Critical Minerals & National Security

OurEnergyPolicy and The Earthshot Foundation are excited to present our first white paper of the Critical Minerals “Minologues” series. “Critical Minerals & National Security” delves into the interconnection between energy security and national security. While critical minerals are most often discussed in terms of their use in energy and smart technology, they are also essential components in defense systems.  This white paper is the first chapter in our series to illustrate the importance of these minerals from a geopolitical perspective and provide recommendations for how we can improve both energy and national security.…

Virtual Power Plant Flipbook

Virtual power plants (VPPs) — grid-integrated aggregations of distributed energy resources such as batteries, electric vehicles, smart thermostats, and other connected devices — can help balance electrical loads and provide several grid and community benefits, such as supplying critical grid services (including capacity, energy, ancillary services, and resilience), alleviating stressed transmission and distribution systems, and integrating more renewables for a cleaner energy supply.

Utilities and their regulators are increasingly turning toward VPPs as a key tool, alongside traditional infrastructure investment, to ensure safe, reliable, resilient, and affordable power in the face of near-term challenges created by load growth, extreme weather, …

NEA PKL-4 Project Summary Report

In continuation of the NEA-guided experimental programs at the PKL test facility in Germany operated by Framatome GmbH, the fourth phase of the NEA PKL project was conducted between June 2016 and September 2020. The topics of the experimental investigation had been defined in collaboration with the project partners and were considered of high interest. On certain topics, the PKL experiments were complemented by experiments at the PWR PACTEL test facility (operated by Lappeenranta-Lahti University of Technology, LUT, Finland) and the PMK-2 test facility (operated by Centre for Energy Research, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Hungary). The report provides an introduction …

Benchmark on External Events Hazard Frequency and Magnitude Statistical Modelling

At its 61st meeting, the CSNI approved the recommended task on the benchmark on external events hazard frequency and magnitude statistical modeling, to be pursued by the WGEV. Modeling of these external events is a common practice in hazard and risk assessments in many countries. Having a valid statistical approach to model these hazards is important. However, current practice indicates a wide variety of approaches being used and a lack of appreciation of the uncertainties inherent to these types of statistical models. The objective of this activity is to provide a benchmark suitable to explore the application of typical approaches …

Preparatory Study on Analysis of Fuel Debris (PreADES Project)

The tsunami that followed the Great East Japan earthquake on 11 March 2011 led to beyond design-basis accidents at Units 1, 2 and 3 of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant even though they had been shut down. Information available from ongoing investigations of the reactor cores indicates that these units experienced severe accidents involving core meltdown due to the total or partial loss of core cooling capabilities.

The Preparatory Study on Analysis of Fuel debris (PreADES) project was recommended by the SEG on SAREF as one of several appropriate “near-term projects” to contribute to further international efforts to understand …

SolarAPP+ Performance Review (2023 Data)

The Solar Automated Permit Processing Plus (SolarAPP+) platform is an online portal designed
to facilitate and expedite residential rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) and battery storage
permitting processes. SolarAPP+ allows PV contractors to upload system specifications, have
that information automatically reviewed for code compliance, and receive instant approval for
code-compliant systems, reducing the authority having jurisdiction (AHJ) staff time needed for
review. SolarAPP+ also provides inspection checklists to verify installation practices and
adherence to approved designs. SolarAPP+ is available to AHJs at no cost.

Consistent with previous performance reviews, in this report the authors summarize SolarAPP+ adoption trends to date and …

Extreme Heat in Disadvantaged Communities

Extreme heat is one of the deadliest and most widespread climate change risks. It’s particularly dangerous for disadvantaged communities, which are least able to prepare for, withstand, and recover from the impacts of extreme heat.

Fortunately, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) and Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) include record amounts of funding to address climate change and its impacts. In addition, the federal government’s Justice40 Initiative1 set a goal that 40% of the overall benefits of federal funding for climate change flow to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution.

In this report, the ICF Climate Center …

10 Best Practices to Reduce the Risk of Power Line Wildfires

Wildfires caused by transmission and distribution lines impact insurance rates, customer/public relations, and electric utilities’ bottom line. As wildfires ignited by faulted power lines are becoming more litigious, electric utilities need to demonstrate that they are quickly working to address and reduce risks.

Over the last decade, lawsuits and settlements from these types of wildfires have cost electric utilities billions of dollars. In 2024, insurers increased rates for wildfire coverage by 200% to 300% based on prior year losses.

This paper provides ten low-cost, immediate actions that every electric utility can implement to reduce the risk that a wildfire will …

The Critical Link: Empowering Utilities for the Energy Transition

As the conduit between power demand and supply, the utilities that operate the world’s transmission and distribution networks will be the critical link in the energy transition. Utilities will need to expand and modernize their networks to integrate variable renewable energy sources and meet growing demands for cleaner and more flexible power. According to the International Energy Association (IEA), the equivalent of the entire length of the world’s grid networks will need to be added or refurbished by 2040 if countries are to achieve their energy and climate goals: As the off-takers of power generation, utilities need to be financially …

Valuing Distributed Energy Resources for Non-Wires Alternatives

Distributed energy resources (DER) as non-wires alternatives, regardless of owner, have the potential to reduce system operating costs and delay system upgrades. However, it is difficult to determine the appropriate economic signal to incentivize DER investors to install capacity that will benefit both the DER investors and the system operator. To determine this co-optimal price signal, we present a bilevel optimization framework that determines the least cost solution to distribution system over-loads. A key output of the framework is a spatiotemporal price signal to DER owners that simultaneously guarantees the DER owners’ required rate of return and minimizes the system …