Summary of Recent Clean Energy Publications Prepared for RELACCx | November 2014
I. LATIN AMERICA
Climatescope 2014: Mapping the Global Frontiers for Clean Energy Investment Bloomberg New Energy Finance, Multilateral Investment Fund, UK Dept. for International Development, Power Africa (October 2014): Climatescope surveys and analyzes 26 Latin American and Caribbean nations to evaluate their ability and potential to attract capital for low-carbon energy sources and what has been achieved to date. The report includes a regional overview and individual country profiles. (Español)
Renewables 2014 Global Status Report REN21—Renewable Energy Policy Network for the 21st Century (June 2014): The Renewables Global Status Report provides a comprehensive and timely overview of renewable energy market, industry, investment, and policy developments worldwide. The report covers recent developments, current status, and key trends by sector, by region, and by country. Table 3 provides a country-by-country chart of renewable energy support policies.
Renewable Energy in Latin America and the Caribbean American Council on Renewable Energy—ACORE (April 2014): The growing economies of the Latin American and the Caribbean (LAC) region are ripe for renewable energy development. Present energy issues in the LAC region include high electricity prices, outdated infrastructure, and energy access concerns. Renewable energy has the potential to address these problems. This white paper outlines issues and opportunities for renewable energy development in the region.
A New Paradigm for Caribbean Development: Transitioning to a Green Economy The Caribbean Development Bank (May 2014): Much of the interest in green economy in the Caribbean, as elsewhere, revolves around its implications for the energy sector. Most Caribbean countries want to reduce dependence on fossil fuels through the development of indigenous alternative sources that are more sustainable with significant emphasis on renewable energy and energy efficiency. The main objective of the study is to augment the regional and international dialogue on the Green Economy in the context of inclusive and sustainable development.
The Way Forward For Renewable Energy In Central America Worldwatch Institute (June 2013): The Way Forward for Renewable Energy in Central America focuses on the status of renewable energy technologies in Central America and analyzes the conditions for their advancement in the future. It identifies important knowledge and information gaps and evaluates key finance and policy barriers, making suggestions for how to overcome both. As such, this study is a “roadmap of a roadmap”—it scopes the improvements that need to happen with regard to the key components of a sustainable energy system and establishes the necessary methodology and groundwork for comprehensive national energy strategies. (Español)
II. GLOBAL
The First Decade: 2004-2014: 10 Years of Renewable Energy Progress Renewable Energy Policy Network for the 21st Century – REN21 (November 2014): This report documents the global evolution of renewables since 2004 measuring progress by technology and by region, ending with a look at lessons learned and offering a vision for the future. Since 2004, the number of countries promoting renewable energy with direct policy support has nearly tripled, from 48 to over 140, and an ever-increasing number of developing and emerging countries are setting renewable energy targets and enacting support policies.
Pathways toward Zero-Carbon Electricity Required for Climate Stabilization Office of the Chief Economist, Climate Change Group, World Bank (October 2014): This paper covers policy-relevant aspects of the carbon content of electricity. First, climate stabilization at any level from 2 to 3°C requires electricity to be almost carbon-free by the end of the century. Second, decarbonization of electricity is still possible and required if certain technologies—such as nuclear power or carbon capture and storage—turn out to be unavailable. Third, progressive decarbonization of electricity is part of every country’s cost-effective means of contributing to climate stabilization. In addition, this paper provides cost-effective pathways of the carbon content of electricity. These pathways may be used to benchmark existing decarbonization targets and to assess the desirable uptake rates of electrification technologies, such as electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles, electric stoves and heat pumps, or industrial electric furnaces.
REthinking Energy: Towards a New Power System International Renewable Energy Agency—IRENA (September 2014): REthinking Energy, a new series by IRENA, will explore how renewable energy is financed, produced, distributed and consumed, and will chart the changing relationships it is bringing about between states, corporations and individuals. This first volume focuses upon power sector trends, how the technology is evolving, who is financing it, and the wider benefits it will bring. Finally, it examines what an energy system powered by renewables might look like and how policy makers can further support the transformation.
Measuring the Global Fossil Fuel Divestment Movement Arabella Advisors (September 2014): As of September 2014, institutions, local governments, and individuals representing over $50 billion in assets have pledged to divest from fossil fuels. This report provides details about the scope and scale of fossil fuel divestment commitments made to date.
Fossil fuel divestment: a $5 trillion challenge Bloomberg New Energy Finance (August 2014): This White Paper explores the motivations behind fossil fuel divestment, the scale of existing fossil fuel investments, and potential alternatives for investment re-allocated from oil, gas, and coal stocks to clean energy.
Encouraging Renewable Energy Development: A Handbook for International Energy RegulatorsUSAID & National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (July 2014): Regulators and policymakers in the energy sector face new and exciting challenges presented by renewable energy (RE). RE is gaining ground because it offers the possibility to address energy needs in a sustainable manner. Governments, the public, and local and international organizations are increasingly recognizing the individual, social and environmental harm that conventional energy sources cause as a result of greenhouse gas emissions. Renewable energy offers the promise of continued energy supply without comparable harm. This Handbook seeks to help international regulators as they navigate through the new RE landscape. (Español)
Global Trends in Renewable Energy Investment 2014 Frankfurt School-UNEP Collaborating Centre for Climate & Sustainable Energy Finance, the United Nations Environment Programme and Bloomberg New Energy Finance (April 2014): Global Trends in Renewable Energy Investment 2014 shows that a clean energy future is possible. Diminishing technology costs, innovative financing models and new market players are laying the foundations for increased investment in clean power. In 2013, for the second year in a row, renewables accounted for almost half of new global power generation capacity. While investment declined somewhat due to technology cost reductions and some policy uncertainty, the geographical distribution of renewables continues to widen, particularly in the developing world. In Latin America, the Middle East and Africa, countries are installing projects that produce electricity at costs per megawatt-hour that challenge conventional power sources, often with no subsidy support.