Building the Future Transmission Grid

The urgency to expand and modernise the electricity transmission network infrastructure around the world is putting pressure on supply chains.

This report explores the evolving landscape of investment in electricity transmission networks and key trends related to the supply chain of key components. Based on a survey of industry stakeholders in 2024 by the International Energy Agency (IEA), it provides insights into how increasing infrastructure needs are affecting prices of components, lead times and related market dynamics.

Building on the analysis Electricity Grids and Secure Energy Transitions, this report identifies actionable strategies to address challenges related to the supply chain …

High Voltage, High Reward Transmission

Rising electricity demand, the need for a reliable grid, and new federal regulations are driving renewed interest in large-scale transmission projects. But as transmission investment grows, so do concerns about rising costs. Do these investments truly pay off for ratepayers?

This report provides a clear answer: yes — large-scale transmission projects deliver significant savings for American consumers and businesses.…

Building Community Resilience: How Local Leaders are Advancing Resilience Hubs & Bolstering Critical Infrastructure

The latest report from the Alliance for a Sustainable Future – a joint effort of C2ES and The U.S. Conference of Mayors to help cities and businesses collaborate on sustainable development— highlights city-oriented case studies that advance climate resilience. One of the goals of the Alliance is to inform mayors, local officials, and business leaders of innovative new strategies that could present an opportunity for their own communities to reach their climate goals.

The following case studies showcase the variety of resilience spaces and hubs that are emerging in communities around the country and the role of local governments. They …

Cost-Effective Planning of Decarbonized Power-Gas Infrastructure to Meet the Challenges of Heating Electrification

Electrifying building heating by replacing fossil fuel-based technologies with electric alternatives such as heat pumps is crucial to achieving economy-wide decarbonization. However, building electrification introduces new challenges to electric power and gas systems by altering the power-gas consumption patterns and their magnitude. To study this question, the authors develop a two-module modeling framework where (1) the first module quantifies the end-use demand for electric power and gas in residential buildings under various electrification levels, and (2) the second module evaluates the impact of demand changes on power-gas infrastructure investments and operations under deep decarbonization scenarios. The authors apply the framework …

Scaling Up Carbon Dioxide Removals: Recommendations for Navigating Opportunities and Risks in the EU

With global warming accelerating, the long-term goal to keep warming below 1.5°C set out in the Paris Agreement is increasingly at risk of being breached. Limiting this risk and stabilising the climate requires urgent and coordinated global efforts. The EU is legally committed to achieving climate neutrality at the latest by 2050 and to pursuing net-negative emissions thereafter. To meet these goals, the EU must both drastically reduce emissions and counterbalance residual emissions from activities with currently no or limited mitigation alternatives with carbon dioxide removals. Removals are essential for achieving net-negative greenhouse gas emissions and helping stabilise the global …

Proceedings of the International Workshop on Operating Experience (OPEX) 25-27 April 2022 Budapest, Hungary

Operating Experience (OPEX) is a fundamental pillar of nuclear safety. Collecting, analysing and sharing the knowledge gained from over 18 000 reactor-years of operation worldwide is key to maintaining the safety of nuclear power operations.

The NEA Working Group on Operating Experience (WGOE) organised an international workshop on OPEX to help regulators identify commendable practices with respect to evaluating the effectiveness of licensees’ OPEX programmes. The workshop divided this process into three key steps:

– Methods of inspecting licensees’ OPEX programmes
– Preparing for inspections
– Evaluation of inspection results

This report summarises key conclusions.…

Electricity- and Hydrogen-Driven Energy System Sector-Coupling in Net-Zero CO2 Emission Pathways

Electricity- and hydrogen-based sector coupling contributes to realizing the transition towards greenhouse gas neutrality in the European energy system. Energy system and integrated assessment models show that, to follow pathways compatible with the European policy target of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, large amounts of renewable electricity and H2 need to be generated, mostly by scaling-up wind and solar energy production capacity. With a set of such models, under jointly adopted deep decarbonisation scenario assumptions, we here show that the ensuing direct penetration of electricity and H2 in final energy consumption may rise to average shares of around 60% …

Clean Energy 101: Thermal Batteries

Thermal batteries are hot. The technology, which promises to provide a cheaper, cleaner alternative for some of the roughly 20 percent of global energy consumption — usually derived from fossil fuels — that goes into industrial heating, is causing a lot of excitement, ranking as the reader’s choice for 2024 breakthrough technologies in MIT Technology Review.

Heat has long been a challenge in slashing carbon pollution from industrial processes. On-demand heat — including at temperatures of greater than 1,000°C, hot enough to melt glass — is necessary for a wide range of industrial applications, including food and beverage production, pulp …

Radiological Protection During Armed Conflict: Improving Regulatory and Operational Resilience

The conflict in Ukraine has highlighted pressing concerns regarding radiological protection and the need to enhance both operational and regulatory resilience during times of armed conflict. While the core principles of radiological protection remain sound, it is crucial for all nations to strengthen their plans and procedures to better manage emerging threats and increased uncertainty.

In response to these complex challenges, the NEA Committee on Radiological Protection and Public Health (CRPPH) and the Norwegian Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority (DSA) co-hosted a workshop in Oslo from 22 to 24 November 2023. The workshop, titled “Radiological Protection During Armed Conflict”, gathered …

Encouraging Transportation Energy Solutions that Work Today

The Transport Project is a national coalition of roughly 200 fleets, vehicle and engine manufacturers and dealers, servicers and suppliers, and fuel producers and providers dedicated to the decarbonization of North America’s transportation sector. Through the increased use of gaseous motor fuels including renewable natural gas (RNG) and hydrogen, the United States and Canada can help achieve ambitious climate goals and greatly improve air quality safely, reliably, and effectively without delay and without compromising existing commercial business operations. …