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RMI advocates for the reassessment of planned coal-fired power plants, particularly in low-and-middle-income countries, given the falling costs of renewables and storage. The briefing provides a framework for identifying candidate plants for reconsideration based on their conception date, sunk costs, and evolving grid needs, suggesting that solar paired with battery energy storage (BESS) often offers a more competitive levelized cost of energy (LCOE) than new ultra-supercritical coal plants.

The EU aims to import 10 million tons of renewable hydrogen by 2030 to decarbonize heavy industry and transport, as domestic production is expected to fall short of demand. The report identifies the US Gulf Coast, Australia, and other regions with low renewable energy costs as key potential suppliers. To activate this trade, the EU needs to invest in port infrastructure (ammonia terminals and crackers), clarify certification schemes, and provide €15 billion to €20 billion in public support to offset green premiums over blue hydrogen. While Northwest Europe will rely heavily on imports, Southern Europe (Spain and Portugal) is expected to become more self-sufficient by the mid-2030s.

The document examines the M4 framework for marine multi-use projects, identifying a global trend toward combining offshore wind with other technologies, most notably hydrogen production. A technoeconomic analysis of a potential floating wind farm off Scotland indicates that centralized offshore hydrogen production is the most cost-effective strategy. The report highlights that while technical barriers are low, commercialization is hindered by regulatory gaps and a lack of multi-use integration in Marine Spatial Plans.

The document advocates for the use of thermal hydrolysis as a pre-treatment for anaerobic digestion in wastewater treatment works (WWTWs) to increase biogas production and reduce sludge mass. It highlights that South African municipalities spend over R300 million annually on sludge disposal and suggests that thermal hydrolysis can improve digester efficiency, reduce carbon footprints, and provide a payback period of 2-5 years. The factsheet also outlines various financing mechanisms, such as municipal budgets, grants, and energy performance contracts, to support the adoption of these energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies.