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ASEAN's electricity demand grew by 3.6% in 2023, a rise entirely met by fossil fuels, leading to a 6.6% increase in power sector emissions. While solar and wind costs are falling, the region remains heavily dependent on coal and gas, and hydropower has become less reliable due to climate-induced droughts. The report argues that scaling renewable capacity by 3-5x by 2035, implementing direct power purchase agreements, and expanding the ASEAN Power Grid are essential to meet rising demand and climate goals. It also highlights the potential for a regional compliance carbon market and the importance of a just transition to secure social acceptance.

The report argues that clean electrification is essential for UK energy security, as the transition to electric vehicles and heat pumps significantly reduces overall energy demand and fossil fuel imports. It highlights that the UK's power sector has become more efficient as wind and solar displace coal and gas, and that electrification currently reduces fossil fuel demand four times more than the additional electricity demand it creates.

Romania's hard coal mines in the Jiu Valley are significantly exceeding the EU's upcoming methane intensity limits, with 2022 levels at 14.9 tonnes per kilotonne of coal compared to a 2027 limit of 5 tonnes. To avoid penalties, the document suggests Romania improve its degassing efficiency from 25% to at least 50% and implement Abandoned Mine Methane (AMM) projects, similar to those used in Germany, Poland, France, and Russia.

Romania's coal mines, particularly in the Valea Jiului region, face potential sanctions under the EU Methane Regulation due to emission levels significantly exceeding the 5 tonnes per kiloton limit set for 2027. In 2022, emissions in Valea Jiului averaged 14.9 tonnes per kiloton. To avoid non-compliance, the document suggests improving degasification efficiency—which is currently 25% compared to up to 60% in countries like Poland and Germany—and implementing 'mined methane from abandoned mines' (MMA) projects, as Romania has 173 closed underground mines that remain untapped.

Romania faces potential penalties under the EU Methane Regulation as three of its four active underground hard coal mines in the Jiu Valley exceed the EU's methane intensity threshold. Despite reporting zero hard coal production to the EU in 2022, the state-owned Jiu Valley Energy Complex (CEVJ) continued production, with plans to increase output to 2,000 tonnes per day by June 2024. The report highlights that coal mine methane (CMM) emissions added 72% to the climate impact of burning hard coal at the Paroseni power plant in 2022. While methane capture is technically viable, Romania's average degassing efficiency was only 25% in 2019. Furthermore, Romania has failed to implement any Abandoned Mine Methane (AMM) projects across its 173 closed mines, despite such practices being common in Germany and France.

India's energy transition is heavily driven by solar power, but thermal energy still meets approximately 80% of demand during non-solar hours. The report highlights that wind energy provides critical diurnal, seasonal, and spatial complementarity to solar, which can stabilize the grid and lower tariffs through hybrid projects. To meet the 14th National Electricity Plan (NEP14) targets by 2032, India must add 122 GW of wind capacity, requiring a 22% year-on-year growth rate. The document outlines policy interventions such as revised Renewable Purchase Obligations (RPO), repowering older turbines, and the development of offshore wind in Gujarat and Tamil Nadu, while noting that state-level policy gaps and land acquisition remain significant hurdles.

The report examines the impact of methane emissions from global coal mining, noting that methane is 82.5 times more powerful than carbon dioxide over 20 years. It highlights a systemic failure in reporting, where governments rely on 'bottom-up' estimates that can underestimate emissions by a factor of 30, while operators possess precise data for safety reasons but are rarely required to share it. Despite the Global Methane Pledge, only the EU and Canada have committed to specific actions for active coal mine methane reduction.

The research evaluates power sector data transparency in 39 Asian economies, finding that over half have insufficient or poor data, which hinders the monitoring of clean power targets and grid optimisation. While higher-income economies generally perform better, countries like India, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka are noted for leading improvements. The report provides nine recommendations for enhancing data governance, emphasizing the need for machine-readable, licence-free, and centrally located data to accelerate the transition from coal to clean electricity.

The EU is experiencing a surge in solar and wind power, which frequently exceeds demand during peak hours, leading to price volatility and negative electricity prices. While renewables are growing, the lack of system flexibility—such as battery storage and interconnectors—forces a continued reliance on fossil fuels during evenings and early mornings. The report highlights that by 2030, excess wind and solar power could reach 183 TWh across the EU, potentially saving €9 billion in annual gas costs if shifted effectively. It specifically notes Germany's role as a leader in battery capacity and suggests that further additions could significantly displace hard coal and gas. The document recommends removing regulatory barriers to co-location, implementing national flexibility strategies in National Energy and Climate Plans (NECPs), and establishing a comprehensive EU strategy for clean flexibility.

The UK officially entered a coal-free power era on 1 October 2024 with the closure of the Ratcliffe-on-Soar plant. This transition saw power sector emissions drop by 74% between 2012 and 2023, driven by a combination of carbon pricing, renewable energy growth, and grid investment. The report argues that while the coal phase-out provides a roadmap, the next goal of clean power by 2030 will require a more complex whole-systems approach to displace gas and manage grid stability.

India's plans to increase coal production to over 1.5 billion tonnes by 2030, including tripling underground mining, could more than double coal mine methane emissions to over 1.67 million tonnes per year by 2029. Ember proposes a gradual mitigation roadmap to reduce emissions by 35% by 2030, which could save over 1,600 kt of methane and potentially offset $980 million USD in imported gas costs between 2025 and 2030.

The world is on track to install 593 GW of solar power in 2024, a 29% increase over 2023. China remains the dominant market, projected to account for 56% of global additions. Growth is widespread, with significant surges in India and the US, and emerging markets like Pakistan and Saudi Arabia showing rapid increases in solar panel imports. This trajectory puts the goal of tripling renewable power capacity by 2030 within reach, provided grid and storage constraints are addressed.

Ember proposes four key actions for the EU Energy Commissioner: a "Smart Electrification" Action Plan to shift subsidies toward clean technologies, a "Future Grids" Task Force to implement existing grid policies, a joint DG ENER-DG AGRI strategy for agri-PV to align energy and agricultural policies, and a transition to open energy data and system models to improve transparency and investment decisions.

Ember's briefing evaluates the EU's current grid policy framework, which includes the Grid Action Plan and revised Electricity Market Design. While identifying over 80 action points for implementation, the analysis highlights risks regarding the lack of target dates for many Commission-led actions and underutilised funding for Distribution System Operators (DSOs). To address these gaps, Ember recommends establishing a "Future Grids" Task Force for coordination, a one-stop-shop to simplify access to financing, and a Technical Toolbox to accelerate the digitalisation of distribution grids.

Ember proposes four primary initiatives for the EU Energy Commissioner: the creation of a "Future Grids" Task Force to coordinate grid policy and finance, a transition to open energy data and open-source system models, a joint DG ENER and DG AGRI strategy for agri-PV, and a "Smart Electrification" Action Plan to promote energy storage and demand-side flexibility.

Ember recommends that Indonesia's Second NDC include strengthened commitments to address coal mine methane (CMM) emissions, specifically through improved estimation, reporting, and mitigation across surface and underground mines, while limiting coal expansion to support a just transition.

Ember recommends that Indonesia update its coal mine methane (CMM) emission calculations using IPCC 'average' global emission factors, as current estimates based on 'low emission factors' likely undercount emissions. The brief argues for the inclusion of underground mining data, the development of region-specific emission factors for Sumatra and Kalimantan, and the mandate of direct measurement in underground mines to improve safety and accuracy. It further suggests integrating GHG reporting into business licensing and implementing mitigation techniques like pre-mine drainage and Ventilation Air Methane (VAM) capture. Finally, it advises limiting coal expansion to avoid stranded assets and preparing a just transition for coal-producing regions through renewable energy and critical mineral industries.

Agri-PV, the simultaneous use of land for food production and solar electricity, offers significant potential for Central Europe to increase renewable energy generation and improve farmer livelihoods. Analysis shows that Czechia, Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia could deploy 180 GW of agri-PV, potentially tripling the region's annual renewable electricity production. While agri-PV can increase yields for certain crops like berries by up to 16%, it can also offset yield losses in shade-sensitive crops like wheat through electricity revenues. Despite this, Czechia is currently the only country in the region with agri-PV legislation, and the report recommends that other Central European governments introduce regulations to secure CAP subsidies and incentivize the transition.

The report analyzes the relationship between battery cost declines and the feasibility of phasing down coal in India. It identifies three stages of coal phase-down: slowing growth, plateauing, and absolute decline. Using a least-cost optimized (LCO) model, it finds that while solar can meet up to 83% of daytime demand by 2032, storage is the primary bottleneck for non-solar hours. To limit coal capacity additions to the National Electricity Plan (NEP) levels of 260 GW, BESS costs must decline by 15% annually. If costs fall by 7% annually, coal generation may plateau, but new capacity will still be needed. The report emphasizes that BESS costs must drop to approximately Rs 6 million/MWh (a >50% reduction from current levels) to potentially eliminate the need for new coal additions.

Indonesia's electricity sector remains heavily dependent on fossil fuels, with coal contributing 62% of generation in 2023. The report highlights a risk of stranded assets if new coal plants are built, as improving existing plant efficiency could lead to a 42 TWh surplus by 2030. It advocates for the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) targets, which aim for a 44% renewable share by 2030. Specifically, the report argues for shifting renewable investments toward coal-producing provinces like East Kalimantan, South Kalimantan, and South Sumatra to mitigate job losses and economic decline, estimating that expanding solar projects in these areas could create 96,000 high-skilled jobs and attract $9.4 billion USD in investment.