Search Climate Insights Directory

This guide provides the data sources, assumptions, and methodology used by RMI to create 'State Clean Energy Eco' graphics. These graphics illustrate the economic, social, and health opportunities associated with a transition to a net zero carbon US economy by 2050, focusing on state-level metrics across electricity, industry, transportation, buildings, and human impact.

This case study details the planned zero-carbon deep energy retrofit of Hano Homes, a 20-apartment affordable housing property in Boston, MA. The project aims to achieve Phius certification by implementing a superinsulated exterior shell, transitioning to all-electric mechanical systems, and installing a rooftop solar array to reach net-zero energy operations.

This document outlines the analytical methodology and specific utility-level assumptions used by RMI to estimate changes in residential utility bills under various tariff structures during electrification. The analysis utilizes NREL's ResStock dataset for building load profiles and integrates tariff data from Genability and RateAcuity, with specific adjustments made for utilities in Minnesota, Maryland, Maine, and Massachusetts to ensure consistency and accuracy in bill calculations.

The executive summary of 'Energizing Finance: Understanding the Landscape 2021' analyzes energy finance commitments in 20 developing 'high-impact countries' (HICs) for 2019. It finds that investments for both electricity and clean cooking are critically insufficient to meet Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG7), with electricity finance declining in 2019 and clean cooking investment stagnating. The report emphasizes the need for climate-resilient infrastructure, a shift away from fossil fuels, and a more comprehensive, multi-technology approach to clean cooking to ensure a just energy transition.

The G20 Energy Access Action Plan is a multi-phase voluntary collaboration framework designed to strengthen G20 member cooperation on energy access. The first phase specifically targets improving electricity access in sub-Saharan Africa through six strategic pillars: policy and regulatory environments, technology deployment, investment and finance, capacity building, regional integration, and coordination. The plan emphasizes sharing knowledge and good practices while respecting the sovereign right of nations to determine their own energy mix.

This report describes two new methodological updates to the Open-Source Spatial Electrification Tool (OnSSET) designed to account for grid unreliability. While standard OnSSET modelling assumes 100% reliability for grid extensions, these updates introduce the Cost of Non-Served Energy (CNSE) and diesel back-up system proxies to more accurately reflect the costs of power outages. A case study in eastern Uganda demonstrates that incorporating these reliability metrics shifts the 'least-cost' electrification pathway away from grid extension and toward decentralized off-grid solutions.

This research paper by Sustainable Energy for All presents a comprehensive framework of indicators to track gender equality and social inclusion within the energy transition, specifically focusing on electrification, clean cooking, renewable energy, and energy efficiency.

This knowledge brief by Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) examines the integration of electric cooking (eCooking) into national energy access planning for low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). It argues that while electrification has progressed faster than clean cooking access, integrating the two through holistic energy planning can accelerate the transition to clean energy, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and improve health outcomes. The document reviews various modelling tools, data requirements, and policy mechanisms—such as eCooking tariffs and results-based financing—necessary to operationalize integrated energy plans.

This policy brief examines the transition from natural gas to electricity in Colombia's residential sector. Using a simulation model, it finds that while gas currently dominates cooking and heating, a shift toward electrification is necessary due to declining reserves. The report highlights that total electrification is more cost-effective than a mixed transition, potentially saving up to 20 trillion pesos, and significantly reducing CO2 emissions. However, adoption is hindered by high initial equipment costs and cultural inertia, suggesting a need for public policies such as equipment substitution programs and local value chain strengthening.

This policy brief presents a simulation model of the Colombian vehicle fleet from 2025 to 2050, analyzing the transition of compressed natural gas (GNV) in the transport sector. The analysis finds that without explicit exit policies, GNV consumption will persist at significant levels despite a general trend toward electrification, particularly within the traditional bus segment.

This research paper by the World Resources Institute outlines opportunities for countries to strengthen their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) by integrating a broader range of transport solutions based on the "Avoid-Shift-Improve" framework.

This technical note details the creation of a first-of-its-kind dataset of school bus depot locations in the United States using remote sensing and aerial imagery. The dataset is intended to support environmental justice analysis regarding air pollution hotspots in underserved communities and to assist in electricity grid planning for school bus electrification.