Sustainable Electricity Systems
To be sustainable, electricity systems must recover operating costs, invest for the future, provide reliable electricity and meet environmental and social objectives.
Renewable electricity generation is an essential part of a sustainable energy future. An increasing number of governments are subsidizing the deployment of renewable energy technologies for electricity generation and the growth of domestic industries. What can be learned from their experiences?
Our experts in renewable energy technologies, energy policy and environmental fiscal reform help government officials and civil society organizations achieve a supportive policy framework for sustainable electricity systems. We do this by conducting research to evaluate the impact of subsidies and electricity sector policies to make the case for reform. Our services include policy design and evaluation, bottom-up analysis of electricity subsidies, evaluation of electricity system externalities, stakeholder consultation, and the organization of seminars and other events.
- Briefing Note
India's Energy Transition: The Cost of Meeting Air Pollution Standards in the Coal-fired Electricity Sector
It will cost up to INR 86,135 crore (USD 12 billion) to comply with India's rules for air pollution control technology in the current fleet of coal power plants, increasing the average cost of electricity by 9–21 per cent per kWh. The Ministry of Power must take a strict position to ensure compliance.
Read More - Briefing Note
India's Energy Transition: Subsidies for gasoline, diesel and electric vehicles
India’s subsidies to petrol and diesel between October 2018 and June 2019 amounted to almost three times the three-year government budget for electric vehicle (EV) support, according to our new study.
Read More - Report
Raising Ambition Through Fossil Fuel Subsidy Reform: Greenhouse gas emissions results modelling from 26 countries
This working paper models 26 countries and finds national average emission reductions of 6 per cent from the removal of fossil fuel subsidies. For every tonne of CO2e removed through FFSR, governments save an average of USD 93. Global emission reductions from reforms are between 6.4 and 8.2 per cent by 2050. Countries can consider the carbon reduction co-benefits from FFSR and taxation within second-generation Nationally Determined Contributions.
Read More - Report
Fossil Fuel to Clean Energy Subsidy Swaps: How to pay for an energy revolution
A “subsidy swap”—reallocating some of the savings from fossil fuel subsidy reform to fund the clean energy transition—can bring in economic, social and environmental benefits.
Read More - Policy Brief
Indonesia's Coal Price Cap: A barrier to renewable energy deployment
Indonesia's coal price cap encourages the consumption of coal while slowing the integration of renewable energy into the country's power grid.
Read More - Report
Policy Approaches for a Kerosene to Solar Subsidy Swap in India
India could save money and reduce indoor air pollution by switching kerosene subsidies to solar.
Read More - Briefing Note
India's Energy Transition: The Impact of the Goods and Services Tax on Solar Photovoltaic and Coal Power Costs
One of the biggest changes in India's energy subsidy policy in FY18 was the introduction of the Goods and Services Tax (GST). How did this affect subsidies and costs for coal power and solar PV?
Read More - Brochure
Applying the Sustainable Asset Valuation (SAVi) Tool to the 9.5 GW Offshore Wind Farm, North Sea, The Netherlands
Applied to the 9.5 GW offshore wind farm in the North Sea, the SAVi tool compares the financial attractiveness of the wind farm with other energy technologies under four different scenarios.
Read More - Report
Improving and Refocusing Electricity Subsidies: Options for optimization in Mexico
IISD is proud to partner with CONECC German-Mexican Energy Partnership on this report which identifies and evaluates options for reforming Mexico’s electricity subsidies.
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Swap: Reforming support for butane gas to invest in solar in Morocco (French only)
An evaluation of the potential to reform butane subsidies in Morocco and use a portion of the savings to fund a transition to clean energy.
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