Assessing blockchain’s future in transactive energy

The global energy transition is fast evolving, and two trends in particular seem poised to converge. On the one hand, the rapid transition toward decarbonization and decentralization in the power sector is prompting exploration of new transactive electricity market models. Meanwhile, distributed ledger technologies such as blockchain are rapidly evolving beyond their initial financial applications to new use cases in sectors such as energy. Some surmise that blockchain could serve as an ideal platform for the transactive electricity market of the future, helping to ensure that diverse, often intermittent assets on the grid work together as a symphony, rather than …

Accelerating Building Decarbonization: Eight Attainable Policy Pathways to Net Zero Carbon Buildings For All

Buildings that emit no greenhouse gas emissions during their operation are vital to meeting the SDGs and Paris Agreement targets. But in the past, zero carbon buildings have been assumed to be only attainable by technologically advanced or wealthy countries. New WRI research finds there are policy pathways to reach zero carbon buildings regardless of location or development status. The report identifies eight pathways countries can take to reach zero carbon buildings by reducing energy demand and cleaning energy supply.

Cities will lead the shift to net zero carbon buildings (ZCBs) and will therefore play a major role in achieving

Energy Spheres of Influence

For several decades, energy security has been defined and pursued in a multilateral world with relatively open markets and technology transfer, where energy relations have become increasingly commodified. But that world may soon disappear—energy relationships might become more political, open trade might give way to friction, and great powers might leverage energy relations or energy technology to gain an edge over each other.

For decades the United States has promoted a rules-based, multilateral order, supported by shared gains from free trade and deeper economic and political integration within and among countries. Energy security, the ability to secure affordable and reliable …

Clean Jobs Colorado 2019

Colorado is leading the Mountain West’s clean energy economy.

With nearly 60,000 clean energy workers now, the state’s potential reached new heights in 2018 with strong employment growth across cleantech sectors (4.8%)—far outpacing overall national (1.5%) and statewide (2.4%) job growth.…

U.S. domestic airline fuel-efficiency ranking 2017-2018

This study assesses the fuel efficiency of U.S. airlines on domestic operations in 2017 and 2018. Revenue passenger miles (RPMs) increased 10% and departures increased by 4% from 2016 to 2018. Fuel efficiency in terms of RPMs per gallon of fuel consumed improved by 3%. The net result was a 7% increase in overall fuel burn and CO2 emissions from domestic passenger operations. Over the past five years, CO2 emissions from U.S. domestic operations have increased by 15%.

Frontier Airlines was the most fuel-efficient U.S. domestic airline in 2017 and 2018, up from second place in 2016. Due to investments …

The Era of the Gas Mega-Players

Within 10 years, three exporters will tower over the global gas world: Russia, the United States, and Qatar. Other exporters—Norway, Australia, Canada—will remain big players, but their influence will be regional, not global. New entrants will emerge, and existing players will expand their presence, but no country will match the big three in scale, growth, and reach. China will meanwhile become the largest destination for gas, surpassing Japan in imports and closing in on Europe as a whole.

These profound changes will rewire the gas system, making it more integrated and competitive. But the system may also allow these mega-players …

Engaging State-Owned Enterprises in Climate Action

Policy makers, academics, and others have devoted significant effort over the past three decades to considering how best to incentivize households and private companies to reduce their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. There has been much less discussion about how best to incentivize state-owned enterprises (SOEs) — companies that are either wholly or majority owned by a government — to cut emissions. Yet when it comes to energy sector GHGs, these state companies are among the world’s leading emitters. They are major emitters at both the country and global levels, notably from electricity generation. In the aggregate, they emit over 6.2 …

Adapt Now: A Global Call for Leadership on Climate Resilience

Global leaders call for urgent action on climate adaptation; commission finds adaptation can deliver $7.1 trillion in benefits.

Global Commission on Adaptation report finds that investing $1.8 trillion globally from 2020 to 2030 in five areas of climate adaptation could yield $7.1 trillion in net benefits.

The Commission’s report highlights many economic, social and environmental benefits of adaptation
Climate impacts – such as super-charged hurricanes, floods, and wildfires – are becoming an increasingly urgent reality…

Energy Transition Fact Sheet

The world has embarked on an unprecedented effort to completely transition its energy supply and use to mitigate risks of global climate change. An effective transformation of energy systems globally ideally fosters inclusive economic growth. affordability, security and access to energy as well as decarbonization. While climate action globally continues to increase, the challenges associated with energy transition remain immense and the tangible efforts so far are inadequate.…

#ChangePays in Energy

As a woman and executive, I am proud to share our #ChangePays in energy report, whose original research finds the energy sector worldwide has indeed made progress in the area of gender diversity. Women’s participation in boards and senior executive roles in the energy industry is accelerating.

Why is this important? At S&P Global, through our #ChangePays campaign, we are discovering the many ways diversity “pays.” So far, our research has explored the benefits of increased female participation for the capital markets specifically, and the world economy in general. I hope this report will provide you with the data, analytics …