Blog
Incisive commentary from RAP experts
RAP experts keep their finger on the pulse of the energy sector and provide timely analysis of topics impacting stakeholders TODAY.
Filter >>
Content Filter:
July 18, 2018
Elektromobilität – ein Mehrwert für die Stromnetze
Die Stromverteilnetze in Europa arbeiten weit unter ihrem vollen Potenzial. Das Laden von Elektrofahrzeugen kann deshalb weitestgehend ohne zusätzlichen Netzausbau erfolgen, hat das Regulatory Assistance Project (RAP) in einer Kurzanalyse festgestellt. „Intelligente Preisgestaltung und smarte Technologien sind die Schlüssel dafür“,… View Summary +
July 18, 2018
PBR-电力监管新模式
- Camille Kadoch ,
- David Littell ,
- Jessica Shipley
美国电力行业的监管体系已有130年历史,而电网正在迅速实现现代化。电力监管机构需要与时俱进,跟上电网现代化步伐。当前兴起的监管模式是基于绩效的监管,简称PBR。很多州现在都在关注如何将电力公司收入和实现绩效目标的能力联系起来,如何在不同环境下应用PBR,睿博能源智库一直在提供相关建议。我们将撰写一系列文章来讨论21世纪电力监管模式PBR应包含什么元素?并介绍最佳实践,设计依据和具体应用,本文是该系列第一篇。 传统的电力监管模式 当今美国的大多数电力公司都是服务成本(Cost-of-Service)监管。消费者向电力公司支付提供电力服务(例如,输电,配电和其他公用基础设施)的成本,以及投资的规定回报。监管机构的工作是监督这种安排,确保服务安全可靠,电费公平。但这种方法激励了某些行为:受监管的电力公司认识到,通过建设更多的发电,输电,配电和其他基础设施,在下一次电价调价前(rate case)尽可能多的销售电量,这样做可以最大化其收入和利润。这对于需要大量资本投资的大型集中式发电厂体系尤其有效。… View Summary +
July 12, 2018
California’s Mandatory PV Code Amendment: Is It Really Time for This?
- Jim Lazar
The press has been abuzz this summer about the California Energy Commission’s (CEC) new building code amendment that will require most single-family residential and low-rise multi-family dwellings to incorporate PV systems at construction. The amendment takes effect in 2020. Buildings… View Summary +
June 27, 2018
The carbon floor price—a hammer in need of a toolbox
“If your only tool is a hammer, every problem looks like a nail,” goes the saying. In the context of climate policy, the leading hammer is carbon pricing. To many economists and carbon market enthusiasts, putting a price on carbon… View Summary +
June 14, 2018
Brewing Up the Regulation of the Future
- Camille Kadoch ,
- David Littell ,
- Jessica Shipley
The regulatory system that governs U.S. electric utilities is 130 years old—while our power grid is rapidly modernizing. Utility regulators need a tool that can facilitate reform to keep pace with this change. One tool they are increasingly exploring: performance-based… View Summary +
June 11, 2018
Fuel-Switching: We Just Did This in 1990, So Why Are We Doing It Again?
RAP senior advisor Jim Lazar tells a story about doing a cost and environmental analysis on behalf of the Association of Northwest Gas Utilities in 1990, in which he compared space and water heating run on natural-gas-generated electricity to… View Summary +
April 20, 2018
Without ambitious energy efficiency goals, the EU will fail Paris targets
- Jan Rosenow ,
- Stefan Scheuer
The Paris Climate Agreement’s entry into force has clearly not yet spurred policymakers to charge toward the goal of limiting climate change to “well below 2°C” and targeting 1.5°C, warn Dr. Jan Rosenow and Stefan Scheuer. Energy efficiency remains the… View Summary +
April 18, 2018
A Toolkit of Global Insights as China Builds Its Power Sector of the Future
- Max Dupuy ,
- Fredrich (Fritz) Kahrl ,
- Frederick Weston
China’s current power sector reforms began in March 2015 with Document #9, which was followed by the 13th Five-Year Plan and a series of further policies that aim to reduce renewables curtailment and further integrate renewable energy into… View Summary +
April 17, 2018
对中国电力行业发展的四点建议
- Max Dupuy ,
- Fredrich (Fritz) Kahrl ,
- Frederick Weston
中国当前的电力行业改革始于2015年3月颁布的“9号文”,“十三五”规划以及一系列致力于减少限电和提升可再生能源消纳的政策文件紧随其后。尽管中国朝着既定目标已经取得了显著的进步,但政策制定者仍然面临一些严峻挑战,诸如发电产能过剩,可再生能源并网问题,如何达到空气质量目标,实现温室气体减排目标等。 围绕这些问题,睿博能源智库和自然资源保护协会共同总结了以美国为主的国际经验,希望可以为中国的政府部门提供国际视野和应对方案。我们为此准备了4篇文章,分别涉及到可再生能源并网,电力批发市场,电力规划和政府监管领域。… View Summary +
April 16, 2018
Keys to integrating electric vehicles already in hand
- Christos Kolokathis ,
- Michael Hogan
Electricity distribution networks in Europe run at well below their full potential, finds a new study from the Regulatory Assistance Project (RAP). The findings show that the unused network capacity could be utilised for charging electric vehicles with little or… View Summary +