Knowledge Center
We believe that sharing our expertise and collaborations in clean energy policy is how real, effective change happens.
From reports and policy briefs, to webinars and podcasts—RAP advisors have built an extensive collection of resources providing in-depth analysis and practical solutions to today’s energy challenges.
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Technological changes in the electric utility industry bring tremendous opportunities and can also create significant challenges. Rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) systems and smart appliances and control systems that communicate with the grid can improve system reliability, enable a cleaner and… View Summary +
In a May 19 webinar, RAP’s David Littell and David Farnsworth examined important lessons learned by environmental and energy regulators on how to set up and oversee carbon markets. Drawing from RAP’s primer, “Carbon Markets 101: “How-to” Considerations for Regulatory… View Summary +
In 2009, the European Union adopted high-level goals for renewable energy, energy efficiency, and greenhouse gas reductions with targets set for the year 2020. This was followed in 2012 by adoption of the Energy Efficiency Directive (EED) (2012/27/EU), a major… View Summary +
The harsh weather and inaccessible geography of rural Alaska communities pose significant energy challenges to the region, including keeping electricity and other energy costs very high compared to the lower 48 and even more populous regions of the state. Many… View Summary +
The harsh weather and inaccessible geography of rural Alaska communities pose significant energy challenges to the region, including keeping electricity and other energy costs very high compared to the lower 48 and even more populous regions of the state. Many… View Summary +
Regulators around the world are faced with complex issues ranging from securing the supply of energy, to meeting public policy objectives and protecting the environment. Current developments in the energy sector present serious challenges for policymakers leading a vital transition—a… View Summary +
The lack of availability of charging stations is often cited as a major barrier to electric vehicle (EV) rollout. Yet charging points are just the “tip of the iceberg”—the power system needs fundamental reforms to maximize the benefits of EV… View Summary +
While utilities may own their own generating stations and power lines for distributing electricity to their customers, much of the operation of these assets occurs through their participation in a regional transmission organization (RTO), sometimes called an independent system operator… View Summary +
Though ongoing legal challenges have delayed the timeline of the U.S. Clean Power Plan, states are continuing to make decisions about how to approach eventual compliance. Among these decisions is whether to pursue market-based approaches—multi-state or regional markets that trade… View Summary +
电力行业是能源消费和污染物排放的大户，尽管电力行业为节能减排也做出了巨大努力，但目前仍有一些问题亟待解决，比如，高能效机组和低能效机组利用小时相近，没有区别对待。风电和光伏建设迅速，但是已在部分地区出现大面积弃风弃光的现象。电力行业盈利水平波动过大，导致对投资预期不确定。最近，长策智库受睿博能源智库委托完成了中国上网电价机制改革研究。这一研究发现上述问题的出现最根本的原因在于现行上网电价机制不合理。研究中构建了上网电价机制效益成本评价仿真模型，主要对不同的上网电价机制的效益成本进行对比分析并以此提出适合中国的上网电价机制，并针对电价机制改革提出相应的对策建议。本课题讨论了四种价格机制，分别是单一电量电价机制，燃气机组两部制电价机制，火电机组两部制电价机制以及所有机组两部制电价机制。研究得出火电机组两部制电价机制下系统发电成本最低，同时煤耗和CO2… View Summary +
The European Commission’s Market Design Initiative seeks to ensure that the electricity market will help to meet current EU climate and energy policies in the most secure and cost-effective manner. An integrated market, operated and governed seamlessly across regions and… View Summary +
The European Commission’s Market Design Initiative must envision a future electricity market with engaged consumers at its heart. Achieving this requires wholesale and retail markets to be more closely linked. Both consumption and production of electricity will need to interact… View Summary +
China’s power sector is now the largest in the world by a number of measures, and its transformation is crucial to global climate goals. In March 2015, Chinese authorities launched a new round of power sector reform with what is… View Summary +
In the 2014 paper “Teaching the Duck to Fly,” Jim Lazar set out ten strategies for aligning loads and resources to make the load curve easier to serve. Starting with the so-called “duck curve” published by the California Independent System… View Summary +
This brief, produced as a resource for the Solar Market Pathways initiative, explores three key questions for solar developers or advocates at the community level who need to work with utilities to move projects forward: the nature of utility… View Summary +