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The document features presentations by Ruth Santiago and Dr. Greg Guannel on enhancing coastal resilience in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Santiago argues against rebuilding the existing fossil-fuel-based power grid in Puerto Rico, proposing instead a transition to 'energy democracy' via rooftop solar and community-led energy systems. Dr. Guannel describes the update of the U.S. Virgin Islands' Hazard Mitigation Plan, emphasizing that resilience requires a holistic approach that combines physical infrastructure with social networks and natural systems, such as mangroves and aquifers, to protect the tourism-based economy and public health.

The report analyzes rooftop solar PV failures following major hurricanes in the Caribbean (2017-2019) to establish engineering and installation best practices. It identifies critical failure modes, such as top-down clip failures and corner overturning, and recommends specific technical mitigations including vibration-resistant hardware, mechanical attachments over purely ballasted systems, and strict adherence to roof edge setbacks. The authors estimate that implementing these resilience measures increases engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) costs by approximately 5%.

The document details Shoprite's strategy to mitigate the impacts of load-shedding and rising electricity tariffs through a three-pronged energy efficiency approach. Using the Shoprite Constantia store in Cape Town as a primary example, the report highlights the implementation of a 440kWp grid-tied solar system, LED lighting retrofits, and solar-powered refrigerated trailers. These interventions have led to significant reductions in utility costs, diesel consumption, and electricity usage. The broader program has expanded to 19 sites, with plans to reach 25, reflecting a long-term strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and enhance adaptive capacity against economic and environmental shocks.

The South African energy services market, comprising small-scale embedded generation (SSEG), energy storage, and energy efficiency, is projected to reach a total available market value of approximately R125 billion by 2035. Growth is driven by rising Eskom electricity tariffs, falling costs of renewable technologies, and supportive regulatory shifts, such as the unbundling of Eskom and the 2019 Integrated Resource Plan (IRP). Key emerging opportunities include the bundling of rooftop solar PV projects to attract larger investors, solar PV for energy resellers in property developments, and the retrofitting of existing buildings for energy efficiency. While the C&I sector currently dominates solar installations, the energy storage market is expected to grow significantly through grid management and resource adequacy applications, potentially valued between R15 billion and R30 billion by 2030.

The document argues that while India has a growing green bond market, it primarily funds utility-scale projects, leaving a gap for small-scale green investments. It proposes green securitisation (ABS) as a mechanism to pool small loans for rooftop solar, electric vehicles, and sustainable agriculture, allowing non-bank financial institutions (NBFCs) to offload assets and increase lending capacity. The report identifies regulatory hurdles, such as strict credit rating requirements for institutional investors and a slow judicial system for contract enforcement, and provides six recommendations to increase the supply and demand for green ABS.

RMI collaborated with the Lodha Group to implement a net-zero energy (NZE) district framework for Palava City, a greenfield development near Mumbai. The approach integrates energy, mobility, and water management to reduce carbon emissions and improve quality of life. Key strategies include improving building envelopes, maximizing on-site solar generation, prioritizing non-motorized transport, and treating 100% of wastewater for on-site reuse. The project serves as a model for sustainable urban development in emerging markets.

Indonesia is currently off target for its 2025 renewable energy goals, with installed capacity at 9.4 GW by the end of 2018, failing to meet the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources' target of 15.5 GW. The report identifies a 'trilemma' where the government struggles to simultaneously keep electricity tariffs low, maintain low subsidy costs, and meet renewable targets. To address this, the authors recommend a moratorium on new coal plants, a massive scale-up of rooftop solar, a shift from biofuels to bioenergy, and a revamp of the pricing mechanism to reflect full economic costs rather than just the local average generation cost (BPP).

The document details recent Indian government interventions in the energy sector, including a reduction in fuel excise duties to counter high oil prices and the launch of significant funding for solar power and electric vehicles. It also addresses the financial distress of electricity distribution companies (DISCOMs) and the legal rulings regarding stressed coal-fired power plants.

The document details the transition of South African municipal electricity distribution from a monopoly to a distributed generation model, focusing on the adoption of rooftop solar PV. It highlights the role of the City of Cape Town as a pioneer in developing SSEG policies and tariffs, supported by GreenCape and the Western Cape Government. The study identifies six levers to drive this transition, including technical support, regulatory certainty, and new finance models, to prevent the 'utility death spiral' where municipalities lose revenue as customers switch to renewable energy. By October 2018, 22 of 25 electricity-distributing municipalities in the Western Cape allowed SSEG, with 18 having NERSA-approved feed-in tariffs.

The document identifies that while high upfront capital costs limit the uptake of rooftop solar PV, several innovative green finance options exist for South African businesses. These include commercial bank funding (asset finance, term loans), Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE), Pay As You Save (PAYS), power purchase agreements (PPAs), and online impact investing platforms. It highlights that solar PV is technically mature, with payback periods typically between 3-8 years and a lifespan of up to 20 years. The brief also details specific offerings from banks like Absa, Nedbank, Standard Bank, and FNB, and lists tax and grant incentives such as 100% accelerated depreciation and the Green Tourism Incentive Programme.

The report identifies a total available energy services market in South Africa valued at approximately R125 billion by 2035, driven by rising electricity costs and falling technology prices. It highlights growth in rooftop solar PV, energy storage, and energy efficiency, while detailing the shift from a single-operator utility model to a distributed generation model. Key emerging opportunities include commercial off-the-shelf systems, project bundling, and building modernisation, supported by innovative finance mechanisms like PACE and a growing framework of municipal small-scale embedded generation (SSEG) regulations.

The clothing and textile industry in Cape Town faces significant risks from water scarcity, energy instability (load shedding), and a linear 'take, make and waste' business model. To build resilience, the Western Cape Industrial Symbiosis Programme (WISP) facilitates resource efficiency and industrial symbiosis, helping businesses divert waste from landfills and reduce water consumption. Key interventions include water pinch analysis, borehole installation, and the adoption of solar PV. The document argues that facilitated, impartial programs like WISP are strategic assets for urban resilience by providing rapid adaptation and trusted information during crises.

The document identifies a critical gap in India's goal to achieve 40 GW of rooftop solar by 2022, noting that as of March 2018, capacity was only ~2.53 GW. It argues that while the Commercial and Industrial (C&I) segment is growing, expansion is limited to high-credit entities, leaving MSMEs underserved due to a lack of credit history and collateral. To address this, the authors propose a Credit Guarantee Mechanism (CGM) as a bilateral loss-sharing agreement between a trust fund and lending institutions. This mechanism would provide a Liquidity Backstop Pool for payment delays and a Partial Loss Guarantee Pool for defaults, effectively reducing the risk for banks lending to Renewable Energy Service Companies (RESCOs). The study estimates that $1 million in donor grant capital could mobilize $14 million in capital and install 18 MW of capacity.

The report evaluates the CAPEX loan model as a way to scale rooftop solar for Indian MSMEs, who struggle with the high upfront costs of the CAPEX cash model and the bankability issues of the RESCO model. Analysis shows the CAPEX loan model can be up to 14% cheaper than the RESCO model, primarily due to accelerated depreciation benefits. However, adoption is hindered by lender disinterest—driven by perceived credit risks and high transaction costs for small projects—and a lack of awareness among MSMEs. The authors recommend implementing partial risk guarantee funds, mandatory O&M contracts, EPC performance guarantees, and standardized solar loan products to mitigate these risks and reduce costs.

The document identifies that low access to debt capital hinders India's goal of 40 GW of rooftop solar by 2022. It argues that while foreign debt could bridge this gap, small-scale developers are precluded from using it due to foreign exchange (FX) risk and their inability to access commercial hedging instruments like cross-currency swaps due to poor credit ratings. The proposed 'Transitional FX Debt Platform' routes USD loans from the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) through a local private Indian financial intermediary that lends in INR to borrowers. To make this viable, the platform utilizes OPIC credit guarantees to mitigate borrower default risk and donor grants to subsidize the landed cost of debt, ensuring it remains competitive with domestic benchmark rates. The study estimates that every $1 of donor grant capital could leverage $17 to $34 of additional foreign debt into the sector.

The report finds that building electrification is generally cost-effective for new construction and for customers switching from propane or heating oil, but often more expensive for existing natural gas customers at current prices. It argues that electrification reduces carbon emissions in most US regions, except those heavily dependent on coal, though this is expected to change as coal plants retire. The authors emphasize that demand flexibility—shifting energy use to low-cost or high-renewable periods—can further improve economics and grid integration. Key recommendations include prioritizing the electrification of oil and propane homes, stopping the expansion of natural gas infrastructure, and updating energy efficiency standards to account for total energy reduction across fuels.

The report analyzes the financial instability of electricity distribution companies (discoms) in Uttar Pradesh, where a significant revenue gap of INR 21,486 crores existed in FY16. It examines consumer attitudes toward tariff hikes, revealing that while most expect increases, there is strong opposition to them unless linked to service improvements. The report also evaluates the UDAY scheme, finding that while it has reduced interest costs through bond issuance, progress on key operational milestones like smart metering and feeder segregation has been limited. Recommendations include improving rural metering, implementing targeted compensation for vulnerable users, and enhancing communication strategies to build public support for cost-reflective tariffs.

The proposal seeks USD 100 million in senior loans from the GCF, matched by USD 100 million from Tata Cleantech Capital Limited (TCCL) and USD 50 million in project developer equity. The programme aims to install 250 MW of solar rooftop capacity between 2018 and 2023, targeting an indicative lifetime emission reduction of approximately 5.2 million tCO2eq. TCCL will act as the executing entity, providing loans to developers to overcome barriers such as the lack of long-term debt financing (12-15 years) and high perceived risks in the rooftop solar segment. The programme specifically targets the commercial and industrial (C&I) sector for 65-70% of funds, with the remainder for institutional, social, and residential sectors, including a focus on MSMEs and vulnerable communities.

The report argues that India's 40 GW rooftop solar target by 2022 requires an estimated USD 39 billion in investment, but growth is hindered by high upfront costs and limited access to debt capital. It proposes a Solar Municipal Bond (SMB) model where municipal entities act as finance aggregators, issuing bonds to provide low-cost, long-term debt to private developers via capital lease arrangements. This model could reduce the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) for rooftop solar by up to 12%. Case studies in Surat and New Delhi suggest that while the model is promising, significant barriers exist, including a lack of statutory mandates for municipalities to promote power generation and the need for high credit ratings to attract institutional investors.

The report argues that India's 40 GW rooftop solar target by 2022 requires an estimated USD 39 billion in investment, but growth is hindered by high upfront costs and limited access to debt capital. It proposes a Solar Municipal Bond (SMB) model where municipal entities act as finance aggregators, issuing bonds to provide low-cost, long-term debt to private developers via capital lease arrangements. This model could reduce rooftop solar costs by up to 12%. Case studies in Surat and New Delhi indicate that SMBs could make rooftop solar more competitive against grid tariffs, particularly for commercial and industrial sectors. However, significant barriers exist, including the lack of a statutory mandate for municipalities to promote power generation and SEBI regulations requiring a 20% equity contribution.