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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.
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March 1, 2022
How heat pump sales are starting to take off around the world
Experts see heat pumps as one of the main solutions for tackling the carbon emissions associated with keeping buildings warm, both in the UK and internationally. Yet sales of the technology, often likened to a… View Summary +
![2012-2021](https://www.raponline.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/carbon-brief-heat-pumps-wordpress-680x420.jpeg)
February 28, 2022
Environmental Regulations and the “No Regrets” Approach: A Refresher for Utility Generators
- John Shenot ,
- David Farnsworth
Many of us have a hard time keeping track of where our federal government stands on environmental issues, especially when viewed through a political lens or from the perspective of the popular press. For example, in 2016 we signed… View Summary +
![](https://www.raponline.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/6642678299_5820214f9e_o-680x420.jpg)
February 9, 2022
Europe needs smart charging of all EVs now
A recent pan-European survey found that consumers prefer electric vehicles (EVs) over conventional cars. Last month’s EV sales surpassed those of diesel models in Europe for the first time. Charging the growing number of EVs at our homes, workplaces… View Summary +
![charging cable plugged into black electric vehicle](https://www.raponline.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/pxl-smart-charging-680x420.jpg)
January 31, 2022
The Complex Landscape of Net Metering Reform in California: Ensuring A Smart TOU Rate Foundation
California, long a leader in rooftop solar, is now wrestling with the complications — as illustrated by the current debate over the California Public Utility Commission’s proposed decision on “net energy metering 3.0,” released last month. Before the end of… View Summary +
![The Complex Landscape of Net Metering Reform in California: Ensuring A Smart TOU Rate Foundation|PG&E summer price structure under the EV2-A rate in 2021|Hawaiian Electric Residential TOU Rate for January 2022||](https://www.raponline.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/rooftop-solar-take-2-680x420.jpeg)
December 21, 2021
The Complex Landscape of Net Metering Reform in California: Why an Installed Capacity Charge?
Rooftop solar in California has grown from an infant industry two decades ago to a 10-gigawatt resource that contributes significantly to customer and electric system needs today. The state is blessed with ample sunshine in many regions, and its urgency… View Summary +
![Solar panels on rooftops in California](https://www.raponline.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/california-net-metering-680x420.jpg)
November 28, 2021
解锁一体化区域电力市场的收益
- Kevin Porter ,
- Max Dupuy
中国的风能和太阳能装机容量仍居世界领先地位,总装机容量超过500吉瓦。此外,中国承诺在2030年前达到碳排放峰值,并在2060年前实现碳中和,为此,中国制定了到2030年,风能和太阳能发电总装机容量达到1200吉瓦,即从2020年起每年新增约80吉瓦可再生能源发电的目标。由此,电网公司也面临着更多风能和太阳能并网所带来的挑战。尽管每个国家的政策、机制和技术情况不尽相同,随着可再生能源的渗透率提高,世界各地的电网运行商和政策制定者将面临类似的挑战。中国已经在消纳风能和太阳能发电方面取得了令人印象深刻的进展,但正如一些研究中提到的,要确保所有这些机制良好地协同工作,还有很多工作要做。 世界各地应对这些挑战的一个基本方法,对中国来说也同样至关重要,那就是建立更多的区域市场,脱离以省为单位的调度方式并向区域经济调度过渡。区域经济调度是指以最小化短期运行成本(理想情况下包括排放的社会成本)为目的运行区域电力系统。在一些地区,如中国西北地区,基于省级的电力调度意味着各省级调度中心在更大地理范围平衡可再生能源和水力发电的作用会受限。… View Summary +
![](https://www.raponline.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/regional-market-680x420.jpeg)
November 6, 2021
EU’s buildings directive should give EV owners the right to a smart plug
- Jaap Burger ,
- Luka De Bruyckere
The electrification of mobility is in full swing. As electric vehicles (EV) become ever more popular, public charging points are spreading – their numbers have doubled in the last two years in the EU. But public charging points alone will… View Summary +
![Electric vehicle charging station](https://www.raponline.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/electric-vehicle-charging-station-680x420.jpg)
November 5, 2021
Worüber keiner reden will: Der bevorstehende Abschied vom Gasnetz
- Andreas Jahn ,
- Barbara Saerbeck
Die Gasindustrie investiert aktuell, was das Zeug hält. 2019 flossen rund 2,5 Milliarden Euro in den Aus- und Neubau der deutschen Gasnetze (BNetzA Monitoring-Bericht). Bis 2030 sind laut Netzentwicklungsplan Gas allein für die Ferngasnetze weitere 2,2 Milliarden Euro vorgesehen,… View Summary +
![gas pipeline on construction site in Germany surrounded by dirt trees and a transmission tower](https://www.raponline.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/tagesspiegel-gas-network-agora-rap-wordpress-680x420.jpg)
November 1, 2021
It’s Time to Consider the (Non-Pipeline) Alternatives
For many years, the topic of regulation of gas distribution utilities has been far from the limelight and has not received the kind of attention that electric utility regulation attracts. But there are an increasing number of reasons to take… View Summary +
![||](https://www.raponline.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/NPAs-featured-scaled-1-680x420.jpg)
October 21, 2021
分时上网电价:无现货市场省份的一种选择
- Regulatory Assistance Project
国家发改委最近发布的《关于进一步完善分时电价机制的通知》中(以下简称“通知”),包括了对尚未建立电力现货市场省份的指示。对于这些省份,通知要求签订的月度和年度合同中的购电价格可在一天内甚至在不同季节有相应变化。 该政策提供了一个可以改善对非现货市场省份发电机组激励措施的机会,让这些省份发电机组的补偿能够随着一天各时段甚至季度而变化——也就是说,根据预设的时间段和价格水平为发电机提供“随时间变化”的发电上网价格,这样的政策将有助于提高系统效率、降低成本并支持可变可再生能源并网。 本文简要概述了对发电机组的分时上网定价,以及在当前非现货市场省份的监管和市场环境下,分时上网电价如何在实践中运作。本文认为,在那些尚未实施电力现货市场的省份,实行分时上网电价的改革可能为过渡到更有效的金融合同和更高效的电力调度提供了机会。最终,实施精心设计的现货市场可能是所有省份的最佳选择,但这里讨论的分时上网定价会是一个有用的渐进步骤。… View Summary +
![](https://www.raponline.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/buildings-6053886_1920-680x420.jpg)