Search Climate Insights Directory

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.

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 proposal outlines a plan to implement Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) and labelling schemes for refrigerators and distribution transformers in Namibia to reduce electricity losses and GHG emissions. It requests USD 328,755 over 18 months to conduct market analysis, form policy and technical committees, develop national roadmaps, and identify financing mechanisms. The project aims to mitigate the impact of growing electricity demand and high energy losses, which currently burden the government budget due to electricity subsidies.

The Life After Coal Campaign advocates for the urgent phase-out of coal-fired power in South Africa to mitigate climate change and economic risks. The campaign calls for the cancellation of several coal projects, including the Coal IPP Programme and remaining units of the Kusile power station, while urging the government to remove barriers to renewable energy procurement and finalise the Integrated Resource Plan for Electricity (IRP). The document argues that continuing investment in coal infrastructure risks stranding assets and workers, noting that a low-carbon transition is necessary to avoid an estimated $120 billion in transition risk by 2035.

India can integrate 390GW of wind and solar generation by 2030 at a lower total system cost than its current trajectory by increasing the flexibility of electricity supply and demand. The report identifies four primary flexibility needs: operating reserves, ramping, daily balancing, and seasonal balancing, all of which will grow as renewable energy penetration increases. A 'balanced portfolio' combining demand-side management, energy storage, and powerplant flexibility is found to be the most cost-effective approach, reducing energy waste by 82% to 97%, total system costs by 5% to 8%, and carbon emissions by 8% to 12% compared to a thermal-only approach. Regional analysis reveals that states like Tamil Nadu and Karnataka will face acute seasonal and ramping challenges, while Uttar Pradesh could act as a flexibility exporter due to its industrial base. The report concludes that urgent action on data, market design, and infrastructure is required to unlock these flexibility resources.

The report advocates for a shift in the role of hydropower within global energy grids, moving away from high-impact dams toward a mix of wind, solar, storage, and low-impact hydropower. It demonstrates through modeling in Chile and Uganda that protecting free-flowing rivers and national parks has minimal impact on system costs. The document highlights the Mekong River basin as a critical area where strategic planning could prevent the loss of migratory fish biomass and delta sediment. It concludes that achieving this vision requires system-scale planning, regulatory reform, and redirected financial flows from multilateral development banks and institutional investors.

The commentary argues that the IRP 2018 is a form of 'climate denial' that lacks a meaningful carbon constraint and continues to prioritize coal and gas over cheaper, cleaner renewables. It highlights the severe health costs of air pollution from Eskom and criticizes the public consultation process as exclusionary. The authors advocate for a total phase-out of coal, the rejection of new extractive gas projects, and a transition to a socially owned renewable energy system that creates jobs and ensures energy justice for the poor.

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) argues that the draft IRP 2018 is unlawful and irrational because it includes 6,732MW of new coal capacity despite its own findings that a least-cost plan would exclude coal. The CER highlights severe failures in the draft, including inflated electricity demand forecasts, outdated and high cost assumptions for renewables and battery storage, and a total lack of consideration for water and climate change externalities. The document specifically objects to the Thabametsi and Khanyisa coal projects, citing their high emissions and risks to water resources in the Waterberg and Highveld regions. Furthermore, the CER criticizes the Department of Energy for failing to conduct meaningful public consultations with impacted communities and for withholding the Plexos modelling data necessary for transparent stakeholder review.

The report evaluates the Polish Act on the Capacity Market, concluding that while it is likely to be approved by the European Commission due to alignment with EU State aid guidelines, it may result in higher costs for final customers and primarily benefit existing coal-fired power plants. Key improvements over previous drafts include the removal of auction 'baskets' and the introduction of preferences for low-carbon technologies, though the author argues these may not be sufficient to substantially reduce the overall emission factor of the Polish Power System.

Greenpeace Africa argues that the draft IRP 2018 Update is inadequate for achieving a just transition to renewable energy and fails to meet South Africa's international climate commitments. The submission calls for the total removal of new coal and nuclear capacity, the elimination of artificial caps on wind and solar energy, and an accelerated decommissioning of coal-fired power stations. It highlights severe air pollution in Mpumalanga and the critical need to prioritize water security in energy planning. The document emphasizes that the plan must be based on the latest IPCC science to limit global warming to 1.5°C and should incorporate transparent data on costs and demand-side management.

The Union of Concerned Scientists argues that New Mexico should strengthen its renewable portfolio standard (RPS) to 80 percent by 2040 to ensure a cost-effective transition from coal to clean energy. Modeling shows that renewables are the most economically favorable choice, offering significant capital investment, job growth, and public health benefits without substantially increasing consumer electricity costs. The report warns against utility plans to overinvest in natural gas, which could lead to stranded assets and higher climate risks.

The India-UK partnership has focused on unlocking India's energy efficiency sector through technical assistance, advocacy, and the development of investment strategies. Key efforts targeted buildings, industrial efficiency, standards, labelling, and demand-side management, involving stakeholders like the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE). The brief highlights that while India has implemented significant schemes such as the Perform, Achieve and Trade scheme, the viability of energy efficiency investments remains dependent on national and state-level policies and the coordination of multi-level government and non-government actors.

The document outlines eight key areas for electricity innovation in 2017, focusing heavily on the integration, valuation, and management of distributed energy resources (DERs). It highlights the shift toward technology-agnostic DER valuation, the potential for electric vehicles to serve as grid assets, and the need for alternative capital planning to displace traditional infrastructure. The text also addresses the necessity of evolving utility business models, establishing distribution system operators (DSOs), improving customer engagement, and expanding DER access to low- and moderate-income customers.

The legal marijuana industry in the US creates significant electricity demand due to high-intensity lighting and climate control, with Colorado's industry consuming 300 GWh in 2015. To mitigate the impact on carbon goals and grid stability, the document recommends that utilities support LED adoption through rebates and on-bill financing to overcome capital limitations. It further suggests using time-varying rates to shift lighting schedules to periods of low net load—such as midday in California for solar or nighttime in Colorado for wind—to avoid peak demand and reduce reliance on fossil fuel generation.

The paper applies an adapted Economics of Low Carbon development strategies for Cities (ELCC) framework to Bologna, Italy, to prioritize domestic water efficiency measures. It finds that an investment of €17 million in five cost-effective measures could reduce domestic water consumption by 34% by 2020, generating €10.2 million in annual savings. A further investment of €28.5 million could increase the total water reduction to 37%.

The report examines the growth of the South African energy services market, driven by rising electricity costs and energy security concerns. It highlights significant growth in rooftop PV, opportunities for energy efficiency in municipal wastewater treatment and public buildings, and the role of Energy Service Companies (ESCOs). The document also details the regulatory landscape, including tax incentives like the 12L allowance and the Western Cape's specific initiatives to reduce energy demand.

A collection of brief policy proposals from UK university scientists advocating for deep emission reductions, the removal of fossil fuel subsidies, and a transition to renewable energy infrastructure to meet global climate targets.

The report argues that India's energy efficiency market is stalled due to a lack of reliable baselines, high perceived risks for financiers, and prohibitive tax treatments. It proposes ten 'big ideas', including the creation of India-adjusted monitoring, verification, and financing protocols, the use of corporate social responsibility funds, and the establishment of a national ESCO association. The document also highlights the potential for 'negawatt' trading to improve the financial health of electricity distribution companies (discoms).

The report argues that EPA's regulation of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from existing power plants under Section 111(d) of the Clean Air Act will not jeopardize electric system reliability. Unlike the unit-specific MATS rule, Section 111(d) employs a 'cooperative federalism' model, allowing states to develop State Implementation Plans (SIPs) with significant flexibility. This includes 'inside the fence' options like heat-rate improvements and 'outside the fence' options such as emission-averaging, carbon budgets, and demand-side reductions. The author notes that current industry conditions—including low natural gas prices, underutilized natural-gas-fired combined-cycle (NGCC) capacity, flat electricity demand, and the growth of renewables—provide a buffer that supports reliable compliance. The report concludes that as long as EPA, states, and industry engage in timely planning, the regulatory framework provides sufficient latitude to maintain power system adequacy and security.

The report examines the energy sector in Bangladesh, highlighting a sharp increase in energy subsidies from US$128 million in FY2010 to US$1.91 billion in FY2012. It identifies a critical supply-demand gap in electricity and the high cost of relying on liquid fuel-based rental power plants. The document outlines the government's Power System Master Plan (PSMP) 2010, which aims for fuel diversification including coal, nuclear, and renewables. It argues for a transition toward cost-reflective pricing and targeted cash transfers to replace broad subsidies, aligned with an IMF Extended Credit Facility arrangement to restore fiscal sustainability.