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The Union of Concerned Scientists finds that significant electricity infrastructure along the U.S. East and Gulf Coasts is currently exposed to storm surge, a risk that will increase with sea level rise. In the South Carolina Lowcountry, 54 major substations and seven power plants are currently at risk. The report advocates for adaptation strategies—protection, accommodation, and retreat—and the deployment of decentralized clean energy technologies like microgrids and energy storage to ensure community resilience and reduce carbon emissions.

The Union of Concerned Scientists finds that significant portions of the U.S. East and Gulf Coast electricity grids are exposed to storm surge, a risk that will increase as sea levels rise. In southeastern Florida, the number of major substations at risk from a Category 3 storm is projected to triple by 2070. The report advocates for a shift from centralized grids to decentralized, resilient power systems—such as microgrids and renewable energy with storage—to protect critical facilities and reduce carbon emissions.

The report finds that significant portions of the U.S. East and Gulf Coast electricity grids are currently exposed to storm surge, with risks increasing as sea levels rise. In southeastern Virginia, 43 percent of major substations and four power plants are at risk today. The authors advocate for a shift from centralized grids to decentralized, resilient power systems—including microgrids and renewable energy with storage—to maintain critical services during outages and reduce the carbon emissions driving climate change.

The document describes the physics of solar photovoltaic (PV) cells, which use doped silicon layers to create an electric field that converts sunlight into electricity. It details three main cell types—single-crystal, polycrystalline, and thin film—and discusses the benefits and challenges of integrating both rooftop and large-scale solar systems into the electricity grid, including issues of variability and transmission.

The analysis finds that California can reach a 50 percent renewable electricity mix by 2024 using existing technology. While increasing the Renewables Portfolio Standard to 50 percent would reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 22 percent without further grid investment, implementing advanced grid management tools like storage and demand response could increase that reduction to 27 percent and significantly decrease renewable energy curtailment.

The report analyzes 'demand flexibility' (DF)—the use of technology to shift electricity loads like air conditioning and EV charging to lower-cost times. It finds that widespread residential DF could avoid $13 billion annually in U.S. grid costs and reduce customer bills by 10–40%. Through four case studies (ComEd, SRP, HECO, and Alabama Power), the report demonstrates how DF can mitigate peak demand, integrate rooftop solar PV, and provide a lower-cost alternative to traditional grid infrastructure investments.

A collection of brief policy proposals from UK university scientists advocating for deep emission reductions, the removal of fossil fuel subsidies, and a transition to renewable energy infrastructure to meet global climate targets.

The document proposes replacing the Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) and the Efficiency Savings and Performance Incentive (ESPI) with a system-wide carbon intensity standard and per capita energy sales standards. It argues that these reforms will align utility incentives with state climate goals, encourage low-carbon grid flexibility, and remove the conservative goal-setting and contentious evaluation processes currently hindering energy efficiency in existing buildings.

The document proposes replacing California's current electricity sector policies with a system-wide carbon standard and per capita energy intensity standards for electricity and natural gas. It argues that the existing Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) and Efficiency Savings and Performance Incentive (ESPI) are insufficient for long-term goals due to siloed procurement and overly conservative efficiency targets. Key recommendations include a 2030 carbon standard of 393lb. CO2e/MWh, a 50 percent renewable energy procurement "backbone," and a performance-based energy standard targeting a 1.2 percent annual reduction in kWh/capita. The report also suggests expanding the Energy Imbalance Market (EIM) to a West-wide scale and expediting the implementation of AB 758 for existing buildings.

California is working toward supplying 33 percent of its electricity from renewables by 2020 and considering a 50 percent target by 2030. To maintain grid reliability without relying on carbon-emitting natural gas plants for ancillary services, the state must address 'overgeneration'—where renewable supply exceeds demand—which currently leads to the curtailment of clean energy. The document proposes several grid integration solutions: targeting energy efficiency during evening hours, diversifying the renewable fleet (wind, solar, bioenergy, and geothermal), increasing coordination between regional grid operators, deploying energy storage (pumped hydro, compressed air, and batteries), and using demand response technologies to shift electricity consumption to peak renewable output periods.

The document outlines various energy storage technologies—including pumped hydro, batteries, thermal, compressed air, flywheels, and hydrogen—detailing how they balance electricity supply and demand. It highlights the transition from a reliance on pumped hydroelectric storage toward rapidly scaling lithium-ion batteries, noting a 72 percent drop in battery capital costs between 2015 and 2019. The guide argues that energy storage enhances grid reliability, enables higher renewable energy integration, and provides community benefits by replacing polluting fossil fuel 'peaker' plants and increasing resilience against extreme weather.

The document describes the four primary components of the US electricity grid: individual generators, transmission lines, distribution networks, and consumer load. It details the technical differences between power sources, such as the low flexibility of coal and nuclear plants compared to the rapid ramping of natural gas plants. The text outlines the regulatory roles of state Public Utility Commissions (PUCs) and the federal Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), and notes the three main US transmission networks: the Western Interconnection, the Eastern Interconnection, and ERCOT. It also traces the grid's history from the victory of alternating current (AC) over direct current (DC) to the 'restructuring' of the 1970s that allowed for wholesale competition. Finally, it identifies potential improvements through energy storage, smart meters, and distributed generation like residential solar panels.

The report asserts that the combined fortunes of the world's wealthiest individuals could fund a total transition to renewable energy in the Global South by 2030. It estimates that $5.15 trillion is required to meet the energy demands of Africa, Latin America, and non-OECD Asia (excluding India and China). The authors argue that the energy transition must go beyond substituting fuel sources to include democratic ownership of resources and the dismantling of corporate power to address the intersecting crises of climate change and extreme inequality.

The report by Friends of the Earth International asserts that a 100% renewable energy revolution is financially feasible, noting that the personal fortunes of the world's 782 wealthiest people (approximately $5,149 billion) could fund this transition for Africa, Latin America, and much of Asia by 2030. Using International Energy Agency (IEA) demand projections, the authors calculate that $5,148 billion in additional investment is required to meet electricity needs in these regions using renewables. The document emphasizes that the transition must be guided by principles of democratic control, energy access as a human right, and community consent to avoid further human rights violations. It concludes that the primary barrier is not finance, but a lack of political will, and recommends ending fossil fuel subsidies, repaying climate debt from developed nations, and implementing global feed-in tariffs to facilitate a just energy transition.

The report argues that the U.S. distributed solar photovoltaics (DPV) market must shift from customer-centric value models to system-wide value models to sustain growth and meet SunShot Initiative targets. It proposes three 'bridge' business model building blocks: increasing access via subscription and community models, treating DPV as a grid resource through optimized siting and production, and bundling DPV with other distributed energy resources (DER) for resilience. The document emphasizes that achieving these goals requires collaboration between utilities and solar companies to reduce soft costs and capture operational benefits post-interconnection.

The report argues that current U.S. distributed solar (DPV) business models are overly customer-centric and fail to capture operational grid benefits, leading to conflict between utilities and solar companies. It proposes three 'bridge' business model building blocks: increasing access via subscription models, optimizing deployment for capacity and grid services, and bundling solar with other distributed energy resources (DERs). The authors emphasize that maximizing DPV value requires collaboration to reduce 'soft costs' and a shift toward standardized valuation methodologies and transparent data sharing between stakeholders.

The author argues that Dr. Charles R. Frank, Jr.'s analysis incorrectly concludes that nuclear and gas combined-cycle plants are more beneficial than wind and solar. By replacing Frank's data with empirical figures from the EIA and DOE, the author asserts that the priority for carbon savings actually shifts to hydro, wind, gas combined-cycle, nuclear, and solar. The critique highlights significant underestimations of renewable productivity and overestimations of gas and nuclear costs and reliability.

The report argues that traditional bundled, volumetric block rates are obsolete for a grid with increasing distributed energy resources (DERs) because they fail to reflect the temporal and locational value of electricity. It proposes evolving rate design along three continuums: attribute unbundling (separating energy and capacity), temporal granularity (moving toward real-time pricing), and locational granularity (addressing distribution 'hot spots'). The authors suggest a transition strategy using a combination of evolving default rates and opt-in alternatives, supported by third-party technologies to maintain a simple customer experience. Recommendations for regulators include increasing data transparency, enhancing valuation methodologies for DER attributes, and establishing clear timelines for rate transitions.

The report details the expansion of solar energy in the U.S., focusing on rooftop photovoltaic (PV) systems, large-scale PV, and concentrating solar power (CSP). It highlights significant cost reductions, the role of state and federal incentives, and the environmental benefits of transitioning from fossil fuels to solar, while addressing grid integration challenges and land-use impacts.

The document outlines the systemic shifts required to integrate low-carbon energy, arguing that traditional power plant financing and grid structures are ill-suited for renewables. It proposes new financing models like YieldCos and Muni Finance to lower costs, emphasizes the need for regionally integrated transmission and updated balancing markets to manage variability, and discusses the disruptive impact of distributed generation and demand-side flexibility on traditional utility models.