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The report analyzes the potential for batteries and demand flexibility from electric vehicles (EVs) and heat pumps to replace fossil-based grid balancing in the EU by 2030. It projects a significant increase in battery capacity and the ability of smart charging and heating to reduce peak demand and grid strain, provided that regulatory barriers are removed and smart meter rollout is accelerated.

The report 'Boom & Bust Coal 2026' by Global Energy Monitor analyzes the global state of coal-fired power plants in 2025. It highlights a growing divergence where global coal capacity increased by 3.5% while actual production fell by 0.6%, as coal plants are increasingly used as backup capacity rather than primary energy sources. While China and India continue aggressive expansions, the number of countries pursuing new coal developments is declining, and the European Union is seeing a terminal decline in coal usage.

The report 'Crossed wires: Grid capacity could block EU energy security' by Ember analyzes how limited grid capacity in Europe threatens energy security and economic competitiveness. It identifies significant shortfalls in grid hosting capacity for both new renewable energy projects and industrial demand, while noting that distribution grids are generally better prepared for household electrification, with notable exceptions in Spain and Poland.

This research paper by the International Institute for Sustainable Development analyzes a global database of fossil fuel production restrictions, identifying 58 active measures across 25 countries and 27 subnational jurisdictions. It examines the trajectories of these policies, noting that while restrictions have grown exponentially over the last decade, they remain politically fragile and susceptible to rollbacks during periods of high energy prices or government changes.

In 2025, the European Union's power sector reached a tipping point as wind and solar generation surpassed fossil fuels for the first time, accounting for 30.1% of electricity. While solar generation hit record highs and coal reached a historic low, gas power saw a slight increase, though it remained below pre-crisis levels.

In June 2025, solar power became the largest source of electricity in the European Union for the first time, generating 22.1% of the total power mix. This milestone coincided with record wind generation for May and June and a record low for coal's share of electricity generation.

The report 'Grandeur et Décadence 2025' by Global Energy Monitor and its partners analyzes the state of global coal-fired power plants in 2024. It highlights a paradoxical year where the world saw the lowest number of new coal capacity commissions in twenty years, yet record-breaking construction activity in China and India. While the European Union is accelerating coal retirements, other regions like Russia, Central Asia, and Mongolia continue to expand coal capacity, and some OECD nations like Japan and South Korea are extending coal use through ammonia co-firing.

The report 'Auge y caída del carbón 2025' by Global Energy Monitor analyzes global coal power trends in 2024, highlighting a record low in new capacity additions globally, despite significant construction surges in China and new proposals in India. It details the acceleration of coal phase-outs in the EU and the UK, while examining the persistence of coal subsidies in Brazil and the challenges of transitioning in other regions like Colombia and Southeast Asia.

This report by Ember details the record growth of solar energy in the European Union in 2024, noting increases in both generation and installed capacity across all member states. It argues that to sustain this growth and manage the resulting price volatility—SSS, the EU must accelerate the deployment of 'clean flexibility' solutions, including batteries, smart electrification, and grid modernization.

This briefing summarizes a high-level roundtable discussion hosted by Ember and partners during the PCI Energy Days in Brussels on November 4-5, 2024. The discussion focused on the necessity of an integrated power grid in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) to manage the rise of intermittent renewables, ensure energy security, and facilitate the transit of clean energy from coastal regions to landlocked countries.

This report by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) and the Global Initiative for Economic, Social & Cultural Rights (GI-ESCR) analyzes the 2023 activities of UN Human Rights Treaty Bodies (HRTBs) regarding states' human rights obligations in the context of climate change. It tracks the increasing frequency of climate-related references in state reporting procedures and examines specific themes such as fossil fuel extraction, the right to a healthy environment, loss and damage, and intergenerational equity.

This policy brief examines the opportunities and barriers for the European Union to reduce consumption-based emissions (CBEs), which include emissions from the entire supply chain of goods and services consumed within the EU regardless of where production occurs. Based on policy analysis and case studies from France, Denmark, and Sweden, the brief argues that while territorial emissions have decreased, the EU's carbon footprint remains significant due to imports, necessitating coordinated EU-level targets and a shift from simple efficiency gains to systematic changes in consumption patterns.

This policy brief by the International Institute for Sustainable Development examines how to pragmatically integrate sustainability into Ukraine's reconstruction, focusing on energy efficiency in the residential sector. It draws lessons from post-war reconstruction in Bosnia and Herzegovina and post-disaster recovery in Croatia to suggest funding strategies for the EUR 50 billion Ukraine Facility.

This research paper by Ember analyzes draft National Energy and Climate Plans (NECPs) from EU Member States to determine if current national ambitions align with the REPowerEU plan and the Fit-for-55 package. The analysis finds that while renewable energy targets have increased significantly since 2019, the EU is still projected to fall short of its 2030 goals for renewable electricity share, solar capacity, and wind capacity.

The report 'Making clean power flexy' by Ember argues that clean flexibility—specifically battery storage and demand side flexibility (DSF)—is essential to integrate the rapid growth of wind and solar power in the European Union and phase out fossil fuel 'peakers'. It highlights a significant gap in national policy targets for these technologies despite projections that EU flexibility needs will double by 2030.

The April 2024 report by Global Energy Monitor and partners reveals that while global coal capacity reached a record 2,130 GW in 2023, there is a stark divide: China continues to expand its fleet, while most other countries are reducing new construction. The report highlights that only 15% of operational capacity has retirement plans aligned with the 1.5°C goal. Regional analysis shows significant progress in the EU and UK, stability in Sub-Saharan Africa (dominated by South Africa), and a lack of new projects in the MENA region.

This report, published by Global Energy Monitor and a coalition of partners, tracks global coal-fired power plant capacity as of April 2024. It highlights a paradoxical trend where global coal capacity reached record highs in 2023, driven primarily by China, despite a general decline in new coal construction in the rest of the world and increasing phase-out commitments.

This report by Ember analyzes the alignment between the ten-year grid development plans of European Transmission System Operators (TSOs) and national energy policy targets for 2030. It highlights a risk that transmission grids may become physical barriers to the energy transition if infrastructure planning is based on under-ambitious renewable energy scenarios.

The Global Electricity Mid-Year Insights 2023 report by Ember analyses global electricity generation from January to June 2023. It finds that global power sector emissions plateaued, increasing by only 0.2%, as significant growth in wind and solar was offset by a historic decline in hydropower generation caused by droughts.

An analysis of 2022 EU Emissions Trading System (EU-ETS) data reveals that the ten largest emitters are all coal power plants, with a high concentration of emissions in Germany and Poland. While long-term trends show a decline in coal power emissions, 2022 saw a 6% increase compared to 2021 due to the energy crisis, nuclear outages, and droughts.