The Program on Energy and Sustainable Development is part of the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies.
Energy Services
Scholarly Publications
Learning about Electricity Market Performance with a Large Share of Renewables from the COVID-19 Lock-Down
June 2020
We show that the negative demand shock due to the COVID-19 lock-down has reduced net-demand system demand less the amount of energy produced by intermittent renewables and net imports that must be...
An Experimental Comparison of Carbon Pricing Under Uncertainty in Electricity Markets
May 2020
We report on an economic experiment that compares outcomes in electricity markets subject to carbon-tax and cap-and-trade policies.
Breaking routine for energy savings: An appliance-level analysis of small business behavior under dynamic prices
May 2020
Small businesses are typically committed to providing a positive customer experience and therefore may exhibit a response to dynamic electricity prices different from residential or industrial...
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
PESD runs workshop for Brazil's electricity regulator
January 2019
Program on Energy and Sustainable Development (PESD) Director Frank Wolak and Associate Director Mark Thurber conducted a workshop on December 3-4 in Brasília, at the offices of Brazil's...
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...
Events
COVID-19 and the Future of Energy Markets: Will Coal Remain Dominant?
May 19, 2020
Virtual Seminar via ZoomRegister hereWelcome Remarks: Mike McFaul, Senior Fellow, Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies; Ken Olivier and Angela Nomellini Professor of International...
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...
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
