Search Climate Insights Directory

The document argues that while minigrids are technically feasible, they lack economic viability due to a typical cost of service between $0.55 and $1.00/kWh, which exceeds customers' ability to pay and the cost of alternatives like diesel generators. RMI proposes a hypothesis that costs can be reduced by over 60% to approximately $0.20/kWh by 2020 by addressing six key areas: hardware standardization, load management, customer engagement, project development/O&M efficiency, affordable financing, and supportive policy. The briefing outlines a strategy to test these ideas across three market segments—large under-grid, large off-grid, and small off-grid with subsidy—using Nigeria and Tanzania as primary test cases.

The G20 Energy Access Action Plan focuses its first phase on improving electricity access in sub-Saharan Africa, where approximately 620 million people lack power. The plan proposes six key areas for collaboration: policy and regulatory environments, technology deployment, investment and finance, capacity building, regional integration, and coordination. It emphasizes a flexible, voluntary approach that respects national sovereignty over energy mixes. The document also compiles 'good practice' case studies from G20 members—including Argentina, Australia, Brazil, China, India, Korea, Mexico, Russia, Singapore, and Turkey—and details specific international development projects in Africa led by the UK, France, Germany, and Italy, as well as the African Union's Geothermal Risk Mitigation Facility.

Under the leadership of Damilola Ogunbiyi, SEforALL has shifted from awareness-raising to a data-driven engagement model prioritizing high-impact countries. Key initiatives include the Universal Energy Facility, a results-based financing vehicle aiming for 1 million connections by 2023, and the development of investment-grade policy frameworks and universal integrated energy plans. The report also details high-level diplomatic engagements across the G20, UN, and various governments to mobilize resources and align global efforts toward universal energy access and clean cooking.

The report finds that mini-grid tariffs in Sierra Leone (USD 0.74–0.82/kWh) are significantly higher than subsidized tariffs in Nigeria (as low as USD 0.30/kWh). The primary cost drivers in Sierra Leone are return on investment (37%) and plant operating and maintenance costs (33%). Key recommendations include extending license periods from 20 to 25 years to lower depreciation, excluding unutilized capacity from tariffs to avoid transferring market risk to consumers, and implementing bulk procurement of equipment to achieve economies of scale.

The report evaluates the extent to which gender considerations are embedded in national energy policies and the corporate practices of energy companies. It utilizes a scoring system to analyze female participation, economic empowerment, education, and labor rights across different income levels and energy sectors, including renewable energy, energy efficiency, and electrification.

The document describes the functionality of LEAP's Cost-Benefit View, which calculates capital, operating, and maintenance costs across energy systems, including optional environmental externalities. It emphasizes that the tool focuses on social opportunity costs rather than consumer prices or financial viability, and allows users to define costing boundaries to accommodate data limitations regarding upstream technologies.

The document examines the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), finding extensive financial ties to the arms industry through event sponsorship, corporate partnerships, and donations. While the IET lacks a specific ethical investment policy and an overarching environmental policy, it demonstrates some environmental efforts, such as a 'very good' BREEAM rating for its London office. The study notes a lack of transparency regarding the specific corporations in which the IET's £110 million listed investments are held, suggesting likely but unconfirmed links to fossil fuel companies.

The document presents a series of expert suggestions for UK government climate policy, focusing on the need for deep emission reductions, a shift toward renewable energy, and the removal of fossil fuel subsidies. Key proposals include the creation of a major infrastructure fund for energy saving and storage, the implementation of strict emission limits for new electricity generation (50gCO2/kWh), and the adoption of stringent, annually tightening emission standards for CO2 sources such as cars.

The India Energy Policy Simulator (EPS-India), developed by Energy Innovation LLC and the World Resources Institute, is a System Dynamics computer model used to provide quantitative analysis of policy packages. It aims to support India in achieving its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) to reduce emissions intensity per unit of GDP by 33 to 35 percent below 2005 levels by 2030.

The report argues that Brazil must expand its climate mitigation efforts beyond forestry to include the energy sector, as emissions from energy and land use change are now roughly equal. It identifies the transport, industry, and power-generation sectors as the primary areas for abatement, specifically suggesting the expansion of wind and solar energy and the electrification and hybridization of the transport fleet.

The document proposes an eight point action plan to help Mexico meet its INDC targets while improving economic competitiveness, energy security, and public health. It asserts that Mexico can achieve its unconditional greenhouse gas emission reduction target using 19 policies, resulting in cumulative net expenditure savings of over 500 billion pesos (approximately 2 percent of 2015 GDP) by 2030. Furthermore, the paper states that by enhancing existing policies and adding two more, Mexico can reach its conditional emission reduction target while maintaining cost savings.

The paper identifies three primary barriers to the adoption of residential rooftop solar PV in India: a lack of objective, accessible information; a lack of customized financing options; and poor coordination between government agencies and utilities. It emphasizes that meeting India's 40 GW rooftop solar target by 2022 requires a consumer-centric approach that complements top-down policies with bottom-up initiatives.

The report examines how electricity transmission acts as either a roadblock or an enabler for renewable energy (RE) deployment in the EU, China, and the US. It identifies common challenges across these regions, including the tension between national and local interests and the difficulty of allocating costs for new infrastructure. In the EU, fragmented planning and member-state resistance hinder grid integration. China faces technical barriers and a lack of connection standards despite aggressive central government spending on ultra high voltage (UHV) transmission. The US is characterized by highly fragmented local management and significant regulatory uncertainty regarding siting and cost allocation. The report concludes that while the EU may have easier approval processes, the US and China possess greater untapped RE potential if transmission constraints are resolved.

The document argues that U.S. cities and counties are underrepresented in wholesale energy markets despite being large energy purchasers with a stake in market structure. It outlines three primary engagement pathways: public statements, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), and Regional Transmission Organizations (RTOs)/Independent System Operators (ISOs). To overcome barriers such as limited staff capacity and high education needs, the paper suggests collaborative efforts and learning from similar stakeholders, citing a coalition of local governments within the PJM territory as an example.

The document introduces the Indonesia Energy Policy Simulator (EPS), a System Dynamics computer model developed by a consortium including the World Resources Institute Indonesia and Energy Innovation LLC. The tool is intended to provide quantitative analysis to help Indonesia achieve its 2030 climate targets of reducing emissions by 29 percent unconditionally or up to 41 percent with international assistance, while balancing the needs of a growing population.

The briefing highlights the gap between current energy storage capacities, which provide only hours of power, and the days or weeks of storage needed for deep decarbonization in the US. It identifies hydrogen and modified compressed air or pumped hydro as potential long-duration solutions to manage weather-related and seasonal renewable energy fluctuations. The author urges policymakers to drive innovation and update procurement models to ensure grid reliability in a decarbonized future.

The document examines India's path toward its 30 GW offshore wind target by 2030, noting that while the country has a potential of 70 GW off the coasts of Gujarat and Tamil Nadu, it currently has no installed offshore wind projects. It identifies critical needs in policy updates, low-cost financing, port infrastructure, and environmental clearances to enable the sector's growth.

The document introduces a framework designed to assist government agencies, regulators, utilities, and other stakeholders in addressing the complexities of economy-wide renewable energy deployment. It identifies key barriers to scaling, specifically the distribution of costs among consumers and investors, and technical hurdles such as grid upgrades and the management of intermittent supply.

The testimony by Jennifer Morgan of the World Resources Institute emphasizes the necessity of integrating climate change risks into energy resource development and infrastructure planning. It urges Congress to review federal agency authorities regarding climate risk, support impact assessments for energy infrastructure, and implement comprehensive, long-term policies to drive clean energy competitiveness. Specific recommendations for energy efficiency include improving product labeling for informed consumer choice and updating efficiency standards for vehicles and appliances. The document calls for bipartisan agreement on policies that diversify domestic energy production and maximize the deployment of low-carbon technologies through funding and incentives.

The document argues that achieving universal electricity access by 2030 requires a significant shift toward distributed renewable energy, as grid extension is often not cost-effective for rural, low-income areas. It highlights that over 50 percent of new connections must be distributed solutions, with 90 percent of those being renewable. To facilitate this, the brief recommends creating platforms for stakeholder input in policy decision-making and implementing regulatory reforms in the financial sector to unlock domestic capital.