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Customer LoginsThe “New Configurations: America’s Gas and Power in Net Zero” study lays out the implications of the proposed US energy transition to sustainable energy sources for gas and electric power companies in light of the rapidly changing policy environment at the state, federal and global level. This study focuses on the key implications for power and gas markets and aim to answer three key questions:
The impact of decarbonization options on infrastructure is assessed according to regional dynamics.
The research and analysis focuses on “macro” regional markets: 1) Northeast 2) Mid-Atlantic 3) Southeast 4) Mid-continent 5) Texas and 6) West.
Regional energy dynamics vary widely and will directly impact the strategic choices faced by companies, policymakers, and regulators. Key regional variables include:
The work builds on two recent S&P Global research programs Sustainable Flame and Fast Transition and incorporates the unique characteristics of regional US energy markets. (The Sustainable Flame study evaluated options for decarbonizing natural gas and identified compelling use cases for zero emission hydrogen and renewable natural gas. Fast Transition is a gas and power market outlook incorporating deep decarbonization through electrification and hydrogen, where the electric power sector reaches carbon neutrality by 2040 and zero carbon by 2050, economy-wide CO2 emissions are reduced by 50% from 2005 levels by 2035, and economy-wide net zero CO2 emissions are reached by 2050.)
The study has four lead topics of investigation:
The deliverables are in two parts. The first part was a series of five virtual workshops—four that addressed each module and one final workshop that summarized the study’s conclusions. A detailed pre-read document consisting of PowerPoint slides were provided prior to each workshop. The content will be S&P Global proprietary analysis derived from a combination of our own databases, research, and publicly-sourced data. Upon completion of the workshops, we collated the supporting documents into a single reference final report that incorporates feedback from study participants as appropriate. These materials are of a semi-technical or technical nature.
The second part will be a white paper, which is available for free download. The white paper draws from the preceding materials. It is nontechnical and aimed at an audience of policymakers and non-technical investors with the purpose of illustrating the implications of moving to net zero energy for gas and power infrastructure.
Deliverable summary:
To help guide stakeholders, the implications of net zero policies for wholesale gas and power infrastructure are summarized and qualitatively addressed in a public white paper. Topics the white paper addresses include:
Renewable Natural Gas & Hydrogen
Evolution of the Natural Gas Industry
Designing a Decarbonized Power Generation System
Integrated energy research and analysis in US and Canada.
Alex's primary research focuses on hydrogen's applications. He also has a decade of experience studying the impact of environmental regulation on the electric power sector for North America power market practice.Previously, Alex worked as a consultant at Abt Associates on US government consultancy. He focused on economic modeling of proposed rulemakings and supporting the US Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Compliance. Before consulting, Alex worked at the US Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Environmental Information.He holds a BS in Physics from the University of Delaware and an MPP in Energy Policy from American University.
Wade Shafer—Director for the Climate and Sustainability, North America Power and Renewables practice at S&P Global Commodity Insights —covers western North American power markets and researches electric power decarbonization strategies. Based in Washington, D.C., he analyzes power market fundamentals—focusing on California and Alberta—and follows policy, technology, and generation trends. His decarbonization strategy work includes renewable generation portfolios that meet hourly electricity demand, resource adequacy in low carbon power systems, hydrogen for seasonal energy storage, electricity demand arising from heating electrification and hydrogen production, and the implications of electric vehicles for the power grid. Utilities, power plant developers, energy and automotive companies, and private equity firms use his work and seek his advice for generation asset valuations, resource and strategic planning, and public policy. Wade speaks with and supports all levels of organizations, including corporate executives and directors.Wade earned an MS from Johns Hopkins University and a BS from The George Washington University. He has over a decade of experience working in electric power and other infrastructure industries.
Shankari has specific expertise in global gas market fundamentals analysis, price forecasting, company strategy and scenario planning. She has authored numerous reports. Prior to joining S&P Global Commodity Insights, Shankari was Head of Energy Fundamentals at Centrica in the United Kingdom. She has covered the European gas market for many years and authored a number of reports as researcher and then leader of the European gas practice at CERA, which is now part of S&P Global Commodity Insights. She has also assessed the European and Russian gas markets with the International Energy Agency.Shankari previously worked at a New York brokerage firm as a corporate equity analyst. She holds three degrees from US Universities, a Bachelor of Arts from Brown University, a Master of Science from New York University, and a Master of Science from University of Pennsylvania. She also holds an Executive MBA from Cranfield University, United Kingdom.
Xizhou has expertise in power and renewable market fundamentals analysis and forecasting, power market design and policy analysis, renewable energy business models, and company strategies, among other areas. He previously headed the firm's Power, Gas, Coal, and Renewables practice in Asia Pacific while based in Beijing, where he significantly expanded the group's research and consulting coverage across the region with new teams established in Singapore, Seoul, Tokyo, Delhi, Penang, and Brisbane. Xizhou began his career at S&P Global through one of its predecessor companies, Cambridge Energy Research Associates (CERA), as part of its Emerging Markets and Global Power groups in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Before that, he worked as a consultant on regulatory economics for Industrial Economics, Inc. in Boston and as a research analyst at the World Resources Institute in Washington, DC. Fluent in Mandarin Chinese and proficient in Spanish. He serves as an editorial board member of China Petroleum Society's official journal, Guoji Shiyou Jingji (International Petroleum Economics). He is currently based in Washington, DC.Xizhou holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Environmental Management, both from Yale University in the United States.
The Pulitzer-Prize winning author of "The Prize," and "The Quest," Dr. Yergin is vice chairman of S&P Global and founded CERA (now part of S&P Global). He is an authority on energy, international politics and economics. His awards include Lifetime Achievement from the Prime Minister of India and the United States Energy Award for lifelong achievements in energy and the promotion of international understanding. He holds a Bachelor of Arts from Yale University and a Ph.D. from Cambridge University, where he was a Marshall Scholar.
