Search Climate Insights Directory
112 results
Getting on Track: Finding a Path for Transportation in the CDM
The report assesses the application of the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) to Chile's transportation sector through three case studies: bus technology switching, bicycle initiatives, and location efficiency. It finds that the current project-based CDM framework is poorly suited for transportation due to the fragmented nature of emissions sources and the complexity of quantifying demand-side reductions. The authors argue that for the CDM to be effective post-2012, it must shift toward policy-based or sectoral approaches that can accommodate system-wide changes in travel behavior and land use.
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Document type: Executive summary
WHAT IS THE PLACE OF FOSSIL GAS IN A SUSTAINABLE ENERGY MIX ?
The report challenges the narrative of fossil gas as a 'bridge fuel,' stating that a global gas-based electricity system would be as damaging to the climate as one based on coal. It distinguishes between the roles of different gas turbines, noting that while open-cycle gas turbines (OCGTs) can provide short-term flexibility for variable renewable energy, combined-cycle gas turbines (CCGTs) lack the necessary ramp-up speed and risk commercial failure if used only as backup. The document concludes that existing thermal plants and storage technologies, such as pumped-storage hydropower, are sufficient to meet seasonal flexibility needs, rendering new gas infrastructure unnecessary and uneconomical.
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Document type: Report
Catalyzing the Market for Automated Emissions Reduction Post-Charette Report
The report explores automated emissions reduction (AER), a software-based technology that modulates the electricity use of internet-connected devices based on real-time grid emissions data. Based on a pilot in Chicago and a stakeholder workshop, the report finds that AER can reduce pollution by 5–40% for specific loads and lower customer acquisition costs for utility demand response programs. It proposes five priority near-term initiatives: institutional and residential pilots, device certification, integration into GHG accounting protocols, and the creation of open-source infrastructure.
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Document type: Report
Planning to Harness the Inflation Reduction Act: A Toolkit for Regulators
The document serves as a regulatory guide, offering a structured set of inquiries to help Public Utility Commissions (PUCs) assess utility resource planning in the context of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). It organizes questions into five exhibits covering common IRA considerations, assumptions, forecasts, objectives/scenarios, and solution identification. Key areas of focus include the application of Investment Tax Credits (ITC) and Production Tax Credits (PTC), bonus adders for energy communities and domestic content, the integration of hydrogen and carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) technologies, and the utilization of Energy Infrastructure Reinvestment (EIR) financing. The toolkit also emphasizes the need for utilities to account for IRA-driven changes in load forecasts related to building and transportation electrification, energy efficiency, and distributed energy resources (DERs).
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Document type: Guide
IF CUSTOMERS SAVE ElECTRICITY, MUST RATES RISE?
The briefing examines the relationship between electricity efficiency and utility rates, arguing that 'fixed' costs are not static but decline through depreciation. It posits that as long as the rate of electricity saving does not exceed the combined rate of depreciation and demand growth, both rates and bills can decrease. The author contends that focusing on rates rather than total bills is economically inefficient, as efficiency measures reduce the need for costly new plant construction and allow utilities to retire expensive marginal plants first.
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Document type: Briefing
Three solutions for delivering sustainable mobility in cities
The document proposes integrated planning, demand-side management, and electric mobility as key solutions for sustainable urban transport. It identifies four city profiles—Efficiency Opportunists, Electric Vehicle Leapfroggers, Digital Disruptors, and Renewable Drivers—to guide interventions in fast-growing cities across Africa, Asia, and Latin America, noting that urban transport emissions are expected to double by 2050.
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Document type: Fact sheet
Powering Social Infrastructure in Rwanda: Market Assessment and Roadmap for Health Facilities
The report assesses the energy status of Rwanda's 2,139 healthcare facilities, identifying a significant reliance on diesel generators for backup and primary power. It proposes a phased roadmap (2023-2027) to implement solar PV and battery storage through public, not-for-profit, and private delivery models, with an estimated investment of $1.5 million for off-grid healthcare posts and $8.5 million for grid-connected backup systems.
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Document type: Executive summary
Switching Gears
The report argues that energy and mobility sectors must move from silos to synergies to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It identifies 19 priority countries and 260 cities, categorizing them into four types: Efficiency Opportunists, Digital Disruptors, Electric Vehicle Leapfroggers, and Renewable Drivers. The document proposes three primary solutions: integrated energy, land-use, and mobility planning; demand-side targeting and management using digital tools; and the deployment of electric mobility (specifically buses and two-wheelers). It highlights a significant financing gap for sustainable transport in small cities and recommends cross-sector alliances and improved spatial data to attract investment.
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Document type: Report
Demand Costs
The document details four methods for entering non-fuel costs (capital, O&M, and administrative) in LEAP: Costs Per Activity, Costs Per Device Sold, Total Costs, and Cost of Saved Energy (CSE). It provides the specific calculation logic for each method and advises users to enter costs only for branches where activities or energy intensities deviate from the baseline for comparative analysis.
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Document type: Guide
How to Implement Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Options
The document advocates for the transition from incandescent and mercury vapour lighting to compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs), LEDs, and efficient fluorescent tubes in South African urban areas. It highlights that lighting accounts for approximately 12% of electricity use in the residential and commercial sectors, and replacing traditional bulbs with CFLs can reduce this by up to 75%. Using Cape Town as a model, the guide estimates that achieving penetration targets could save 8 million MWh of electricity and 7.5 million tonnes of CO2 by 2024. It identifies barriers such as high initial costs for low-income households and municipal reluctance to reduce electricity sales, while suggesting implementation strategies through procurement policy changes and Eskom's demand side management (DSM) subsidies. Case studies from Ekurhuleni and international examples from Australia, the USA, and India illustrate the economic and environmental viability of these interventions.
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Document type: Guide
Scaling Up
The report examines the interaction between technology, investment, and policy to enable the global deployment of low-carbon technologies. It utilizes a 'wedges' framework to break down the massive scale of required emission reductions into manageable technological solutions across power, transport, heating, cooling, and industrial processes.
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Document type: Report
WISCONSIN ELECTRIC POWER COMPANY (WEPCO) CASE (A)
The document details WEPCO's transition toward a more proactive environmental posture, highlighted by its 'Wisconsin Commitment' and demand-side management programs. Despite national awards and strong executive support, a 1991 benchmarking study by A.T. Kearney revealed critical gaps, including the lack of a comprehensive risk assessment program and a disconnect between the company's external environmental image and its internal operational rigor.
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Document type: Case study