Renewable Energy / Distributed Resources

The development of renewable energy resources is a critical strategy in efforts to reduce carbon emissions. Renewables are doubly important in the power sector, where they can offset emissions from fossil fuels and also support electrification efforts in the transportation sector. RAP assists decision-makers in finding ways to effectively integrate the variety of renewable and distributed energy policy options to effectively support renewable development.

Featured Work

Roadmap 2050: Decarbonising Europe

In July 2008 the leaders of the EU and the G8 announced a goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050. The European Council set the objective for Europe at 80 to 95 percent below 1990 levels by 2050. The Roadmap 2050 study demonstrates to policymakers and businesses the feasibility of achieving 80 percent greenhouse gas emission reductions in Europe by 2050 using today’s technologies. A new accompanying study - “Power Perspectives 2030: On the Road to a Decarbonised Power Sector” - shows us what needs to be done by 2030 and helps policymakers and business alike to navigate the medium term path to a fully decarbonised power sector in the EU by 2050.

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Renewable Resources: Exploring the Best of the West

RAP works with the Western Governors’ Association on the Western Renewable Energy Zones (WREZ) project, funded by the US Department of Energy. The overall goal of the project is to develop areas in the Western US with vast high-quality renewable resources and create a critical mass of transmission needs in the same timeframe for an efficient build-out of inter-state lines to deliver the energy where it is needed.

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Renewable Gains and Challenges

While non-hydro renewable resources still only account for some 2 percent of China’s installed generation fleet, renewable energy in China has skyrocketed over the last decade.

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