Category: White Papers

US Energy Zones for Community and State Needs: Brief 

US Energy Zones for Community and State Needs: Brief 

Oct 27, 2026 | ,

Energy Zones are emerging as a proactive statewide planning strategy to identify areas well suited for future energy development. They also create an opportunity to improve how communities participate in planning and how tangible benefits from new infrastructure reach host communities. Today, generation and grid development often proceeds project by project. Communities and local governments may face repeated, uncoordinated engagement from multiple developers, while community benefits are negotiated separately for each project. This can increase demands on communities, push local input later in the planning process, and produce fragmented engagement and benefit outcomes.

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Bridging the Critical Minerals Divide: Briefing

Bridging the Critical Minerals Divide: Briefing

Oct 27, 2026 | ,

The search for secure mineral supplies creates an opening to negotiate how the costs and benefits of the clean transition are shared. While developed economies aim to diversify supply chains and reduce reliance on China, resource-rich countries are pushing for local value creation (beneficiation). For critical mineral partnerships to succeed, importing economies must respond to producer countries’ industrial ambitions while pursuing their own geoeconomic interest. The policy briefing “Bridging the Critical Minerals Divide: Aligning supply security and producer-country development” published by E3G examines why current critical mineral partnerships are struggling to move from diplomatic announcements to delivery.

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Estonia’s Energy Transition: Paper

Estonia’s Energy Transition: Paper

Oct 1, 2026 | , ,

Estonia’s energy transition, driven by the rapid decline of oil shale generation, faces a trilemma between security, affordability, and decarbonization. Using a structural general-equilibrium framework, this paper evaluates the macroeconomic effects of Estonia’s new energy plan, combined with deeper European electricity market integration, EU mitigation policies, the impact of AI-related datacenters and broader electrification pressures. Results show that expanding domestic supply and market integration lowers long-term prices by one-third, increases GDP, reduces import dependence, and supports emissions reduction.

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Policy Resilience in Brazilian Renewable Energy: Brief

Policy Resilience in Brazilian Renewable Energy: Brief

Sep 24, 2026 | , ,

The policy brief titled “Climate and Policy Resilience in Brazilian Renewable Energy” states that the Brazilian context involving a clean-electricity base, a more balanced lobbying landscape, and mounting climate and social pressure, makes it more difficult for the kind of abrupt and unrestrained energy policy swing seen in Colombia. The trend in Brazil tends to be more economically viable for renewables. However, these structural conditions by themselves will not guarantee the success of the transition.

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Scaling Community Energy in the UK: Brief

Scaling Community Energy in the UK: Brief

Sep 24, 2026 | , ,

This SEI brief aims to inform how the UK’s ambition to expand the number of community-owned, renewable energy sources can translate into practical delivery. It outlines key hurdles that community energy efforts face and makes recommendations to overcome them. Its insights are drawn from discussion groups convened for this purpose, bringing together community energy practitioners, support organizations’ representatives, and experts from the sector. The UK has signalled renewed ambition to invest in efforts to accelerate the growth of community-owned energy to help communities “reap the benefits of clean, secure, home-grown energy” (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, 2024).

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Transport Electrification in New York: Brief

Transport Electrification in New York: Brief

Aug 14, 2026 | , ,

Electric utilities and their regulators around the country are working to identify grid infrastructure needs and implement upgrades in time to meet customer electrification demand. Most utilities are working within existing regulatory processes, while some utilities are working to determine new procedures capable of meeting accelerated electrification timelines. With the Proactive Planning proceeding, New York joins California as an early mover in formalizing a process to support electric grid planning. California similarly has several ongoing rulemaking proceedings tasked with preparing the electric grid for an increase in energy demands, including those specific to transportation electrification.

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Bridging Climate Adaptation in Indonesia, Brazil and India: Paper

Bridging Climate Adaptation in Indonesia, Brazil and India: Paper

Aug 7, 2026 | , , ,

The paper examines how the vertical integration of climate change adaptation can be strengthened, using Indonesia, Brazil and India as comparative case studies. The paper provides empirical evidence on common barriers, highlights opportunities and offers practical recommendations for policymakers, planners and development partners on how coordination across governmental levels can be enhanced. The paper highlights how large, decentralised countries such as Indonesia, Brazil and India must overcome fragmented adaptation governance and ensure vertical policy coherence across all governmental levels to facilitate more robust and effective climate adaptation actions.

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Drax completes £548 million acquisition of BSIF in the UK

Drax completes £548 million acquisition of BSIF in the UK

Jul 31, 2026 | , , ,

Drax Group has completed the £548 million acquisition of Bluefield Solar Income Fund Limited (BSIF) in the UK. The transaction adds 900 MW of operating and under-construction solar and wind assets, along with a 2.9 GW gross development pipeline expected to be built over the next decade. Moreover, combined with Drax’s battery energy storage system and other renewable assets, the company’s renewable generation portfolio now exceeds 3 GW of capacity. 

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Carbon Pricing in the Philippines: Paper 

Carbon Pricing in the Philippines: Paper 

Jul 17, 2026 | , ,

The paper reviews the experiences of other governments and applies its own analysis of proposed carbon pricing and carbon market legislation filed in the Philippine House of Representatives under the 20th Congress. Specifically, this paper examines the texts of House Bills (HBs) 1817, 2055, 2481, 3685, 3820, 6407, and 6890, drawing on IISD’s technical submissions to the House Committee on Climate Change and a broader review of related bills filed before the House adjourned on 3 June 2026. The analysis considers factors that typically shape whether carbon pricing and carbon market frameworks work well in practice: whether they reduce emissions, encourage cost-effective decarbonization, remain administratively feasible, maintain support from businesses and the wider public, protect market integrity, and contribute to a just transition. 

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EV Policy Landscape in Vietnam: Brief 

EV Policy Landscape in Vietnam: Brief 

Jun 12, 2026 | , ,

The brief reviews Vietnam’s existing EV policies, including fiscal incentives, supply-side regulations, and supplementary policies supporting EV infrastructure and access, alongside current EV market conditions for passenger cars, two-wheelers, and heavy-duty vehicles. The brief highlights sales volumes grew from 162,000 vehicles in 2019 to 288,000 in 2021 but have since plateaued at approximately 9 percent market share, highlighting the need for supporting policies to drive wider adoption. It also recommends developing a clear, science-based definition of green energy, quick implementation of  mandatory fuel consumption standards for passenger vehicles and two-wheelers, enforcing EV production and sales mandates, providing financial and non-financial incentives to stimulate EV adoption.

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Electric Bus and Truck Market in Brazil: Paper

Electric Bus and Truck Market in Brazil: Paper

May 22, 2026 | , ,

Zero-emission heavy-duty vehicle sales in Brazil reached 1,265 units in 2025, a 48% increase compared with 2024 and the highest level since data began to be collected. Growth, however, was uneven across segments. Zero-emission trucks accounted for just 0.4% of total truck sales. Light and medium trucks (3.5-15 tonnes)-which are mainly used in urban logistics and are less dependent on public charging infrastructure-achieved a 1.7% market share. By contrast, although heavy trucks (15+ tonnes) represented the largest share of HDV sales, with more than 85,000 units sold, their ZEV penetration remained limited at 0.06%.

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Africa and the Energy Transition Politics: Brief

Africa and the Energy Transition Politics: Brief

May 22, 2026 | , ,

The brief analyses the three dominant transition visions currently shaping global climate negotiations: phase out, phase down, and transition away from fossil fuels; and argues that these are not solely technical climate pathways but competing political and economic visions of the future energy system. While momentum to reduce fossil fuels is growing globally, the brief highlights that the transition debate remains deeply contested over issues of equity, development, energy security, finance, and industrial transformation. The brief argues that Africa should avoid aligning rigidly with any single transition narrative.

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Colorado’s EV Ecosystem: Paper

Colorado’s EV Ecosystem: Paper

May 8, 2026 | , ,

The paper evaluates the number, type, and distribution of EV chargers needed to achieve Colorado’s goal of 940,000 electric vehicles (EVs) on its roads by 2030 and 2.1 million by 2035. It was found that the number of non-home Level 2 chargers will need to increase to more than 35,000 by 2030, while non-home DC fast chargers will need to increase to around 2,900 by the same year. By 2035, approximately 55,000 non-home Level 2 and about 4,200 DC fast chargers will be needed to support the growing EV fleet.

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Energy Communities in Colombia: Paper

Energy Communities in Colombia: Paper

Apr 24, 2026 | , ,

This working paper presents an analysis of ECs’ design for climate resilience, grounded in a conceptual framework that examines the interrelationships among energy, water, and food. This analysis identifies and proposes pathways to enhance the long-term sustainability of community energy initiatives and guides their design through a multidimensional, comprehensive analysis that goes beyond energy alone.

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Energy Transition in Mexico: Brief

Energy Transition in Mexico: Brief

Apr 10, 2026 | , ,

Mexico’s trajectory has diverged in recent years due to shifting federal priorities, policy uncertainty, and a re-emphasis on fossil fuels. Although a new administration has created an opening for renewable energy investment and a potential opportunity for investors, Mexico must contend with the political uncertainty generated by mandates for state-owned electricity production, recent cancellations of renewable energy auctions, and constitutional reforms to unlock long-term success in meeting its climate and energy goals.

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UK’s Plans and Progress to Net Zero by 2050: Briefing

UK’s Plans and Progress to Net Zero by 2050: Briefing

Mar 20, 2026 | ,

The UK is committed to reaching net zero by 2050. This means that the total greenhouse gas emissions would be equal to the emissions removed from the atmosphere, with the aim of limiting global warming and resultant climate change. The UK Government has adopted a suite of policies in order to reach net zero. This briefing provides an overview of the background context for net zero, headline policies since 2020, and current progress towards this goal. It gives a breakdown of current net zero policy by some of the key sectors, including stakeholder commentary on this progress.

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Navigating Energy Transition in Brazil, Indonesia and South Africa: Briefing

Navigating Energy Transition in Brazil, Indonesia and South Africa: Briefing

Feb 20, 2026 | , , , ,

Brazil, Indonesia, and South Africa diverge in important ways: Brazil is a net crude oil exporter with a commodity-dependent growth model; Indonesia relies heavily on domestically produced coal but remains a major importer of oil products; and South Africa is a net importer of most fossil fuels and faces a protracted electricity crisis driven by the decline of its coal-based utility system. This briefing provides a snapshot of political economy insights relating to dynamics around energy security in Brazil, Indonesia, and South Africa.

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Industrial Transformation in ASEAN: Paper

Industrial Transformation in ASEAN: Paper

Jan 16, 2026 | , ,

ASEAN countries have set bold renewable and net-zero targets not just to cut emissions but to strengthen energy and fiscal resilience. Implementation, however, remains uneven. This white paper by the World Economic Forum highlights that fragmented governance, high financing costs and divergent national priorities continue to slow progress, leaving a gap between regional ambition and tangible outcome. Closing this gap requires greater alignment, coordination and practical mechanisms for collective action.

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UK Energy Trends: Paper

UK Energy Trends: Paper

Jan 16, 2026 | , ,

Total primary energy consumption for energy uses fell by 3.6 per cent, with record low quarterly demand from nuclear generators the main driver for the fall in consumption. In the third quarter of 2025 dependency on fossil fuels was 72.6 per cent, up 0.5 percentage points on the same quarter of 2024. The low carbon share was 23.6 per cent in the third quarter of 2025, down 0.7 percentage points on the same quarter of 2024, due to the fall in nuclear output. 

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Value Chain Decarbonization in Asia: Paper

Value Chain Decarbonization in Asia: Paper

Dec 26, 2025 | , ,

Value chain decarbonization is one of the most complex and significant frontiers of corporate action. For Asia, this challenge is especially significant: the region’s economies are deeply interconnected through trade, manufacturing, and resource and capital flows, making them essential to the world’s collective net-zero pathway. This white paper highlights the opportunities along the value chains of Asian businesses, and outlines the immediate actions enterprises can take, as well as exploring long-term strategies for success.

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