CSR For Energy Sector

We just published our 𝐄𝐮𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐂𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐄𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐲 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤– a practical guide to help companies move from climate ambition to executable clean electricity strategies across EU markets into the Sustainability Exchange https://lnkd.in/eK9PDr_C • 𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐬𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬: it connects regulatory pressure (CSRD and national rules), investor expectations, and net‑zero targets with concrete choices on GOs, green tariffs, on‑site renewables, and PPAs. • 𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐛𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬: it translates complex local market realities into clear pathways for site‑level action, risk management, and cost visibility. This playbook, developed by the Clean Energy Buyers Association (CEBA) through extensive research, aims to make it easier for SMEs in Europe (and any other company size too in early stages of their strategy) to accelerate progress on their carbon-free energy journey. The playbook walks teams through 𝚏̲𝚒̲𝚟̲𝚎̲ 𝚜̲𝚝̲𝚎̲𝚙̲𝚜̲: (1) clarifying the 𝐰𝐡𝐲, (2) understanding the 𝐥𝐨𝐚𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐢𝐥𝐞, (3) mapping 𝐚𝐯𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐦𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐦𝐬 by country, (4) designing a 𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐟𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐨, and (5) turning it into an 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐝𝐦𝐚𝐩 with timelines and responsibilities. If you’re responsible for decarbonising operations in Europe or need to make informed decisions on clean power procurement, I’d love your feedback and examples of how you’re tackling this in your own organisation! #Sustainability #CleanEnergy #Decarbonization #CorporateSustainability #theclimatepledge

The biggest barrier to clean energy isn’t technology. It’s trust. In this powerful post, our friends Jigar Shah and Jonathan Drobis remind us that building solar farms and wind turbines isn’t the hard part; it’s getting the local community to say yes. And right now, we’re losing that fight more often than we’d like to admit. 👀 If you read onward, here’s what you’ll learn: -Why “social license” matters more than permits or policy -How failing to engage communities early can kill even the best-designed projects -What it takes to earn long-term support, not just short-term approvals -Real examples of what’s working, and what’s not This isn’t just about showing up with a community benefits package. It’s about building real relationships, listening first, and ensuring people feel seen in the energy transition, not displaced by it. With the work we are doing in Hawaii, we’ve found that trust moves at the speed of relationships. Our projects start with families, not financing. Because when the community leads, the system lasts. Whether you're a developer, policymaker, or advocate, this is a must-read. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/gggg7bTk

The number of prosumers is growing rapidly, which is a good thing. But without the right incentives, we risk repeating the mistakes of other European markets, where explosive growth later led to complete blockages. 🗣️ That is why, as I said on Friday at the annual conference organized by InvestEnergy, it is important to encourage prosumers to use the energy they produce and to invest in storage solutions. Right now, large prosumers are exempted from paying balancing costs, but these costs end up being paid by everyone else. If a prosumer receives the same price for injected energy as for consumed energy, there is no incentive to invest in batteries. I know there is a lot of discussion about dynamic tariffs, which we at E.ON, for example, already offer. But if the prosumer law does not allow or even discourages such incentive mechanisms, we will not see the right reaction from the market. ⚡ Furthermore, according to the law, the average value paid out to prosumers is higher than the real value of the energy injected. Last summer, for example, prosumers with installations of 200–400 kW were paid 62 bani/kWh, while the actual value of the energy injected during the day was only 32 bani/kWh. The difference is again charged to everyone else. Last but not least, as prosumers consume less energy from the grid, they also pay less for the grid than before, but grid costs are rising in order to enable their connection. These costs too are covered by everyone else. I also mentioned the misleading commercial strategy of Hidroelectrica, which sells electricity below market price to final customers, with the effect that less competitive energy reaches the wholesale market. While some customers may be happy, this pushes prices up for everyone else –  especially if Hidroelectrica sells more energy below market price than it produces and then buys the difference from the market, driving it further up. Either it is a commercial strategy to attract customers with cheap prices and raise them later, or it is a poor strategy that destroys shareholder value. What we actually need is for Hidroelectrica to invest and successfully complete more power plant projects that Romania urgently needs. Here are some very concrete proposals on how to bring down electricity prices for everyone, not just for some: ➡️ Review the prosumer law by introducing incentives for storage. ➡️ Urgently introduce a binomial tariff for electricity distribution. ➡️ Ensure that no company, whether state-owned or private, artificially distorts the wholesale market with negative social impacts and lower competitiveness of the Romanian economy. ➡️ Improve the regulatory framework for distributors to allow stronger grids and better integration of renewables. Otherwise, we risk creating a completely unnecessary social problem. #energy #prosumers #pricecap #liberalization

New Review paper out of the SPICE lab titled "Incorporating energy justice and equity objectives in power system models." Co-authored with Teagan Goforth, PhD and Todd Levin. Power system models (PSMs) are vital tools for planning and optimizing the future of our electricity systems, influencing policy, investment, and infrastructure decisions. However, many current models overlook energy justice and equity considerations, leaving these critical priorities out of the decision-making process. Our latest review tackles this gap by: ✅ Summarizing 99 papers on energy justice & PSMs ✅ Identifying 10 core aspects of the power system that impact equity ✅ Proposing 4 research directions to better integrate energy justice in modeling This work addresses key challenges posed by United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 7 & 13, ensuring that energy access is affordable, sustainable, and just. Remember the question isn't just how to transition to clean energy—but how to do so equitably. Explore the review at this link: https://lnkd.in/dedHJzFp #EnergyJustice #SustainableDevelopment #EnergyTransition #PowerSystemsModeling #EquitableEnergy #SystemsModeling

Affordable and Fair Clean Energy Transitions: Key Insights from the IEA Report The International Energy Agency (IEA) has released a comprehensive report on making clean energy transitions both affordable and fair. Here are some crucial takeaways: 1. Cost-Competitive Technologies: Many clean energy technologies, like solar and wind, are already cheaper over their lifetime compared to fossil fuels. However, high upfront costs remain a barrier for many households. 2. Policy Interventions: Effective policies are essential. Examples include grants for energy efficiency retrofits and minimum energy performance standards that make high-efficiency appliances more accessible. 3. Equity in Transitions: Without targeted policies, low-income households risk being left behind. Programs in countries like France and the UK focus on making clean energy accessible to lower-income households. 4. Private Investment: Large-scale private investment is crucial. Public funds should be used strategically to attract private finance, especially in developing economies. 5. Managing Price Shocks: Clear, well-sequenced policies are needed to minimize the risk of sudden price shocks during transitions. 6. Long-Term Goals: Setting clear long-term objectives while being vigilant about short-term risks is essential for successful transitions. In My view: The IEA report underscores the importance of well-designed policies and strategic investments to ensure that clean energy transitions are both affordable and equitable. The focus on reducing upfront costs and targeting support to vulnerable households is particularly crucial. However, the challenge remains in mobilizing sufficient private investment and managing the risks associated with rapid transitions. What do you think are the most effective policies for ensuring clean energy access for all? Share your thoughts below! #CleanEnergy #EnergyTransition #climateAction #sustainability, #IEA #AffordableEnergy #EquityInEnergy

Fossil fuel supporters often criticize clean energy subsidies, but let's look at #fossilfuel subsidies. Last year, these surged to a record $7 trillion, driven by governments supporting consumers and businesses amid rising energy prices. As we aim to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, subsidies for #oil, #coal, and #naturalgas are costing 7.1% of global GDP—more than annual education spending (4.3%) and nearly two-thirds of healthcare spending (10.9%). Removing these subsidies and imposing corrective taxes would raise fuel prices, prompting consideration of environmental costs in consumption and investment decisions. This could significantly reduce carbon emissions, result in cleaner air, and create more fiscal space for governments. Estimates show that eliminating fossil-fuel subsidies could prevent 1.6 million premature deaths annually, increase government revenues by $4.4 trillion, and align emissions with global warming targets. Additionally, it would address income inequality, as current subsidies disproportionately benefit wealthier households. It's time to rethink where our subsidies go and consider their broader impact on our planet and future. Click the link to learn more from the International Monetary Fund. #cleanenergytranstion #cleanenergyrevolution #nxtgen David Dodge Himani Bhatt Lexie Assunto Rajeshwar Bachu Darius Nassiry Chad Stephens Katharine Hayhoe NXTGEN Clean Energy Solutions

🚀 Reforming Australia’s energy markets: A $19 billion DER opportunity 💰 My submission to the National Electricity Market (#NEM) Wholesale Market Review, prepared for Solar Citizens, outlines how outdated rules and market design are stifling $19 billion in net benefits from distributed energy resources (#DER) by 2040. As pv magazine Australia highlights, this isn’t just about rooftop solar—it’s about redesigning markets to prioritise DER as critical infrastructure for affordability, reliability, and decarbonisation. DER—including solar, batteries, EVs, and flexible demand—could deliver: $11 billion in avoided network costs (poles, wires, substations), and $8 billion in reduced large-scale generation/storage needs. 20% of contingency FCAS raise is already provided by aggregated DER today. Yet current market rules and network revenue regulation: * Impose 1MW bid minimums, reducing competition * Lock households and SMEs out of the wholesale demand response mechanism * Let networks prioritise costly infrastructure over DER solutions * Include no minimum demand equivalent of the RERT (emergency peak supply), and * Are not designed for a majority renewable electricity system. See my submission for the details of this series of principles to support the participation of aggregated DER in markets: * Market design should be prepared from first principles * Value resilience to extreme weather events in reliability * Consider how greater deployment of SAPS and microgrids could be facilitated * Ensure fair and non-discriminatory access for all forms of aggregation to all markets and regulatory procurement * Ensure equitable, fair compensation * Facilitate robust competition, especially through the lowest reasonable minimum bid sizes *Establish the best way to manage minimum demand * Enable value stacking to maximise benefits Ensuring fair and inclusive consumer participation: * Voluntary consumer participation * Tiered participation options * Ensure appropriate consumer protections, including transparency about benefit splits Technical and regulatory enablers of #ADER: * Create open data and open communication protocols, use open-source software, make detailed network data available and allow third party access to real-time smart meter data with consumers’ permission * Implement Dynamic Operating Envelopes * Upgrade Market Systems #EnergyPolicy #RooftopSolar #NEMReform #aggregatedDER Integrate To Zero, IEEFA Australia, The Superpower Institute, UTS Institute for Sustainable Futures, NSW Decarbonisation Innovation Hub, Blunomy, Tim Nelson, Paula Conboy, NACD.DC GAICD

🧾 Why are bills and tariffs such a big deal for renewable takeover? Energy bills are where policy meets everyday life. They directly shape public trust in the climate neutrality agenda. But when renewable energy is perceived as inaccessible or unaffordable, people lose faith in the transition. The truth is: • Poorly designed tariffs worsen inequalities and hit vulnerable households hardest. • The energy price crisis and climate extremes like the record-breaking summer of 2024 have shown how social, economic, and ecological issues are interconnected. What is wrong with current tariffs? • Renewable energy cost advantages often do not reach households. • Dynamic tariffs—while promising—are out of reach for many, especially those facing financial or technological barriers. What do fair tariffs look like? They need to: • Protect households from price shocks (remember the energy supply crisis during the Russia-Ukraine war?). • Promote energy savings and load-shifting during times of low renewable production. • Ensure affordable renewable energy access, especially for low-income families. Examples of what works: • Italy’s on-bill financing for energy efficiency. • Greece’s appliance voucher program. Both show how tailored programs can help people use energy smarter while supporting renewables. Key recommendations: 1. Simplify tariffs so people can understand them. 2. Promote dynamic pricing with tools like sub-metering and granular consumption data. 3. Link network costs to market signals without unfairly burdening households. 4. Use tax policies to support renewables and introduce safeguards like basic supply rights or block tariffs. 5. Involve vulnerable groups in tariff design through citizens’ panels and consumer organizations. What is at stake? Without fair tariffs, we risk leaving too many behind in the energy transition. Let us work toward solutions that balance affordability, climate action, and equity. I am incredibly grateful for having had the opportunity to dig into this critical topic for the past 6 months, and share these key points today at such at the launch event of Boosting Participation in the Energy Transition: Five Action Areas for the New EU Policy Cycle, a report by the Green European Foundation and Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung European Union, Brussels It was inspiring to exchange ideas with so many brilliant minds committed to accelerating the energy transition. For a deeper dive into these recommendations, and discover the other briefs, read the full report here: https://lnkd.in/diY8KiNq A big thanks to the incredible team who made this report and event possible, Taube Van Melkebeke Matthew Jones and Joerg M.. The perfect way to end a busy week in Brussels! What should fair energy tariffs look like? Let me know your thoughts below!

Policy needs more than flexibility targets; it needs tools that show what consumer-led flexibility (#CLF) looks like on the ground. In our new paper, Saeed Adelipour and I present a hyperlocal framework for citizen-led local energy systems that evaluates #fairness, #selfsufficiency, #resilience, and cost efficiency together. The paper develops a hyperlocal optimisation and assessment framework for local energy communities, with a focus on fairness, resilience, self-sufficiency, and cost efficiency. It also introduces a 🧬genome-style community model to represent differences in assets, flexibility, and participation readiness across households. This is highly relevant to #CleanPower2030 and the #CleanFlexibilityRoadmap. If the UK wants consumer-led flexibility to scale, policy must be able to test not only capacity growth, but also participation readiness, tariff design, fair access, local trading, and whether communities actually benefit. Our proposed Flexibility-and-Fairness (#FnF) framework helps do exactly that. It can support policy development by testing: 👉 how different households participate in local energy systems; 👉 how incentives and pricing affect fairness and uptake; 👉 how EVs, batteries, local trading, and demand response improve self-sufficiency and resilience; 👉 which communities may need targeted support, rather than one-size-fits-all policy assumptions. This is the kind of tool that can help connect national flexibility ambition with local implementation reality. Preprint of the paper is on SSRN: https://lnkd.in/eAx3i5Z5 I would welcome views from colleagues working on flexibility policy, local energy markets, consumer protection, and just transition. #CleanPower2030 #Flexibility #EnergyPolicy #LocalEnergy #JustTransition DriVe2X | Salford Business School | The University of Salford #InnovatingToEnrichLives

On NERC’s Net Billing Regulations Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC)’s net billing regulation is a bold, forward-thinking policy with potential for tremendous value if well implemented: increased capacity, energy cost reduction, ROI for prosumers, demand side management, grid flexibility, reduced central CAPEX, etc. Here is my contribution for consideration in this proposed regulation. Impact of sectoral transformation With the current dynamics in NESI, the regulatory oversight over distribution (33kV and below), where the net billing framework applies mostly, is with state regulators. This will make this regulation largely non-binding at the state level. The efficacy of this law, therefore, lies with state regulators. An inclusive framework with state regulators is therefore essential for consistent and ubiquitous implementation. The fragile Infrastructure Today, the Nigerian grid lacks feeder-level visibility and a SCADA-based control system for efficient system operations. Injecting energy from prosumers without a real-time monitoring mechanism may intensify grid instability. A robust infrastructure protection and control system, as well as flexible resources, is critical and must be in place before deploying this net billing framework. Network Saturation I envisage a situation where the network is saturated with prosumers. NERC should define how long and conditions a prosumer can be off the grid before they can be “yanked” off to accept new and willing prosumers. This leads to another point: the need to clarify that a NERC-approved connection agreement between a prosumer and licensee is not perpetual, but rather time-bound. Equity First, to increase participation and access, the lower limit should be 5kW capacity, rather than the current 50kW. For a system that lacks capacity, it is beneficial to remove connectivity charges for the low-capacity and residential prosumers (up to 50kW) who are connected to the “low voltage” distribution networks. Instead, a rate can be instituted to help cover this connection and administrative fees, which will help spread out this OPEX for prosumers, especially with the immense upfront CAPEX required for metering, protection, and control systems, among other expenses. This will ensure equitable participation, extending beyond high-income urban centers to enable accessibility and affordability in semi-urban and rural areas. In all, it is an exciting time in NESI. This regulation requires multilevel regulatory collaboration, infrastructure upgrades, and equity safeguards to translate this policy from paper to real impact. Francis Emechete #Nigeria #electricity