The Problem with Green Ammonia

The sustainable production of alternative combustion fuels is at the forefront of many industry conversations around decarbonization. Green hydrogen and green ammonia are touted as potential replacements for fossil fuels, but their actual environmental benefits are questionable. The popularity of the concept of “clean” hydrogen has led to a new potential sustainable fuel derived from hydrogen: green ammonia.

This fact sheet investigates the pros and cons of green ammonia. Green ammonia is made using only renewables, while conventional ammonia is produced with fossil fuels. Nearly all of the ammonia produced today is conventional, but green ammonia projects are being proposed …

The NEA Small Modular Reactor Dashboard

All low-carbon solutions will be required to achieve the world’s net zero targets. Nuclear energy has a role to play in meeting this need. A wave of innovation in small modular reactors (SMRs) is advancing quickly with the potential to help decarbonise hard-to-abate sectors. Progress is real and is positioned to accelerate pathways to net zero. SMRs could replace coal on-grid, fossil fuel cogeneration of heat and power for heavy industry, diesel at off-grid mines, as well as producing hydrogen and synthetic fuels.

Looking beyond technical feasibility, The NEA SMR Dashboard defines criteria for assessing real progress in six dimensions …

Key Insights from Social Licensing to Operate in Renewable Energy Projects

As renewable hydrogen becomes central to decarbonizing hard-to-abate sectors, such as steel manufacturing or heavy transport, deployment in Emerging Markets and Developing Countries depends on obtaining timely environmental and social permits on the social acceptance of hydrogen production plants, often referred to as social license to operate. These are not peripheral tasks as they directly shape project bankability, investment readiness, and long-term project sustainability.

The World Bank’s report, Key Insights from Social Licensing to Operate in Renewable Energy Projects: Applying Lessons to Clean Hydrogen Development, underscores three interlinked challenges. First, unfamiliarity with hydrogen leads many national and local governments to …

Power Systems Transformation

Clean electrification, driven by the decarbonization of power systems and the substitution of electricity for fossil fuels in industry, transport, and buildings, is the foundation of the transition to a global net-zero economy. In many sectors, direct electrification will be the most cost-effective route to decarbonization; in others, hydrogen produced via electrolysis is likely to play a significant role. As a result, total electricity demand will grow dramatically. The ETC’s latest updates to the two net-zero scenarios, Accelerated by Clearly Feasible (ACF) and Possible but Stretching (PBS), initially published in December 2023, suggest that the share of direct electricity usage …

Testimony of the Pipeline Safety Trust

The Pipeline Safety Trust was created after the Olympic Pipe Line tragedy in Bellingham, Washington in 1999. That entirely preventable failure spilled nearly a quarter-million gallons of gasoline into a beautiful salmon stream in the heart of our community which eventually ignited and killed three boys. The U.S. Justice Department was so appalled at the operations of the pipeline company and equally appalled at the lax oversight from the federal government, that they asked the federal courts to set aside money from the settlement to create the Pipeline Safety Trust as an independent national watchdog organization over the pipeline industry …

One Big Beautiful Bill Act Fact Sheet

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) was signed into law on July 4, 2025. While the bill contains many tax provisions, this document focuses on the portions most impactful to natural gas and hydrogen motor fueled vehicles.…

Critical Minerals and the U.S. Clean Energy Transition

Critical minerals are key components in a range of products and equipment, from consumer electronics and military technology to solar panels and electric vehicle batteries. Their unique chemical properties make them particularly suitable for energy technologies and irreplaceable for certain purposes. Pursuant to the Energy Act of 2020, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) publishes a revised list of critical minerals every three years.…

A Brief Overview of Major US Clean Energy Tax Policy (2005–2025)

Energy Policy Act of 1992, permanent 10% ITC for solar and geothermal. Long-standing wind, solar, geothermal, hydro, biogas production and investment credits (other than permanent 10% ITC) set to expire end of 2021.…

Characteristics and Risks of Emerging Large Loads

Electricity is a key component of the fabric of modern society and the Electric Reliability Organization (ERO) Enterprise serves to strengthen that fabric. The vision for the ERO Enterprise, which is comprised of NERC and the six Regional Entities, is a highly reliable, resilient, and secure North American bulk power system (BPS). Our mission is to assure the effective and efficient reduction of risks to the reliability and security of the grid.…

Significant Cuts to IRA Clean Energy Tax Credits Included in Enacted Reconciliation Bill

President Trump signed the “One, Big, Beautiful Bill Act” (the “OBBB”) into law on July 4, 2025. Congress passed the legislation using the budget reconciliation process to avoid the 60-vote Senate filibuster. In addition to making many of the individual tax cuts from the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act permanent, the bill makes significant changes to many of the clean energy credits included in the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (the “IRA”).

Projects that began construction before 2025 and are planning on claiming production tax credits (“PTCs”) or investment tax credits (“ITCs”) under sections 45 and 48 are generally …