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The report evaluates the technical and economic viability of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), contrasting them with large-scale nuclear power plants (NPPs) and variable renewable energy (VRE). It specifically analyzes the Romanian nuclear landscape, including the planned NuScale SMR in Doicești and the expansion of the Cernavodă plant. The authors argue that SMRs' modularity and standardization can mitigate the cost overruns typical of large NPPs. They recommend EU-level harmonization of licensing, the creation of a Joint Platform for SMR Procurements to achieve economies of scale, and improved public transparency in Romania.

The report evaluates solid oxide electrolyzer cell (SOEC) technology, highlighting its superior electrical efficiency when integrated with external heat sources, such as those found in steel, chemical, and nuclear plants. While the technology is more mature than often perceived—leveraging experience from the gigawatt-scale solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) industry—it faces challenges regarding stack durability due to high-temperature thermal stress and the need to scale from small modules to hundred-megawatt systems. The report finds that raw material supply chains are not a bottleneck and that gigawatt-scale manufacturing is feasible within 18 to 36 months.

The document critiques the promotion of hydrogen as a clean energy alternative, asserting that the vast majority of global production relies on fossil fuels. It categorizes different 'colors' of hydrogen, arguing that grey, blue, black/brown, and turquoise versions perpetuate fossil fuel dependency, while green hydrogen is inefficient and risks replicating neocolonial extractivism. The paper highlights the high water and energy requirements of electrolysis and the unproven nature of Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS). It concludes that hydrogen serves as a distraction from deep systemic change and recommends a coordinated phase-out of fossil fuels and a transition to community-owned renewable energy.

The policy brief examines the devastating socioeconomic and financial impacts of load shedding in South Africa, highlighting a cumulative 15 percentage point loss in GDP growth from 2020 to 2023. It argues that the current reliance on Eskom's aging coal fleet and proposed nuclear projects is insufficient and too costly. Instead, it advocates for municipalities to leverage solar PV and battery energy storage systems (BESS), which are significantly cheaper and faster to deploy, to increase electricity supply and reduce bulk purchase costs.

Reclaim Finance critiques the IEA's "clean energy" scope, asserting that several included technologies—such as CCUS, nuclear power, and solid biomass—are unsustainable due to high costs, environmental damage, or continued reliance on fossil fuels. The organization advocates for a narrower definition of sustainable power focused on solar, wind, ocean, and geothermal energy, as well as modernized grid infrastructure, and calls for banks to disclose detailed inventories of their energy transition financing.

The Clean Air Task Force (CATF) provides a framework for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and selected Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs to transition from application to action. CATF emphasizes prioritizing hydrogen for hard-to-abate sectors, ensuring transparency in project planning, coordinating funding across federal programs, and deepening community engagement to ensure equitable and climate-beneficial outcomes.

Natural Justice argues that nuclear energy is an economically unviable and environmentally dangerous alternative to renewable energy in South Africa. The commentary contends that the National Nuclear Regulator Amendment Bill encourages investment in a sector characterized by high costs, long lead times, and significant waste management risks. It specifically criticizes the extensive powers granted to the Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy, citing the Department's poor track record in rehabilitating abandoned mines as evidence that it cannot be trusted to manage nuclear decommissioning and waste. The authors advocate for decentralized renewable energy solutions, such as solar and wind, to address load shedding and rural energy access.

The document examines the precarious situation at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) in Ukraine, highlighting risks such as loss of offsite power and cooling water. It analyzes the existing legal protections provided by customary international law, the Geneva Conventions, and the Pelindaba Treaty, arguing that while legal norms exist, they are often undermined by political considerations and a lack of enforcement. The author concludes that strengthening existing frameworks and accountability is more critical than creating new conventions.

A survey of 58 European climate experts reveals skepticism about Europe's ability to meet its 2030 and 2050 climate goals, citing lagging investments and bureaucratic hurdles. While experts show varying confidence in technologies like CCS and hydrogen, there is a notable call for a more prominent role for nuclear energy and a shift toward 'technology optionality' and simplified, incentive-based policymaking.

The Vogtle 3 and 4 projects in Georgia demonstrate the risks of the current nuclear industry model, characterized by massive cost overruns and delays. To meet 2050 net-zero targets, the author argues the industry must move toward standardized, commoditized designs and an overhauled regulatory ecosystem to reduce costs and delivery times.

The report finds that a majority of registered U.S. voters prefer candidates who support action on global warming and support various clean energy policies, including a transition to 100% clean energy by 2050. While there is broad support for the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 after it is described, awareness of the law remains low. The findings highlight a significant trust deficit toward fossil fuel companies and a general perception that the U.S. government is not responding effectively to climate change. Despite this, actual political and consumer activism remains relatively low, and collective efficacy—the belief that citizens can influence government and corporate action—is limited to less than half of the electorate.

The report presents survey data from October 2023 on the attitudes of 906 registered U.S. voters. It finds broad support for clean energy policies and a preference for candidates who support climate action, though significant political polarization remains. While majorities support the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 and transitioning to clean energy by 2050, trust in fossil fuel companies is low, and actual political and consumer activism remains relatively infrequent.

Ember critiques the TYNDP 2024 storylines for having low electrification levels and unrealistic fossil fuel price projections. The organization argues that the 'Green Ambition' (GA) and 'Distributed Energy' (DE) scenarios are not fully self-consistent and fail to align with 1.5C pathways. Ember recommends introducing a higher-ambition scenario with at least 90% emissions reduction by 2040 and urges the removal of fossil methane from heating and transport by 2050.

The authors suggest that Europe can accelerate its energy transition by adopting four principles from U.S. policies like the Inflation Reduction Act: supporting a diverse technology mix, tailoring support to development stages, addressing non-cost barriers, and providing policy clarity. Specifically, the document recommends expanding support beyond wind and solar to include nuclear, carbon capture, and zero-carbon fuels, while reducing regulatory complexity and permitting delays that currently hinder project deployment.

China is experiencing a significant increase in coal power capacity, with 37 GW starting construction and 52 GW permitted in the first half of 2023. The report argues that most of these projects violate central government policies intended to limit coal to a supporting role for renewables, instead serving as bulk power generation. This trend, driven by energy security concerns and a desire to maximize carbon-intensive capacity before the 2030 peaking deadline, risks creating massive overcapacity and undermining China's carbon neutrality goals.

The 2022 French nuclear outages were caused by a confluence of pipe corrosion, workforce shortages, and heat-related river curtailments, rather than inherent flaws in nuclear technology. The author argues that these issues can be mitigated through standardized reactor designs, consistent government policy to maintain a skilled workforce, and technical cooling upgrades. Despite the 2022 dip in availability, the document asserts that nuclear energy provides essential 'clean firm' power necessary for the cost-effective decarbonization of the European electricity grid.

Finland's integration into NATO and its role as the host of the rescEU CBRN strategic reserve are presented as critical enhancements to European security. The paper highlights Finland's 'comprehensive security approach' and its long-standing leadership in biosecurity, chemical weapons non-proliferation, and nuclear safety as assets that bolster the alliance's deterrence capabilities, particularly given Finland's 1,340 km border with Russia.

A survey of 861 registered U.S. voters in Spring 2023 reveals broad support for local climate-friendly infrastructure and energy efficiency programs, though significant political polarization exists regarding national mandates and offshore drilling. While a majority believe corporations and government should do more to address global warming, actual individual political participation remains low, and only 11% of voters believe the U.S. government is responding well to the issue.

The paper analyzes 156 peer-reviewed research papers on energy transition modeling in Africa, finding that most studies focus on energy mix and emissions pathways while neglecting socio-economic development and advanced low-carbon technologies.

The document advocates for a diverse energy mix that includes 'clean firm power'—non-weather-dependent zero-carbon sources—to complement wind, solar, and battery storage. It argues that relying solely on variable renewables would lead to excessive costs, land use, and infrastructure requirements, while a diversified approach could significantly reduce the time and cost of the energy transition.