From next year, all new company cars in Belgium must be emission-free. From 2027 onwards, companies offering cars to their employees will also need to provide all enployees with the option of a mobility budget, which incentivises modal shift, remote working and electric car-sharing.
🚨OUT TODAY: “Tipping the balance: Cheaper electricity is needed to drive clean heating.”
Heat pumps are the backbone of clean energy in buildings: efficient, low-carbon, and clean. But they’ll only take off if households and businesses see clear financial benefits.
Read more: bit.ly/48Gx1e1
🚨Just released🚨
'Tipping the balance: Cheaper electricity is needed to drive clean heating'
Our brand new globally focussed paper looks at the role of energy pricing in delivering clean heat uptake and provides examples of what has been done to reduce electricity prices.
💡 New from RAP: “Why wait for the next energy crisis? Enjoy the benefits of flexibility today.”
The U.S. can take a cue from the EU, where recent policies have driven a 250% increase in residential smart tariffs.
Shawn Enterline, @vermontdcf.bsky.social and @jaapburger.eu explain:
bit.ly/3EjHMqu
New today: China has released its first national-level plan to promote heat pumps — a big step for this clean energy tech. @jingchen.bsky.social and Max Dupuy break down what’s in the policy and what’s still unclear.
Read more: bit.ly/4cvC9Cm
🔆 China’s first national Heat Pump Action Plan is here — and it could be a major milestone in the country’s decarbonization journey.
We’ve put together a quick, expert reaction to highlight both the promise and the gaps in this long-awaited plan.
👉 Full post: www.raponline.org/blog/making-...
When I am the consumer, decisions are hasty, and certainty and practicality comes first.
In retrospect, I still don’t know if my decision is right and if my concerns valid.
We still need a set of washer dryer.
But then I got concerned.
I can’t find the spec.
I don’t know if house’s wiring is set up for such high voltage (I’d assume) appliance.
I don’t know how much electricity it’ll use. Cali already has a high enough energy cost, I don’t have solar, plus I’m on the expensive 100% green plan.
…………
This weekend, I came across an electric clothes dryer. I decided to not buy it.
My fam and I are in search of a set of washer dryer. This weekend, we came across a 2nd-hand electric dryer in an estate sale.
Being an environmental enthusiast, my first thought was “a great way to electrify”.
Why are Virtual Power Plants in China not scaled up yet? The lack of comprehensive funding to compensate for the full spectrum of values they provide plays a big role. In our new paper, Fritz Kahrl and I proposed a couple ways to make VPPs work better in China: www.raponline.org/knowledge-ce...
New article! China has the largest fleet of coal power plants in the world and the policies that govern how these plants earn revenue has long-lasting implications for the country’s energy transformation prospects and global climate goals.
www.raponline.org/blog/changin...
Announcement that RAP has named Katherine Dixon as its new CEO.
We have big news to share today! Katherine Dixon has been named CEO of the @regassistproj.bsky.social, starting Jan. 1, 2025. Katherine will lead RAP’s mission to advance effective energy policies and accelerate the clean energy transition worldwide. www.raponline.org/blog/rap-nam...
HOT OFF THE PRESS: Industrial electrification is THE key lever to decarbonise industry.
But without policy support it won't happen at required speed.
That's why we developed a 10-point action plan for Europe.🧵
Read our new @regassistproj.bsky.social report here: www.raponline.org/knowledge-ce...
We have just launched our updated Heat Pump Policy Toolkit, a collaboration between the Regulatory Assistance Project, CLASP, GBPN and Agora Energiewende. The launch took place at COP29 in Baku, in the UK Pavilion. www.raponline.org/toolkit/heat...
If you are interested in clean heating, we have a great panel @COP29_AZ this afternoon at 17:50 Azerbaijan time in the UK pavilion that's 13:50 UK time and 08:50 US East Coast. Can be streamed here: youtube.com/@ukcoppavilion
This should have happened a decade ago.
Developers have lobbied government for years to allow them to install fossil fuel heating systems all which will need to be replaced eventually with clean heating.
The faster we stop locking in new fossil heating tech the better.
After years and years of media reports that coal is having a comeback in the UK the last coal plant will go offline in just 2 weeks.
Coal in the UK is no more.
Credit for graph to @ketanjoshi.co
🚨NEW REPORT: 🚨
How do we crack the decarbonisation of heat challenge?
➡️Clean heat standards are an important part of the answer.
It is a novel mechanism similar to zero emission vehicle standards and renewable portfolio standards but for heat. 🧵
tinyurl.com/4p6fadkr
"We are Energizing Change; ushering a sustainable and just energy future into the present." - David Moskowitz, RAP Co-Founder & Interim CEO
Out today: RAP's 2023 Impact Report. But first, a🧵. bit.ly/3vOJGLo
Yes, heat pumps also work in cold climates.
Almost 5 million heat pumps have been installed in Finland, Sweden and Norway with 10 million households combined.
My article for @carbonbrief.org here:
www.carbonbrief.org/guest-post-h...
Max Dupuy (@cleartiming.bsky.social) and I have a blog out that explores the nuanced world of China's power sector, especially the impact of the new coal power capacity payment mechanism, and how to transform it in a way that could potentially support the clean energy transition. bit.ly/4begk9m (1/5
Grids in the Netherlands are starting to resemble highways around the holidays: lots of congestion from too much traffic. In this case: renewables and new load. The government and the regulator came out with a list of options to deal with the gridlock. bit.ly/3vUgwds
🔌💡
...
as more wind & solar are built, the prices they get will fall, ‘cos wind and sunshine are free fuels, right?
- Yep, their fuel is free…
…and with lower prices, they will increasingly struggle to make money…
- Ah – the old price cannibalisation argument!
...
www.raponline.org/blog/will-pr...
Our analysis highlights these crucial gaps in the proposed Market Rules for Southern China's electricity market and offers solutions to solve these issues, all of which are surmountable. Read the paper for more info. bit.ly/47QHkIQ
Regional electricity markets hold immense potential. They can boost reliability, cut emissions, integrate renewables efficiently, and enhance cost transparency. While the Market Rules are pivotal for Southern China, they lack clarity in some areas and have not fully addressed certain design issues.
Over the past decade, South China has led the charge in developing innovative market rules within the country. Fritz Kahrl and I dive into the proposed regional market design and outline strategies to overcome challenges and recommendations for improvement. bit.ly/47QHkIQ
