In episode 2, we explored how to build a championship zero-carbon “team” on the grid. We could have the best players in the world — rooftop solar, batteries, net metering, demand response, high-voltage transmission, and so many others — but if the rules prevent these technologies from playing ball, then we won’t be able to decarbonize fast enough.
How do we make sure the rules strike the right balance between innovation and reliability — while making the zero-carbon grid system equitable?
In our fifth episode of season 1, Dr. Melissa Lott explores how the rules of the grid impact everyone.
We’ll look at how the lack of rules in Texas caused an economic disaster for some consumers during this winter’s blackouts. And we’ll discuss how to reform and refine them to support a fast transition to clean energy.
Guests: Deandre Upshaw, Dr. Destenie Nock, and Alison Silverstein.
The Big Switch is produced by Columbia University’s Center on Global Energy Policy in partnership with Post Script Media. Our producers are Daniel Woldorff, Dalvin Aboagye and Stephen Lacey. A special thanks to Kirsten Smith, Genna Morton, Artealia Juilliard and Kyu Lee.
Geothermal energy doesn’t get near the attention that wind and solar do. But to decarbonize…
Energy access is central to reducing poverty. Energy is also critical to developing country efforts to move towards broader prosperity, which are significantly increasing their demand for energy.
There’s been a pretty major shake-up in the world of transit decarbonization. This summer, the…
As global warming mitigation and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions reduction become increasingly urgent to counter climate change, many nations have announced net-zero emission targets as a commitment to rapidly reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
In this episode, a former oil-and-gas man named Efrem Jernigan catches the solar bug. Inspired…
Climate change is one of the central challenges of the 21st century. Building and linking the policies, technologies, financial systems, and markets needed to achieve climate goals is key to addressing this challenge.
On this show we talk a lot about the “big switch” to zero-carbon energy sources….
This commentary represents the research and views of the author. It does not necessarily represent...
Energy security has long been a central objective of energy policy, yet remains poorly understood and defined. Assessing energy security risks, and how they are evolving, is key for both the public and private sector.
State-owned enterprises (SOEs) play a major role in the production of goods and services across many of the world’s largest economies, particularly in electricity generation, oil and gas, and heavy industry.
The global gas market is undergoing a period of profound transformation as a result of new sources of supply, demand, changing trade patterns, and technological and policy shifts. The transition to a low-carbon economy and efforts to curb air pollution are also key policy aims that will impact the role of gas in the future energy mix.
Corporate pledges to purchase renewable electricity have led to significant new solar and wind capacity investments and driven down the carbon intensity of the power sector in the United States.
The clean energy transition requires a substantial study and understanding of financial and economic tools. Leveraging funding is crucial to effectively invest in clean energy innovations—to cut air pollution, reduce dependence on fossil fuels, and fight climate change.
Read the Article Abstract Energy efficiency is seen more often as a means of reducing...
Energy access is central to reducing poverty. Energy is also critical to developing country efforts to move towards broader prosperity, which are significantly increasing their demand for energy.