Regulatory Assistance Project (RAP)

Following up on our previous August Reading Series highlight, we’re taking a global view of smart EV charging. “How to unlock benefits from smart EV charging: Key lessons from a global study” shares findings from RAP’s collaboration with the International Council for Clean Transportation (ICCT) and local grid modelers in the United States, Europe, India and China. Across all four regions, the case studies show that smart EV charging can unlock substantial cost savings, reduce reliance on fossil generation, and better integrate renewable energy into the grid, all while benefiting EV users, the power system, and the environment. The global guide distills common lessons and offers policy recommendations tailored to each region. It also links to the four in-depth regional reports: 🔹 “Unlocking System Savings with Flexible EV Charging: Lessons from Colorado” https://lnkd.in/eMkt-zTy 🔹 “Optimising electric heavy-duty truck charging in India” https://lnkd.in/e9UnnzTP 🔹 “Smoothing the way: Coaxing more flexible charging from China’s mammoth EV fleet” https://lnkd.in/eX55GAaQ 🔹 “Savings from smart charging electric cars and trucks in Europe: A case study for France in 2040” https://lnkd.in/g_4wParw Special thanks to Dr. Julia Hildermeier, David Farnsworth, Dominic Scott and Chi (William) Gao. 🔗 Read the global guide:  https://lnkd.in/e-trWzpC #EVs #smartcharging #gridflexibility #energytransition #energypolicy #renewables

Die Bundesnetzagentur hat im Konsultationsverfahren der Allgemeinen Netzentgeltsystematik (AgNes) mehrere Ziele adressiert und Einzelmaßnahmen zur Diskussion gestellt. In unser gemeinsamen Stellungnahmen von Agora Energiewende und Regulatory Assistance Project (RAP) haben wir dazu Stellung bezogen und aufgezeigt, dass die ökonomische Effizienz des Systems konsequent an erster Stelle stehen muss. Fragen bspw. der Umverteilung dürfen bei der Zielsetzung eines neuen Systems nicht bestimmend sein, sie müssen im Zweifelsfall politisch geklärt werden. Anderenfalls wären Verursachungsgerechtigkeit und Kosteneffizienz in einer neuen Entgeltsystematik nicht zu erreichen. https://lnkd.in/dqwAfpB5 Mareike Herrndorff Philipp Godron

We’re just weeks away from one of the year’s largest global clean energy gatherings, the 16th Clean Energy Ministerial! During #CEM16 — hosted in Busan, South Korea — join the Regulatory Assistance Project (RAP), United Nations ESCAP and the Empowering Regulators campaign for our CEM16 Regulatory Forum. 📅 25 August | 🕕 18:00–19:00 📍 Room 201+202, 2nd Floor, BEXCO Exhibition Centre, Busan This event is hosted in collaboration with RETA, the 21st Century Power Partnership and the International Energy Agency (IEA). The Regulatory Forum is a rare opportunity for senior leaders from ministries and regulatory agencies to shape the next wave of regulatory innovation for the clean energy transition. Panelists will explore how stronger alignment between policy goals and regulatory action can accelerate national decarbonization objectives, placing regulators at the center of the conversation. Drawing on the “Empowering Regulators to Accelerate Decarbonisation” campaign’s regulatory blueprints, the discussion will highlight practical, replicable strategies from pioneering regulatory leaders, including The ASEAN Secretariat’s efforts to set regional renewable energy targets and jointly plan cross-border interconnections. This session is open to all CEM participants and will be an excellent opportunity to exchange ideas, learn from proven approaches and chart a more effective path forward for your national energy transition. Speakers will include: 🔵 Lin Yang, Deputy Executive Secretary, United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific  🔵 Timur Gül, Head of the Energy Technology Policy Division, International Energy Agency 🔵 Katherine Dixon, CEO, Regulatory Assistance Project 🔵 Anna Collyer, Chair, Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) 🔵 Siti Safinah Salleh, CEO, Malaysia Energy Commission 🔵 Daniel Kiptoo B., Director General, Kenya Energy & Petroleum Regulatory Authority and RETA Chair 🔵 Dr. Poonpat Leesombatpiboon, Secretary General, Energy Regulatory Commission, Thailand For more info, follow this link and let us know if you plan to attend: https://lnkd.in/gSUEUDtV #CleanEnergyMinisterial #RegulatoryForum #ASEAN #UNESCAP #IEA #EnergyTransition #CleanEnergy #EnergyPolicy César Alejandro Hernández Alva, PhD Enrique Gutierrez Tavarez Rebecca Wigg Deborah Bynum

I was on LBC new earlier today talking about electricity infrastructure and the UK government's decision to reward households who live near new pylon developments with £250 a year. I mostly outlined the reason for these new developments but I also said that a better conversation about why this is happening is needed and while cash might make people happier, more of a personal stake could be better. It's undoubtedly a contentious issue and I've seen plenty of grim mis-information and personal attacks - but people have real concerns. So I hope I helped clear through some of the fog.

🚗 For the third installment in our August Reading Series, we turn to the world’s largest electric vehicle market: China. 🔌 “Smoothing the way: Coaxing more flexible charging from China’s mammoth EV fleet” by Chi (William) Gao explores how #smartcharging can ease pressure on the grid while cutting system costs and emissions. 📰 Focusing on Zhejiang Province — home to nearly 2 million #EVs — the paper quantifies the benefits of managed charging. This paper serves as an English-language summary, drawing on three original reports in Chinese, and offers insights for policymakers looking to scale EV integration with the power system, both in China and globally.  “Smoothing the way” offers policy suggestions in three key areas: 🔹 Integrated EV and power sector co-planning 🔹 Time-of-use rate design 🔹 Automated charging control to unlock residential flexibility 🔗 Read it here: https://lnkd.in/eX55GAaQ #gridflexibility #energytransition

After surveying 25 energy regulatory authorities around the world, we found that only two regulators had a formal decarbonisation mandate. Empowering regulators and providing them with the tools and support they need to meet this enormous challenge is urgent, as policy and regulatory frameworks will set the speed and trajectory of the #EnergyTransition. We are delighted at Regulatory Assistance Project (RAP) to be co-hosting a unique Regulatory Forum with #UNESCAP at the Clean Energy Ministerial 16 #CEM16, in Busan, Korea, later this month. Learn about best practices and innovative approaches to empowering regulators to accelerate decarbonisation from groundbreaking regulatory leaders. The event features a discussion with esteemed panel members: -- Ms. Anna Collyer, Chair, Australian Energy Markets Commission -- Ms. Siti Safinah Salleh, CEO, Malaysia Energy Commission  -- Mr. #Daniel Kiptoo Bargoria, Director General, Kenya Energy & Petroleum Regulatory Authority and RETA Chair and -- Dr. Poonpat Leesombatpiboon, Secretary General, Energy Regulatory Commission, Thailand Look for RAP's own Katherine Dixon, who will introduce our guidelines for strengthening the role of energy regulators that underpins this event. Stay tuned for more information, and we hope to see you in Busan!

💡 Next up in our August Reading Series: A look at #AI-driven electricity demand, one of the fastest-growing and most complex challenges in the power sector.   ⚡ Published in March, “We’re Opening the AI 'Bottle.' So, What Should Regulators Wish For?” explores the impacts of AI and #datacenter growth on the grid.   ✅ Authors Louisa Eberle, Camille Hensler Kadoch and Carl Linvill examine the dual nature of AI. It could stress the system with rapid load growth but also support the transition through smarter forecasting and operational tools. They also highlight the significant resources large data center developers can bring, and the #policy questions that come with them.   👉 This blog outlines foundational questions for regulators to ask as they navigate a fast-moving landscape. Much more to come on this topic later in the year.   🔗 Read the blog: https://lnkd.in/eREKjQMi (We're looking back at work you may have missed this year. Our next reading series installment comes out later this week.)

Sharing the summary of a policy brief I published along with colleagues at Regulatory Assistance Project (RAP) and MP Ensystems Advisory Private Limited on the extensive field work in 2018-2020 📚🤓👨🏽🌾🍅👩🏽🌾 🌾 Rural India, where about 70% of people depend on agriculture, faces significant livelihood challenges exacerbated by climate change and economic pressures. Traditional efforts to improve rural livelihoods have usually targeted single elements within the interconnected food-water-energy nexus—such as access to markets, water shortages, or unreliable power—rather than addressing these linked problems together. The report states the need for multi-dimensional, cooperative solutions. Specifically, it proposes that farmer-owned and operated cooperatives—such as farmer producer organizations, water user associations, and electricity cooperatives— play a central role in: ·      Improving access to agricultural markets, ·      Promoting efficient water use, ·      Ensuring reliable electricity. Such cooperatives can aggregate the needs and resources of farmers, help lower costs, and increase negotiating power. They can also invest in facilities like cold storage or warehouses, further enhancing value for farmers. International and Indian experiences show that these approaches can succeed, particularly with sustained government and institutional support. However, new cooperatives will need systematic support to become viable and scalable nationwide. Ultimately, the report calls for a shift from intervention to integrated, cooperative governance—with strong support from civil society, state, and central governments—to build resilient and sustainable rural livelihoods in India. https://lnkd.in/gsVTyim Sharing some glimpses from field work in Satara and Nashik. 🎞️

☀️ As summer rolls along, we're looking back at some of the work we've published in 2025. Throughout August, we’ll highlight material you may have missed this year. Just in time to wrap up your summer reading.   🇩🇰 First up, our paper examining the Danish experience with district heating, “Making Europe’s homes ‘Hygge.’” Written by Sem Oxenaar, the paper explores the policies, regulations and key institutions that have shaped the Danish system, and distills seven lessons that can inform district heating development across Europe.   ✅ As cold weather season is just around the corner, this paper is a must for European policymakers and regulators thinking about the future of efficient, low-carbon heating.   📎 Read it here: https://lnkd.in/eEdAd_HQ   We’ll be back in a few days with more highlights from 2025. #districtheating #energytransition #efficiencyfirst

Welcome to RAP, Fjolla Fazliu!