Center for Resource Solutions: Renewable Energy Expert Assistance and Market Development

Center for Resource Solutions (CRS) is a US-based global NGO focused on creating policy and market solutions to advance sustainable energy. Founded in 1997, CRS is a proven international leader working to mitigate climate change via forward-thinking sustainable economic development strategies, energy policy collaboration, and real-time expert assistance. CRS's innovative programs and initiatives help to significantly lower carbon emissions, reduce fossil fuel dependence, and increase local job development by increasing the supply, demand, and consumer confidence in renewable energy and carbon emission reductions. CRS focuses on policy and regulatory activities and necessary market infrastructure to facilitate sustainable energy development in the US and abroad. Our work touches on tracking systems, voluntary renewable energy markets, state and national policies, and other necessary market structures for the establishment of vibrant and robust markets. Recent work focuses on state renewable portfolio standard (RPS) implementation, tracking system development in North America, interactions between renewable energy and carbon markets, and integration of greenhouse gas regulations with renewable energy policy and markets. Since 2000, CRS has undertaken efforts to make renewable energy a significant component of China's national energy system under the China Sustainable Energy Program (CSEP), an effort of the San Francisco-based Energy Foundation. The CSEP provides international best practice guidance to Chinese organizations, including on distributed renewable energy generation, high-penetration renewable energy studies, wind and solar integration studies, dispatch order, and energy storage. Team members have completed projects ranging from sources of wind resource and wind forecast data, to a comparison of China's solar PV grid codes to grid codes in Europe, to pumped storage, and the operating flexibility of ultra-high voltage direct current lines. In 2017, CRS was additionally supported by Energy Foundation China to conduct the first of multiple technical training workshops with Chinese government officials from NEA, CREEI, NDRC, and others to assist with the holistic design and implementation of China's REC system, including tracking system design, reporting, verification, stakeholder definitions, and compliance and voluntary market policy design and interactions. CRS has also begun work with Changhua County in Taiwan, R.O.C. to support technical renewable energy trainings and help expand renewable energy purchasing options in Taiwan, including our Green-e certification program. CRS also supported the Taiwan Institute of Economic Research (TIER) in the launch of their T-REC mechanism, providing assistance on tracking system design, reporting, verification, stakeholder definitions, and compliance and voluntary market policy design and interactions. Beginning in 2015, CRS was supported by the German sustainable development organization GIZ to develop a series of reports and trainings focused on various aspects of clean energy certificate programs for the Mexican Energy Regulatory Commission (CRE). CRS provided analysis of regulatory instruments, and recommendations for registry and issuance system design. CRS also conducted in-person trainings for government officials on tracking system design, monitoring, reporting, and verification system best practices and integration with energy and carbon regulatory policy. Additionally, we regularly publish white papers that cover a variety of topics relevant to sustainable production and consumption. These materials can be accessed at resource-solutions.org/publications. Through our expert assistance and market development activities, CRS has strengthened the markets for renewable energy in North America, Latin America, and Asia. Whether it be through establishing mechanisms to support reliable purchasing options, disseminating industry best practices, or simply providing analytical support, our work increases the accessibility and accountability of renewable energy procurement, which is critical for sustainable production and consumption. CRS hopes to increase the scope of our impact as we continue to expand internationally.