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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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Report

Jan 9, 2020

International grid integration: Efficiencies, vulnerabilities, and strategic implications in Asia

By Phillip Cornell

In order to meet growing global demand for electricity, and in response to an increase in renewables, power networks and markets are evolving and becoming increasingly interconnected. South and Southeast Asia have already had some success with interconnections, and China’s vision and Belt and Road Initiative loom large in the region, but there are geopolitical concerns to contend with. Could a US model manage these concerns? What is the state of regional power markets in Asia and investment in regional grid infrastructure, and what responses are we already seeing to emerging trends?

Climate Change & Climate Action Energy Markets & Governance

Report

Jan 9, 2020

Energy sector diversification: Meeting demographic challenges in the MENA region

By Bina Hussein

The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region is projected to experience significant demographic growth by 2050, growth which will have to be met with commensurate economic expansion and job opportunities, or the region will risk an increase in political instability. To meet this challenge, countries in the region must diversify their economies beyond the energy sector and expand their energy sector beyond hydrocarbons. What are the key trends that MENA countries will have to contend with, what is already being done, and what further steps should be taken?

Energy Markets & Governance Energy Transitions

Issue Brief

Jan 9, 2020

Transforming the power sector in developing countries: Geopolitics, poverty, and climate change in Bangladesh

By Robert F. Ichord, Jr.

As the South and Southeast Asian region faces increasing energy demand due to both population and economic growth, countries like Bangladesh must meet that demand while facing and overcoming critical environmental and energy security challenges. How is Bangladesh seeking to diversify its energy mix and establish more local and decarbonized power systems, and what are key opportunities for future government and foreign investment?

Bangladesh Climate Change & Climate Action

Content

EnergySource

Nov 19, 2018

Mexico’s new president and the power sector: Sunshine or storms?

By David Livingston

Three major storms, some precipitated by AMLO himself, are clouding the outlook for power sector investments in Mexico.

Americas Energy Markets & Governance

EnergySource

Nov 7, 2018

The Three Seas Initiative: The way forward

By Fanni Virág

Last month, the third Summit of the Three Seas Initiative (3SI) came to a successful close in Bucharest. The gathering, hosted by Romanian President Klaus Iohannis, brought together leaders from Europe and the United States to present regional government-approved projects and concrete progress in the integration of 3SI’s framework, which aims to improve interconnectivity in […]

Central Europe Eastern Europe

Timely Commentary & Analysis

Nov 5, 2018

Global Energy Center experts weigh in on Iran sanctions

By Global Energy Center

At 11:59 p.m. ET on November 4, the remaining sanctions on Iran’s energy, ship building, shipping, and banking sectors that had been lifted or waived under the JCPOA came back into full effect. Iran’s oil exports and revenue are a major part of the administration’s strategy to spur change in Iran on the part of […]

Americas Energy & Environment

EnergySource

Oct 24, 2018

Russia-Iran economic deal: Sanctions relief or political game?

By Sara Bazoobandi

In May, the US government announced it would unilaterally withdraw from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and re-impose the sanctions previously lifted or waived. While the re-imposition of sanctions is certainly not welcomed by Iran, it is also nothing new. Iran has long struggled with various economic sanctions and the Iranian economy has […]

Energy & Environment Energy Markets & Governance

EnergySource

Oct 17, 2018

Poland’s role in Energy Bridge and regional energy security

By Melissa Hersh and Edward Kee

The following is the third installment in a three-part series on the proposed Energy Bridge project, an energy development and regional energy interconnection initiative for Ukraine and its neighbors. In Part 1 of this series, we described the Energy Bridge project and why it is an important initiative for Ukraine. In Part 2 of the series, […]

Central Europe Energy Markets & Governance

EnergySource

Oct 15, 2018

How oil turns antagonists to allies

By Ellen Wald

Oil market dynamics can make for strange bedfellows, as overlapping economic interests can often trump entrenched regional rivalries or bilateral strife. That is not to say that oil markets are not vulnerable to geopolitical events—they are. Probably the most well-known and often cited example of a geopolitical issue to effect oil markets was the 1973 […]

Energy Markets & Governance Iran

EnergySource

Sep 14, 2018

The Three Seas Initiative’s Bucharest summit: Focusing on energy

By Fanni Virág

On September 17, 2018, the leaders of the twelve member countries of the Three Seas Initiative (3SI) will gather in Bucharest for the third Three Seas Summit, in the hopes of achieving concrete progress on some of the initiative’s projects. Launched in 2016 by the countries bordering the Adriatic, the Baltic, and the Black Seas, […]

Central Europe Eastern Europe

EnergySource

Aug 30, 2018

Puerto Rico chooses concession: Two strikes to date

By Branko Terzic

This piece is the second by the author on Puerto Rico’s electricity system. You can read the first piece here. The government of Puerto Rico has selected “concession” as the method of privatizing the transmission and distribution assets of the commonwealth’s electric system, Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA). This privatization through “concession” of transmission […]

Energy Markets & Governance Latin America

EnergySource

Jul 19, 2018

Puerto Rico’s electric industry transformation

By Branko Terzic

Following the tragic weather events of 2017, the state of Puerto Rico’s infrastructure, particularly energy infrastructure, has been a contentious issue. In fact, even before Hurricane Maria, Puerto Rico’s electric service provider, Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA), had been struggling with mismanagement and teetered on the brink of financial collapse for years. The damage […]

Energy Markets & Governance Energy Transitions

MENASource

Jul 11, 2018

Can Sadr fulfill his campaign promise to reform the Iraq energy sector?

By Andrea Taylor

The trajectory of Iraq remains uncertain two months after the May 2018 Parliamentary elections in which the political bloc led by Muqtada al-Sadr won the greatest number of seats. Given that the Alliance Revolutionaries for Reform, or Sairoon, fell well short of a majority, Sadr must develop a coalition with other parties to elect a […]

Energy Markets & Governance Iraq

Experts