Category: Knowledge Center America

Decarbonizing Brazil’s Ammonia Fertilizer Supply Chain: Report

Decarbonizing Brazil’s Ammonia Fertilizer Supply Chain: Report

January 2, 2026 | , , , ,

Brazil’s endowment of renewable energy resources provides an opportunity to progress the PNF domestic production goals with cost-competitive low-carbon fertilizer production. Analysis indicates green ammonia and fertilizer prices are cost-competitive with blue and  grey in some locations with favorable conditions. There is a clear need for bold, early action with effective levers to overcome the challenges and bring  this opportunity to reality to transform Brazil’s fertilizer supply from import-dependent to self-sustaining, competitive, and climate-aligned. 

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Net Zero Mobility in Brazil: Brief

Net Zero Mobility in Brazil: Brief

December 24, 2025 | , , ,

Brazil recently published a new climate plan for public consultation, the Plano Clima Mitigação Estratégia Nacional, a mitigation and adaptation strategy defining key policies and sector-specific targets for the next 10 years (to 2035). The mitigation plans highlight electric vehicles (EVs) and biofuels as central to decarbonizing transportation but do not include clear electrification targets or guidelines on how to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. This research brief seeks to determine the most effective pathway for mitigating road transport GHG emissions in Brazil.

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Impact of EV Transition on Automotive Jobs in US: Report

Impact of EV Transition on Automotive Jobs in US: Report

December 19, 2025 | , ,

More than 1 million workers are directly involved in the manufacturing of automobiles and automotive parts across the United States. This report examines how the transition from internal combustion engine vehicles to battery electric vehicles (BEV) will impact automotive manufacturing jobs. It provides insights into the types of at-risk and in-demand occupations and skill sets, workforce training needs, geographic distribution of investment and jobs, and job quality concerns.

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Interconnection Queue Rationing Across US Grid: Report

Interconnection Queue Rationing Across US Grid: Report

December 12, 2025 | , ,

This report explores the growing trend of interconnection queue rationing across four major regional transmission organizations (RTOs) and independent system operators (ISOs)—PJM Interconnection LLC (PJM), the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO), Southwest Power Pool (SPP), and the California Independent System Operator (CAISO). Each has adopted distinct approaches to prioritize projects and manage limited transmission capacity.

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Maryland’s Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard: Report

Maryland’s Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard: Report

December 4, 2025 | , ,

The Maryland RPS Program is designed to support a stable and predictable market for energy generated from renewables, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and eliminate carbon–fueled generation from the State’s electric grid, and to lower the cost to consumers of electricity produced from these resources. Increasing reliance upon renewable energy technologies to satisfy electric power requirements can result in long-term emission reductions, increased fuel diversity, and economic benefits to the State.

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New Jersey’s Energy Master Plan: Report

New Jersey’s Energy Master Plan: Report

November 28, 2025 | ,

The 2024 EMP was developed during a period of rapid change and growing complexity in the U.S. energy landscape. For the first time in two decades, national electricity demand is increasing annually, a trend expected to accelerate. In addition, New Jersey is navigating significant shifts within the PJM regional electricity market, including evolving resource adequacy rules and market design changes that are influencing electricity costs statewide. In the coming years, New Jersey will have to remain focused on energy affordability.

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Energy Sector Roadmap to Net Zero Emissions in Colombia: Report

Energy Sector Roadmap to Net Zero Emissions in Colombia: Report

November 21, 2025 | , ,

The report aims to provide Colombian and international stakeholders with a clear outline of how Colombia can achieve net zero emissions, the role the energy sector can play, and the needed actions and investments. Colombia is the world’s tenth-largest coal producer, with reserves that could supply the country for more than 50 years. The total energy demand in Colombia almost doubled from 2000 to 2024. Modern bioenergy has played an increasing role in the mix. The country has strong potential from solar and wind, yet in 2024 these sources accounted for less than 1% of the energy supply. 

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Energy Transition Outlook for South America: Report

Energy Transition Outlook for South America: Report

November 12, 2025 | , ,

South America’s energy transition requires substantial investments in storage, back-up capacity and new grid infrastructure to manage variability and maintain reliability. Hydropower has traditionally provided the flexibility necessary to balance the system, but long-term uncertainty around water resources and the heightened risk of droughts due to climate change mean that complementary sources of back-up will be essential.

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Energising E-Truck Charging Facilities in US: Brief

Energising E-Truck Charging Facilities in US: Brief

November 6, 2025 | , , ,

Electric utilities and their regulators in areas with high electricity rates face tension between being obligated to support decarbonization and electrification objectives but also keep rates affordable for consumers. These competing objectives create an information gap and can slow down decision-making for regulators, utilities, and businesses. The brief finds that the estimated total cost of a small depot charging facility prototype is $7.9 million, a medium charging facility is $15.4 million, and a large prototype has a total cost of $15 million.

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Boosting Investment in Seattle’s Charging Infrastructure: Brief

Boosting Investment in Seattle’s Charging Infrastructure: Brief

October 30, 2025 | , , ,

The City of Seattle and Seattle City Light have made supporting transportation electrification a core priority for the years ahead. Although still nascent, ZE-MHDVs have the potential to be a significant source of new load for City Light because fleets serving the Ports of Seattle and Tacoma are expected to electrify over the next 10–15 years. This brief assesses existing strategic plans guiding City Light’s approach to transportation electrification.

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Brazil’s Biofuel Experience: Report

Brazil’s Biofuel Experience: Report

October 24, 2025 | , , ,

Brazil’s experience, particularly with bioethanol, exemplifies a compelling model for sustainable decarbonisation. It offers a low-cost and competitive pathway, significantly contributing to global energy transitions. By fostering market competition through a conducive regulatory environment and strategically employing tax policies to influence fuel consumption, Brazil actively supports the shift towards biofuels. This report focuses on the Brazilian experience and perspectives on ethanol, biodiesel and some advanced biofuels.

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Lithium Value Chain in Chile: Report

Lithium Value Chain in Chile: Report

October 17, 2025 | , , ,

The trajectory of Chile’s lithium mining industry is important for both the global battery electric vehicle transition and the country’s sustainable economic development ambitions. The report explores the economic potential of lithium mining and estimates the additional revenue and job potential if Chile were to onshore additional parts of the battery production supply chain. Further, the analysis assesses the GHG emissions intensity, water consumption, and social impacts of lithium mining and battery production in Chile.

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Outlook for the US Solar Sector: Paper

Outlook for the US Solar Sector: Paper

October 10, 2025 | , , ,

The first half of 2025 has seen significant and widespread changes made to federal energy policy and incentives available to the development of new wind and solar resources, which will cause a meaningful reduction in installations over at least the next decade and create heightened uncertainty for new development activity for some time to come. While this creates a challenging outlook for development and construction of new solar assets, in contrast it does result in a potentially improved outlook for existing, operational solar assets.

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Emerging Grid Risks and Resilience Gains in US: Report

Emerging Grid Risks and Resilience Gains in US: Report

September 19, 2025 | , , ,

The North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC), the electricity reliability organisation (ERO) designated by the Federal Electricity Regulatory Commission (FERC), has released its 2025 State of Reliability (SOR) overview, providing a high-level summary of the performance of the bulk power system (BPS) during 2024. This assessment offers a data-driven evaluation of reliability, identifies emerging risks, and informs policymakers, regulators, and industry leaders on actions required to safeguard the resilience and security of the electricity grid.

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Californians and the Energy Transition: Report

Californians and the Energy Transition: Report

September 17, 2025 | , ,

Two-thirds of adults (67%) and likely voters (66%) favor reducing greenhouse gas emissions to 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2030; slightly fewer favor all the state’s electricity to come from renewable energy sources by the year 2045 (62% adults; 60% likely voters). However, 59 percent of Californians are not willing to pay more for electricity generated by renewable energy sources. Half or more say that the current price of gasoline (52% adults) and the rising cost of natural gas and electric utility bills (55% adults) is a major problem personally for them.

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US Utility Planning for Transport Electrification: Report

US Utility Planning for Transport Electrification: Report

September 15, 2025 | , , ,

The US electricity distribution grid is at a critical inflection point. Widespread electrification, especially of transportation is creating a surge in demand that is arriving quickly and unevenly. In key locations, such as warehouse districts, highway corridors, and dense urban zones, electric vehicle (EV) charging is poised to use a significant share of available grid capacity. Current connection speeds may delay activation of chargers, impeding access to clean mobility and potentially leading to further increases in costs for customers.

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Optimising US Grid for Power Demand: Paper

Optimising US Grid for Power Demand: Paper

September 12, 2025 | , ,

The power sector is facing the highest level of growing demand in decades. This whitepaper examines the significant challenges facing the US power sector as it experiences unprecedented demand growth. It identifies practical solutions that enable the power system to accommodate this load growth in a timely and cost-effective manner aligned with public policy goals. It focuses on actionable, near- and medium-term strategies that maximise the value of the existing grid and improve investment planning for future infrastructure needs.

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Brazil’s Energy Transition Legacy in the Run-up to COP30: Report

Brazil’s Energy Transition Legacy in the Run-up to COP30: Report

September 5, 2025 | , ,

Brazil has taken a leading role in positioning the just energy transition within the framework of the G20 in 2024. Seeking to continue these trajectories and project its global leadership, the South American country formulated three priorities in the G20 agenda linked to energy transition. The objective of this report is to characterise Brazil’s leadership capacity in the G20 by positioning the energy transition narrative as a way to observe changes and continuities within the processes at the BRICS Forum and COP30 in 2025. 

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Environmental Permits for Renewables in US: Paper

Environmental Permits for Renewables in US: Paper

August 29, 2025 | , ,

This paper “Taking Green Energy Projects to Court: NEPA Review and Court Challenges to Renewable Energy” by Resources for the Future highlights that nearly a third of solar projects and half of wind projects completing NEPA environmental impact statement reviews faced court challenges. Almost all cases were filed after the government agencies had issued their permitting decisions.

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Climate Finance Tracking for Brazil: Report

Climate Finance Tracking for Brazil: Report

August 21, 2025 | , ,

In order to mobilize international resources to further Brazil’s climate agenda, the Brazilian government has adopted a series of initiatives. The country has also issued sustainable sovereign bonds and resumed the Amazon Fund. The common objective of these initiatives is to leverage international resources for financing climate projects and to create favorable investment conditions to drive foreign private capital to projects aligned with the national climate agenda.

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