Momentum for decarbonization is building in the United States, driven by company targets, state and federal policy, and stakeholder advocacy for greater ambition and transparency. Planning and decision-making for decarbonization will consider the interactions between technology, economics, energy demand and policy in the U.S. power sector, and the entire energy economy. This report draws insights and sensitivities from several EPRI decarbonization pathway studies and summarizes a set of key decarbonization drivers to offer a framing of the energy industry’s ongoing transformation.
However, beyond the question of “what technology mix aligns with a pathway to decarbonization?” there are several core challenges that impact the feasibility, and speed at which decarbonization can occur. These challenges include the supply chain, development of advanced technologies, reliability, electrification, demand-side participation, load forecasting, and climate resiliency. This report offers a summary of each, and highlights EPRI research and initiatives to address each challenge. The broader energy transition is comprised of these challenges, in addition to decarbonization. Furthermore, these energy transition challenges influence and interact with one another, and a broad understanding of these interactions may improve company strategy and long-term planning.
Authors Silas Swanson