RMI

Today, we’re excited to share RMI’s latest report, Harvesting Sunshine: How Productive Uses of Minigrid Electricity Make Farmers Richer and Energy Cheaper, supported by The African Climate Foundation. This report explores how minigrids, when paired with productive uses of energy (PUEs), can transform lives and power systems by: ✅ Slashing electricity production costs by up to 50% ✅ Introducing modern conveniences to homes through appliances and devices ✅ Boosting efficiency for businesses and industries Drawing from the Energizing Agriculture Programme in Nigeria, the report covers the deployment of 269 mills, freezers, EVs, and other essential equipment across minigrids. It also offers valuable insights into successful business models that bring these technologies to life through Nigerian suppliers and service providers. Ready to dive deeper? Read the full report here: https://bit.ly/3MD3tSJ Rural Electrification Agency of Nigeria, The Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP) #PoweringAgriculture #ProductiveUsesofEnergy #AfricanClimateFoundation #LetsChangeEnergy #EnergizingAgriculture #Africa #Minigrids

China is the world’s leader in automotive manufacturing and electrification. Although electric vehicles produce zero tailpipe emissions, the emissions from producing the steel that goes into EVs still need to be reduced. The challenges for decarbonizing steel — one of the most emissions-intensive materials used in cars — include a lack of consensus between upstream steel producers and auto-manufacturers on how to collaborate and a need for improved accounting methods, data quality, and management capabilities. RMI and the China Automotive Technology & Research Center collaborated on a pilot project using RMI’s Steel Greenhouse Gas Emission Reporting Guidance to calculate the carbon footprints of steel products used by four major automotive manufacturers in China. Eight companies participated including steel enterprises which account for ~12% of the world's steel supply. Learn more about how RMI's Steel Guidance helps remove barriers to the procurement of low-carbon steel in the automotive sector: https://bit.ly/471beeV #China #Automotive #Steel #EmissionsReduction

Across the United States, public utility commissions are taking bold steps to ensure utilities leverage the resources of the Inflation Reduction Act for the benefit of their customers. RMI has documented four case studies showcasing how forward-thinking regulators are innovating within various regulatory frameworks to direct utilities in harnessing IRA benefits. These efforts pave the way for tangible savings and better service delivery. 👏 Dive into the case studies to learn more about how these regulatory leaders are driving positive change: https://bit.ly/4769roQ

Saint Lucia, a small Caribbean island vulnerable to climate change, is proving that size is no barrier to impactful action. The island launched its first utility-scale solar farm in 2018, powering 3,500 homes and saving over $3 million in diesel costs. There were a lot of lessons learned in that first energy transition strategy and solar farm for Saint Lucia. “The energy transition strategy done in St. Lucia identified an optimal practical pathway to transition, of which the low hanging fruit was this first no regret solar project. That won the favor and respect of governments and utilities alike in several other jurisdictions, such as St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Turks and Caicos, Belize, and the British Virgin Islands,” RMI’s Christopher Burgess celebrates. But that’s just the beginning. The island is now focused on distributed renewables like solar microgrids for schools and hospitals to ensure critical facilities stay powered during disasters: https://bit.ly/475hDpp #ClimateAction #RenewableEnergy #SaintLucia

As we tackle climate change, there will always be daunting truths — rising pollution, worsening weather extremes, need we go on?    But to keep our resolve, we must also focus on the solutions.    New and upcoming clean technologies and everyday actions give us the power to make a difference.    It's our commitment to these solutions that keeps us moving forward, driving progress, and inspiring change. Learn more about our framework of #AppliedHope: https://lnkd.in/eRW-NupU  

From disrupting people’s everyday lives to life-or-death situations in climate vulnerable regions, climate change affects everyone. RMIers are among those experiencing the impacts. The summer of 2024, with its record heat, drought across much of the planet, and rare tornadoes and power outages across the US Midwest, reinforced RMIers commitment to the work we do for a safer, cleaner, more secure world. https://bit.ly/4cL7sas #ClimateImpact #ClimateAction

Our energy grid has served us well for decades, but with increasing demands, we’re starting to see its limitations. “We've underinvested in the grid for many years in the country for many, many reasons, and it's coming home to roost now," RMI’s Mark Dyson tells CNET. However, solutions like virtual power plants — collections of customer energy resources like batteries, electric vehicles, and smart thermostats — not only support the grid but also offer potential savings on energy bills. Learn more about the benefits of virtual power plants and how you might integrate them into your home: https://cnet.co/4cnAGfC

It’s almost September, which means Climate Week NYC is just around the corner. Make sure to save room in your schedule for us on Tuesday, Sept. 24. We’ll be hosting a day of insightful conversations with RMI experts and others at Scandinavia House. We’ll share stories in four sessions on: ➡️ How the private sector, in partnership with RMI, is leading climate action. ➡️ How slashing methane can help hit short-term climate goals. ➡️ How communities across the United States are benefiting from the IRA. ➡️ How we can change hearts and minds in the fight against climate change. Learn more and register: https://bit.ly/4fWgRPD  #ClimateAction #ClimateWeekNYC

Landfills are a major source of methane — a highly potent greenhouse gas. Landfill methane also contributes to smog, and is co-emitted with hazardous pollution that can harm the health of nearby communities by worsening respiratory illnesses like asthma, for example. "Once you set [your trash cans] out to be picked up, it’s kind of out of sight and out of mind," said RMI’s Tom Frankiewicz. But "methane is created when organic waste, things like yard waste, food waste, even paper and cardboard," break down in landfills. There are solutions for detecting and managing landfill methane emissions, including monitoring from above with aircraft and satellites, automated gas collection at the landfill, and better landfill covers. But step one should always be to keep organic waste from even making it to the landfill by reducing, recycling, or composting it instead. Colorado is working hard to cut methane pollution across sources, and RMI is thrilled to be participating in the technical working group to inform a new landfill methane standard. Learn more about how Colorado is one of the states leading the way in terms of reducing landfill methane pollution: https://bit.ly/3Z0m96m #Colorado #Methane #WasteManagement #Emissions #Composting #Recycling

This summer, as energy demands soar, the need for reliable and resilient power is more important than ever.     Utility-scale battery energy storage systems are stepping up to meet these challenges, providing a cleaner, more dependable alternative to fossil fuels.     Learn how batteries are ensuring our grid can handle the heat and keep our communities powered all season long. 👇    Explore our Clean Energy 101 to discover how batteries can contribute to a resilient energy future: https://lnkd.in/gJFbifCN