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How Europe can rapidly reduce its gas dependency

By Jan Rosenow, Michaela Holl
“We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them,” Albert Einstein famously said. Yet this is exactly what the European Commission appears to be doing in its forthcoming strategy for more affordable, secure and sustainable energy, a leak of which emerged a few days ago. The Commission rightly identifies the energy price cri... Read More

How heat pump sales are starting to take off around the world

By Jan Rosenow, Duncan Gibb
Experts see heat pumps as one of the main solutions for tackling the carbon emissions associated with keeping buildings warm, both in the UK and internationally. Yet sales of the technology, often likened to a fridge running in reverse, have remained stubbornly low in many countries. The latest figures, collated in this article for Carbon Brief, show the t... Read More

Environmental Regulations and the “No Regrets” Approach: A Refresher for Utility Generators

By John Shenot, David Farnsworth
Many of us have a hard time keeping track of where our federal government stands on environmental issues, especially when viewed through a political lens or from the perspective of the popular press. For example, in 2016 we signed on to the Paris Climate Accord. We withdrew in 2020, then rejoined in 2021. The Obama administration put in place numerous environment... Read More

Europe needs smart charging of all EVs now

By Julia Hildermeier, Jaap Burger
A recent pan-European survey found that consumers prefer electric vehicles (EVs) over conventional cars. Last month's EV sales surpassed those of diesel models in Europe for the first time. Charging the growing number of EVs at our homes, workplaces and public parking lots ‘smartly’ is essential to lower the cost of integrating electric vehicles into the pow... Read More

The Complex Landscape of Net Metering Reform in California: Ensuring A Smart TOU Rate Foundation

By Mark LeBel
California, long a leader in rooftop solar, is now wrestling with the complications — as illustrated by the current debate over the California Public Utility Commission’s proposed decision on “net energy metering 3.0,” released last month. Before the end of 2021, we began a series of blogs looking closer at this issue by noting that much of the public deb... Read More

2021 Year in Review

By Richard Sedano
As we stepped into the new year, my colleagues and I took time to reflect on the influence of our collective work at RAP in 2021. I share the following sample of our global impact in hopes that it inspires new ideas or opportunities to engage. Don’t hesitate to reach out to me or one of my colleagues if something sparks your interest! RAP’s thought leadershi... Read More

The Complex Landscape of Net Metering Reform in California: Why an Installed Capacity Charge?

By Mark LeBel
Rooftop solar in California has grown from an infant industry two decades ago to a 10-gigawatt resource that contributes significantly to customer and electric system needs today. The state is blessed with ample sunshine in many regions, and its urgency on this and other clean-energy innovations was born out of the energy crisis in 2000 and 2001, as well as the n... Read More

解锁一体化区域电力市场的收益

By Kevin Porter, Max Dupuy
中国的风能和太阳能装机容量仍居世界领先地位,总装机容量超过500吉瓦。此外,中国承诺在2030年前达到碳排放峰值,并在2060年前实现碳中和,为此,中国制定了到2030年,风能和太阳能发电总装机容量达到1200吉瓦,即从2020年起每年新增约80吉瓦可再生能源发电的目标。由此�... Read More

EU’s buildings directive should give EV owners the right to a smart plug

By Jaap Burger, Luka De Bruyckere
The electrification of mobility is in full swing. As electric vehicles (EV) become ever more popular, public charging points are spreading – their numbers have doubled in the last two years in the EU. But public charging points alone will not be enough to power the transition to electrified mobility, we need more (smart) connections in buildings. Most users ... Read More

Worüber keiner reden will: Der bevorstehende Abschied vom Gasnetz

By Andreas Jahn, Barbara Saerbeck
Die Gasindustrie investiert aktuell, was das Zeug hält. 2019 flossen rund 2,5 Milliarden Euro in den Aus- und Neubau der deutschen Gasnetze (BNetzA Monitoring-Bericht). Bis 2030 sind laut Netzentwicklungsplan Gas allein für die Ferngasnetze weitere 2,2 Milliarden Euro vorgesehen, wobei die Ferngasnetzbetreiber sogar Investitionen in Höhe von 7,8 Milliarden Eur... Read More