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Incisive commentary from RAP experts
RAP experts keep their finger on the pulse of the energy sector and provide timely analysis of topics impacting stakeholders TODAY.
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February 11, 2020
Polish coal boiler phase-out an inspiration for clean heat
It all started in Krakow, Poland. The medieval city is known for its beauty, but also for poor air quality from coal heating. In 2012, a group of local residents joined together and founded the organisation Krakow… View Summary +
January 6, 2020
Cost Allocation: New Approaches for a New Era
- Jim Lazar ,
- Paul Chernick ,
- William Marcus ,
- Mark LeBel
Setting electric utility rates has traditionally been a three-step process: first, determining the revenue requirement; second, determining how to equitably divide costs among classes of ratepayers; and third, designing the rates themselves. That second step, cost allocation, is a… View Summary +
December 2, 2019
21世纪电力系统的灵活性
- Carl Linvill ,
- Jim Lazar ,
- David Littell ,
- Jessica Shipley ,
- David Farnsworth
简介 电力系统最基本的规则是发输用电必须同时完成。多年来,电网运营商一直在确定系统的负荷,并通过增加可用的发电机来满足需求、调整供电。 然而,现在供应侧出现了快速爬坡和高度灵活的联合循环燃气轮机发电等新技术,需求侧也出现了智能热水器和储能等新技术,另外,输电能力和系统运行也得到了改善。这些新技术共同创造了巨大的机会,使电力系统比以往更加灵活。… View Summary +
November 12, 2019
减少弃风:提高电力系统调度比改造燃煤电厂更高效
- Lu Hong ,
- Kevin Porter ,
- Max Dupuy
中国的风能和太阳能装机容量世界第一,且有望成为“世界可再生能源的超级大国”。然而,中国也遇到了弃风限电问题。虽然近年来可再生能源弃电量有显著下降,但在很多省份仍然存在问题,且将随着风能和太阳能发电装机量的增长而持续成为挑战。幸运的是,政府部门正在制定诸多应对的战略措施。成功的关键要看这些战略是否协调一致。 近来,刊登在“气候政策”上的… View Summary +
November 12, 2019
Improving Power System Dispatch Reduces Wind Curtailment More Effectively than Retrofitting Coal Plants
- Lu Hong ,
- Kevin Porter ,
- Max Dupuy
China has the most installed wind and solar capacity in the world and has potential to become “the world’s renewable energy superpower.” However, China’s power sector has also struggled with extensive curtailment of wind and solar generation. Although renewables… View Summary +
October 23, 2019
A Hearty Bowl of Texas Soup: How ERCOT Keeps the Lights On
ERCOT (or the Electricity Reliability Council of Texas, the independent system operator of that state’s stand-alone wholesale market) has confounded the doomsayers once again. Despite dire predictions that ERCOT lacked sufficient generation capacity, it came through the peak summer season… View Summary +
October 23, 2019
UK capacity market déjà vu: A solution that’s still in search of a problem
- Philip Baker ,
- Michael Hogan
In November 2018, the EU General Court ruled in favour of a legal challenge mounted by Tempus Energy to the Directorate General for Competition’s (DG COMP) approval of the capacity market in Great Britain. In its challenge, Tempus successfully argued… View Summary +
October 18, 2019
Emissionspreise sind nicht alles
Preise für Emissionen sind nicht alles, vielmehr ist die sinnvolle Verwendung der Einnahmen entscheidend. Schlüssig belegt ist, dass Energieeffizienzprogramme gut abschneiden. Auch das Ordnungsrecht – zum Beispiel Mindeststandards – helfe bei der Einhaltung der Klimaziele. Das Klimapaket der Bundesregierung ist… View Summary +
September 22, 2019
The UK’s August 9 blackout: Why did it happen and what can we learn?
- Philip Baker
The power outages that occurred in the United Kingdom on August 9 demonstrated our increasing dependence on secure electricity supplies and the extremely disruptive consequences when those supplies fail. The reasons for the extent of the disruption to transport… View Summary +
September 18, 2019
Clean, Flexible and Efficient: A Recipe for Energy Optimization
- John Shenot
The United States is the second-highest emitter of greenhouse gases on the planet — but we are also a leader in technological and economic strength. We have the capability to lead the world in finding solutions to the urgent challenge… View Summary +