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Alternative and Renewable Energy

High oil prices and growing worries about climate change have heightened interest in alternative and renewable energy sources, but these frequently cost more than fossil fuels. RAND has explored the feasibility of using renewable resources such as wind power and ethanol to reduce CO₂ emissions and enhance energy security, and analyzed the likely effects of such technologies on consumer energy costs.

Research conducted by: Environment, Energy, and Economic Development Program; RAND Justice, Infrastructure, and Environment; RAND Project AIR FORCE

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Natural Resources and Their Impact on Economic Development

Research conducted within RAND Environment, Energy, and Economic Development focuses on environmental quality and regulation; energy resources and systems; water resources and systems; climate, natural hazards, and disasters; and innovation, entrepreneurship, and economic development.

Reports (54)

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Constraints on JP-900 Jet Fuel Production Concepts — Apr 7, 2007

Of the advanced concepts for military jet fuel production, those requiring coal tars or decant oil as inputs are limited by the availability of these feedstocks and, for certain concepts, the relatively small markets for premium grade coke.

Robust Decisions and Deep Uncertainty: An Application of Real Options to Public and Private Investment in Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies — Feb 27, 2007

Assesses the prospects for private-sector investment in hydrogen and fuel cell technologies.

Policy Issues for Alternative Fuels for Military Operations — Sep 25, 2006

Testimony presented to the House Armed Services Committee, Subcommittee on Readiness and Subcommittee on Terrorism, Unconventional Threats and Capabilities on September 26, 2006.

RAND Forum on Hydrogen Technology and Policy: A Conference Report — Jul 5, 2005

Summarizes the proceedings of a forum in which 40 expertsdiscussed the benefits and risks of hydrogen as an alternative energy source

Long-Range Energy R&D: A Methodology for Program Development and Evaluation — Dec 13, 2004

Determining energy research needs for the distant future.

Generating Electric Power in the Pacific Northwest: Implications of Alternative Technologies — Jan 1, 2002

This report examines the implications of using alternative power-generation technologies to meet future energy demands in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States.

E-Vision 2000: Key Issues That Will Shape Our Energy Future Summary of Proceedings, Scenario Analysis, Expert Elicitation, and Submitted Papers — Jan 1, 2001

This report documents an initiative by the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) of the U.S. Department of Energy to identify and assess a range of emerging issues that may affect future energy use and supply.

E-Vision 2000: Key Issues That Will Shape Our Energy Future Analysis and Papers Prepared for the E-Vision 2000 Conference — Jan 1, 2001

This report documents an initiative by the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to identify and assess a range of emerging issues that may affect future energy use and supply.

NATO and Caspian Security: A Mission Too Far? — Jan 1, 1999

NATO and Caspian Security: A Mission Too Far?

Full Document

Promoting Energy Efficiency Through Improved Electricity Pricing: A Mid-Project Report — Jan 1, 1982

Presents results of research in five related areas of electricity demand analysis under alternative rate forms.

Full Document

Summary of findings and bibliography for the Department of Energy's innovative residential retrofit delivery system demonstrations — Jan 1, 1981

The Department of Energy was interested in learning more about which kinds of energy conservation services are of greater use to homeowners and in assessing the potential impact of integrated retrofit delivery systems in accelerating household retrof...

Full Document

What can the Asia-Pacific region expect from the Nairobi Conference? — Jan 1, 1981

Provides an overview of issues expected to be discussed at the United Nations Conference on New and Renewable Sources of Energy to be held in Nairobi in August 1981. The main questions the author looks at are whether the developing nations of the As...

Full Document

An Examination of Alternative Nuclear Breeding Methods — Jan 1, 1978

Examines the relative costs of four possible means of producing electrical energy-- (LWR), (LMFBR), the fusion hybrid reactor, and the accelerator-driven reactor coupled with thermal converter reactors.

Full Document

Average Cost Pricing of Natural Gas: A Problem and Three Policy Options — Jan 1, 1978

Current regulation of wholesale and retail natural gas encourages overconsumption of gas and discourages desirable entry of solar heaters, heat pumps, and other "new" residential and commercial energy technologies.

Full Document

Residential Energy Use: Combining Disaggregated Data Sources for Policy Analysis — Jan 1, 1977

Describes the problems in combining databases and documents the data involved in empirical testing of electricity demand model in R-1899.

The Military Utility of Very Large Airplanes and Alternative Fuels — Jan 1, 1977

Very large airplanes using alternative fuels are examined in the context of existing and possible future U.S. Air Force missions.

Full Document

Some Cost, Energy, Environmental, and Resource Implications of Synthetic Fuels Produced from Coal for Military Aircraft — Jan 1, 1976

Examines the most promising energy alternatives to crude oil and the most attractive aviation fuels derivable from resource alternatives, with emphasis on coal-based aviation fuels.

Full Document

California's Energy Future — Jan 1, 1976

An abridgment of results of a study on energy policy issues facing California, reported in full in Energy Alternatives for California: Paths to the Future, R-1793.

The Potential Role of Technological Modifications and Alternative Fuels in Alleviating Air Force Energy Problems — Jan 1, 1976

Examines short- and long-term measures to reduce the consumption of petroleum jet fuels by the U.S. Air Force.

Full Document

An Evaluation of Very Large Airplanes and Alternative Fuels — Jan 1, 1976