EFI Releases Significant Decarbonization Report: “Optionality, Flexibility & Innovation: Pathways for Deep Decarbonization in California"

At major green building regional and national events, decarbonization is growing as popular topic, and across all sectors.  But how can we achieve drastic decarbonization goals?  California often leads the way and shows by example how the rest of the country and world can operate more sustainably (and with economic gains, in fact), and this case is no exception.  The Energy Futures Initiative has just released a report, “Optionality, Flexibility & Innovation: Pathways for Deep Decarbonization in California,’’ which thoroughly analyzes the options available for meeting California’s aggressive 2030 low-energygoals. 

California committed to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions to 80% or more below 1990 levels by 2050, with an interim target of 40% below 1990 levels by 2030.  Not surprisingly, California must pursue an all-of-the-above stagey across sectors to reach these goals,  - Electricity, Transportation, Industry/Manufacturing, and Agriculture.  The challenge appears to be in the complexity and detail- and flexibility needed to get the job done when so many factors also can not be predicted exactly.  

Key innovation areas that must be pursued include:

• Renewable generation 
• Energy Efficiency 
• Hydrogen Carbon Management (Direct Air Capture & CCUS)
• Seasonal Storage
• Renewable Natural Gas/Biogas 
• Electrification & Fuel Switching 
• Smart Systems & Other Platform Technologies

The Summary for Policy Makers of Optionality, Flexibility & Innovation: Pathways for Deep Decarbonization in California is available for download at www.energyfuturesinitiative.org. The full report will follow later this month, and wil include a chapter devoted to decarbonization in residential and commercial buildings.  

About the Energy Futures Initiative:

The Energy Futures Initiative (EFI), established in 2017 by former Secretary of Energy Ernest J. Moniz, is dedicated to addressing the imperatives of climate change by driving innovation in energy technology, policy, and business models to accelerate the creation of clean energy jobs, grow local, regional, and national economies, and enhance energy security. We are fact-based analysts who provide our funders with practical real-world energy solutions.