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The report finds that India's renewable energy power sector has historically been less risky and more lucrative than the fossil fuel sector, with higher risk-adjusted returns. Investor perceptions align with this, viewing renewables as safer, though solar is perceived as less risky than wind. The primary drivers of risk for both sectors are counterparty risk (specifically DISCOM non-payment), grid/transmission inadequacy, and financial sector constraints. Fossil fuel investments face additional significant risks from power market volatility and resource uncertainty, particularly for natural gas.

The SADC region faces a significant electricity supply-demand gap, with 68% of residents lacking access and a heavy reliance on coal, primarily driven by South Africa. The report argues for a dual approach: strengthening the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP) through better regional regulation and transboundary projects, and scaling up renewable energy mini-grids in rural areas. It highlights that while the region has vast solar, wind, and hydro potential, investment is hindered by poor policy frameworks and the financial insolvency of national utilities.

The guide explains that the carbon-reduction impact of renewable energy projects varies by location because different projects displace different types of power plants. It argues that relying on proximity to operations as a proxy for quality may limit environmental benefits, suggesting instead that buyers target the most carbon-intensive areas to maximize avoided emissions.

Taiwan has introduced a renewable energy credit (T-REC) system to enable private and foreign companies to procure renewable energy, breaking the long-standing monopoly of the state-owned utility, Taipower. This initiative supports Taiwan's goal to phase out nuclear power by 2025 and increase renewable capacity to 1012.5 GW by 2030. The T-REC framework offers four procurement routes, ranging from direct power purchase agreements (PPAs) to the purchase of certificates alone. While the market is currently a 'sellers market' due to high feed-in tariff (FIT) rates, the system provides a mechanism for global companies to manage supply chain sustainability.

Tesco has committed to reducing its scope 1 and 2 emissions by 60% by 2025 and scope 3 emissions by 17% by 2030, both using a 2015 base-year. To achieve these goals, the company is implementing a costed renewable electricity roadmap and investing in energy and refrigeration efficiency, having already spent over £700 million since 2006. Tesco aims for 100% renewable electricity by 2030 and a net-zero carbon status by 2050, while managing specific challenges related to agricultural emissions, which constitute approximately 70% of its supply chain emissions.

The report identifies a 'political equilibrium' in Indonesia where the priorities of maintaining low electricity tariffs and low government subsidies outweigh the commitment to renewable energy targets. Key roadblocks include power purchase price caps (BPP) that make projects unviable, policy instability, and the dominant influence of the state-owned utility PLN and the coal industry. Experts interviewed for the study unanimously believe the 2025 target will be missed unless significant policy shifts occur.

The document outlines four specific actions for cities to achieve carbon-free electricity: implementing LED smart streetlighting, creating electric districts by removing natural gas infrastructure, installing municipal solar photovoltaics, and leveraging renewable energy supply mechanisms like power purchase agreements.

Organic Valley reached its goal of 100 percent renewable electricity by partnering with OneEnergy Renewables and the Upper Midwest Municipal Energy Group (UMMEG) to develop community-scale solar projects. Because Wisconsin is a regulated utility market, the cooperative avoided direct power purchase agreements in favor of a partnership that developed 12 MW of solar for Organic Valley and an additional 17 MW for nearby communities, totaling 29 MW. Organic Valley secures its renewable energy by purchasing all renewable energy certificates (RECs) for the life of the projects. The initiative also incorporates pollinator-friendly solar standards, planting native wildflowers to support bee and butterfly habitats.

The GPP Bhutan (GPPB) project, led by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), worked over 3.5 years to scale up public demand for environmentally and socially preferred goods and services. The project focused on research, policy support, and capacity building, resulting in the training of nearly 100 civil servants and 57 representatives from higher educational institutions. Key achievements include the official endorsement of GPP recommendations by the Ministry of Finance in 2015, the establishment of a parliamentary working group, and the institutionalization of a GPP curriculum at the Royal Institute of Management (RIM). The project also provided technical assistance for pilot projects with the City of Thimphu and the Ministry of Works and Human Settlements, emphasizing life-cycle costing and green infrastructure criteria.

The report argues that the cost of the low-carbon energy transition can be minimized by correctly allocating investment risks—such as construction, price, and curtailment—between private investors, public entities, and consumers. It introduces a framework to identify key risks based on technology and country context, select an appropriate ownership model, and use specific instruments (like guarantees or Feed-in Tariffs) to fill risk gaps. Case studies suggest that optimizing risk allocation could reduce levelized costs by 10% for onshore wind in New York and 30-40% for solar in India.

Goldman Sachs became the first U.S. bank to sign a large-scale, off-site renewable energy PPA for a 68 MW wind project in Pennsylvania. The bank utilized a virtual PPA structure within the PJM grid to align clean energy generation with its U.S. consumption while managing commodity risks through its J. Aron business. This deal supports the firm's goal of 100 percent renewable electricity by 2020 and a target of $150 billion in clean energy investments by 2025.

The document outlines four primary methods for companies to procure renewable energy: onsite installation, power purchase agreements (PPAs), renewable energy certificates (RECs) or guarantees of origin (GOs), and green tariffs. It highlights that companies often combine these methods based on capital availability, energy demand, and market options, citing examples like Microsoft, Google, Iron Mountain, and Equinix. Additionally, the guide recommends collaborating with organizations such as the Business Renewables Center (BRC), the Renewable Energy Buyers Alliance (REBA), and the Corporate Renewable Energy Buyers’ Principles to overcome barriers and increase corporate demand for renewable energy.

The document outlines 14 key lessons for boosting low-carbon and climate-resilient investment. It highlights the role of fiscal policy in sustainable land use, the importance of government-backed assurances in Power Purchase Agreements to unlock debt finance, and the utility of public-private partnerships like the Global Innovation Lab for Climate Finance to develop bespoke financial instruments. Specific solutions mentioned include currency hedging to reduce renewable energy costs and guarantees for energy efficiency savings.

The Southwest Power Pool (SPP) has emerged as a leader in renewable energy, offering significant opportunities for corporate buyers through wind power purchase agreements (PPAs). Market improvements since 2014, including the integration of the Integrated System (IS) transmission system, have increased dispatch efficiency and reduced energy costs. The region possesses some of the highest wind resource quality in the U.S., with nine of the top 10 states for high-capacity-factor wind generation located within the SPP footprint. This high capacity factor allows for lower unit costs and more competitive PPA prices. While there is a strong pipeline of planned wind capacity—including an estimated 19 GW of planned additions and nearly 7 GW expected in 2017—corporate buyers are cautioned to monitor the pace of transmission infrastructure investment to avoid curtailment risks and track regional policy changes, such as potential tax credit eliminations in Oklahoma.

The report identifies a significant investment opportunity in U.S. community-scale solar (CSS), estimated by NREL to be between $8.2 and $16.3 billion by 2020. It argues that CSS, typically sized between 0.5 and 5 MW, offers a cost-effective middle ground between residential and utility-scale solar. To unlock this potential, the document suggests adapting existing project finance and securitization models, utilizing innovative tools like New Markets Tax Credits, and implementing risk mitigants such as anchor tenants and subscription cushions to address customer attrition and regulatory uncertainty.

As of January 2017, 65 companies representing over 48 million MWh of annual demand by 2020 have signed the Corporate Renewable Energy Buyers' Principles. These principles aim to resolve procurement challenges, such as the need to work around traditional utilities, by advocating for greater choice, cost-competitive options, and streamlined financing to help businesses meet public climate and energy goals.

The document outlines the economic drivers and practical implementation of solar PV for businesses in the Western Cape, noting that systems can reduce electricity costs by up to 16% with payback periods typically between 3 and 8 years. It details three financing models—self-funded, bank-funded, and power purchase agreements (PPAs)—and lists the municipalities in the province that support small scale embedded generation (SSEG). Additionally, it highlights available tax incentives, such as 100% accelerated depreciation, and the Western Cape government's goal to reach 135MW of rooftop PV capacity by 2020.

The report assesses the South African utility-scale renewable energy sector, primarily driven by the REIPPPP. It highlights the programme's success in procuring over 6,300 MWp of capacity and attracting R194 billion in investment. The document details the role of government policies, the shift toward competitive tariffs for wind and solar PV, and the strategic importance of local content and socio-economic development. It also identifies opportunities for municipal power procurement and the development of green technology hubs, specifically in the Western Cape.

The report examines South Africa's renewable energy landscape, highlighting the success of the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REI4P) in attracting R195 billion in investment and creating 26,790 jobs. It argues that South Africa possesses world-class solar and wind resources that could allow for a 70% renewable energy share by 2040, reducing costs and emissions. However, the document identifies significant barriers, primarily the state utility Eskom's reluctance to sign power purchase agreements and a historical path-dependency on coal. It also discusses the rise of rooftop photovoltaics and the necessity of a 'just transition' to protect workers in the coal sector.

The report identifies 14 subsidy schemes for coal-fired power in China, quantifying the total value at CNY 252.4 billion (USD 37.7 billion) in 2014 and CNY 120.8 billion (USD 18 billion) in 2015. Key support mechanisms include power purchase guarantees, premiums for low-emission plants, and infrastructure investments in rail and grids. The authors argue that these subsidies provide coal an advantage over renewables and should be integrated into G20 fossil fuel subsidy review processes.