Search Climate Insights Directory

Phaesun GmbH installed a 14.4 kWp solar PV system with battery storage at Orotta Hospital in Eritrea, funded by the NGO Archemed for EUR 75,000. The system provides a reliable power supply for pediatric cardiac surgery and neonatology wards, mitigating frequent grid blackouts and unreliable diesel generators. Since December 2014, the system has enabled round-the-clock operations for critical loads, managed and maintained by the Eritrean Ministry of Health.

The document investigates how Karnataka can manage its increasing flexibility needs—driven by high solar and wind capacity—through a portfolio of demand-side measures, energy storage, and powerplant operational changes. It argues that a balanced portfolio of these options can reduce system costs by up to 10% and carbon emissions by up to 35% by 2030, potentially making new coal capacity redundant. Key recommendations include amending grid codes to allow cost recovery for flexible thermal operations, completing agricultural feeder separation, and developing a 'data mission' to support locational pricing and market design.

The document outlines California's energy storage strategy, highlighting the progress made toward early procurement goals and the significant capacity increases needed by 2050. It details various storage technologies, the impact of legislative mandates like AB 2514, and the barriers to further deployment, including market rules and the need for long-duration storage to support renewable integration.

The author contends that Florida utilities rank near the bottom of all US states in providing energy efficiency programs, which increases power bills and reliance on coal and gas plants. The text highlights that the Florida Public Service Commission continues to use an energy efficiency formula from the 1990s and notes that in 2019, utilities proposed a 10-year energy efficiency goal of zero. Earthjustice, representing the League of United Latin American Citizens and the Environmental Confederation of Southwest Florida, is urging the Commission to hold new public hearings to update these goals, particularly to benefit low-income customers.

The document examines India's energy sector response to COVID-19, noting a trend of continued support for domestic coal and thermal power despite global clean energy goals. It highlights that while some clean energy initiatives exist, such as electric vehicle policies in Delhi and solar power for farmers in Andhra Pradesh, fossil fuel support remains dominant. The briefing advocates for a comprehensive green industrial policy for solar manufacturing, the phase-out of inefficient thermal plants, and the implementation of 'just transition' frameworks to support coal-dependent communities.

The policy brief addresses the 2020 California blackouts, refuting claims that renewable energy caused the outages. It identifies climate-driven extreme heat and the failure of gas generators as contributing factors. The author argues that a diverse mix of resources, including battery storage and green hydrogen, is necessary to ensure 21st-century grid reliability.

The document advocates for the transition of the Southeast U.S. electricity sector from vertically integrated monopolies to a competitive wholesale market, potentially via a Regional Transmission Organization (RTO). It highlights that such a shift could save customers 29 percent on electricity costs and reduce emissions by 37 percent below 2018 levels by 2040. The authors suggest incremental steps, such as Energy Imbalance Markets (EIM) and all-source procurement, as pathways toward full restructuring. Additionally, the report emphasizes the need for integrated distribution planning for distributed energy resources and a 'just transition' framework to support communities affected by the phase-out of coal power.

The report finds that transitioning from the current vertically-integrated monopoly structure to a competitive RTO in the Southeast would generate approximately $384 billion in cumulative savings by 2040. This shift would lower retail electricity costs by 29% and reduce carbon emissions by 37% relative to 2018 levels. The analysis highlights that competition accelerates the deployment of wind, solar, and battery storage, creating a net increase of 285,000 jobs compared to the business-as-usual scenario. The study contrasts this with the current Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) approach, which it characterizes as inefficient due to excessive reserve margins and a reliance on uneconomic coal generation.

The Mokoloki project demonstrates a new 'undergrid' business model where a private developer, Nayo Tropical Technologies, provides reliable electricity to a community within the territory of the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC). The pilot has achieved 99.9 percent reliability, reduced energy costs for customers by ₦20/kWh, and decreased utility losses in the area by over 90 percent. The project supports local healthcare through 24/7 power for clinics and stimulates economic growth by powering small businesses and attracting new enterprises.

The report addresses the vulnerability of energy infrastructure in Small Island Developing States (SIDS) to extreme weather, arguing that while solar PV is a cost-effective alternative to imported fossil fuels, it requires specific engineering and policy standards to survive Category 5 hurricanes. Based on field analyses of failures from 2017–2019, the authors recommend moving away from shared top-down clips toward through-bolting and dual post piers for ground systems, and prohibiting ballasted-only rooftop systems. Implementing these resilience measures is estimated to increase engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) costs by approximately 5%, a cost offset by avoiding total system rebuilds. The report emphasizes multi-stakeholder collaboration and the integration of high-wind standards into local building codes to ensure long-term energy security.

The document argues that the United States can decouple economic growth from carbon emissions, as evidenced by a 25 percent increase in real GDP and a 12 percent fall in energy-related CO2 emissions between 2005 and 2018. It highlights that clean energy is more labor-intensive than fossil fuels, with $1 million spent on renewables or energy efficiency generating 7–8 jobs compared to 2–3 for fossil fuels. The paper emphasizes the falling costs of solar, wind, and battery technologies, noting that new clean energy portfolios are often cheaper than operating existing coal plants. It also discusses the potential for revitalizing rural communities through renewable energy and the necessity of a fair transition for fossil fuel workers to ensure social equity.

The GGT2030 plan targets the development of ten high-growth sectors in Gauteng through significant infrastructure investment, the establishment of Special Economic Zones (SEZs), and the digitalization of government services. Key goals include spending R60 billion on infrastructure by 2025 to create 100,000 jobs and investing R1.3 trillion by 2030 across water, energy, and transport sectors. The strategy emphasizes inclusive growth via township-based business support, the 'Welfare-to-Work' programme for 100,000 young women, and the creation of a 'silicon valley of Africa' through high-tech SEZs and universal broadband in townships.

The report finds that implementing a portfolio of flexibility resources and market reforms could reduce electricity costs by up to 13% and carbon emissions by up to 17% in Tamil Nadu. Key opportunities include leveraging electric vehicle charging, agricultural pumping, and retrofitting coal plants to operate at lower technical minimums. The study emphasizes that while demand flexibility is often the lowest cost, a combined approach with storage and powerplant flexibility provides the highest system reliability and carbon benefits. Integration into a wider India-wide market could further reduce system costs by an additional 6%.

The document features presentations by Ruth Santiago and Dr. Greg Guannel on enhancing coastal resilience in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Santiago argues against rebuilding the existing fossil-fuel-based power grid in Puerto Rico, proposing instead a transition to 'energy democracy' via rooftop solar and community-led energy systems. Dr. Guannel describes the update of the U.S. Virgin Islands' Hazard Mitigation Plan, emphasizing that resilience requires a holistic approach that combines physical infrastructure with social networks and natural systems, such as mangroves and aquifers, to protect the tourism-based economy and public health.

The policy brief outlines a pathway for the United States to reach 90 percent zero carbon electricity by 2035, noting that this transition could support 530,000 annual energy sector jobs and reduce economy-wide emissions by 27 percent without increasing electricity bills. It warns that without policy intervention, zero carbon sources would only reach 53 percent by 2035. The authors propose a series of actions for federal entities, including the EPA requiring state decarbonization plans, the DOE expanding low-cost capital for domestic manufacturing, and the DOL creating a Just Transitions Office to support fossil fuel-dependent communities.

The policy brief outlines a pathway for the U.S. to reach 90 percent zero carbon electricity by 2035, leveraging falling costs of solar, wind, and batteries. It asserts that this transition could support $1.7 trillion in investment and 530,000 annual energy jobs without increasing customer bills. However, it warns that without policy intervention, zero carbon sources would only reach 53 percent by 2035. The authors propose specific regulatory actions for FERC and RTO/ISOs, including simplifying interconnection rules, reforming transmission cost allocation, enhancing energy price signals, and reducing reliance on capacity markets.

The brief outlines a pathway for the U.S. to reach 90 percent zero carbon electricity by 2035, leveraging falling costs of solar, wind, and batteries. It projects that this transition could support 530,000 net new energy jobs annually and reduce economy-wide emissions by 27 percent without increasing customer bills. The document provides a set of policy recommendations for state-level officials, including the adoption of Clean Energy Standards, prohibitions on new natural gas investment, and the creation of ratepayer-backed bonds to securitize uneconomic fossil fuel assets.

Energy Innovation modeled a subset of the U.S. House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis's recommendations, finding that these policies could reduce U.S. greenhouse gas emissions by 40% below 2005 levels by 2030 and 89% by 2050. The analysis projects that net carbon dioxide emissions would reach zero by 2048, avoiding 62,000 premature deaths annually by 2050 and generating approximately $8 trillion in monetized health and climate benefits (at a 3% discount rate). The modeling covers sectors including electricity, transportation, buildings, industry, oil and gas, agriculture, and natural climate solutions, assuming a transition to 100% clean electricity by 2040 and 100% zero-emission vehicle sales for light-duty vehicles by 2035.

The policy brief argues that the U.S. can achieve 90 percent zero-carbon electricity by 2035 through a federal clean energy standard and complementary reforms in tax credits, manufacturing, transmission planning, and wholesale market design. This transition would require significant scaling of solar, wind, and battery storage, while retiring the coal fleet and utilizing existing gas plants only for flexibility. The authors emphasize the need for a 'just transition' for coal-dependent communities and the modernization of utility regulation through performance-based models and all-source procurement to ensure the transition is affordable and equitable.

The report argues that coal is no longer the cheapest power source and that a significant portion of the global coal fleet is now uncompetitive compared to new renewables with storage. It proposes a three-part approach—refinancing, reinvesting in clean energy, and providing transition financing—to overcome the barrier of legacy contracts and noncompetitive tariffs. The authors suggest that by 2025, 78% of the global coal fleet will be uncompetitive, creating an opportunity for net financial savings of over $107 billion. The report details specific financial instruments, such as ratepayer-backed securitization and carbon bonuses, and provides regional analyses for the US, EU, China, and India.