Research

Gregory Nemet researches the intersection of technological innovation, energy systems, and climate policy.

His work combines empirical analysis of historical trends with forward-looking policy modeling to address global energy challenges.

Examples of current research projects:

Solar energy

Solar energy has improved more than any other energy technology.

Understanding the reasons for solar’s cost reductions provides a playbook for other technologies we will need.

Solar itself continues to improve and is on its way to forming the core of the global energy system.

Diffusion of innovations

The speed at which clean technologies become widely adopted directly affects our ability to limit climate change.

This set of projects assembles historical data on the diffusion of technologies, policies, and social innovations.

We make the data publicly available.

High well-being with Low-energy demand

A wide array of changes to buildings, transportation, and industry can deliver much lower energy and material use while enhancing inclusive well-being. Work in this collaborative aims to understand and accelerate the process of innovation for “High with Low.”

Carbon removal

Alongside rapidly reducing emissions, removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere is also necessary to meet climate goals.

These projects aim to take stock of efforts to develop carbon dioxide removal and develop strategies to scale it up to meet net zero targets.