Search Climate Insights Directory

The document examines the role of distributed energy systems (DES) in enhancing energy sovereignty for First Nations in New Brunswick. It highlights the Amlamgog (Fort Folly) First Nation's progress in solar energy and energy efficiency, while arguing that New Brunswick's highly regulated electricity market—dominated by NB Power—creates significant obstacles to the large-scale adoption of community-led DES. The report recommends creating a 'regulatory sandbox' and updating the Electricity Act to allow for more flexible energy production and retail models, citing successful Indigenous-led projects in Yukon, British Columbia, and Alberta as models for transition.

The briefing argues that the Asian Development Bank's (ADB) technical assistance (TA), while a small part of overall financial commitments, exerts significant strategic influence over policy and project design. The authors contend that TA can act as a form of indirect funding for fossil gas and call for the ADB to align its energy policy with a total fossil gas phase-out, improve transparency, and ensure environmental and social risk disclosure for all TA.

The briefing argues that the Asian Development Bank (ADB) uses technical assistance (TA) as a form of indirect funding that prolongs reliance on fossil gas. While TA is a small portion of overall financial commitments, it significantly influences policy directions and project design. The authors call for the ADB to align its energy policy with the Paris Agreement's 1.5°C goal by phasing out fossil gas support and implementing stricter risk disclosure, transparency, and accountability mechanisms for TA.

The 'Cities in Transition' research argues that meeting emissions targets requires more than transitioning to renewables; it necessitates a reduction in total energy demand through urban planning. Using the city of Winnipeg as a focus, the study employs the Sustainable Asset Valuation (SAVi) methodology to show that compact, walkable, and mixed-use infill development reduces emissions and municipal infrastructure costs compared to car-oriented sprawl. The research identifies three primary barriers to this transition: NIMBY opposition to infill, outdated governance models, and the high financial costs associated with urban sprawl.

The document identifies seven key intervention areas in the clean-energy sector: electricity generation, transmission and distribution, on-grid access, off-grid access, clean cooking, knowledge sharing, and policy reform. While utility-scale renewable generation has grown significantly, transmission bottlenecks and affordability constraints for end-users remain critical hurdles. The brief argues that while energy access is a necessary enabler for economic growth, it does not guarantee it, necessitating user-focused designs and long-term policy reforms to ensure sustainable impacts.

The report identifies fragmented policies and challenged economics as primary barriers to the US hydrogen industry's scale-up, risking a loss of global leadership. It suggests that federal and state policymakers should maintain incentives, promote exports, and increase demand-side supports across sectors such as steel, aviation, and maritime shipping to secure supply chains and expand the industrial base.

Brazil and Mexico aim to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 43% and 40% respectively by 2030, goals that require technical innovation, cleaner energy sources, and significant energy policy changes. The document analyzes current and prospective energy mixes and explores the role of renewable energy in achieving these targets while enhancing energy sovereignty and economic benefits.

The document outlines the framework for state Clean Electricity Standards (CES), emphasizing that effective policies must be mandatory, technology-inclusive, and ambitious. It contrasts CES with Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS) by highlighting the inclusion of clean firm resources like nuclear and carbon capture. The brief details various design options—such as retail sales vs. emission-based standards—and explains how federal incentives from the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) reduce implementation costs. It also discusses advanced features like clean capacity standards and hourly matching to accelerate the deployment of long-duration storage and firm clean power.

The policy brief suggests that the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) should move away from siloed implementation of clean energy policies by adopting infrastructure deployment models from other sectors. It highlights the transportation model's integration of local needs, FEMA's multi-agency coordination in disaster response, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' use of local points of contact and transparency. The author recommends that the DOE prioritize local demand, employ a 'whole of government' approach to coordination, and modernize operations through the use of local engagement leads or regional interagency teams to accelerate clean energy infrastructure deployment.

Ember argues that the draft FNA methodology focuses too narrowly on "surplus" renewable power rather than the broader goal of decarbonising the electricity system. The organization advocates for renaming flexibility needs to "non-fossil flexibility network needs" to signal a shift away from fossil assets and avoid stranded investments. Ember also calls for greater data transparency, the inclusion of cost-efficiency metrics, and the integration of the FNA into the existing ERAA/NRAA modelling process to better optimize the dispatch between fossil and non-fossil assets.

Mongolia possesses significant solar and wind potential, estimated at 2,600 GW, yet renewable energy only accounted for approximately 9% of total electricity production in 2023. The government aims to increase the installed capacity of renewables to 30% by 2030 under the 'Vision-2050' long-term development policy. While 12 solar and wind projects were active in 2023 with total investments of 533.15 million USD, the sector faces challenges in gender equality, with female representation generally below global averages. Current policy is governed by the Energy Law (2001) and the Law on Renewable Energy (2007), with specific tariffs set for wind (up to 0.08 USD/kWh) and solar (up to 0.12 USD/kWh) as of 2019.

The document examines the economic, political, and governance challenges hindering Indonesia's transition away from coal, emphasizing the need for multi-level governance and social protections. It highlights the role of artificial price caps and political 'lock-in' as primary barriers, while noting a significant gap in planning capacity between national and subnational governments. The brief recommends establishing a Just Energy Transition Support Facility under Bappenas, implementing economic diversification for coal-dependent workers, and reforming electricity markets to eliminate coal subsidies and facilitate renewable energy integration.

Mongolia possesses significant wind and solar potential, estimated at 2600 GW, yet renewable electricity production was only about 9% of the total as of 2023. The government aims for 30% renewable energy capacity by 2030 under its Vision 2050 strategy. While 12 utility-scale projects are operational with a total investment of USD 533 million, the sector faces challenges including a predominantly male workforce and a reliance on electricity imports from China and Russia (22.3% in 2023). Current regulations include USD-denominated tariffs capped in 2019 and various tax exemptions, with future plans focusing on competitive auctions and battery storage.

The report advocates for a transition from traditional cost-of-service regulation (COSR) to comprehensive performance-based regulation (PBR) to better align utility incentives with modern societal and environmental goals. It proposes a 'Four Pillars Model' consisting of incentivizing cost efficiency, removing throughput incentives, equalizing incentives for capital and operating expenses, and incentivizing targeted outcomes. The document includes an overview of PBR tools and uses Hawaii's framework as a case study for implementation.

The policy brief highlights a disconnect between European transmission system operator (TSO) grid plans and actual energy policy targets or market outlooks. It argues that current regulatory requirements, which force TSOs to rely on outdated national legislation, lead to under-planned capacity and increased grid congestion. The author recommends that the European Commission provide guidance on anticipatory planning and that national regulators expand their oversight to assess the adequacy of grid plans beyond mere cost implications.

The document argues that SMRs can provide 'clean firm' power to decarbonize industrial systems and bolster energy security in the EU. It identifies that while 12 countries mention SMRs in draft NECPs and 7 plan investments, significant work is needed to improve these plans. The guide outlines five key recommendation areas: developing planning competencies (including techno-economic assessments and workforce studies), strengthening regional cooperation (such as joint licensing and a Joint Procurement Platform), enhancing financial frameworks (using contracts for difference and state aid), establishing national R&D and demonstration programmes, and creating industry-informed roadmaps. It specifically highlights the need for regulators to diversify competence beyond Light Water Reactors to evaluate advanced technologies like molten salt reactors.

The report examines the social media strategy of the AfD in eastern Germany, finding that migration, economic grievances, and opposition to Ukraine support are the primary drivers of engagement. It highlights that the AfD views the CDU as its primary political competitor and warns that the party's growth may lead to unstable government coalitions that undermine democratic trust.

The REIPPPP has successfully added 6,308.68 MW of renewable electricity to South Africa's grid and supported local industry, but it has been hindered by policy uncertainty, grid capacity bottlenecks, and a six-year gap between Bid Windows 4 and 5. The document argues that for the programme to reach the Integrated Resource Plan 2019 goals for solar PV and wind by 2030, South Africa must unbundle Eskom, establish an Independent Systems Market Operator (ISMO), and optimise transmission infrastructure. It recommends streamlining bid windows, enhancing regulatory transparency, and leveraging the South African Renewable Energy Masterplan (SAREM) to promote strategic localisation and job creation.

The report identifies that over 93 percent of coal power is shielded from competition via power purchase agreements (PPAs). Using a representative Indonesian PPA as a model, RMI proposes three pathways for decarbonization: early termination, replacement with clean energy PPAs, and restructuring for emission reductions. The analysis suggests that coal transition mechanisms (CTMs), such as blended finance loans and managed transition vehicles (MTVs), can maintain costs for taxpayers and earnings for investors while significantly reducing emissions. Specifically, an MTV could drive an 80 percent emissions reduction between 2025 and 2035, and combining CTMs with policy shifts could increase owner earnings by up to 30 percent and cut emissions by up to 90 percent.

The Canadian Climate Institute suggests that the federal government use the $25.7 billion Clean Electricity Investment Tax Credit to incentivize provinces to adopt four institutional changes: commissioning independent pathway assessments, updating the mandates of public utilities and regulators to include net-zero goals, developing high-level net-zero energy visions, and participating in inter-provincial information exchange. These conditions are designed to be non-prescriptive, leaving implementation details to the provinces to avoid jurisdictional conflict while providing the clarity and institutional alignment needed for energy system transformation.