Spark: Net-Zero Future at Cost Parity With Coal—In the Heart of Coal Country

Jay OwenGreen Prosperity

Thursday, March 15, 2018

NET-ZERO FUTURE AT COST PARITY WITH COAL—IN THE HEART OF COAL COUNTRY

Platte River Power Authority (PRPA), a power generator in the heart of coal country, commissioned a study on the relative costs of transitioning to net-zero carbon generation by 2030. The study found that, using relatively conservative assumptions for solar and wind costs, and without considering demand-side efforts, PRPA can deliver a net-zero carbon generation portfolio for a cost premium of only 8 percent over the lifetime of the planning horizon (2018–2050). Read More.

NOT ALL RENEWABLES ARE CREATED EQUAL

QUANTIFYING THE EMISSIONS BENEFITS OF INSTITUTIONAL ENERGY PURCHASING OPTIONS

In recent years, institutional climate action targets, renewable energy subsidies, and the rapidly falling costs of wind and solar have led more and more large institutions to begin purchasing significant quantities of off-site renewable energy. Naturally, all these new renewables are reducing pollution. But…exactly how much pollution? Read More.

PERFECT TIMING FOR RENEWABLES

WHY THE TIME IS RIGHT FOR ALBERTA TO LEAD IN NONUTILITY PROCUREMENT OF RENEWABLE ENERGY

As climate action and the commitment to hit climate targets gains ground in Canada, including the federal government’s commitment to phase out coal, companies required to meet carbon and environmental obligations have realistic options worth considering. Renewable energy prices are dropping—making it easier to purchase renewable energy to meet customer demands or carbon compliance while maintaining profits. Read More.

REDUCING MINIGRID COSTS

Last week in Lagos, Nigeria, RMI’s SEED program convened more than 50 leaders in the minigrid space to explore opportunities to dramatically reduce minigrid cost in emerging economies across Africa to $0.20/kWh by 2020. RMI now plans to focus on developing a program and portfolio of projects to prove the cost reduction potential and unlock significant additional financing. The event was co-hosted by the Rural Electrification Agency and made possible with the generous support of Rockefeller Foundation, Virgin Unite, GEF, UNDP, and Schneider Electric. Read More.

STANFORD STUDENTS TO LEARN EXTREME ENERGY EFFICIENCY AT RMI

This month, 38 students from Stanford University will travel to Colorado on their spring break for a week-long Extreme Energy Efficiency class (E^3) at RMI’s Innovation Center. The students will acquire new skills, new connections, and new understanding of energy efficiency and whole-systems thinking that they can bring back to campus and integrate into their future careers. RMI thanks the Straubel Foundation and Stanford professor Jane Woodward for making this exciting program possible. Read More.

FACEBOOK LIVE: COMMUNITY-SCALE SOLAR 101

Community-scale solar is a multibillion-dollar market opportunity, a segment outpacing the growth of utility-scale and rooftop solar. Our Shine™ team members Thomas Koch Blank and Titiaan Palazzi explain how we can leverage community-scale solar to make energy more accessible and affordable for large and small businesses and communities in a Facebook Live from RMI’s New York City office. Watch Now.

RMI ON THE ROAD

Every week, RMI staff are working with industry and governments to accelerate the clean energy revolution. Meet us at the following events:

Mines and Money Asia  ?  April 3–6  ?  Hong Kong

  • Alastaire Dick will speak on the The Future of Mining: Decarbonization Pathways and the Business Case for Renewables

Event Horizon 2018  ?  April 17–19  ?  Berlin, Germany

  • Jesse Morris will speak about the Energy Web Foundation. RMI is co-hosting this event about blockchain technology in the energy sector with Grid Singularity.

Getting to Zero Forum  ?  April 17–19  ?  Pittsburgh, PA

  • RMI co-hosts this event dedicated to the future of low-energy and zero-energy buildings