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The report identifies 67 planned coal-to-biomass projects in the EU that could increase biomass consumption by 607 PJ per year, potentially tripling the current levels of biomass burnt in coal power plants. This expansion would require approximately 36 million tonnes of wood pellets annually, which is similar to current global production. The authors argue that these projects are expensive, rely on public subsidies, and risk accelerating climate change because the CO2 emitted during combustion is not reabsorbed quickly enough to meet Paris Agreement targets. The report highlights that five countries—Finland, Germany, Ireland, Spain, and the Netherlands—are responsible for most of this potential growth, with the Netherlands accounting for 25%.

The briefing highlights the IEA's vision for the power sector to become the first 100% clean sector by 2040 to enable broader decarbonization. It emphasizes that P4G member countries, many of which rely heavily on fossil fuels and sub-critical coal plants, must stop new coal investments and phase out inefficient capacity by 2030. The document specifically identifies South Africa, South Korea, Indonesia, and Vietnam as having significant coal fleets and suggests that bespoke governmental climate financing is required to support the transition in developing and emerging economies.

The Ember Subnational Data Methodology describes the data sources and calculation methods for electricity metrics across 36 states/union territories in India and 50 states in the US. It details the mapping of nine fuel types and the application of IPCC 5th Assessment Report emissions factors to determine carbon intensity, while noting caveats regarding fuel quality, methane potency, and plant efficiency.

The document outlines the technical processes Ember uses to assemble electricity data for 215 countries from 2000 to 2021. It describes the use of multiple sources—including the EIA, Eurostat, and IRENA—to reconcile annual and monthly data, disaggregate thermal generation, and estimate emissions using IPCC factors. The guide also provides a detailed country-by-country breakdown of the specific sources and adjustments applied to each territory's data.

The analysis of 15 draft NECPs reveals a significant increase in wind and solar capacity targets since 2019, bringing the EU closer to REPowerEU goals, though still falling short. While renewable electricity is projected to generate 66-67% of EU electricity by 2030, the report highlights a critical lack of quantified targets for electricity storage and clean flexibility. Furthermore, the document criticises the poor quality and transparency of data provided in the draft plans, which hinders accountability and investment signals.

The report examines the challenges associated with India's Firm & Dispatchable Renewable Energy (FDRE) tenders, noting that many have been cancelled or partially awarded due to developer struggles with their complexity. It argues that current discussions oversimplify the problem by focusing on relaxing demand requirements or finding complementary wind sites, while ignoring the critical role of power market volatility and risk management. The authors propose a transition from 'Developers 1.0'—who focused on levelized cost and CAPEX efficiency—to 'Developers 2.0,' who utilize market modeling, portfolio management, and active trading to handle price, volume, and cannibalization risks. This evolution is presented as essential for India to reach its 2030 goal of 50% installed capacity from renewable energy, including large hydro.

In 2021, wind and solar power reached a record 10.3% of global electricity generation, with solar growing by 23% and wind by 14%. However, a massive surge in global electricity demand—the highest absolute increase ever recorded at 1,414 TWh—outpaced clean energy growth. Consequently, coal generation hit a new historical peak of 10,042 TWh, accounting for 36% of global electricity and driving power sector CO2 emissions to a record 778 million tonnes, a 7% increase over 2020.

In 2021, wind and solar power reached a record 10.3% of global electricity generation, with total clean energy accounting for 38%. However, a 5.4% surge in global electricity demand—driven largely by economic growth in Asia—led to a record increase in coal power, which grew by 9.0% to reach 10,042 TWh. Consequently, power sector CO2 emissions rose by 7% in 2021, the largest percentage increase since 2010, surpassing pre-pandemic levels.

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.

The document outlines Ember's methodology for assembling electricity data for 215 countries. It describes the use of multiple sources—including Eurostat, ENTSO-E, the Energy Institute, and the U.S. Energy Information Administration—to reconcile annual and monthly time series. The guide explains how Ember handles data gaps through ARIMA-based projections, disaggregates thermal generation using IEA and EI ratios, and calculates lifecycle emissions using IPCC and UNECE factors. It also provides a comprehensive country-by-country breakdown of the specific sources and adjustments applied to each national dataset.

The document argues that the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) will negatively impact the U.S. economy by increasing energy bills and reducing GDP. To counter this, it urges state governments to accelerate the procurement and permitting of wind and solar projects to ensure they qualify for federal investment tax credits (ITC) and production tax credits (PTC) before the December 31, 2027 deadline, specifically noting a 'safe harbor' eligibility for projects beginning construction by July 4, 2026.

The California Energy Policy Simulator (EPS) indicates that a 55 percent reduction in emissions by 2030 is achievable without new technologies and would generate significant economic and social benefits. The scenario projects a $55.4 billion increase in state GDP, the creation of 235,000 total jobs, and the avoidance of 1,829 premature deaths by 2030. Achieving this target requires accelerating the deployment of electrification, hydrogen, and carbon capture in industry, as well as reaching 90% clean energy for grid-scale generation by 2030.

A fact sheet analyzing 210 U.S. coal plants, finding that 99% are more expensive to operate than replacing them with new wind or solar. It highlights the potential for $589 billion in investment in energy communities and the feasibility of integrating battery storage to maintain grid reliability.

Analysis shows that the weighted average cost of coal power in the U.S. rose from $36/MWh in 2021 to $46/MWh in 2024, a 28 percent increase that outpaced inflation. This rise is attributed to higher fuel, operations, and maintenance costs, as well as declining capacity factors. Despite these economics, some U.S. federal policies and state regulators have extended the lives of expensive plants, such as Plant Bowen in Georgia and the Hunter and Huntington plants in Utah, potentially increasing the financial burden on electricity consumers.

Energy Innovation research indicates that natural gas-fired power plants offer only modest climate benefits over a 100-year timeframe and can potentially contribute to climate change if methane leaks are high or if they displace renewable energy. While using existing gas capacity to replace aging coal plants is recommended, the brief argues against investing in new large baseload gas plants. It highlights that methane is significantly more potent than carbon dioxide, with leakage rates in the United States estimated between two and four percent, which diminishes the emissions advantage of gas over coal.

The document finds that reaching an 85% clean electricity target by 2030 is feasible and reliable for California, even under most simultaneous stress conditions. Analysis indicates that while solar and battery storage are primary drivers, a diverse portfolio including offshore wind and geothermal reduces dependence on imports and gas. Battery storage specifically reduces the 'duck curve' ramping requirements by an average of 42%. While the state can retire nearly a third of its in-state gas fleet under certain conditions, some gas remains necessary for reliability unless replaced by comparable firm clean resources. The study emphasizes that sharing power with the rest of the Western United States is more optimal than a 'go it alone' approach.

The U.S. Senate's "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" is projected to reduce new electricity capacity by 340 GW by 2035, primarily affecting wind and solar. This reduction, combined with higher gas prices, is expected to increase wholesale electricity prices by 74% by 2035 and raise residential electricity rates by 10 to 18%. Consequently, the bill is forecast to cause annual GDP losses of $130 billion by 2030 and peak job losses of 900,000 in 2032.

The Senate Budget Committee's version of the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” is projected to significantly reduce U.S. electricity generation capacity by 2035, primarily through the repeal of clean energy tax credits and the introduction of a new excise tax on wind and solar facilities. These policies are forecast to increase wholesale electricity prices by 61 percent by 2035 and raise residential, commercial, and industrial electricity rates by 9 to 16 percent. The resulting decline in energy resource deployment and advanced manufacturing is expected to cost the U.S. $960 billion in GDP over the budget window and lead to job losses peaking at 900,000 in 2032.

The document argues that the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) will negatively impact the U.S. economy, costing households $170 billion in energy bills and reducing GDP by $1.1 trillion by 2035. To counter this, it urges states to reduce clean energy costs by improving siting and permitting, optimizing existing transmission, promoting self-supply for large customers, and enhancing procurement practices.

The report advocates for the creation of a 'Comanche Energy Park' in Pueblo, Colorado, to replace the retiring Comanche coal plant by 2031. This strategy involves a diversified portfolio of wind, solar, and battery storage paired with 'flexible' industrial technologies like thermal batteries and hydrogen electrolyzers. The goal is to provide a reliable, clean electricity supply while stimulating local economic growth and maintaining property tax revenues without placing the full financial burden on Xcel Energy customers.