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Perspectives, Publications and Director’s Blog

Energy Center Perspectives, Publications and Director’s Blog
Venezuela Oil Barrels

Drilling Deeper into the Issues Shaping Venezuela’s Future

It is an era of unprecedented events in U.S. foreign policy, from the bombing of Iran’s nuclear facilities through the snatching of Venezuelan dictator Nicholas Maduro to the public pushing and shoving with NATO allies over Greenland.

energy graphic

Energy Transition: What a difference a year makes – or does it?

It is difficult to remember how things looked for the Energy Transition just twelve months ago. In August 2024, the US was in the midst of a close-run presidential race.

Five Energy Supply Surprises from the Israeli/Iran Conflict

The twelve-day Israeli campaign against Iran’s nuclear and other facilities has paused for the moment. Damage assessments of various sorts are underway.

Energy Transition in the Next Administration

Energy Transition advocates and climate activists can be forgiven for feeling pessimistic. With the election of President Trump, it seems that many signal achievements are now under threat.

Former Energy Transition R.I.P? – What Should Replace It?

Every spring CERAWeek comes to Houston. This gathering of the prominent and mighty of the oil & gas industry is widely associated with the figure of Daniel Yergin, co-founder of Cambridge Energy Research Associates and the CERAWeek.

Geopolitics, energy and this moment: The next oil shock?

This moment is surprisingly serene. Navigating the interregnum from a surprisingly peaceful U.S. presidential election to the inauguration of Donald Trump, the moment seems more calm than turbulent.
Cartoon graphic of oil well

Global frac’ing conference report

In 2016, UNC's Kenan-Flagler Energy Center hosted the invitation-only conference “Global Frac’ing: What Has to Change for it to be a Game Changer?” This report summarizes key discussions, four main questions, and their conclusions, with appendices on model regulatory and fiscal regimes for unconventional development.

Windmill

Measuring renewable energy as baseload power

A study by the Frank Hawkins Kenan Institute of Private Enterprise and the Kenan-Flagler Energy Center analyzes the cost of achieving fully decarbonized utility-scale electricity, focusing on replacing baseload power with renewable energy using five financial and energy models.

A contrarian take: Why Trump’s second term could unexpectedly advance the energy transition

Looking beyond partisan headlines, this analysis explored how Trump's second term might actually accelerate decarbonization through and 'All of the Above' energy approach - Director's Blog XV by Stephen V. Arbogast

Trump’s “Drill Baby Drill” is not what it seems

It was no surprise in the wake of President Trump's reelection that his energy policy was quickly outlined as "Drill Baby Drill."

UNC Kenan-Flagler Energy Center MBA students place second at NEFC

UNC Kenan-Flagler Energy Center MBA students placed second at the 20th annual National Energy Finance Challenge (NEFC).

The Global Fracking Conference Report 2024

The UNC Kenan-Flagler Energy Center convened a second Global Unconventional Production conference to consider if such developments will combine to create new momentum behind non-U.S. Unconventional production.

DERs role in a more reliable, sustainable and resilient power system

Distributed Energy Resources (DERs) and Distributed Generation (DG) are often used interchangeably.

The Erosion of Democratic Norms by Stephen V. Arbogast

The Erosion of Democratic Norms - Director's Blog XIV by Stephen V. Arbogast

Serving U.S. electricity demand growth needs new solutions by Stephen V. Arbogast

AI Data Center Load Growth Complicates Many Things, Including De-Carbonization