Search Climate Insights Directory

This Final Basic Assessment Report, prepared by Doug Jeffery Environmental Consultants for the City of Cape Town, evaluates the proposed establishment of a 'Green Technology Manufacturing Cluster' on Portions 1 and 4 of Farm CA1183 in Atlantis. The project aims to support the renewable energy sector by providing land for the manufacture of wind turbine blades, towers, photovoltaic (PV) panels, and inverters. While the development is aligned with regional socio-economic goals to alleviate poverty and unemployment in a distressed area, it will result in the total loss of endangered and critically endangered vegetation on the 38.65-hectare site.

This fact sheet from the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) describes various cool roof technologies—including naturally cool, coated, insulated, and green roofs—and their benefits for energy efficiency, climate mitigation, and urban environment management.

This policy brief examines the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission, launched in 2009 to establish India as a global leader in solar energy and make solar power affordable by 2022. It analyzes the Mission's three-phase implementation strategy, focusing on grid-connected projects, off-grid applications for rural populations, and the development of domestic manufacturing and R&D. The document highlights the tension between using competitive bidding to lower tariffs and the risk of attracting inexperienced developers, while also critiquing the Mission's limited focus on the most energy-poor citizens and the lack of mandatory environmental impact assessments.

This case study describes the energy retrofit of the City-County Building (CCB) in Indianapolis and its role as the cornerstone of the broader SustainIndy sustainability program, which targets energy reductions across 61 city-owned buildings.

This fact sheet from the Environmental and Energy Study Institute describes the energy efficiency and renewable energy initiatives of the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) and its branches. It details strategic goals for the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force to reduce fossil fuel reliance, improve operational security, and meet federal mandates for greenhouse gas reductions and renewable energy procurement.

This June 2011 fact sheet from the Environmental and Energy Study Institute provides estimates for employment in the United States energy efficiency and renewable energy sectors, drawing on data from government agencies and industry associations.

This document outlines a 12-step framework for collaborative solar purchasing, guiding organizations from initial recruitment and site assessment through procurement, installation, and long-term operation to achieve energy savings and community support.

This report by the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) provides an overview of model standards and policy design criteria for permitting, inspection, interconnection, and net metering of distributed photovoltaic (PV) systems. It aims to help local governments and utilities reduce non-hardware balance of system costs—which can account for up to 40% of installed system costs—by adopting streamlined, standardized processes. The document highlights specific model frameworks such as the Solar ABCs Expedited Permit Process and IREC Model Interconnection Procedures, while detailing the existing solar-friendly policy landscape in Colorado.

This briefing details the FY 2008 appropriations for the Department of Energy's (DOE) Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EE/RE) programs, highlighting that both the House and Senate proposed funding levels significantly higher than the Administration's request.

This 2006 fact sheet from the Environmental and Energy Study Institute describes Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) technologies, including trough, power tower, and dish systems, detailing their operational mechanisms, costs, and potential for utility-scale electricity generation.

This fact sheet from the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) provides an overview of photovoltaic (PV) technology, detailing its operational mechanics, environmental benefits, economic costs, and associated challenges as of May 2006.

This fact sheet from the Environmental and Energy Study Institute describes solar architecture, which involves designing residential and commercial buildings to utilize solar energy for heating, cooling, and lighting through both passive and active systems.

This 2006 fact sheet from the Environmental and Energy Study Institute describes solar water heating technology, its costs, benefits, and adoption in the United States.

A case study on a CDKN-supported pilot project in Uganda that tested the 'A-B-C-D Rural Electrification' model. The project demonstrated the technical and commercial viability of a distributed off-grid power model serving anchor customers, businesses, community facilities, and domestic households.

This briefing examines the political economy of Climate Compatible Development (CCD) in Kenya, analyzing how political interests, institutional frameworks, and donor influence shape the transition to low-carbon energy. It highlights the tension between national goals for industrial growth and energy security versus the needs of the rural poor and climate mitigation targets.

This policy brief describes the bilateral partnership between the UK and India focused on expanding renewable energy (RE) markets. It details UK-supported initiatives in legislative capacity building, off-grid ventures, offshore wind energy, and solar power to help India reach its 2022 target of 175GW of renewable energy.

This guide by the Climate Bonds Initiative outlines the best practices for issuing green bonds, with a specific focus on the solar energy sector in Brazil. It details the Climate Bonds Standard and Certification Scheme, providing a step-by-step process for issuers to achieve certification, eligibility criteria for solar projects, and reporting requirements to ensure alignment with the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

This guide by the Climate Bonds Initiative provides best practices for issuing certified green bonds for solar energy, with a specific focus on the Brazilian market. It outlines the certification process, eligibility criteria for solar projects, and reporting requirements to ensure alignment with the goal of limiting global temperature rise to 1.5ºC.

Bureau Veritas UK Limited provided a pre-issuance limited assurance report for Faro Energy Holdings UK Ltd.'s 2018 Brazilian Solar Bond, concluding that the issuance process conforms with the Climate Bonds Standard 2.1 and Sector Criteria for Solar version 2.1.

Vigeo Eiris conducted a pre-issuance verification of the Republic of Chile's first 2019 Green Bond to ensure alignment with the Climate Bonds Standard (CBS) version 2.1. The verification, completed on May 9, 2019, concluded that the bond's framework, project selection, and reporting systems conform to the required standards for solar energy, low carbon land transport, green buildings, and water infrastructure.