Recent analysis

In Texas and California, blackouts highlight the challenge of balancing reliability with cost

GeoTech Cues May 21, 2025

To build tomorrow’s power grid, the United States should look to geothermal energy

By Sudeep Kanungo, Will LaRivee

Geothermal energy offers a promising solution for stable, reliable baseload power. But to unlock its full potential, the US government must take action to reduce the barriers to entry for industry.
Energy & Environment Energy Markets & Governance
In Texas and California, blackouts highlight the challenge of balancing reliability with cost

EnergySource Apr 29, 2025

Can Nord Stream really rise from the dead? 

By Alan Riley

Despite recent discussions between Moscow and Washington over restarting the Nord Stream pipelines, legal, financial, and political hurdles make reopening them improbable. Multimillion dollar claims against Gazprom along with US stakes in the European LNG market are likely to severely limit support for Russian gas flows to the EU.
Energy & Environment Energy Markets & Governance
In Texas and California, blackouts highlight the challenge of balancing reliability with cost

New Atlanticist Apr 17, 2025

How the National Energy Dominance Council can set the US on the path to energy security

By Ellen Wald

The National Energy Dominance Council must act quickly to restore stability to the energy industry amid geopolitical uncertainty.
Energy & Environment Energy Markets & Governance

Programs

The Global Energy Center develops and promotes pragmatic and nonpartisan policy solutions designed to advance global energy security, enhance economic opportunity, and accelerate pathways to net-zero emissions.

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Events

Issue Brief

Jan 9, 2020

Election 2020: What’s at stake for energy policy?

By David L. Goldwyn, Andrea Clabough

As the US presidential election in November 2020 draws nearer, the energy policy platforms—including domestic energy, climate change, foreign, and trade policies—from the Democratic candidates, as well as the energy policies of a potential second Trump Administration, have become increasingly clear.

Energy Markets & Governance Energy Transitions

Global Energy Forum

Jan 9, 2020

European energy diversification: How alternative sources, routes, and clean technologies can bolster energy security and decarbonization

By Richard L. Morningstar, András Simonyi, Olga Khakova, Irina Markina

The European Union’s efforts to achieve a carbon-neutral economy present a unique and timely opportunity to strengthen European energy security. What is the EU currently doing to meet its decarbonization goals, address the role of natural gas in Europe’s low-carbon future, and explain the potential for new gas sources, alternative gas routes, and clean energy technologies to reduce carbon emissions? And how can this be done while simultaneously increasing European energy security and opportunities for transatlantic cooperation?

Energy Markets & Governance Energy Transitions
Manufacturing facility

Global Energy Forum

Jan 9, 2020

The Saudi Aramco-SABIC merger: How acquiring SABIC fits into Aramco’s long-term diversification strategy

By Private: Jean-François Seznec

Throughout 2019, financial markets have watched the planned Saudi Aramco initial public offering (IPO), which was finally launched in December. A quieter, but no less significant, story was the Saudi oil company’s acquisition of SABIC. Saudi Aramco strove to have a successful IPO, especially through increased transparency and diversification, and the SABIC acquisition was a key element of Saudi oil company’s diversification strategy. Going forward, what does the merger mean for both companies, what is the new relationship between Saudi Aramco and SABIC, and what are the merger’s implications for the intricate relationship between the various bureaucracies and leadership in Saudi Arabia?

Energy Markets & Governance Energy Transitions
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Content

EnergySource

Feb 25, 2021

In Texas and California, blackouts highlight the challenge of balancing reliability with cost

By Jonathan Gillis

Over the past year, the United States has endured two major “load shedding” events, first in California and now in Texas, in which electric system operators instructed transmission owners to reduce demand by rotating blackouts across service areas. In both cases, customers were left wondering how an entire region could run out of electricity. The answer lies in the complex and contentious world of “resource adequacy,” one of the most challenging issues in electric system planning and market design.

Energy & Environment Energy Markets & Governance

EnergySource

Feb 17, 2021

Rapid response: SPP/ERCOT winter freeze energy crisis

By Global Energy Center

Atlantic Council Global Energy Center staff and nonresident senior fellows share their thoughts on the SPP/ERCOT winter freeze energy crisis and the way forward in this rapid response piece.

Energy & Environment Energy Markets & Governance

In the News

Feb 16, 2021

Shaffer in Foundation for Defense of Democracies: Iran’s Latest Wave of Electricity Outages
Energy Markets & Governance Iran

Global Energy Forum

Feb 8, 2021

How to design an energy transition that includes everyone—including the most vulnerable

By Katherine Golden

The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed an “interdependent” world with “huge issues of inequity,” said Sunita Narain, director general of the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). Without addressing these realities, “we cannot deal with the virus, and it’s the same with climate change.”

Climate Change & Climate Action Energy & Environment

UkraineAlert

Jan 30, 2021

The rejection of reformer Yuriy Vitrenko highlights Ukraine’s broken politics

By Adrian Karatnycky

The Ukrainian parliament's failure to confirm the appointment of veteran reformer Yuriy Vitrenko as Energy Minister raises serious questions over the maturity of the country's political culture.

Corruption Democratic Transitions

Global Energy Forum

Jan 28, 2021

As the aviation industry recovers from one crisis, it is looking to the next: climate change

By Katherine Golden

The COVID-19 pandemic has generated “the most severe crisis for aviation ever,” said Marc Hamy, vice president of corporate affairs, sustainability, and environment at Airbus. But there's another crisis on the horizon for the aviation industry: “increasing pressure coming from climate change. So we absolutely need to recover from this crisis in aviation, and at the same time we’ll have to manage the most important transition in the history of our sector: decarbonized aviation.” Hamy added.

Energy & Environment Energy Markets & Governance

New Atlanticist

Jan 25, 2021

How climate change can become a bipartisan issue in the Biden era

By Larry Luxner

Fighting climate change should not become a partisan issue, said US Senator Chris Coons, a Democrat from Delaware who co-chairs the fourteen-member Bipartisan Senate Climate Solutions Caucus.

Energy & Environment Energy Markets & Governance

New Atlanticist

Jan 22, 2021

COP26: The key trends to watch ahead of the world’s next climate conference

By Larry Luxner

COP26 in Glasgow, Scotland—delayed until November 2021—is more likely to produce significant results now that US President Joe Biden occupies the White House, said a group of experts meeting virtually the day after Biden’s inauguration.

Energy & Environment Energy Markets & Governance

Global Energy Forum

Jan 21, 2021

The many new ways energy and national security are intersecting

By Larry Luxner

Oil and gas will still play a crucial role in the world’s economy even as clean-energy “electrostates” rise in prominence, and Biden will prioritize the threat of climate change like no president has before him.

Energy & Environment Energy Markets & Governance

Global Energy Forum

Jan 20, 2021

Why Iran could top Biden’s Middle East agenda

By Larry Luxner

Each crisis represents a major US foreign-policy challenge, but all may receive less attention from the new American administration than another pressing issue in the region: Iran’s recent nuclear advances.

Energy & Environment Energy Markets & Governance
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Experts

Fellow

Thomas Storch

Distinguished fellow, N7 Initiative

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Economy & Business Energy Markets & Governance

Fellow

Rabah Arezki

Distinguished Fellow

Freedom and Prosperity Center

Africa Economy & Business

European Leadership Accelerator Participant

Kipkorir Koskei

2025 European Leadership Accelerator participant

Millennium Leadership Program

Africa Energy Markets & Governance

Fellow

Ryan J. Lamke

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Global Energy Center

Arabic China

Fellow

Andrei Covatariu

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Global Energy Center

Eastern Europe Energy & Environment

Fellow

Liliana Diaz

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Global Energy Center

Energy & Environment Energy Markets & Governance
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Events

Public Event Wed, October 8, 2025 • 9:00 am ET

2025 Energy & Defense Summit
Defense Policy Energy & Environment Energy Markets & Governance Geopolitics & Energy Security