California wants to reform PG&E, but just how is uncertain
In this SF Chronicle article, a group of experts, including CEEPR Director Christopher Knittel, weigh in on some of the potential reforms and changes that PG&E may consider.
Fuel-switching and Deep Decarbonization
Fuel-switching is inevitable to achieve deep decarbonization. This has, inter alia, prompted an increasing number of countries to announce coal phase-out mandates in the power sector. This working paper suggest that, when accounting for stranded assets, a decarbonization pathway that is based on gradual transition to renewable energy and initially retains coal generating assets turns out to be less expensive than a strict coal phase-out.
Competition for Electric Transmission Projects in the U.S.: FERC Order 1000
Professor Paul L. Joskow discusses the provisions of Order 1000, its application by ISOs, and examines the evidence to date regarding the development and application of the competitive transmission procurement model in the U.S in this CEEPR Working Paper.
Machine Learning from Schools about Energy Efficiency
This working paper studies the effectiveness of energy efficiency upgrades in K-12 schools, and demonstrate that the machine learning method outperforms standard panel fixed effects approaches. The authors find that the upgrades deliver only 53% of ex ante expected savings on average, and find a similarly low correlation between school-specific predictions of energy savings and realized savings.
The Efficiency and Distributional Effects of Alternative Residential Electricity Rate Designs
In this paper, researchers find that low-income customers would face bill increases on average in a transition to more economically efficient electricity tariffs. However, they demonstrate that simple changes to fixed charges in two-part tariffs can mitigate these disparities while preserving all, or the vast majority, of the efficiency gains.
Challenges for Wholesale Electricity Markets with Intermittent Renewable Generation at Scale: The U.S. Experience
A paper written by Professor Paul L. Joskow examines the current and likely future effects on wholesale electricity markets and the challenges these markets face due to the rapid expansion of intermittent (or variable) renewable energy, primarily wind and solar, with close to zero marginal generating costs.
In The News
Mar 7, 2019
MIT CEEPR plays key role at first international carbon pricing research conference
CEEPR Deputy Director Michael Mehling serves as conference co-chair.
Dec 17, 2018
Cooperative approaches under the Paris Agreement discussed at COP 24
CEEPR Deputy Director Michael Mehling presented research on the implementation of Article 6 of the Paris Agreement at a COP24 side event.
Dec 14, 2018
“Climate change will not wait for us”
CEEPR graduate students Sruthi Davuluri and Anthony Fratto recently attended the COP24 held in Katowice, Poland. Read about their reflections here.
Dec 3, 2018
Governing Cooperative Approaches under the Paris Agreement
As Parties to the Paris Agreement convene in Poland for COP24, they will be negotiating guidance on the implementation of cooperative approaches, which allow countries to use internationally...
Nov 20, 2018
The Rationale for Investment in Life Extension of Spanish Nuclear Power Plants
Nuclear power provides more than 20% of Spain's electricity. As each of the 7 plants approaches its 40 year design life, a decision must be made whether to invest in a life extension, considering...
Oct 9, 2018
Carbon tax debate: Nobels and IPCC vs. Trump and Doug Ford
In an article in Grist, Professor Christopher Knittel comments on the carbon tax debate. Read the full article here.
Oct 12, 2018
Dynamic Competition and Arbitrage in Electricity Markets: The Role of Financial Players
Market power is typically an important concern in restructured electricity markets. This paper shows that financial traders, who trade alongside physical buyers and sellers, can increase...