Search Climate Insights Directory

The document argues that climate change increases risks to urban energy and ICT systems through extreme weather and shifting demand patterns. It proposes building resilience through three pillars: robustness (hardening infrastructure via protocols like PIEVC), redundancy (deploying decentralized renewable energy and diverse ICT channels), and resourcefulness (utilizing smart grid technology and emergency roaming). Specific recommendations include adopting the PIEVC protocol for new investments, implementing time-of-use pricing, and encouraging the use of distributed energy storage.

The briefing explains that measuring electricity emissions through average factors often misrepresents the actual environmental impact of energy use. By adopting technology that tracks marginal emissions—the rate at which emissions change with a small change in load—consumers and corporations can optimize the timing and location of electricity use to maximize carbon reductions. The author highlights that harnessing end-use flexibility can make devices run 15 percent cleaner on average without cost or quality impacts. Practical applications include timing electric vehicle charging to avoid peaking plants and valuing renewable energy projects based on their specific carbon reduction potential rather than treating all megawatt-hours as equal.

The report finds broad support among US registered voters for international climate agreements, greenhouse gas emission reductions, and the transition to renewable energy. While political divisions exist, majorities across party lines support taxing or regulating pollution, funding renewable energy research, and investing in national infrastructure, particularly roads, bridges, and water systems.

The report finds broad support among U.S. registered voters for participating in the Paris COP21 agreement, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and transitioning to renewable energy. While political divisions exist, majorities across party lines support taxing or regulating pollution, funding renewable energy research, and investing in national infrastructure, particularly roads, bridges, and water systems.

China experienced rapid wind power growth from 1.26 GW in 2005 to 91.4 GW by 2013, but this expansion outpaced grid infrastructure. This led to significant issues with curtailment and delayed project connections, driven by a lack of coordination between wind farm construction and grid expansion, as well as insufficient state-level oversight. The Chinese government has acknowledged these gaps in its 2012 White Paper and 12th Five-Year Plan, emphasizing the need for better integration of supply and demand.

The paper evaluates whether Japan can exceed its Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC) and voluntary corporate targets for electricity sector CO2 intensity. It estimates that by utilizing nuclear power (108–130 TWh) and renewables, Japan could achieve an intensity of 0.34 to 0.36 kgCO2/kWh. However, the study highlights that significant renewable potential in regions like Hokkaido and Tohoku remains under-utilized due to limited grid interconnection capacity and a lack of storage technology.

A Union of Concerned Scientists analysis finds that battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) generate approximately 50 percent fewer lifetime global warming emissions than comparable gasoline cars in the U.S., despite higher initial manufacturing emissions. The report highlights that the emissions benefits of EVs increase as the electricity grid shifts toward renewable energy, noting that the average EV currently produces emissions equivalent to a gasoline vehicle achieving 68 MPG.

The report finds that battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) produce significantly lower lifetime global warming emissions than comparable gasoline cars, despite higher emissions during the manufacturing process. On average, BEVs sold in the U.S. produce less than half the emissions of gasoline vehicles, with the extra manufacturing burden offset within 6 to 16 months of driving. The environmental benefit of EVs increases as the U.S. electricity grid shifts from coal to renewable energy sources.

The document describes the methodology for assessing the exposure of power plants and substations to flooding under a Category 3 hurricane scenario across five U.S. coastal regions. It utilizes the National Climate Assessment's Intermediate-High sea level rise scenario and the SLOSH model for storm surge, projecting risks through 2070. The analysis identifies a growing number of 'exposed' facilities, particularly in the Central Gulf Coast and Southeastern Florida, while noting limitations such as the exclusion of small distribution-level substations and the potential for local flood protection measures to mitigate risk.

The EV Emissions Tool calculates CO2e emissions for plug-in hybrid and battery electric vehicles in the US by combining vehicle efficiency data from the EPA with regional electricity grid emissions data from eGrid and the GREET model. It accounts for both direct and indirect emissions, including fuel production and transport, but excludes emissions from vehicle manufacturing and disposal. The tool uses a 'sales-weighted' approach for national averages based on 2016-2021 registration and sales data.

The document describes the physics of solar photovoltaic (PV) cells, which use doped silicon layers to create an electric field that converts sunlight into electricity. It details three main cell types—single-crystal, polycrystalline, and thin film—and discusses the benefits and challenges of integrating both rooftop and large-scale solar systems into the electricity grid, including issues of variability and transmission.

The analysis finds that California can reach a 50 percent renewable electricity mix by 2024 using existing technology. While increasing the Renewables Portfolio Standard to 50 percent would reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 22 percent without further grid investment, implementing advanced grid management tools like storage and demand response could increase that reduction to 27 percent and significantly decrease renewable energy curtailment.

The document introduces an exploration of how the location and utilization of battery energy storage systems affect the value they provide to the U.S. electricity grid, specifically focusing on the potential for 'stacked' services and the regulatory hurdles preventing their implementation.

The document describes the four primary components of the US electricity grid: individual generators, transmission lines, distribution networks, and consumer load. It details the technical differences between power sources, such as the low flexibility of coal and nuclear plants compared to the rapid ramping of natural gas plants. The text outlines the regulatory roles of state Public Utility Commissions (PUCs) and the federal Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), and notes the three main US transmission networks: the Western Interconnection, the Eastern Interconnection, and ERCOT. It also traces the grid's history from the victory of alternating current (AC) over direct current (DC) to the 'restructuring' of the 1970s that allowed for wholesale competition. Finally, it identifies potential improvements through energy storage, smart meters, and distributed generation like residential solar panels.

The briefing proposes that China can avoid energy insecurity and pollution by 'reinventing fire'—transitioning from fossil fuels to energy efficiency and renewables. It identifies three key areas for transformation: oil-free mobility, integrative design for buildings and industry, and redefining the electric grid. The text focuses on oil-free mobility, suggesting that combining vehicle lightweighting (using carbon-fiber composites) with electrification can reduce energy needs by half to two-thirds and make electric vehicles more economic. It also emphasizes the need for logistics optimization to address low loading rates and the use of advanced biofuels or hydrogen for heavy-duty transport where electrification is not viable.

The document describes the U.S. plug-in electric vehicle (PEV) landscape in 2014, distinguishing between all-electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs). It highlights that while PEVs represent less than 1% of new vehicle sales, they are the fastest-growing segment, with sales increasing 85% from 2012 to 2013. The text details specific models like the Nissan LEAF and Tesla Model S, discusses the necessity of expanding public charging infrastructure, and notes a downward trend in battery costs. Additionally, it outlines federal tax credits and various state-level incentives designed to encourage PEV adoption.

The report details shifts in how Americans in the Northeast, Midwest, South, and West experienced extreme weather between Fall 2012 and November 2013. It highlights a general consensus on the vulnerability of agriculture and electricity systems, with a majority of citizens advocating for government prioritization of water supplies, transportation, and public health. Additionally, 56% of Americans believe global warming is impacting U.S. weather.

The report analyzes Germany's energy transition, focusing on the solar PV and wind energy sectors. It evaluates the impact of the Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG) and its feed-in tariffs (FiT), comparing the economic, technological, and environmental outcomes of both sectors. While wind energy is found to be more competitive and innovative with lower relative subsidy costs, the solar PV sector has faced a severe crisis due to intense competition from Chinese suppliers. The document argues for a systemic approach to green industrial policy, suggesting reforms to the FiT to increase flexibility and competitiveness while addressing grid stability and institutional fragmentation.

The report finds that weather-related power outages in the U.S. have increased significantly, with weather causing 80% of all major outages between 2003 and 2012. It identifies the Midwest and East as particularly vulnerable regions and argues that climate change acts as a 'threat multiplier,' increasing the frequency and intensity of storms, heat waves, and flooding that strain an aging electrical infrastructure.

The document examines Germany's 'Energiewende', a policy aimed at reducing CO2 emissions by 80 percent by 2050 and phasing out nuclear power. It highlights that while feed-in tariffs (FiT) increased residential electricity prices, they successfully reduced the cost of solar PV by more than 80 percent and wind by about half, benefiting global energy markets. The author notes that renewable growth has more than offset the reduction in nuclear power, though the transition requires new 'flexibility markets' to manage intermittency and new business models for utilities facing declining profits from conventional generation.