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This case study examines the transition of the Sherburne County Generating Station (Sherco) in Minnesota from a coal-fired power plant to a clean energy hub. It details how Xcel Energy, the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC), and local stakeholders utilized federal incentives from the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), along with a 'generator replacement' process to bypass interconnection queues, to replace coal capacity with solar and battery storage while supporting the local workforce and economy.

The report by Ember argues that the European Union must rapidly scale up 'clean flexibility' solutions, particularly battery storage, to complement the fast growth of wind and solar power. It highlights that without such flexibility, the EU will fail to capture abundant renewable energy, leading to higher reliance on fossil fuels and increased costs. The document provides evidence of current solar dominance in several Member States and simulates the potential for batteries to reduce fossil fuel imports and costs by 2030.

RMI conducted a pre-feasibility analysis in 2023 for a high-capacity coal plant in Indonesia to evaluate retirement and repurposing options. The study found that replacing the plant with solar and storage is the preferred solution, potentially avoiding tens of millions of tons of carbon emissions and generating tens of millions of dollars in free cash flow for equity investors, provided there is adequate land and cheap financing.

This case study by RMI details a pre-feasibility analysis conducted in 2023 for a representative coal-fired power plant in Indonesia. The analysis evaluated four scenarios for accelerated retirement and repurposing—including early retirement without repurposing, early retirement with clean energy repurposing, and biomass co-firing—to determine their financial, technical, and climate impacts for investors, utilities, and the electricity system.

This briefing by Zero Carbon Analytics examines the economic opportunity for Germany to rejuvenate its economy by expanding its manufacturing of clean technologies, specifically batteries and heat pumps, amidst global competition from China and the US.

The report 'Making clean power flexy' by Ember argues that clean flexibility—specifically battery storage and demand side flexibility (DSF)—is essential to integrate the rapid growth of wind and solar power in the European Union and phase out fossil fuel 'peakers'. It highlights a significant gap in national policy targets for these technologies despite projections that EU flexibility needs will double by 2030.

This executive summary by Ember argues that the rapid deployment of clean flexibility—specifically battery storage, demand-side flexibility, and grids—is essential to integrate increasing volumes of wind and solar generation into the European power system and avoid renewable energy curtailment.

The Kimarishe Serengeti solar project, completed in November 2022 by GadgetroniX for TNS Hospitality, provides an off-grid energy and telecommunications solution for the Kimarishe Serengeti Lodge in Tanzania's Serengeti National Park.

This report examines India's Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for advanced chemistry cell (ACC) battery storage, focusing on the transition from planning to domestic manufacturing to support electricity and transportation decarbonization.

This report evaluates the operational feasibility and reliability of California achieving an accelerated interim target of 85% clean electricity by 2030. Using production cost modeling (PLEXOS) and capacity expansion modeling (RESOLVE), the study stress-tests three resource portfolios—Base Case, Diverse Clean Resources, and High Electrification—against various stressors including extreme weather, gas and coal retirements, and import constraints. The findings indicate that an 85% clean target is reliably achievable, provided there is sufficient battery storage and a strategic retention of some natural gas capacity or access to regional imports.

This report provides a technical review of advanced chemistry cell (ACC) battery technologies and the potential for domestic manufacturing in India to support electricity and transportation decarbonization.

This report examines the role of lithium-ion battery reuse and recycling in supporting India's energy transition, specifically focusing on how a circular economy can meet storage demands and reduce reliance on imported precious metals.

This policy brief by RMI argues that the Build Back Better Act could be made more effective by allowing regulated utilities to opt out of 'tax normalization' requirements for stand-alone battery storage and transmission projects eligible for the Investment Tax Credit (ITC). While the bill introduces positive changes such as direct pay and the option for solar developers to use the Production Tax Credit (PTC), the author contends that current normalization rules force utilities to retain some ITC benefits for shareholders rather than passing them to customers, thereby increasing costs and disincentivizing the deployment of critical grid infrastructure.

A report by Ember and Climate Risk Horizons argues that India has 27 GW of planned coal power plants that are no longer necessary to meet electricity demand by FY 2030, labeling them "zombie" plants that threaten renewable energy goals.

This policy brief examines the rolling blackouts in California during a historic heat wave in August 2020, arguing that the outages were caused by a combination of extreme weather and insufficient resource capacity rather than the state's clean energy goals. The author contends that a diverse portfolio of flexible, clean resources—including battery storage and green hydrogen—is essential for 21st-century grid resilience against climate-driven extreme weather.

This case study describes the implementation of Nigeria's first solar- and battery-powered undergrid minigrid in the Mokoloki community of Ogun State. The project demonstrates a tripartite business model involving a utility, a private developer, and the community to provide reliable electricity in areas that are technically grid-connected but underserved.

This report details a Rocky Mountain Institute-supported process in Colorado's Upper Roaring Fork Valley involving Holy Cross Energy to improve grid resilience against hazards like fires. It emphasizes the necessity of utility-community partnerships and the integration of distributed clean energy technologies to provide both daily and emergency benefits.

This briefing by RMI argues for the immediate implementation of Puerto Rico's energy transformation, emphasizing the urgent need for solar energy, battery storage, and energy efficiency to address grid instability following hurricanes and earthquakes.

This case study examines how updated, lower cost projections for renewable energy and battery storage could allow Canada to increase the ambition of its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) emissions target.

This executive summary by the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) and HOMER Energy analyzes the economic transition of residential and commercial customers from grid-only electricity to grid-connected solar-plus-battery systems. The report argues that while total grid defection is possible, the more likely scenario is a gradual shift where customers use the grid as a backup, potentially leading to significant revenue loss for utilities and stranded assets for central generation owners unless new regulatory and pricing models are adopted.