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The report analyzes the federal permitting process for high-capacity electric transmission lines in the U.S., identifying systemic delays caused by poor interagency coordination, capacity shortages, and regulatory misalignment between federal and state authorities. Based on a dataset of 37 projects and case studies, it argues that while litigation is often cited as a primary barrier, it is rarely the sole cause of project failure. The authors recommend that the President prioritize transmission as a national priority, that Congress consolidate siting authority for multi-state projects, and that agencies adopt more agile, transparent, and collaborative environmental review processes, including expanded use of programmatic EISs and categorical exclusions.

Denmark's power sector shifted from 3% renewable generation in 1990 to over 80% by 2020, driven by a 24-fold increase in wind capacity and a 76% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions. This transformation resulted from sustained R&D investment, feed-in tariffs, streamlined institutional planning via the Danish Energy Agency, strong international grid interconnection, and community ownership models. The government has set ambitious 2030 targets, including 100% renewable electricity generation, supported by a social safety net and dialogues with unions to ensure a fair transition for fossil fuel workers.

The report analyzes transmission development between 2010 and 2020, finding that while projects requiring an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) represent only 3.5% of new lines, they account for 26% of new line miles. These projects are typically longer, more likely to be driven by renewable generation interconnection, and more likely to cross state or international borders. The average EIS review timeline is 4.3 years, with a moderate correlation between line length and review duration. The authors argue that these long and unpredictable timelines pose a challenge to future grid reliability and decarbonization goals, especially as federal funding and authority increase the likelihood of projects triggering federal reviews.

The policy brief advocates for 'clean repowering'—the strategy of siting new renewable energy projects at existing or retiring fossil fuel plant interconnection points—to reduce interconnection times from nearly five years to less than one year. RMI's analysis indicates this approach could enable 250 GW of new renewable energy without transmission upgrades, resulting in average national savings of $12.7 billion annually from 2025 to 2035. The brief highlights the role of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and the Energy Infrastructure Reinvestment (EIR) program in making these projects financially viable and provides specific recommendations for regulators to ensure these savings reach customers through integrated resource planning and oversight.

The U.S. clean energy sector saw record growth in 2023, particularly in solar installations and EV sales, supported by the Inflation Reduction Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. However, the transition faces significant headwinds from rising interest rates, supply chain shortages for transformers, and a lagging transmission system. To meet 2035 carbon-free electricity goals, annual renewable installation rates must nearly double, and transmission capacity may need to double or triple.

The report analyzes the impact of a 30% Investment Tax Credit (ITC) on interconnection costs for onshore wind and solar projects in the U.S. It finds that this credit could reduce overall project costs by 3% for solar and 1.7% for wind. More significantly, the analysis suggests the ITC could have bridged the cost gap for 22 GW of withdrawn projects and 15 GW of active projects across five regions, potentially bringing a total of 26-37 GW of capacity to fruition.

The report identifies a 250 GW potential for 'clean repowering' in the United States, where new clean energy projects are sited at existing interconnection points to bypass interconnection delays and leverage Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) incentives. It highlights two primary pathways: 'Surplus Interconnection Service' for adding capacity to operating plants and 'Generator Replacement' for replacing retiring plants. These strategies aim to reduce interconnection timelines from years to months while supporting energy communities through tax credits and loan guarantees.

The report finds that while Southeast Asia has increased its operating utility-scale solar and wind capacity by 20% since January 2023 to 28 GW, the transition is hindered by low construction rates for prospective projects and continued reliance on fossil fuels. Vietnam, the Philippines, and Thailand are regional leaders, but only 3% of the region's 220 GW prospective capacity is currently under construction. Despite these hurdles, the report suggests the ASEAN collective target of 35% renewable energy capacity by 2025 is attainable given existing capacity and pipelines.

The City of Cape Town has established a pioneering model for integrating small-scale embedded generation (SSEG) into its municipal grid, resulting in approximately 6,400 authorised grid-tied systems and over 140 MVA of installed capacity by June 2024. Driven by escalating national loadshedding and rising electricity costs, the City implemented a series of technical guidelines, feed-in tariffs, and smart metering infrastructure. Key initiatives include the 'Cash for Power' programme, the removal of 'net consumer' requirements to allow full account offsetting, and the 2024 launch of an online application system to reduce administrative backlogs. These efforts have facilitated between R1.7 billion and R2.6 billion in investment and created approximately 713 to 1,140 full-time equivalent jobs in the local green economy.

The report highlights a rapidly growing energy services market in South Africa, driven by unreliable grid supply (loadshedding) and rising electricity costs. Rooftop solar PV and BTM Li-ion storage are identified as the most lucrative short-term opportunities, supported by new financing mechanisms and regulatory shifts. However, the sector faces significant headwinds from skilled labor shortages, institutional capacity constraints, and severe inefficiencies in port logistics affecting equipment imports.

The report argues that China's industrial sector, which accounted for 65 percent of total electricity consumption in 2022, offers significant potential for demand-side flexibility (DSF). Developing this flexibility across seven major industries could reduce annual peak load by 3-10 percent and avoid 40–130 GW of new coal power investment.

India would need an additional $101 billion in financing to align with the IEA Net-Zero Emissions (NZE) pathway by 2030, bringing total investment needs to $394 billion. To meet this goal, solar generation must reach 819 TWh and wind 259 TWh, requiring total combined capacity of 571 GW. This necessitates a five-fold increase in annual solar and wind additions by 2027. The report highlights that securing competitive financing is critical to avoid coal capacity lock-in and manage systemic investment risks such as payment delays and PPA renegotiations.

The document analyzes how New York and California are reforming their permitting processes to overcome delays in clean energy deployment, highlighting the use of 'one-stop shops', legal deadlines, and community benefit agreements. While these reforms aim to improve financial viability and public support, the study identifies risks such as imprecise legal language, potential infringement on Indigenous rights, and persistent bottlenecks in grid interconnection that require federal intervention.

The document analyzes how New York and California are reforming permitting processes to overcome delays in clean energy deployment. Key measures include creating 'one-stop shop' agencies, setting statutory time limits for approvals, and mandating community benefit agreements to reduce local opposition. While New York has seen project approval timelines drop from five-ten years to under two years, challenges remain regarding administrative capacity, Indigenous rights, and the failure of state reforms to address the critical backlog of grid interconnections, which remains a federal jurisdiction.

The report finds that while wind, solar, and battery prices have recently leveled off or risen due to supply chain disruptions, trade issues, and high interest rates, they remain competitive with fossil fuels. It argues that the long-term trend of cost reduction will continue and recommends that regulators use competitive procurement, leverage Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) incentives, and reform interconnection and transmission planning to lower costs.

The document analyzes Gogoro's transition from a startup to a global provider of light EV battery swapping. It attributes the company's success to three system-level innovations: the creation of a swappable battery standard adopted by multiple manufacturers, the implementation of new business models such as battery-as-a-service and virtual power plants, and the development of a physical 'swap-and-go' platform. The case study highlights Gogoro's role as a catalyst in Taiwan, where its batteries power 90 percent of electric scooters, and its strategic expansion into markets like India, South Korea, and the Philippines.

The Great Lakes region remains the heartland of US steelmaking, but its primary production assets face a critical transition to avoid becoming noncompetitive as global demand for low-emissions steel grows. While federal legislation like the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) provides significant funding and tax credits (such as 45V and 45Q), the report finds a lack of coordinated state-level industrial strategies. The document argues that the region must prioritize the adoption of Direct Reduced Iron (DRI) pathways—specifically those using renewable hydrogen or carbon capture—to maintain high-quality jobs and reduce local air pollution. Key bottlenecks include grid interconnection delays for renewable energy, the need for Class VI primacy for carbon sequestration, and a lack of steel-specific workforce retraining programs.

China's solar panel exports grew by 34% in the first half of 2023, reaching 114 GW. While manufacturing capacity is sufficient to meet 1.5C pathway goals, bottlenecks in installation and grid integration are leading to increased stockpiles, particularly in Europe.

The policy brief contends that the US electricity grid is fragmented and unable to meet growing demand or integrate clean energy, with new projects facing interconnection delays of four years or more. It criticizes the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 for mandating a three-year NERC study on interregional transmission instead of implementing concrete reforms. The author argues that the need for more transmission is already well-documented, citing a DOE meta-analysis of over 50 reports. The brief proposes three urgent actions: implementing a minimum interregional transfer capability requirement (suggesting 30 percent of peak demand), mandating strong interregional planning and cost allocation standards via FERC, and streamlining federal and state permitting processes to reduce the current 10-year average project timeline.

The report identifies non-financial barriers—specifically project development and market uncertainty risks—as the primary constraints on U.S. clean energy deployment. It recommends a portfolio of policies to reduce these risks, including reforming interconnection queues, pre-zoning land for renewables, streamlining permitting processes, and establishing longer-term cost-recovery schedules for power sales.