The Program on Energy and Sustainable Development is part of the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies.
Energy Services
Scholarly Publications
Assessing Opportunities for Solar Lanterns to Improve Educational Outcomes in Rural Off-Grid Regions: Challenges and Lessons from a Randomized Controlled Trial
September 2018
Solar lanterns are promoted across rural Sub-Saharan Africa to improve both lighting in homes and educational outcomes.
Promoting Energy Efficiency in Emerging Economies Through Consumer Education: Results From a Field Experiment in Mexico
July 2018
AbstractWe undertake a field experiment that delivers information on electricity pricing to randomly-selected households in Puebla, Mexico.
Rural energy access through solar home systems: Use patterns and opportunities for improvement
April 2017
Abstract Solar photovoltaic (PV) products are touted as a leading solution to long-term electrification and development problems in rural parts of Sub-Saharan Africa.
Other Publications
Gas-fired generation in a high-renewables world
June 2018
Are gas and renewables good for each other, or are they on a collision course? We explored this question using a multi-player, web-based game.
Retail Pricing to Support the 21st Century Distribution Grid
November 2017
Abstract As an increasing number of California households install solar panels, the current approach to retail electricity pricing makes it harder for the state’s utilities to recover their costs....
The costs of fossil-free development
March 2017
Climage change is a serious global threat with impacts that are already being felt.
News
Wolak recommends "cost based" market for Hawaiian Electric Company
November 2018
On November 2 at the University of Hawaii, PESD Director Frank Wolak gave a special seminar "How Should the Public Utilities Commission Regulate Hawaiian Electric Company for Better Integration of...
PESD workshop tackles electricity market challenges in a highly-renewables world
October 2018
Program on Energy and Sustainable Development (PESD) Director Frank Wolak, Associate DIrector Mark Thurber, and doctoral candidate Trevor Davis led an Electricity Market Simulation Workshop as part...
Wolak: In Short Term, Lower Water Levels At Hoover Dam Will Not Impact Electricity Bills
July 2015
In a recent article by Sarah Tory, Professor Frank Wolak states that in the near term consumers should not expect a rise in electricity bills.
Events
The Missing Link: Constructing a Dynamic Pricing Plan for a Smarter Grid
June 9, 2010
PESD Director Frank Wolak will be delivering the keynote address at Agrion Business Network for Energy's panel discussion - The Missing Link: Constructing a Dynamic Pricing Plan for a Smarter Grid
Frontiers of Research on Low Income Energy
February 24, 2009
Workshop Focus With around 2 billion people using biomass as their primary energy source, and 1.6 billion people without access to electricity, there are many unanswered questions on how to best...
Electricity and the Human Prospect Conference
December 8, 2004
During the 20th century electricity spread from tiny islands of experimental service to become the world's most important energy carrier.
Projects
Energy Market Game
PESD has developed a web-based game that allows players to take on the roles of electricity generating companies (“gencos”), electricity retailers, or vertically-integrated utilities in electricity...
English
Low-Income Energy Services
Over 1 billion people around the world lack access to electricity, and over 2 billion still cook with traditional biomass fuels, which cause significant mortality through respiratory disease.
English
People
