Search Climate Insights Directory

The paper identifies five criteria for effective congestion management in Europe: integrated national and international approaches, joint allocation of transmission rights, and integration with day-ahead, intraday, and balancing markets, alongside transparency. It argues that current European systems suffer from inefficiencies in domestic redispatch, international capacity allocation, and dynamic management. While zonal pricing is used in some regions, the authors contend that locational marginal pricing (nodal pricing)—already implemented in six US ISO markets—is the superior candidate for addressing these weaknesses. To mitigate political opposition and financial risks associated with nodal pricing, the document suggests using Financial Transmission Rights (FTRs) to compensate affected stakeholders and hedge price volatility.

The research evaluates how different market designs affect the European power grid's ability to integrate wind energy. It finds that the current zonal pricing system fails to reflect the physical reality of the grid, leading to inefficient network use and higher costs. Simulations using the MADRID and DRESDEN models demonstrate that a nodal pricing regime would increase international power transfers by up to 34% and generate annual system variable cost savings between €0.8 billion and €2.0 billion, depending on wind penetration levels.

The document provides a comparative analysis of U.S. renewable energy resources—including hydropower, wind, biomass, geothermal, and solar—alongside conventional coal, natural gas, and nuclear power. It details installed capacities, capital costs per kilowatt, and carbon displacement estimates as of 2009-2010, noting that renewables are generally lower in carbon emissions, more flexible in scale, and faster to construct than conventional plants.

The document analyzes the energy profiles, infrastructure, and security perspectives of Canada, the United States, and Mexico, highlighting their deep interdependence. It examines existing trilateral and bilateral cooperation frameworks, such as NAFTA and the U.S.-Canada Clean Energy Dialogue, and identifies potential trade irritants like border adjustments and low-carbon fuel standards. The author proposes three climate policy scenarios for 2020, concluding that a 'bottom-up' approach with increasing linkages between Canadian and U.S. cap-and-trade systems is the most likely outcome.

The document describes the electric transmission grid as an interconnected system that moves electricity from generation sites to consumers via the path of least resistance. It outlines the grid's division into three major interconnections—Western, Eastern, and Ercot—and notes that transmission is governed by a mix of federal, regional, state, and local entities. The text highlights the necessity of transmission for delivering remote clean energy and the requirement for billions of dollars in investment to meet electricity demand and support expanded generation from renewable and conventional sources.

The report argues that RGGI's design, which caps emissions only for power plants within participating states, creates a price advantage for imported electricity from coal-heavy states like West Virginia and Pennsylvania. This 'leakage' is exacerbated by excess capacity in existing coal plants and planned transmission upgrades that facilitate power flow from west to east. The authors suggest that RGGI states should implement retail-level carbon caps, prohibit contracts with high-emission plants, and prioritize transmission projects aligned with climate goals to prevent the expansion of coal-based power.

The report warns that the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) risks 'undercutting itself' because it only prices emissions from power plants within its region. This creates an economic incentive for electricity suppliers in RGGI states to import cheaper, carbon-intensive power from coal-producing states like West Virginia and Ohio. The document provides 'carbon math' showing that utilizing excess capacity from 15 existing coal plants could produce pollution 'three and a half times the cuts expected under the initiative,' and that six plants under construction nearby could emit pollution equal to '140 percent of RGGI’s reductions.' To prevent this 'leak,' the authors suggest capping the entire portfolio of local electricity suppliers, limiting contracts with polluting plants, and requiring suppliers to account for emissions from electricity produced outside the region.

The Union of Concerned Scientists analyzed two proposals to increase the Texas Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS). The more aggressive 20 percent by 2020 proposal would result in 17,820 MW of renewable capacity by 2025, creating 38,290 new jobs and saving consumers $5.6 billion in energy bills. The more modest 10,000 MW by 2025 proposal would yield approximately 8 percent renewable energy by 2025, creating 19,950 new jobs and $5.5 billion in consumer savings. Both proposals would diversify the electricity mix by displacing natural gas and coal, reducing CO2 emissions and providing significant capital investment and tax revenues to rural Texas communities.

The report evaluates three energy scenarios for San Francisco: 'Central Generation', 'More Imports', and 'Distributed Resources'. It compares these paths based on capital and operating costs, electricity supply reliability, environmental impacts, and local economic development. The analysis finds that while all scenarios can ensure reliability and allow the closure of the Hunter's Point Power Station, only the 'Distributed Resources' scenario significantly reduces CO2 emissions and promotes environmental equity. The 'Central Generation' path is identified as potentially the least expensive but carries risks related to market power and higher in-city emissions.

The document argues that Africa's electricity shortage is a binding constraint for industrial production, but can be overcome by exploiting abundant renewable energy and integrating regional power markets. It highlights the African Single Electricity Market (AfSEM) and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) as key frameworks to drive clean energy industrialisation. The Southern African Power Pool (SAPP) is presented as a successful model where energy integration correlates with higher industrial growth compared to the wider SADC region. However, the brief notes that full continental integration by the 2040 target for AfSEM will require significant investment in transmission infrastructure and harmonised regulatory frameworks.

The document highlights that just 1% of Australia's superhot rock geothermal resource could provide 624 GW of energy capacity, potentially meeting the country's projected 2050 electricity demand of 436,281 GWh. It argues that this technology offers a low-land-footprint alternative to other renewables and a transition pathway for the oil and gas workforce.

The study evaluates 19 scenarios for decarbonising Poland's power system by 2050, concluding that a technology-inclusive strategy is essential for reliability and cost-effectiveness. It identifies wind and solar as cornerstones but emphasizes the need for 'clean firm power' to replace coal, which currently provides 70% of dispatchable generation. The report warns that excluding options like nuclear power or carbon capture could triple the required energy infrastructure and significantly increase costs. Key recommendations include expanding onshore wind to approximately 70 GW, establishing a nuclear fleet exceeding 8 GW, and implementing natural gas plants with carbon capture.

The report argues that Poland must adopt a technology-inclusive strategy to decarbonise its power system, as relying on a narrow set of technologies increases costs and infrastructure requirements. Modelling indicates that while wind and solar are cornerstones, 'clean firm power' from nuclear and gas with carbon capture and storage (CCS) is essential for reliability. The study warns that excluding nuclear or CCS could triple necessary transmission infrastructure and increase system costs. To meet 2050 targets, Poland needs to accelerate onshore wind deployment to a peak of 7 GW/year and establish a nuclear fleet exceeding 8 GW.

The document critiques the over-reliance on Levelised Cost of Electricity (LCOE) in EU energy policy, noting that while it provides a project-level cost snapshot, it fails to account for system-wide needs, dispatchability, and the full cost to ratepayers. It advocates for a systems-level approach that integrates diverse generation, storage, and demand-response technologies to ensure a reliable, low-carbon grid.

The Build Back Better Act (H.R. 5376) allocates $555 billion to climate change and clean energy to reduce emissions by over one billion metric tons by 2030. The legislation employs a sector-wide approach, providing tax credits and grants for zero-emission vehicles, clean hydrogen, carbon capture (via enhanced 45Q credits), and renewable energy. It specifically targets the decarbonization of heavy industry, the power sector—including support for existing nuclear plants—and agricultural and forestry sequestration, while directing 40% of investment benefits to disadvantaged communities.

The document identifies critical infrastructure barriers to the clean energy transition and details CATF's strategies to overcome them through policy advocacy, research, and stakeholder engagement, requesting $12 million in funding over three years to support these efforts.

The Clean Air Task Force (CATF) argues that while the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) are projected to reduce U.S. emissions by just over 40% by 2030 relative to 2005 levels, additional federal policy is required to reach net-zero emissions by midcentury. CATF is advocating for several specific policy interventions, including a zero-carbon fuel standard, revised siting and permitting for clean energy infrastructure, and a federal electricity procurement model requiring 24-7 zero-emission clean electricity. The organization is also focusing on supporting advanced nuclear supply chains, reducing methane from oil, gas, and agriculture, and developing regulatory structures for hydrogen infrastructure. To implement these strategies and expand its policy expertise, CATF seeks $25 million in funding over the next five years.

The Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act (IIJA) provides billions of dollars for the research, development, and demonstration of zero-carbon technologies, including carbon capture, clean hydrogen, advanced nuclear, and grid expansion. While the IIJA establishes a technological foundation, the document asserts that the Build Back Better Act is required to provide the incentives and tax credits necessary for the U.S. to reach 50-52% economy-wide emissions reductions by 2030.

The document highlights Nebraska's significant superhot rock geothermal resources, noting that just 1% of this resource could provide 25 GW of energy capacity, far exceeding the state's 2023 electricity consumption of 33,571 GWh. It argues that superhot rock geothermal is a scalable, carbon-free energy source with a very low land footprint—requiring approximately 12 sq mi per 1 GW—and provides reliable 24/7 power that reduces the need for excess transmission and backup generation.

The analysis reveals that 91% of energy-related federal actions use categorical exclusions, while programmatic and tiered reviews for decarbonization technologies remain rare despite their potential to speed up timelines. The Department of the Interior acts as the central hub in a multi-department network for decarbonization reviews, alongside the Departments of Defense and Energy. While the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 has led to modest reductions in EIS page lengths, the report highlights significant structural limitations in data quality and transparency across federal agencies.