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The report examines 'development without carbon' (DWC) in Latin America and the Caribbean, focusing on hydropower's role. While hydropower provides 46% of the region's electricity and has significant untapped potential, climate change—specifically glacier retreat in the Andes and rainfall variability—threatens production reliability. The authors advocate for moving away from static planning toward flexible infrastructure and the use of integrated Water Evaluation And Planning (WEAP) and Long-range Energy Alternatives Planning (LEAP) tools to manage water-energy tradeoffs and climate uncertainty.

The author contends that Germany's energy transition is the result of decades of consistent policy, including the 1991 Power Feed-In Law and the 2000 Renewable Energy Law, rather than a sudden 'shock' to the system. The text asserts that the July 2011 decision to phase out nuclear power by 2021 aligns with a long-established policy vector and rejects claims that recent redundancies at E.on were caused by a sudden change in government policy.

The study examines how the duration of supply disruptions and the season of occurrence affect the economic valuation of gas reliability among households in three European countries. It finds that WTP varies significantly by country and is generally higher for winter disruptions, with Italian households showing the highest valuation.

The authors assert that 80 percent of global energy needs could be met by renewables by 2050, as stated by the IPCC. They critique a New York Times op-ed by Robert Bryce, arguing that his claims regarding the environmental impact and land requirements of wind and solar are based on faulty calculations. The text highlights that a 33 percent renewable electricity mandate in the US would require approximately 800 square miles of land, which is less than one third of the forest area destroyed by mountaintop removal coal mining. The authors advocate for a diverse energy platform including renewables, natural gas, and nuclear power, evaluated through honest life-cycle criteria.

The document analyzes indirect fossil fuel subsidies in the U.S., which include tax breaks, abnormal accounting, royalty relief, and unpriced societal costs. It argues that many of these subsidies, often established decades ago, persist despite the maturity of the fossil fuel industry and the emergence of cleaner energy alternatives. The report highlights significant financial losses to the federal government, such as billions in foregone royalties and tax expenditures, and notes that the external costs of fossil fuel usage—including health and environmental damages—far exceed the revenue collected to mitigate them.

The report identifies rigid technological pathways and outdated institutional frameworks as primary obstacles to meeting climate mitigation goals in South America and Southern Africa. It argues that regional energy integration is superior to national reliance as it allows access to low-opportunity-cost resources from neighboring countries. The text emphasizes that transitioning to renewable technologies like solar and wind requires comprehensive system changes and strong government policy to overcome existing economic and regulatory lock-ins.

The report documents a 2010 conference of the South African Civil Society Energy Caucus, focusing on the lack of transparency and public participation in the development of the second Integrated Resource Plan (IRP2). It critiques the government's continued reliance on coal and nuclear power, highlighting the failures of the Pebble Bed Modular Reactor (PBMR) and the environmental risks of radioactive waste in the Witwatersrand goldfields. The document advocates for a 'just transition' toward renewable energy, specifically wind and solar, while calling for an independent system operator to resolve conflicts of interest within Eskom.

The report identifies three primary upstream producer subsidies in Indonesia with a combined estimated value of US$ 1.799 billion in 2008. The largest is the Oil Domestic Market Obligation (DMO), which provides a US$ 1.554 billion subsidy to Pertamina's refineries by requiring producers to sell crude oil at discounted prices. Other quantified subsidies include tax incentives for imported goods and services (US$ 130 million) and an investment credit allowance (US$ 115 million). While these incentives are noted to support the government's goal of increasing exploration in new geological plays, the report highlights a steady decline in national oil production and discovery of new reserves since 1996. The study also identifies several potential subsidies requiring further research, such as preferential access to forested areas and expired Production Sharing Contracts (PSCs).

The report argues that South American countries currently struggle with domestic energy security despite vast resources, often opting for high-cost domestic solutions over cheaper regional trade due to perceived risks of supply cuts. It positions Brazil as a decisive leader for regional integration due to its geographical location, market size, and leadership in both fossil fuels and renewable energy. The author proposes the creation of a Multilateral Energy Security Reserve (RMSE) treaty to provide a legal framework for accessing reserves and infrastructure during shortages, while noting that the lack of a legal basis for private investment remains a primary obstacle to integration.

The analysis concludes that relying on private capital and market mechanisms in Argentina led to a depletion of non-renewable resources and a lack of energy diversification. To secure its energy future, Argentina must reform price policies, increase public sector oversight, and secure strategic gas and hydroelectric agreements with Bolivia and Brazil.

The paper examines historical cases from the Roman Empire, Early Modern Europe, and the Far East to argue that long-term economic growth is possible within renewable energy systems if demand, supply, and trade are managed through sound government policy. It contrasts successful management in Germany and Japan with failures in China, and assesses the technical potential of global renewable resources compared to current energy consumption.

The report analyzes Chile's transition toward non-conventional renewable energy (NCRE), noting that while installed capacity in the Central Interconnected Grid (SIC) nearly doubled between 2007 and 2009, the sector remains hindered by high market concentration and financial risks. It details the impact of Law No. 20.257, which mandates a clean energy quota of 5% by 2010 and 10% by 2024, and evaluates CORFO's incentive programs. The document highlights a critical tension between the growth of clean energy and a simultaneous increase in coal-fired generation, which threatens Chile's climate goals and long-term competitiveness.

The report argues that the EU's voluntary lobby registration system is fundamentally flawed, allowing major corporations to under-report or entirely omit their lobbying activities. By comparing EU register data with the mandatory US system and European Parliament access records, the study finds that 40% of the top 50 EU companies are absent from the register, and many that are registered declare unfeasibly low budgets that do not align with their corporate size or their higher spending in the USA.

The report describes Feed-in Tariffs (FITs) as a policy tool to accelerate renewable energy deployment by providing guaranteed, long-term payment rates and grid access to producers. It highlights successful implementations in Denmark and Germany, while noting that Spain's high rates led to overinvestment and a subsequent global drop in solar panel prices. In the US, the report notes a lack of federal policy but identifies local efforts in Gainesville, Florida, and California, concluding with design recommendations such as using trial phases and binding caps to avoid windfall profits.

Between 2004 and 2007, Cuba transitioned from a fragile, centralized power system plagued by frequent blackouts to a more resilient model. This was achieved through 'La Revolución Energética', which combined the mass replacement of inefficient appliances (lamps, refrigerators, air conditioners) with the installation of 1,854 diesel and fuel-oil-fired microgenerators. This decentralized architecture improved resilience against hurricanes and reduced oil consumption per kWh compared to central plants, while the country began shifting toward long-term renewable goals including wind, solar, and bagasse cogeneration.

The report analyzes the Chilean electricity sector's transition toward clean energies, specifically Non-Conventional Renewable Energies (NCRE). It details the current dominance of fossil fuels and large hydro, the impact of the 2008 Law 20.257 establishing renewable quotas, and the role of CORFO in providing pre-investment incentives. While noting a positive investment climate and growing interest from foreign investors, the document identifies significant barriers, including high economic risk due to the lack of stable long-term pricing, high market concentration, and limited access to financing for small developers. It concludes by recommending a more comprehensive national strategy that internalizes environmental externalities and enhances technical and human capital.

The document examines Canada's position as a major energy producer and the risks associated with its fragmented, province-led energy approach. It highlights the tension between Canada's traditional energy exports—particularly oil sands—and the global shift toward clean energy. The authors argue that a national strategy is essential to meet climate goals, protect trade interests (especially with the U.S.), and establish global leadership in technologies like carbon capture and storage (CCS). It also assesses the current 'patchwork' of international energy governance, including the roles of the IEA, IRENA, and trade agreements like NAFTA.

The report argues that Argentina's energy security has been compromised by the shift of investment decisions from the state to the private sector following 1990s privatizations. This led to a reliance on natural gas for electricity generation and a failure to diversify the energy matrix. The author highlights how multinational companies, specifically Repsol-YPF, prioritized global investments over local supply security. Despite recent government efforts to promote renewables and nuclear power, the report concludes that supply security will remain precarious in the short term due to fiscal constraints, distorted price signals, and dependence on imports from Bolivia and Brazil.

Mozambique possesses significant hydropower, natural gas, and coal potential, yet over 80% of its population lacks grid connectivity, relying instead on traditional biomass. The report details the country's transition from a centralized socialist economy to a liberalized market, highlighting the role of the 1997 Electricity Act in opening the sector to private investment. It examines the functions of key entities like Electricidade de Moçambique (EDM) and the National Energy Fund (FUNAE), while outlining strategic goals to increase electrification rates to 20% by 2020 and leverage regional power demand through the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP).

The document examines the debate over whether current planning processes can accommodate the long lead times and uncertainties of climate change. Arguments for new approaches highlight the unprecedented nature of climate risks and the potential for irreversible impacts. Conversely, some argue that existing frameworks for other long-term environmental challenges or natural disasters are applicable, suggesting that failures in climate adaptation may stem from a lack of institutional capacity rather than flawed decision-making processes.