Research
Climate Resilience Analysis
Changing climate, including the potential for more frequent and/or intense weather and a growing dependence on electricity through the clean energy transition, makes ensuring power sector climate resilience and adaptation a societal imperative. Climate and weather extremes present a potentially significant and escalating risk within the electric power and energy systems because of their broad and compounding effects on power generation, transmission systems, distribution networks, and customer usage. Utilities often face these evolving challenges with limited climate analysis resources and varying levels of scientific expertise needed to identify vulnerabilities, assess adaptation options, and develop comprehensive plans for asset and system resilience. EPRI brings together in-house climate, engineering, operations, and planning experts to assist utilities with proactively assessing climate-related risk, working to characterize current and projected trends in relevant climate variables, complete quantitative climate risk assessments, identify potential impacts, and assess possible response strategies. Our group’s expertise includes the scientific literacy needed to interpret and evaluate climate data to identify and project how current and future events could impact the energy sector. EPRI’s unique capabilities also allow for integration of climate projection data and characterization of future weather and climate patterns into a suite of industry-specific models, including capacity expansion and transmission planning models, to help utilities systematically plan for climate change alongside other drivers of change for the industry.
EPRI Reports
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Canadian and North American Analysis
EPRI's Energy System and Climate Analysis group has made substantial updates to the Regional Economy, Greenhouse Gas, and Energy (REGEN) framework to create the North American REGEN model, which includes a detailed capacity expansion and dispatch model of the electric sector and dynamic energy end-use model to project the end-use dynamics that affect electric and energy demand and electrification in both the U.S. and Canada. The new model allows EPRI to conduct analysis of the inter-related dynamics of emissions reduction policies, electrification, and technology development and capture impacts across U.S. and Canadian borders. Potential insights include the value and challenges of emerging technologies, climate policies, cross-border trade, inter-regional transmission, as well as climate resiliency, reliability, and changing end-use demand, among others.
In 2021, EPRI released the Canadian National Electrification Assessment, which explores the results of Canadian electrification pathways to meet national 2050 greenhouse gas targets on emissions, energy prices, generation capacity mix, load shapes and energy demand. This national assessment has laid the groundwork for more detailed analysis of provincial decarbonization pathways as well as further investigation of the drivers and potential uncertainties around these decarbonization pathways.
Contact Chris Roney for more information about EPRI’s Canadian energy-economic analyses.
EPRI Reports
| Product ID | Name | Published | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| N/A | Canadian National Electrification Assessment – Public Launch | September 2021 | Webcast Recording |
| 3002021160 | Canadian National Electrification Assessment – English | September 2021 | Technical Report |
| 3002022642 | Canadian National Electrification Assessment – French | September 2021 | Technical Report |
Canada REGEN Model Documentation
| Product ID | Name | Published | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3002022099 | Canada REGEN Model Documentation | June 2021 | Technical Update |
Articles/Other Reports
| Name | Author | Published |
|---|---|---|
| Deep decarbonization impacts on electric load shapes and peak demand | John Bistline, Chris Roney, David McCollum, Geoffrey Blanford | September 2021 |
| Insights for Canadian electricity generation planning from an integrated assessment model: Should we be more cautious about hydropower cost overruns? | E. Arbuckle, M. Binsted, E. Davies, D. Chiappori, Christopher Roney, et al. | March 2021 |
| Electric sector impacts of renewable policy coordination: A multi-model study of the North American energy system | John Bistline, M. Brown, S. Siddiqui, K. Vaillancourt | October 2020 |
| Key findings from the core North American scenarios in the EMF34 intermodel comparison | H. Huntington, A. Bhargava, D. Daniels, J. Weyant, John Bistline, et al. | September 2020 |
US Energy Systems and Climate Analysis
In 2007 EPRI released its first Prism and MERGE analyses. These analyses outlined technically and economically feasible scenarios for the electricity sector to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions over the next few decades. The Prism analysis provided a comprehensive assessment of potential CO2 reductions in eight key technology areas of the electricity sector. The MERGE analysis identified cost-effective technology portfolios over time in response to a given CO2 emissions constraint. Both analyses have been cited in numerous national and international publications and provided thought leadership for the electric power industry.
In 2009 EPRI initiated a multi-year effort to develop a U.S. energy-economic model to assess the impact of environmental, energy, and climate policies on the electric power sector, the energy system, and the economy overall at both regional and national scales. The U.S. Regional Economy, Greenhouse Gas, and Energy (US-REGEN) model includes a technologically detailed capacity expansion model of the U.S. electric sector. This model has seen extensive use, in analyzing the impacts of the Environmental Protection Agency's Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS), and the CO2 performance standards for new and existing units, in analyzing the evolution of the electric sector under deep penetration of renewables and the economics of storage technologies, and to assess the impacts of renewable portfolio and clean energy standards.
In 2018 EPRI added a technologically detailed energy end-use module to the US-REGEN model, which, in iteration with the electric sector model, helps to improve our understanding of the economics of electrification, and provides insights on the trade-offs between electric and non-electric sector decarbonization. This model was used to support EPRI's U.S. National Electrification Assessment, and subsequent state-level assessments in 14 U.S. states.
Research Summaries
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ESCA maintains a series of research summaries that provide a list of all ESCA research related to a particular topic. Web links are included where available. Publications marked with an * are available to the public free of charge or are published in academic journals. Other publications are available to EPRI member companies, as indicated by the program number in brackets preceding the publication. The research summaries are organized by topic and by date and are updated several times a year.
| Product ID | Name | Updated |
|---|---|---|
| 3002018264 | Value, costs and impacts of renewable generation | April 2020 |
| 3002018266 | Value, costs, and impacts of electricity storage technologies | April 2020 |
| 3002018270 | Value and costs of nuclear generation | April 2020 |
| 3002018261 | Greenhouse gas emissions accounting | March 2020 |
| 3002018263 | Greenhouse gas emissions offsets | March 2020 |
EPRI Reports
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Articles / Other Reports
John Bistline, David Young (2022): “The Role of Natural Gas in Reaching Net-Zero Emissions in the Electric Sector” (Nature Communications)
John Bistline, Naga Srujana Goteti (2022): “Capacity at Risk: A Metric for Robust Planning Decisions under Uncertainty in the Electric Sector” (Environmental Research Communications)
Bistline, J., N. Abhyankar, G. Blanford, L. Clarke, R. Fakhry, H. McJeon, J. Reilly, C. Roney, T. Wilson, M. Yuan, and A. Zhao (2022): “Actions for Reducing U.S. Emissions at Least 50% by 2030” (Science)
Bistline, J., R. Bedilion, N. S. Goteti, and N. Kern (2022): “Implications of Variations in Renewable Cost Projections for Electric Sector Decarbonization in the United States” (iScience)
John Bistline, Chris Roney, David, McCollum, and Geoff Blanford (2021): “Deep Decarbonization Impacts on Electric Load Shapes and Peak Demand” (Environmental Research Letters)
Young, D; Bistline, JET; Cole, W; Mai, T. 2021. The Outlook for Wind and Solar Deployment: Drivers and Constraints. Published in EM Magazine, a copyrighted publication of the Air & Waste Management Association, May 2021.
Cole, W; Mai, T; Bistline, JET; Young, D. 2021. The Current State of Renewable Energy for Electricity. Published in EM Magazine, a copyrighted publication of the Air & Waste Management Association, May 2021.
John Bistline (2021): "The Importance of Temporal Resolution in Modeling Deep Decarbonization of the Electric Power Sector" (Environmental Research Letters)
John Bistline, Geoff Blanford, Trieu Mai, James Merrick (2021): "Modeling Variable Renewable Energy and Storage in the Power Sector" (Energy Policy)
John Bistline, Geoff Blanford (2021): “Impact of Carbon Dioxide Removal Technologies on Deep Decarbonization of the Electric Power Sector" (Nature Communications)
John Bistline (2021): "Variability in Deeply Decarbonized Electricity Systems" (Environmental Science & Technology)
James Edmonds (PNNL), Christopher Nichols (NETL), Misha Adamantiades (U.S. EPA), John Bistline, Jonathan Huster (PNNL), Gokul Iyer (PNNL), Nils Johnson, Pralit Patel (PNNL), Sharon Showalter (OnLocation), Nadja Victor (NETL), Stephanie Waldhoff (PNNL), Marshal Wise (PNNL) and Frances Wood (OnLocation) (2020): Could congressionally mandated incentives lead to deployment of large-scale CO2 capture, facilities for enhanced oil recovery CO2 markets and geologic CO2 storage? (Energy Policy)
John Bistline, Wesley Cole (NREL), Giovanni Damato, Joseph DeCarolis (NC State University), Will Frazier (NREL), Vikram Linga (EIA), Cara Marcy (EPA), Chris Namovicz (EIA), Kara Podkaminer (DOE), Ryan Sims5, Manussawee Sukunta (EIA) and David Young (2020): "Energy storage in long-term system models: a review of considerations, best practices, and research needs" (Progress in Energy)
John Bistline, Maxwell Brown (NREL), Sauleh Siddiqui (American University), Kathleen Vaillancourt (Esmia Consultants) (2020): "Electric Sector Impacts of Renewable Policy Coordination: A Multi-Model Study of the North American Energy System" (Energy Policy)
John Bistline, James Merrick, Victor Niemeyer (2020): "Estimating Power Sector Leakage Risks and Provincial Impacts of Canadian Carbon Pricing" (Environmental and Resource Economics)
John Bistline, David Young (2020): "Emissions Impacts of Future Battery Storage Deployment on Regional Power Systems" (Applied Energy)
John Bistline, Geoff Blanford (2020): "Value of Technology in the U.S. Electric Power Sector: Impacts of Full Portfolios and Technological Change on the Costs of Meeting Decarbonization Goals" (Energy Economics)
John Bistline, David Young (2019): "Economic drivers of wind and solar penetration in the US" (Environmental Research Letters)
John Bistline, Nidhi Santen, David Young (2019): "The Economic Geography of Variable Renewable Energy and Impacts of Trade Formulation for Renewable Mandates" (Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews)
John Bistline (2019): "Turn Down For What? The Economic Value of Operational Flexibility in Electricity Markets" (IEEE Transactions on Power Systems)
John Bistline, Elke Hodson (DOE), Charles Rossmann (Southern Company), Jared Creason (EPA), Brian Murray (Duke University), Alexander Barron (Smith College) (2018): "Electric Sector Policy, Technological Change, and U.S. Emissions Reductions Goals: Results from the EMF 32 Model Intercomparison Project" (Energy Economics)
Trieu Mai (NREL), John Bistline, Yinong Sun (NREL), Wesley Cole (NREL), Cara Marcy (EIA), Chris Namovicz (EIA), David Young (2018): "The role of input assumptions and model structures in projections of variable renewable energy: A multi-model perspective of the U.S. electricity system" (Energy Economics)
David Young, John Bistline (2018): "The Costs and Value of Renewable Portfolio Standards in Meeting Decarbonization Goals" (Energy Economics)
Geoff Blanford, James Merrick, John Bistline, and David Young (2018): "Simulating Annual Variation in Load, Wind, and Solar by Representative Hour Selection" (The Energy Journal)
Wesley Cole (NREL), Bethany Frew (NREL), Trieu Mai (NREL), Yinong Sun (NREL), John Bistline, Geoffrey Blanford, David Young, Cara Marcy (EIA), Chris Namovicz (EIA), Risa Edelman (EPA), Bill Meroney (EPA), Ryan Sims (EPA), Jeb Stenhouse (EPA), Paul Donohoo-Vallett (DOE) (2017): "Variable Renewable Energy in Long-Term Planning Models: A Multi-Model Perspective" (NREL Report 70528)
John Bistline and Francisco de la Chesnaye (2017): "Banking on Banking: Does ‘When’ Flexibility Mask the Costs of Stringent Climate Policy?" (Climatic Change).
John Bistline (2017): "Economic and Technical Challenges of Flexible Operations under Large-Scale Variable Renewable Deployment" (Energy Economics)
John Bistline and Geoff Blanford (2016): "More Than One Arrow in the Quiver: Why '100% Renewables' Misses the Mark" (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences)
Geoff Blanford, James Merrick, and David Young (2014): "A Clean Energy Standard Analysis with the US-REGEN Model" (The Energy Journal)
Social Costs of Climate Policy
International and domestic climate policies may cost on the order of trillions of dollars, but cost-effective implementation and technology advances can substantially reduce the cost of achieving the environmental objectives of these policies. EPRI's climate policy research provides members and public- and private-sector decision makers with analysis and information on the potential costs and benefits of global climate policy proposals.
EPRI Reports
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Articles / Presentations
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| Name | Author | Published | Size |
|---|---|---|---|
Webcast Presentation: Applying the Social Cost of Carbon: Technical Considerations  |
S. Rose | September 2017 | 956 KB |
| Webcast Presentation: Social Cost of Carbon Pricing of Power Sector CO2 |
S. Rose | August 2017 | 3 MB |
| Webcast Presentation: Understanding the Social Cost of Carbon: A Model Diagnostic and Inter-Comparison Study |
S. Rose | July 2017 | 3.7 MB |
| Updating Estimation of the Social Cost of Carbon Dioxide | National Academies of Sciences, et al. | July 2017 | |
| Understanding the Social Cost of Carbon: A Model Diagnostic and Inter-Comparison Study | S. Rose | May 2017 | |
| Climate Policy Implications and Opportunities for Nuclear Generation |
V. Niemeyer | January 2010 | 1.47 MB |
| Social Cost of Carbon Presentation for Environmental Defense Fund |
S. Rose | November 2010 | 909 KB | EPRI Webcast on Understanding Cost Estimates for the Waxman-Markey Legislation |
T. Wilson | July 2008 | 1.38 MB |
GHG Offset Policy
In 2008, EPRI launched a Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions Offset Policy Dialogue project. The project informs key constituencies involved in the development of U.S. climate mitigation strategies and policies about GHG emissions
offset-related policies and design issues and offers a forum for discussion.
EPRI research examines the role GHG emissions offsets can play in an electric company's carbon compliance strategy and how offsets offer a key contribution to meet global GHG emissions reduction targets quickly and at comparatively low
cost. So-called project-based mechanisms use the power of markets to supply cost-efficient GHG emission reductions to entities that need to reduce emissions.
EPRI Reports
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Articles / Presentations
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Integrated Assessment
Climate policies will fundamentally change the economics of electricity and energy, and smart policy approaches can substantially reduce the costs of meeting the environmental goals of these policies. EPRI conducts integrated assessments of potential costs and benefits of climate change management proposals and impacts on national and international economies. Within these analyses, the research illuminates the role of technology in achieving climate policy goals, with a specific emphasis on the electricity sector.
EPRI Reports
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| Product ID | Name | Published | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3002014510 | Grounding Decisions: A Scientific Foundation for Companies Considering Global Climate Scenarios and Greenhouse Gas Goals | 05-Oct-2018 | Technical Results |
| 3002011658 | Social Cost of Carbon Pricing of Power Sector CO2: Accounting for Leakage and Other Social Implications from Subnational Policies – Discussion Paper | 06-Sep-2017 | Technical Report |
| 3002004659 | Applying the Social Cost of Carbon: Technical Considerations | 20-Jul-2016 | Technical Report |
| 3002004657 | Understanding the Social Cost of Carbon: A Technical Assessment | 20-Oct-2014 | Technical Report |
Articles / Presentations
Highlights
EPRI Reports
Review of 1.5°C & IEA Scenarios: Insights for Climate Risk Assessment & Goal Setting
Evaluating low-carbon transition risk and setting goals is challenging. EPRI study and webcast enables grounded discussion & decisions by assessing global warming scenarios for 1.5°C and higher and deriving insights for companies & stakeholders.
Resources:
EPRI Study Provides a Technical Foundation for Company Climate Scenarios and Emissions Goals
EPRI completed a study analyzing and characterizing current scientific knowledge associated with developing and evaluating company climate policy scenario analyses and greenhouse gas emissions goals. The study identifies technical issues and insights relevant to companies, stakeholders, and the public that provides a foundation for informed discussion, analyses, and decisions.
Resources:
EPRI Releases the U.S. National Electrification Assessment
The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) released the U.S. National Electrification Assessment. The study is an initial milestone for EPRI's Efficient Electrification Initiative; it assesses how rapid advances in innovative electric technologies may impact consumers' energy purchases and outlines the resulting implications for energy efficiency, the environment, and the electric grid. You can download a copy of this report here. Additionally, the US-REGEN model documentation has been updated to include descriptions of the end-use model's structure, data, and assumptions, which can be downloaded here.
EPRI at the Paris COP21 Meeting
Steven Rose and Richard Richels are participating at this year's United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) twenty-first session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 21), being held from 30 November to 11 December 2015 in Paris, France. Three sessions showcase EPRI research and expertise, continuing our long history of involvement in this prestigious conference series. The sessions, with topic descriptions and speaker organizations, are given below.
Read more (419 KB)
EPRI Releases Expanded Summary Report on "The Value of Innovation in Environmental Controls" for the Electricity Sector and the U.S. Economy
The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) released an expanded strategic analysis of key technology, market and policy uncertainties confronting the existing U.S. coal-based generation fleet over the next few decades on October 4, 2012. Today's release updates preliminary findings released by EPRI in May 2012. EPRI's "The Value of Innovation in Environmental Controls" analysis will help electric power companies understand the various environmental control technology options and costs they may face in the future. The report also outlines several key research and development (R&D) opportunities that can be pursued by EPRI and others to achieve the desired levels of environmental performance at a lower cost to society.
EPRI Publishes "Overview of Subnational Programs to Reduce Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD) as part of the Governors' Climate and Forests Task Force"
This EPRI report (PID #1023811 ) is available online. This report reviews the status of 14 subnational programs around the world designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from deforestation and forest degradation, and activities designed to increase forest sequestration (REDD+ programs). The report assesses progress made towards the development of nine essential components of REDD+ programs, and evaluates the potential of these programs to provide high-quality GHG emissions offsets that could be used for compliance purposes in emerging GHG cap-and-trade systems in California and elsewhere, or transferred into other systems of performance-based compensation. The report presents four detailed case studies of REDD+ programs. It includes the two states (Acre, Brazil, and Chiapas, Mexico) that have signed a memorandum of understanding with the State of California to link their REDD+ programs with California's new GHG cap-and-trade system. It also includes the state that has achieved the greatest emissions reductions (Mato Grosso, Brazil), and one of the most mature REDD+ programs in Indonesia (Aceh). For more information contact Adam Diamant at Adiamant@epri.com; 510-260-9105).
Articles / Presentations
Social Cost of Carbon Peer-Reviewed Paper Published in Climate Change Economics Journal
Steven Rose, Delavane Diaz, and Geoff Blanford of EPRI authored a peer-reviewed paper entitled "Understanding the Social Cost of Carbon: A Model Diagnostic and Inter-Comparison Study" that was recently published in the scientific journal Climate Change Economics. The social cost of carbon (SCC) is a monetary estimate of damages to society from global climate change caused by an additional unit of carbon dioxide emitted into the atmosphere. SCCs are used to estimate the benefits to society that result from policies limiting carbon dioxide emissions. For instance, the United States Government (USG) developed SCC estimates that have been used in dozens of federal rulemakings and have been adopted or considered by states, public utility commissions, companies, and other countries. USG agencies are legally required to value carbon dioxide emissions in rulemakings to evaluate the potential benefits of carbon dioxide reductions from regulations related to vehicles, appliances and industry, including the electric power industry. The USG SCC estimates are one alternative for meeting this requirement. SCC estimates, however, are difficult to interpret and assess because little is known about the modeling that underlies SCC values or the implied societal risks from global climate change. The study reported in this new journal article conducted the first in-depth examinations of the modeling and raw results underlying USG SCC estimation. The study used controlled diagnostic experiments that provided detailed intermediate results, which allowed for direct comparison of individual model components and facilitated evaluation of the individual model SCCs. The study found that there are significant differences in the structure, implementation and behavior of various SCC models and also identified opportunities for improving SCC estimation and increasing transparency and scientific and public confidence in results. Slides from a public webcast on the study are available here. For more information, contact Steven Rose, 202.293.6183, srose@epri.com.
EPRI Staff Contributes to Study on Valuing Climate Impacts and the Social Cost of Carbon
The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine held a public symposium on June 14, 2017 for the release of the print version of its study "Valuing Climate Damages: Updating Estimation of the Social Cost of Carbon Dioxide." The study is also publicly available online. Steven Rose attended the symposium and was a member of the scientific expert committee that produced the study. The report evaluates potential approaches for updating the methodology used for estimating the social cost of carbon for U.S. regulatory analysis to ensure the methodology reflects the best available science. The social cost of carbon (SCC) is a monetary estimate of damages to society from global climate change caused by an additional unit of carbon dioxide emitted into the atmosphere. The study recommends replacing the existing approach and moving away from the current models off-the-shelf, developing a new framework in which each step of the social cost of carbon calculation be developed as one of four separate but integrated modules: a socioeconomic module, a climate module, a climate damages module, and a discounting module. Data generated by the socioeconomic module would feed into the other three modules, and the temperature changes generated by the climate module would inform the damages module. The development of each module would be based on expertise in each discipline to ensure the modules reflect the most up-to-date and robust scientific understanding. This approach would not only strengthen the scientific basis for estimating the social cost of carbon but would also improve characterization of uncertainties and provide greater transparency. For more information, contact Steven Rose, 202.293.6183, srose@epri.com.
MSU-EPRI N2O Offsets Methodology Wins Key Approval
On April 2, 2013, EPRI and Michigan State University (MSU) announced the approval of their nitrous oxide (N2O) offsets methodology for use in the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) greenhouse gas (GHG) offsets program. The methodology makes it possible for farmers to participate in carbon markets by creating GHG offsets through reducing the amount of nitrogen used to fertilize crops. Agricultural use of nitrogen fertilizer results in atmospheric N2O emissions, a potent greenhouse gas. The offsets can be sold to other carbon market participants to meet GHG emission reduction targets or requirements.
EPRI and MSU developed the methodology as part of a two-year collaborative research project. Similar methodologies developed by MSU and EPRI also have been approved under the Climate Action Reserve and the American Carbon Registry offset programs. The MSU-EPRI N2O emissions offsets protocol is the only offsets protocol that has been approved for use by all three of these voluntary offset programs.
For more information, contact Adam Diamant, 510.260.9105, adiamant@epri.com.
EPRI Presentation on Potential Use of GHG Emissions Offsets from Mexico for Compliance in California
On 10/2/12, Adam Diamant participated in a panel discussion at the Carbon Forum North America conference in Washington DC that focused on the recent passage of Mexico's General Law on Climate Change. Mr. Diamant's presentation focused on
the potential for GHG emitters in California to use greenhouse gas emissions offsets created in Mexico for compliance purposes in the evolving California GHG emissions cap-and-trade program.
Download the presentation (553 KB)
American Carbon Registry Approves MSU-EPRI Nitrous Oxide (N2O) Emissions Offsets Protocol
On July 18, 2012, the American Carbon Registry (ACR) of Winrock International announced approval of the Methodology for Quantifying Nitrous Oxide (N2O) Emissions Reductions from Reduced Use of Nitrogen Fertilizer on Agricultural Crops . The methodology, developed jointly by Michigan State University (MSU) and the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), makes it possible for corn farmers in the 12 states of the North Central Region (NCR) of the U.S. to participate in carbon markets by creating greenhouse gas (GHG) offsets by reducing the amount of nitrogen used to fertilize crops. Eligible states include: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin. The estimated technical potential to achieve emission reductions using the MSU-EPRI methodology to reduce fertilizer rate in eligible NCR corn crops is 5-11 million metric tons of CO2e per year. The MSU-EPRI N2O offsets methodology was developed based on scientific R&D and field work completed as part of the EPRI Phase 1 and Phase 2 N2O Offset Supplemental projects. Read the complete ACR/MSU/EPRI press release online, and additional background information on the MSU-EPRI N2O Offsets Protocol . For more information, contact Adam Diamant at adiamant@epri.com or (510) 260-9105.
Resource Planning for Electric Power Systems
See a Summary of 2019 Deliverables: Program 178—Resource Planning for Electric Power Systems. The brochure summarizes PS178-A and PS178-B research into technology cost and performance, integrated system planning and market analysis, and technology innovation. The brochure includes abstracts and links to each publication.
Back Pocket Insights
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ESCA publishes two-page "Back Pocket Insights" that condense the group's research into succinct pieces that can educate stakeholders on key economic insights related to policy or technology drivers or change as well as best practices in energy modeling.
- For archived material on the Clean Power Plan, please click here.
- For archived material on Strategic Energy Analysis, please click here.
- For archived material on Power Market Analysis please click here.
Clean Power Plan Analysis
In October 2015, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's finalized the 'Clean Power Plan', a suite of regulations designed to reduce CO2 emissions from the U.S. electric sector. EPRI has conducted extensive analysis on the potential national and regional impacts of the Clean Power Plan under Program 103: Analysis of Environmental Policy Design, Implementation, and Company Strategy. As of July 2016, EPRI is also working with over 30 utilities in eight states on state specific analyses. EPRI is a participant in the Energy Modeling Forum's exercise to compare Clean Power Plan models.
The Clean Power Plan offers many options for compliance. States can choose between rate- or mass-based targets, whether to trade or not, and have some discretion in the choice of mitigation measures they can include in a State Implementation Plan. How states choose will greatly influence investment and generation decisions, and the development of trading markets. To analyse all these nuances, EPRI has modified the US-REGEN model to represent the least-cost compliance path for all of the lower 48 states simultaneously, given assumed decisions on rate versus mass targets, and trading blocs. This provides a powerful platform for consistent analysis of many of the compliance options available under the Clean Power Plan.
Read an introduction to EPRI's modeling of the Clean Power Plan
EPRI Comments
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| Product ID | Name | Published | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3002007325 | EPRI Comments on EPA Federal Plan Requirements for Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Electric Utility Generating Units: Docket No. EPA–H Q–OAR–2015–0199 | 11-Jan-2016 | Technical Results |
| 3002004658 | Comments of the Electric Power Research Institute On EPA's Carbon Pollution Emission Guidelines for Existing Stationary Sources: Electric Utility Generating Units [CAA § 111 (d)] | 20-Oct-2014 | Technical Results |
EPRI Reports
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| Product ID | Name | Published | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3002009492 | Understanding Clean Power Plan Choices in Kansas: Options and Uncertainties | 12-Jan-2017 | Technical Results |
| 3002009036 | Understanding Clean Power Plan Choices in Michigan: Options and Uncertainties | 1-Aug-2016 | Technical Report |
Articles / Presentations
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| Title | Author | Published | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Potential Cross-State Power Flow Impacts of the CPP around Minnesota | David Young | October 31st, 2016 | Minnesota Clean Power Plan Stakeholder Technical Meeting |
| The Electric Grid Revolution and the Clean Power Plan Video | Presentation | Francisco de la Chesnaye | August 11, 2016 | National Conference of State Legislators 2016 |
| State Level Perspectives on the Clean Power Plan | Francisco de la Chesnaye, David Young, Vic Niemeyer, John Bistline |
June 12, 2016 | Edison Electric Institute Meetings 2016 |
| State Level Perspectives on the Clean Power Plan | David Young, Vic Niemeyer, John Bistline |
May 10, 2016 | ENV-VISION 2016 |
| Cross-use of ERCs and Allowances by Mass- and Rate-path EGUs: Analysis and Simulation Results | Vic Niemeyer | May 10, 2016 | ENV-VISION 2016 |
| State Level Modeling of CPP Compliance Pathways with EPRI's US-REGEN Model | Vic Niemeyer | March 30, 2016 | Midcontinental Power System Collaborative |
| The Clean Power Plan: Understanding Conflicting Modeling Results | David Young | March 22, 2016 | Iowa 111(d) Stakeholder Meeting |
| Challenges in Modeling Rate vs. Mass Pathways for CPP Compliance | Vic Niemeyer | March 22, 2016 | Indiana IRP Contemporary Issues Technical Conference |
| State Level Modeling of Clean Power Plan Compliance Pathways with EPRI's US-REGEN Model | Vic Niemeyer | March 16, 2016 | Minnesota Clean Power Plan Stakeholder Technical Meeting |
| State Level Modeling of Clean Power Plan Compliance Pathways with EPRI's US-REGEN Model | Vic Niemeyer | February 11, 2016 | RFF-EPRI Seminar on Modeling the Clean Power Plan |
Strategic Energy Analysis
Strategic Energy Analysis, previously known as the Energy Technology Assessment Center or ETAC, conducts assessments of electricity sector technology needs with research focusing on interdisciplinary analysis of technology development, energy policy, and economic factors. Current research areas include:
- Generation technology costs and performance
- Technology trends and learning curve assumptions
- Economic evaluation strategies
- High level "reference cards" on key topics
The goal of the Strategic Energy Analysis research is to assure that ongoing debates among electricity sector stakeholders are based on sound technical and scientific information. Strategic Energy Analysis is supported by EPRI's Office of Technology Innovation, which identifies EPRI strategic research priorities through a portfolio of long-range R&D activities. This area builds on work previously done under the Energy Technology Assessment Center or ETAC.
EPRI Reports
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| Product ID | Name | Published | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1026549 | Choosing Electricity Generation Technologies: Generation Technology Reference Card | 5-Oct-2012 | Brochure |
| 1022782 | Program on Technology Innovation: Integrated Generation Technology Options | 30-Jun-2011 | Technical Update |
| 1023166 | Impacts of Wind Generation Integration | 6-Jun-2011 | Brochure |
| 1020389 | The Power to Reduce CO2 Emissions: The Full Portfolio 2009 Technical Report | 26-Oct-2009 | Corporate Identity Products |
| 1019563 | Prism/MERGE Analyses: 2009 Update | 31-Jul-2009 | EPRI Journal |
| 1018431 | The Power to Reduce CO2 Emissions: the Full Portfolio — 2008 Economic Sensitivity Studies | 11-Dec-2008 | Corporate Identity Products |
| 1015461 | The Power to Reduce CO2 Emissions: The Full Portfolio Discussion Paper | 5-Sep-2007 | Corporate Identity Products |
Articles / Presentations
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| Name | Author | Published | Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| Generation Technology Options in a Carbon-Constrained World | S. Inwood | June 2011 | 717 KB |
Power Market Analysis
Climate policy can significantly affect returns on existing capital and on new corporate investments. Sound analyses and clear communication are critical to creating effective corporate strategies. EPRI research analyzes the potential effects of climate policy on the electric sector at state and regional levels in order to help companies incorporate power market impacts into business and compliance strategies.
EPRI Reports
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| Product ID | Name | Published | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1013296 | A Conceptual Framework for Modeling the Impact of CO2 Policy on Generator Cash Flows | 20-Dec-2006 | Technical Update |
| 1012577 | Program on Technology Innovation: Managing the Risks of Climate Policies | 20-Dec-2006 | Technical Report |
Articles / Presentations
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| Name | Author | Published | Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| EUEC: Retrofit Investment in Existing Coal-fired Generation in a 4P World | V. Niemeyer | February 2009 | 717 KB |
| EPRI-Western Climate Policy Impacts Collaborative Webcast #1 | V. Niemeyer | June 2008 | 1.13 MB |
| EPRI-Western Climate Policy Impacts Collaborative Webcast #2 | V. Niemeyer | June 2008 | 827 KB |
| How Climate Policy Could Impact Electric Sector Emission Trading | V. Niemeyer | April 2008 | 454 KB |
