with these reduction requirements, decision-makers may use market-based instruments on a national or international basis. This paper advocates the combining of national emission taxes with international trade of emission permits. As a numerical ap...

A cost-efficient way to allocate carbon dioxide (CO2) emission reductions among countries or regions is to harmonise their marginal reduction costs. This could be achieved by a market of emission reduction units (ERUs). To model such a market, we use a multi-regional MARKAL-MACRO model. It gives insights into the consequences of co-ordinating CO2 a...

The amplified greenhouse effect is a global problem that also must be encountered with global strategies. The goal is not only to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions of the principle generators but also to stop the increase of emissions in the developing countries. The Paul Scherrer Institute in Villigen, Switzerland, has studied the effects of the...

This study offers insights into the design of economically efficient policies to curb carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in Switzerland and in other European countries. The method uses a model of the energy system to investigate various options for taxation to reduce CO2emissions. This study proposes as a first option the introduction of a ‘hedging tax...

Many countries have developed energy models (such as MARKAL-MACRO---MM) to assess their energy policies, in particular concerning the curbing of their carbon dioxide (CO2 ) emissions. To integrate national MM models, we propose a multi-regional MARKAL-MACRO (3M) model. It enables one to study an international cooperation to curb jointly CO2 emissio...

The aim of this paper is to propose a method for coupling national energy models, to identify the dividends of international cooperation in atmospheric pollution abatement and efficient energy use. It indicates also how to solve the resulting large-scale multinational model. It stimulates finally a cooperation of four European countries for curbing...

The aim of this paper is to present the first experiments in using a new mathematical programming decomposition technique for solving multi-regional energy-environment planning models. The paper shows that: (i) the approach can be efficiently implemented for coupling several large-scale energy models; and (ii) the consideration of several European...

The stochastic linear programming problem with recourse has a dual block-angular structure. It can thus be handled by Benders' decomposition or by Kelley's method of cutting planes; equivalently the dual problem has a primal block-angular structure and can be handled by Dantzig-Wolfe decomposition—the two approaches are in fact identical by duality...

This paper deals with the computation of the interior point cutting plane algorithm of Goffin, Haurie and Vial, with a special application to the solution of convex differentiable programming problems. The interior point cutting plane algorithm is closely related to the classical method of Cheney and Goldstein, and Kelley, but the cuts are generate...

This is a numerical study of the co-operation between Belgium, Switzerland, and the Netherlands, for curbing their carbon dioxide emissions. A multi-national market allocation model (MARKAL) has been adopted to assess the benefits of GHGs emissions reductions. Where a multilateral Joint Implementation project between three countries attempts to red...