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EU CAN STOP RUSSIAN GAS IMPORTS BY 2025
The briefing argues that the EU can cut Russian gas imports by 66% (101 bcm) by 2025 by fast-tracking the 'Fit for 55' package and scaling renewables and electrification. It asserts that this reduction can be achieved without new gas import infrastructure or extending coal power generation.
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Document type: Briefing
ENERGY LEADERSHIP IN A TIME OF NEED: A BLUEPRINT FOR STATES
The document argues that U.S. states should implement 'no-regrets' actions in building and industrial efficiency to counter the negative economic impacts of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), which is projected to cost households $170 billion in higher energy bills and reduce GDP by $1.1 trillion by 2035. It advocates for the deployment of heat pumps and electric boilers, noting that residential heat pumps have held a 56 percent market share for space heating since 2021. The briefing specifically highlights the potential of industrial electric heat pumps for low-temperature heat (under 200 °C), which are two to four times more efficient than fossil-fueled versions but currently make up less than 2 percent of the market. To overcome barriers such as upfront capital and high electricity rates, the document recommends a suite of policy actions, including adopting modern energy codes, implementing building performance standards, providing point-of-sale rebates, and creating revolving loan funds.
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Document type: Briefing
THE FOSSIL FUEL FREE CITIES TOOLKIT
The document outlines a strategic framework for cities to reduce fossil fuel consumption and pressure national governments to phase out fossil fuel extraction. It categorizes actions into city diplomacy, culture and society, urban economy, transportation, energy and built environment, and waste management, emphasizing the removal of the fossil fuel industry's 'social licence' and the implementation of a just transition for workers and marginalized communities.
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Document type: Guide
South Korea seeks triple renewables as fossil fuel power import bill heads USD 25 billion
South Korea aims to triple its renewable energy capacity to 100GW by 2030 to mitigate the economic impact of volatile fossil fuel prices. Since 2010, wind and solar have saved the country USD 25 billion in LNG import costs. While the country possesses strong industrial capabilities in solar panels, batteries, and transformers, it faces significant land constraints and grid bottlenecks, particularly in transmitting power from Honam to Seoul. The government is prioritizing a high-voltage direct current energy highway and digital grid integration to support this transition.
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Document type: Report
Ecodesign risks and opportunities for a phase out of gas boilers in the EU
Global Witness calls for the EU to use the Ecodesign Directive to phase out the sale of new gas boilers by 2029, arguing that raising energy-efficiency thresholds will promote heat pumps and energy independence while preventing long-term fossil fuel lock-in.
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Document type: Statement
Heating homes with gas is expensive; heating with hydrogen could cost double
Global Witness argues that switching European home heating from fossil gas to hydrogen would be unaffordable for consumers and potentially cost €240 billion in infrastructure expenses. Based on analysis by Element Energy, the report claims hydrogen energy could cost more than double the price of gas, potentially exacerbating energy poverty for up to 80 million Europeans. The document further alleges that gas companies and distribution system operators (DSOs) are lobbying the European Commission to 'mutualize' these costs, meaning all gas users—including those not using hydrogen—would pay for the new infrastructure. Global Witness recommends that the EU limit hydrogen use to heavy industry and transport, instead prioritizing heat pumps and district heating for residential use.
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Document type: Statement
Clean Economy Graphics Data Sources and Documentation Overview
The document outlines the technical framework for RMI's State Clean Energy Eco graphics, which project the scale of energy transformation required for the US to reach net zero emissions by 2050. It details the use of the Princeton Net Zero America (NZA) project as the primary data source, supplemented by the Energy Policy Simulator (EPS), NREL Cambium scenarios, and population projections. The methodology covers specific metrics across electricity, industry, transportation, buildings, and human impact, including a detailed approach for downscaling potential federal investments from the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) to the state level. To account for uncertainty in 2050 projections, metrics are generally rounded to one significant figure.
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Document type: Guide
Lower Bills, Better Grids: Heat Pump Benefits for Homes Heating with Electric Resistance
The document specifies the technical parameters used for modeling the transition from electric resistance heating to heat pumps in the United States. It details rated efficiencies for space and water heating systems, the use of EIA RECS 2020 microdata and NREL ResStock for home archetypes and load profiles, and the methodology for calculating electric volumetric prices based on 2024 EIA residential state-average revenue.
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Document type: Fact sheet
REALIZE Zero Carbon Deep Energy Retrofit Case Study
The Hano Homes project in Boston aims to transform a multifamily residential building constructed in 1888 into a net-zero energy property through a deep energy retrofit planned for 2023–2024. The strategy involves wrapping the building in a superinsulated exterior shell, replacing gas boilers and water heaters with all-electric heat pump systems, and installing a 100–110 kW rooftop solar PV system. These measures are expected to reduce energy usage by 69% and eliminate operational greenhouse gas emissions, while the use of bio-based insulation is intended to store carbon and reduce embodied emissions.
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Document type: Case study
Benefits of the Inflation Reduction Act by State
The document describes a methodology for downscaling national Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) funding and co-benefits to the US state level. For tax credits, RMI uses 'Climate-Aligned Targets' based on the Net Zero America study and RMI State Scorecards to estimate potential investment in electric vehicles, renewable energy, heat pumps, and carbon sequestration. For non-tax credit funding (rebates, grants, loans), the analysis downscales Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates using state-specific metrics such as methane emissions, fuel consumption, or population. Public health and jobs benefits are downscaled from Energy Innovation's national modeling based on state population relative to the United States.
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Document type: Report
reclaimed-refrigerant-appendix-final_amended-21-may-2026-ae7dfbdd1b644335.pdf
The document describes testing conducted between August and December 2025 on a 3-ton residential split-system and a 5-ton packaged rooftop unit (RTU) to compare the effects of different R-410A refrigerant qualities. Results indicate that reclaimed refrigerant meeting AHRI 700 purity standards causes no measurable short-term performance penalty in capacity, efficiency, or power consumption compared to virgin refrigerant. Testing with recovered refrigerant and near-empty tanks showed similar stability, although recovered refrigerant quality is noted as inherently variable. Additionally, the RTU showed performance resilience down to 85% of nominal charge, likely due to the use of thermostatic expansion valves (TXVs).
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Document type: Report
rmi-electrification-rate-design-analysis-assumptions-66a0b39b031ddf3e.pdf
The document describes a framework for calculating residential utility bills by combining NREL ResStock building load data with electric and gas tariff data from Genability and RateAcuity. It details specific adjustments made to tariffs for Xcel Energy (Minnesota), Pepco (Maryland), Central Maine Power (Maine), and Eversource Energy (Massachusetts) to ensure analytical consistency. The analysis specifically models upgrades to high-efficiency cold-climate air-to-air heat pumps and evaluates the impact of 'electrification-friendly' rate designs on customer costs.
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Document type: Report
VIRTUAL POWER PLANT FLIPBOOK
The VPP Flipbook outlines how utilities can aggregate distributed energy resources (DERs)—such as batteries, electric vehicles, and smart thermostats—to provide grid services like capacity, energy, and resilience. It details a six-step development process and provides specific examples from utilities including PG&E, National Grid, and Green Mountain Power. The document emphasizes the importance of open-access structures, third-party partnerships, and the integration of VPPs into long-term resource planning to address load growth and decarbonization goals.
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Document type: Guide
Shale gas and fracking: examining the evidence
The document defends the findings of an SGR/CIEH report on shale gas, arguing that unconventional gas extraction is more invasive than conventional gas and risks exceeding global carbon budgets. It highlights regulatory resource shortages in the UK, the potential for fracking to trigger seismic events that damage wellbore integrity, and the risk of air and water contamination. The authors argue that shale gas is not a 'key component' of IPCC mitigation strategies and suggest that the UK could reduce its dependence on natural gas through energy conservation, biogas, and a transition to electric heating.
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Document type: Statement
Microsoft Word - JCI and WMBC 2025 - Japan NDC note_English.docx
The document analyzes Japan's second NDC, submitted in February 2025, which targets greenhouse gas emission reductions of 60% by 2035 and 73% by 2040 relative to 2013 levels. The authors argue these targets are insufficient for a developed nation and fall below the global average required for the 1.5°C goal. The briefing emphasizes that Japan is currently off track for its 2030 goals and risks economic disadvantage by maintaining a reliance on fossil fuels. It calls for a rapid phase-out of coal by 2035, a significant increase in renewable energy capacity—potentially reaching 65-80% of electricity supply by 2035—and the implementation of a robust carbon pricing system via the GX-ETS with a binding emissions cap. The report also highlights the role of electrification, particularly through heat pumps and electric vehicles, and the strong support for more ambitious action from the Japanese business community.
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Document type: Briefing
Power Up
The document asserts that clean energy technologies now have the potential to replace 75% of existing fossil fuel demand, with renewable electricity exceeding 40% of the global power mix in 2024. It highlights that solar and wind are increasingly cost-competitive, displacing over 650 TWh of fossil fuel use between 2023 and 2024. The report notes a strong business preference for renewables, with over 90% of polled executives viewing access to renewable electricity as critical for investment decisions. It specifically warns that oil demand is expected to peak and decline this decade as electric vehicles (EVs) scale, and that gas infrastructure risks becoming stranded as renewables and electrified heat reduce demand. Additionally, it identifies China as the first 'electrostate' due to its rapid electrification and clean tech production.
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Document type: Executive summary
Designing the Next Generation of Federal Tax Credits for Low-Carbon Technologies
The document argues that current U.S. federal tax credits suffer from design deficiencies and a cycle of short-term extensions that discourage private sector planning. It proposes a shift toward a predictable, forward-looking regime featuring technology-neutral designs, performance-based incentives, and equity measures to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.
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Document type: Research paper
Our planet is warming. Here’s what’s at stake if we don’t act now.
The document argues that limiting global warming to 1.5°C is critical to avoid severe impacts, noting that the world is already 1.1°C warmer than pre-industrial levels. It compares the risks of 1.5°C versus 2°C warming across several metrics: sea level rise (1.5 feet vs 1.8 feet by 2100), coral reef degradation (70% vs virtually all), and human exposure to extreme heat waves (1 billion vs 2.7 billion people every 5 years). It also highlights increased flood risks and habitat loss for insects, plants, and vertebrates. To combat this, the text advocates for a transition to 100% clean energy in buildings, the electrification of transport, and sustainable agricultural practices.
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Document type: Fact sheet