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The EU Commission’s Proposal for Improving the Electricity Market Design

In this research commentary, the authors discuss several crucial elements that are part of recently proposed European Commission regulation. In an extremely stressful moment, the biggest challenge has been the avoidance of entering into a regressive process that would have disabled some of the fundamental tools that have supported an increasingly efficient integration of the EU’s electricity systems. The proposal preserves the key role of short-term electricity markets and puts the focus on the key flaw: the perennial incompleteness of long-term power markets.

Equilibrium Impacts of Mandated Efficiency in Three Electricity Markets

Policy makers have mandated the adoption of smart consumer technologies and new producer technologies such as large-scale storage. The mandates have broad equilibrium impacts when market adoption of technologies is not otherwise taking place. On account of equilibrium impacts, do consumers end up benefitting from the mandated allocative efficiency? A new working paper conducts the same efficiency-improving counterfactual experiment in three major electricity markets.

Advances in Power-to-Gas Technologies: Cost and Conversion Efficiency

Widespread adoption of hydrogen as an energy carrier is widely believed to require continued advances in Power-to-Gas (PtG) technologies. In a new Working Paper, the authors provide a comprehensive assessment of the dynamics of system prices and conversion efficiency for three currently prevalent PtG technologies: alkaline, polymer electrolyte membrane, and solid oxide cell electrolysis. They analyze global data points for system prices, energy consumption, and the cumulative installed capacity for each technology.

Impacts of Rainfall Shocks on Out-migration in Türkiye

Will climate change induce large scale migration flows, and for what reasons? In this work, the authors quantify how rainfall shocks affect out-migration in Turkish provinces and study the role of urbanization and alternative drivers of migration decisions: per capita income, agricultural output, and local conflicts. Our results suggest that droughts induce a decrease in per capita GDP in rural provinces, which in turn acts as a push factor in out-migration decisions.

The Role of State Investment Banks for Renewable Energy Technologies

Policymakers around the world increasingly direct state investment banks (SIBs) to finance clean energy technologies. By studying the predictors of SIB lending to renewable energy projects, a new paper finds that SIB involvement is indeed more likely for higher-risk technologies like offshore wind; and, for solar PV, involvement decreases as deployment ramps up. However, SIBs are less likely to engage with smaller-scale or market-opening projects, illustrating the need for targeted mandates and guidelines.

May 22, 2023

Six ways MIT is taking action on climate

An article on MIT News discusses a variety of recent events during Earth Month @ MIT which highlighted efforts by faculty, staff, and students to make a difference today. This includes a poster session where graduating CEEPR Research Assistant Alexa Canaan presented work to the attendees, as well as MIT CATE activities spearheaded by CEEPR Director Chris Knittel and CATE Project Manager Aisling O'Grady. Read more at the full article here.

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April 12, 2023

Reforming retail electricity rates to facilitate economy-wide decarbonization

A recent CEEPR working paper by Tim Schittekatte, Dharik Mallapragada, Paul L. Joskow, and Richard Schmalensee has been published by Joule. In this work, they argue that deep decarbonization of the economy depends heavily on the decarbonization of the electricity sector and the electrification of several key end-use sectors. Without fundamental reform of retail electricity rates, the costs of this massive transformation will be substantially higher than necessary, harming consumers and putting essential political support at risk. Read more at the full journal weblink here.

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April 9, 2023

Have trucks conquered every corner of America?

Light trucks, a category that includes pickups, vans, and SUVs, now dominate U.S. roadways, outnumbering cars among registered vehicles in all 50 states. How did this happen? In an article in the Washington Post, CEEPR director Christopher Knittel offers his insight into why American consumers shifted from cars to light trucks – a combination of unintended consequences of government fuel regulations and consumer safety considerations – and the environmental implications of this trend. Read more in the full article here.

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The Roosevelt Project

The Roosevelt Project takes a multidisciplinary approach to examine the transitional challenges associated with progress toward a deeply decarbonized U.S. economy. The project aims to chart a path forward through the transition that minimizes worker and community dislocations and enables at-risk communities to sustain employment levels by taking advantage of the economic opportunities present for regional economic development.

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The CATE Project

The Climate Action Through Education Project aims to develop a science-based climate curriculum for U.S high school students, placing particular emphasis on reaching populations who are underserved and on countering climate denial messages. The curriculum will inform students about the causes and consequences of anthropogenic climate change, while equipping them with the knowledge and sense of agency to contribute to climate mitigation and adaptation.

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The E2e Project

Through an interdisciplinary approach to the so-called ‘energy efficiency gap’, the E2e Project seeks to evaluate and strengthen policies and incentives for improved energy efficiency. Proven research designs used to achieve these aims include randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and quasi-experimental designs, with data and customer access provided through formal partnerships with private-sector companies.

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