Renewable power generation is growing rapidly, but each technology exhibits unique cost and performance profiles, and provides different benefits. The EMP Department:
- Analyzes current and future markets for, and the economics of, renewable energy, especially wind and solar, including technology developments, cost, performance, and comparative economics
- Synthesizes foundational data, and produces annual “state-of-the-market” reports and data products for wind power (Land-Based Wind Market Report), utility-scale solar (Utility-Scale Solar), distributed photovoltaics (Tracking the Sun), and hybrid power plants
- Analyzes income and other demographic trends among solar adopters, including low-to-moderate income households
- Collaborates with the U.S. Geological Survey and the American Wind Energy Association to produce the U.S. Wind Turbine Database
- Analyzes the impact of financing structures on the economics of renewable energy projects
- Evaluates the role of renewable energy in alleviating or exacerbating environmental impacts
- Partners with several universities to support student-led research projects on solar markets
- Provides technical assistance to diverse stakeholders on costs, benefits and markets
- Compiles and analyzes interconnection queue and interconnection cost data from transmission system operators across the U.S.
