Understanding the Scaling of Transport Energy Use with Operational Density

Given the substantial contribution of transport operations to global energy demand, enhancing their energy efficiency is crucial for sustainable urban mobility. This study investigates whether intensifying the use of fixed transport networks, termed operational densification, reduces energy consumption. Grounded in economic theory, we develop a novel causal model to estimate the energy impacts of densification across two major commuting modes: urban rail transit (metro) and private car travel. Using a unique panel dataset of 27 metro operations worldwide, we find that a 10% increase in passenger-kilometres travelled on a fixed network reduces energy use per passenger-kilometre by 3.45%. These gains …

Promoting Energy Affordability Using State Climate Policy

This issue brief considers an opportunity for state governments to respond to this challenge by enhancing electricity affordability for households and concurrently boosting environmental outcomes. Investments in renewable energy and energy efficiency would reduce electricity costs. With the loss of federal support for these investments, we explore the potential introduction of a price on carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions in the electricity sector at the state level, via a cap or limit on power sector emissions sources, and coupling that price with a policy to direct program revenues to reduce residential electricity rates (Meng and Prasad 2025).…

Optimal Energy Management in Multi Energy Microgrid with Combined Heat and Power System and Demand Side Response Integration

Renewable energy sources are gaining prominence due to their sustainability, low environmental footprint, and potential to reduce dependence on fossil fuels. However, their intermittent and unpredictable nature presents significant challenges for reliable energy supply. A promising solution lies in integrating multiple energy carriers, such as electricity and gas, to enhance system resilience, efficiency, and sustainability. This study presents a Multi-Energy Microgrid (MEMG) architecture featuring a DC electricity bus and a heat bus. The DC bus integrates photovoltaic (PV) panels, batteries, and a Combined Heat and Power (CHP) unit, while the heat bus connects to the gas supply network through boilers, …

A Novel Data-Driven NLMPC Strategy for Techno-Economic Microgrid Management with Battery Energy Storage Under Uncertainty

As renewable energy sources become more widespread and energy consumption continues to grow, there is an urgent requirement for smarter, more flexible control methods to manage microgrids (MGs) effectively. This study proposes a data-driven nonlinear model predictive control (NLMPC) framework for optimized MG operation, emphasizing energy storage system (ESS) integration. Effective MG management is crucial given increasing renewable penetration and energy demands. This framework coordinates distributed generation (DG) units, including rotating and non-rotating resources, with a battery ESS in a dynamic MG environment. Leveraging Gaussian Process Regression (GPR), the framework accurately models the complex dynamics of both DG units and …

Optimizing Modern Energy Programs for Financially Constrained Households

An overwhelming 78% of respondents reported at least one serious issue in their homes. From leaky roofs and broken stairs to mold and pest infestations, these conditions represent more than inconvenience—they’re safety risks and major obstacles to energy efficiency. Structural degradation makes it impossible to implement insulation, air sealing, or HVAC improvements. Compounding the issue is the nature of home heating systems. Over half of respondents reported using electricity as their primary heating source, and electricity was cited as the primary or secondary heating source for 92% of these households. This suggests that most are relying Heating Source on outdated …

Data Center Impacts in the West: Policy Solutions for Water and Energy Use

The rapid growth of data centers, fueled by artificial intelligence, is creating major challenges for the Interior West. Utilities in Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah are now forecasting electricity demand to grow more than four times faster than in the past decade, driving up greenhouse gas emissions and straining the grid.

At the same time, water demands for cooling could reach 7 billion gallons annually by 2035 in a region already facing scarcity. These pressures risk undermining clean energy goals, overburdening other ratepayers, and threatening fragile water resources.

Western Resource Advocates (WRA) recommends policies to turn this challenge …

Lifecycle cost-effectiveness analysis for greener alternative shipping fuels towards maritime energy sustainability

Selecting green alternative fuels is a complex decision for shipping industry executives and regulators, involving a multitude of factors such as technological feasibility, safety concerns, fuel availability, economic costs, and environmental impacts, with a particular emphasis on the temporal aspect of lifecycle analysis. Our study addresses the existing challenges in strategic lifecycle management of green fuels within the shipping sector, bridging the cognitive and practical divide for both corporate and governmental entities. By employing Lifecycle Cost-Effectiveness Analysis (LCEA), we examine the complexities of transitioning to sustainable shipping through the lens of two prominent alternative fuels: methanol derived from natural gas …

Enhancing Sustainability in Mining by Reducing Hauling Energy Consumption Through Optimization of Distance and Slope with Semi-Mobile in-Pit Crushers and Conveyors

Increasing energy efficiency in climate change mitigation has become essential due to continuous population growth and rising energy consumption. Energy-intensive industries, such as mining, have areas for improving energy consumption. Haulage systems have often been considered for optimization in mining operations. Therefore, this research aims to evaluate Semi-Mobile In-Pit Crushers and Conveyors (SMIPCC) to optimize loading and haulage systems and reduce energy consumption. For this purpose, two loading and hauling scenarios were considered: the first was based on discontinuous loading and haulage, and the second was based on semi-continuous loading and haulage using SMIPCC. First, two potential locations are assessed …

Split Systems: Coordinating Energy Policies for New and Existing Buildings

For decades, states and cities have adopted energy codes to drive energy efficiency in new buildings while lowering utility costs for consumers. More recently, many have begun adopting building performance standards (BPS) to improve the energy performance of existing buildings as well. 

Coordination between these two policy tools is critical to avoid challenges for both individual buildings and broader policy goals. For example, without alignment, a newly constructed building that complies with current energy codes might still need costly upgrades in just a few years to meet BPS requirements.…

Boston Medical Center: New England’s Largest Safety-Net Hospital Installs Energy Storage

A battery storage installation at Boston Medical Center demonstrates how hospitals can integrate energy storage into an efficiency or sustainability program to better manage peak demand and lower costly demand charges. The project is profiled in this case study by Clean Energy Group.

Boston Medical Center (BMC) is the largest and busiest trauma and emergency services center in New England. Over 50% of its patients come from underserved populations. As a safety net hospital, BMC serves all patients who come through its doors, including those without insurance and those who are publicly insured.

In 2022, BMC installed a 572 kW …