Russia’s Oil Sector: Wounded but Still Working

In May 2021, the Russian government adopted the General Scheme for the Development of the Oil Industry to 2035. Although the government has prepared similar strategy documents every five years, the 2021 version was a watershed—unlike previous versions, it acknowledged the coming sunset of the oil era and the eventual decline of Russian oil production. The strategy’s underlying assumptions were that the energy transition and widespread decarbonization efforts would produce a long-term decline in global oil demand following a peak in the 2030s. On this basis,
the document stated that Russia should accelerate work to monetize its hydrocarbons and start …

2023 Tracking SDG7 Report

Since its inception in 2018, Tracking SDG 7: The Energy Progress Report has become the global reference point for information on the realization of SDG 7. It is produced annually by five of the custodian agencies responsible for tracking global progress toward Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG 7), which is to “ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all.” The custodians developing the report are the International Energy Agency (IEA), the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), the United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD), the World Bank, and the World Health Organization (WHO).

The report offers the international community …

The 2030 National Charging Network: Estimating U.S. Light-Duty Demand for Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure

Both energy and the environment are inputs into production, influencing the economy and the overall welfare of the population. While the economy itself has been a central focus of economic history from its inception, energy and the environment have received more limited attention. On the energy side, the relative lack of attention reflects economic historians’ focus on labor, capital, and technology. Two areas that have received attention are the effects of energy on the spatial location of economic activity and the importance of coal for the Industrial Revolution. On the environmental side, the relative lack of attention likely reflects the …

When America Leads: User Guide to Competitiveness Research and Analysis

Strategic investments in clean energy technologies can lead to significant, lasting benefits for the US economy by 2050. A landmark set of two reports by Boston Consulting Group (BCG), commissioned by Third Way and Breakthrough Energy, shows how the US can create a unique advantage across ten clean energy technologies and capture a significant cut of an estimated $130 trillion market. Breaking down the value chain for each technology, from the raw materials to the manufacturing process to product off-take to after-market services, the reports show how we can apply smart policies to sharpen our competitive edge in an evolving …

The NEA Small Modular Reactor Dashboard: Volume II

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 Small Modular Reactor Dashboard defines new criteria for assessing real progress …

Winter Storm Elliott: Event Analysis and Recommendation Report

Winter Storm Elliott hit the eastern United States over the Dec. 23–25 weekend and tested the reliability of much of the Eastern Interconnection. Precipitous temperature drops and powerful winds caused widespread generator failures and froze up natural gas supplies while driving up electricity demand, leading to power outages in some of PJM’s neighbors.

PJM and its members were able to maintain the reliability of the system, serve customers and even support neighboring systems during some periods, which was a significant accomplishment. Specifically, PJM operators were able to avoid electricity interruptions throughout this event. Nevertheless, PJM operators had to implement multiple …

Nuclear Waste Cleanup

The federal government established the Los Alamos National Laboratory in 1943 to conduct nuclear weapons research and development activities to support our nation’s defense. Over the years, these activities have necessitated cleanup in three areas: (1) soil and groundwater remediation, (2) legacy waste removal, and (3) deactivation and decommissioning of contaminated facilities.

In 2014, DOE established EM-LA to clean up waste at Los Alamos. To help address cleanup challenges at Los Alamos and other sites, EM issued a Program Management Protocol in 2020.

The Senate committee report that accompanied a bill for the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year …

The Unique Promise of Environmental Cooperation in the Gulf

Environmental issues hold unique promise for fostering negotiation and cooperation in the Gulf. Many forms of action on climate change and the environment would provide broad benefits, from efforts to combat sand and dust storms to marine conservation. In addition, international collaboration is necessary to respond to these challenges, as unilateral action by any single state is inadequate to address them. Climate change and environmental issues have also gained increased public attention in the Gulf in recent years. They have not been as politicized as other issues, meaning environmental diplomacy is both a growing priority and a relatively soft issue.…

Driving Resiliency Through Your Organization’s Energy Infrastructure

Explore ways in which municipalities, federal agencies, healthcare facilities, and private sector companies can leverage their energy infrastructure to improve energy resilience and minimize the adverse impacts of major events.

To date, much of the interest in energy resilience has been limited to a few key sectors; however, as addressed throughout this white paper, a wide range of organizations, public and private, are beginning to understand that they can use their energy infrastructure to become more resilient in budget-sensitive ways.

A smart approach to resilience integrates innovative technological solutions, contracting structures, and participation in broader energy markets. Organizations can become …

Decarbonizing Your Value Chain

With the risk of regulations and stakeholder pressure rising, companies should begin to measure and tackle their Scope 3 emissions now.

In the wake of increased climate threats as a consequence of global climate change, organizations’ emissions are more consistently viewed as a risk for investors. Consequently, regulatory introductions such as those proposed by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) mandate further disclosure requirements from companies on emissions and clearly state their reduction plans.

Companies wishing to have better visibility into their emissions are encouraged to increase their engagement with their Scope 3. Scope 3 typically makes up the largest …