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The report argues that Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries can significantly lower wholesale power prices and enhance energy security by accelerating the deployment of wind and solar energy. By targeting 200 GW of capacity by 2030, the region could reach a 63% share of renewables in electricity generation. The analysis emphasizes that cross-country collaboration is essential to unlock over 100 GW of offshore wind potential and that aligning national strategies with EU policy could unlock approximately €137 billion in public funding.

The briefing finds that low to middle income groups in Sweden were most affected by the 2022 energy price crisis, with an average welfare impact of -3.8%. It highlights that sparsely populated areas suffered greater impacts than densely populated ones. The analysis suggests that direct compensation targeting income deciles 1 to 5, specifically deciles 3 to 5, would be more effective than fuel tax reductions, which primarily benefited high-income groups and risked undermining long-term climate goals.

The report argues that the Dominican Republic can eliminate its annual US$2 billion electricity subsidy by investing 2.5 to 3 years' worth of those funds (US$4.5 to US$6 billion) into rooftop solar installations. Using a blended finance approach—combining government grants with local loans—the model aims to reduce household electricity costs by up to 90% over time while ending the government's reliance on volatile fossil fuel expenditures.

The briefing highlights a severe energy affordability crisis in the US, where high fossil fuel prices and rising electricity rates are increasing household bills, with estimated winter increases of 10 percent for electricity and 28 percent for natural gas. It details how this burden disproportionately affects low-income, Black, and Latinx households, often forcing them to choose between energy payments and basic necessities. The document proposes a suite of regulatory solutions, including shutoff moratoriums, arrearage management programs, expanded outreach for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), and the implementation of fuel cost-sharing structures to protect ratepayers from volatile fossil fuel prices. Long-term recommendations include adopting totex ratemaking, performance-based regulation, and leveraging Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) funds to transition toward a clean energy system.

The report utilizes the REPO and E3ME-FTT:Power models to project China's power sector transition. Both models predict the eventual dominance of wind and solar power, though they differ on the specific technology mix and cost trajectories. The analysis emphasizes that market-based pricing and a robust Emission Trading System (ETS) are critical for supporting carbon neutrality goals, while highlighting the essential role of large-scale energy storage and carbon capture technologies to maintain system stability and reach net-zero emissions.

The report analyzes the economic and environmental consequences of delaying the liberalisation of Poland's 10H distance rule for onshore wind energy. It finds that each year of delay reduces potential installed capacity by 1.5 GW and increases cumulative electricity costs between 2026 and 2030 by approximately 6-7 billion PLN. The study highlights that while the proposed government changes could unlock up to 27 GW of additional potential and increase available land to 7.1% of Poland's area, administrative barriers remain. Faster implementation of these changes would reduce CO2 emissions by 5 million tonnes per year of acceleration and decrease reliance on energy imports and fossil fuels.

A coalition of environmental and industry organisations calls on the European Commission to finalise the RFNBO delegated act, arguing that regulatory certainty is essential for the renewable hydrogen industry and that strict additionality and correlation rules are necessary to ensure genuine decarbonisation.

The document examines why Uganda has struggled to institutionalize industrial energy efficiency despite government initiatives since the mid-2000s and the economic incentive of high electricity costs. Using institutional theory and a political economy approach, it argues that a robust regulatory framework and a broader consensus on the trade-offs and benefits of energy efficiency are necessary for progress.

The document refutes the 'green inflation' myth, asserting that solar and wind are the cheapest forms of new electricity generation in 90% of the world. It contrasts the 'experience curves' of renewable technologies, where costs drop as deployment doubles, with the volatile commodity pricing of fossil fuels. While short-term supply chain disruptions and material shortages, such as polysilicon, have caused temporary price hikes, the long-term structural trend remains downward. The text concludes that transitioning to renewables will reduce global energy expenditures from 3.2% of GDP to less than 1.6% by mid-century.

The 2021 gas crisis caused a paradigm shift in the EU's electricity transition, with skyrocketing prices making fossil gas more expensive than coal and enhancing the competitiveness of renewables. For the first time in Europe, combined wind and solar generation (547 TWh) exceeded gas (524 TWh). While solar growth is surging in countries like Spain and the Netherlands, it remains stagnant in others such as Italy, Czechia, and Romania. Additionally, the structural decline of nuclear power in the EU has slowed decarbonisation, as a significant portion of renewable growth has replaced lost nuclear output rather than fossil fuels.

The policy brief advocates for a specific amendment to the Build Back Better Act regarding tax normalization rules for clean energy infrastructure. While praising the bill's inclusion of direct pay and the option for solar developers to use the production tax credit (PTC), RMI argues that the investment tax credit (ITC) for storage and transmission is undermined by normalization requirements. These rules force utilities to retain some financial benefits for shareholders rather than passing them to customers. RMI estimates that allowing an opt-out from normalization would save approximately $150 million for every billion dollars spent on such infrastructure, potentially reducing carbon emissions by 50 million metric tons annually and saving customers over $1 billion per year by 2030.

The report finds that new coal capacity in the IRP 2019 is unnecessary for energy security, more expensive than renewable alternatives, and incompatible with the Paris Agreement. Modelling shows that forcing 1.5 GW of new coal into the system increases total discounted power system costs by R23 billion in a reference scenario and up to R109 billion in a climate policy scenario. Furthermore, the study argues that a high-renewable pathway creates more jobs and supports higher GDP growth than a coal-dominated future.

ClientEarth argues that the proposed reductions in the capacity mechanism levy for energy-intensive users (EIUs) in Poland would undermine the security of supply objectives of the capacity market by dis-incentivising demand-side response. The organisation highlights that the scheme's costs would be shifted to households and non-EIU consumers, potentially affecting public acceptance. ClientEarth suggests that a fixed annual compensation would be a more adequate form of aid to maintain incentives for shifting consumption away from peak hours. The document also questions the expansion of the beneficiary pool from 52 to 300-350 EIUs and recommends that the Commission reject the scheme to avoid distorting the energy market.

The report finds that German lignite plants became significantly unprofitable in the first half of 2019, with the entire fleet losing €664 million. Old units (pre-1990) were hardest hit, with gross profits falling 62% to €188 million. The analysis suggests that 24/7 baseload operation is no longer economic and predicts a €1.8 billion loss for old units between 2020 and 2022. Consequently, the author recommends that the German government push for faster closures, reject excessive compensation claims, and implement a minimum carbon price to prevent future profitability.

The document argues that electric utilities are critical partners in the transition to electric medium- and heavy-duty vehicles. It recommends three primary investment models—make-ready, end-to-end ownership, and rebate incentives—and suggests restructuring commercial rates to eliminate or reduce demand charges. The guide emphasizes prioritizing disadvantaged communities burdened by air pollution and implementing 'managed charging' to optimize grid stability and integrate renewable energy.

The study evaluates the resilience of the Eastern African Power Pool's electricity infrastructure against climate-induced water availability variations, finding that planning for a slightly wetter climate than historical trends provides the most resilient strategy. It highlights that failing to climate-proof investments can lead to significant electricity price fluctuations in countries like Uganda and Tanzania, whereas Egypt is less vulnerable.

The report argues that accelerating the retirement of coal plants in Illinois in favor of clean energy technologies will improve public health, reduce carbon emissions, and lower electricity bills without compromising grid reliability.

The study evaluates the impact of financing renewable energy through electricity surcharges versus alternative tax sources in Spain. Using a combined computable general equilibrium (CGE) and microsimulation (MS) model, the authors find that electricity surcharges are regressive, disproportionately affecting low-income households and vulnerable groups such as retirees. While exemptions for producers protect industrial competitiveness, they exacerbate the burden on households. Conversely, financing through lump-sum transfers or value-added taxes (VAT) is found to be more effective in reducing regressive effects and safeguarding welfare for low-income groups without significantly harming overall economic output.

The document examines how financing renewable energy through electricity prices in Spain has increased costs for households and industries, particularly impacting low-income groups. It evaluates three alternative financing scenarios—government transfers, Value Added Tax (VAT) increases, and fuel tax increases—finding that transfers and VAT are more progressive and beneficial for industrial production than electricity price surcharges.

Massachusetts has become heavily reliant on natural gas for electricity, with it accounting for over 60 percent of in-state generation. This dependence exposes consumers to price volatility and hinders carbon reduction goals. The Union of Concerned Scientists proposes a diversified energy plan incorporating offshore and onshore wind, hydropower, and solar. This strategy could reduce natural gas use by 23 percent below business-as-usual by 2030, decrease carbon emissions by 6.6 million tons, and generate over $350 million in health and economic benefits in 2030, with a modest estimated increase in household electricity bills of approximately $3.00 per month.