
Blog
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.
Filter >>
Content Filter:
August 5, 2019
A Trans-Atlantic Take on Building Efficiency: Lessons from Germany and New England
Despite being an ocean apart, Germany and New England are similar in many respects. More than 75% of energy used for residential heat in both places relies on natural gas or heating oil. And both have adopted ambitious energy and… View Summary +

June 19, 2019
Regulatory Reform is a Game of Hopscotch, Not a Flying Leap
- Jessica Shipley
The changes underway in the electricity industry are well documented: Demand is flat or declining; renewable energy and storage technology costs are plummeting; utilities and third parties are offering customers new technologies and services; and the need to cut emissions… View Summary +

March 27, 2019
国际电力市场改革季报
- Regulatory Assistance Project
国际电力改革季报回顾近期全球电力行业政策和监管的最新进展,并摘选一些我们认为对中国电力市场改革特别相关的进展,以供参考。 纽约:将碳成本纳入电力批发市场和调度过程:负责监管批发市场并在该州扮演“调度中心”和 “现货市场交易中心”角色的纽约独立系统运营商(NYISO)正在开发一种机制,将碳成本纳入系统运营。新机制将建立在已经使用的“经济调度”方法的基础上。和以前一样,NYISO将收集与每个可用资源相关的可变成本的信息,进行实时更新调度的“优先顺序”… View Summary +

March 14, 2019
Renovating Energy Policy to Encourage Beneficial Electrification
- Jessica Shipley ,
- Donna Brutkoski
RAP’s recent papers on the beneficial electrification of space heating and water heating draw a picture of great potential. Electrification of these fossil-fueled end uses could cut carbon emissions significantly while saving consumers money and providing power system operators with… View Summary +

March 14, 2019
共益电气化:交通(下)
- David Farnsworth ,
- Jessica Shipley ,
- Joni Sliger ,
- Jim Lazar
实施共益电气化交通 本节列出了确保交通电气化有益的一些考虑因素。此外,我们会提供一套与共益电气化相关的策略供各州考虑。 保障公共利益的几点思考… View Summary +

March 1, 2019
“共益电气化:确保电气化实现公共利益”系列报告之《共益电气化:交通(上)》
- David Farnsworth ,
- Jessica Shipley ,
- Joni Sliger ,
- Jim Lazar
执行摘要 技术进步,无论是发电效率还是终端能源效率,都为共益电气化提供了机会。交通、供暖、热水供应,就是这些机会之一。在电池成本下降和性能提升的推动下,电动汽车(EV)市场正在快速增长。自动驾驶汽车技术的开发和采用,以及对共享交通服务不断增长的需求也在塑造这一市场。 在当今不断变化的环境中,电动汽车的可用性和便利性日益增加,用户也逐渐习惯。与内燃机车辆相比,电动汽车可将其充电量的60%转换为行驶里程数,而相等情况下内燃机车辆仅能转换约20%的一次能源。由于这种高效率,电动汽车可以显著降低成本且减少污染。电动汽车充电负荷也可以作为电网的资源进行控制和管理。 为确保电动汽车惠及公众,政策制定者需要确定公众对交通市场的要求。他们还必须协调平衡市场参与者的需求与公共利益。我们鼓励公用事业委员会在各州都可以找到相应的平衡点,如果现有的法规权力不足,则应向立法机构需求帮助。 将技术与交通需求匹配… View Summary +

February 18, 2019
“共益电气化:确保电气化实现公共利益”系列报告之《共益电气化:热水供应》
- David Farnsworth ,
- Jim Lazar ,
- Jessica Shipley
执行摘要 技术进步,无论是发电效率还是最终使用燃料,都为共益电气化提供了机会。热水供应就是这些机会之一。热水供应占住宅能源帐单的近20% 左右——而且简单地说,今天用电加热1加仑水所需的能源,远远少于直接用化石燃料加热。 在本文中,我们探索可用于热水供应电气化有益的策略,这意味着它将满足我们的共益电气化标准中的至少一个,且同时不会对另外两个产生不利影响: 从长期看可以为消费者省钱;… View Summary +

December 17, 2018
“共益电气化:确保电气化实现公共利益”系列报告之《共益电气化:供暖》
- Jessica Shipley ,
- Jim Lazar ,
- David Farnsworth ,
- Camille Kadoch
执行摘要 睿博能源智库认为,有效益的电气化,或者说实现社会利益最大化的电气化,需要达到以下一个或多个条件,且对另外两个条件不产生反作用: 从长期看可以为消费者省钱; 促进电网的更好管理; 减少对环境的消极影响。… View Summary +

December 11, 2018
EVs’ Rise Doesn’t Need to be Auto Dealers’ Demise
Some argue that the growth of electric vehicles will be the end of auto dealerships. Car dealers today derive significant revenues by providing parts and service for the internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles they sell. If EVs, with their… View Summary +

October 18, 2018
Smart Grid and Community Benefits—with No Rate Increase? How Burbank Made it Happen
- Jim Lazar
Burbank Water and Power (BWP) is a 50,000-customer, community-owned municipal utility in the Los Angeles area. BWP has implemented an advanced smart grid network, and did so with no rate increase to consumers. How did they do this?… View Summary +
