The Initiative for Climate Action Transparency (ICAT) published today, 8 October 2026, the Renewable Energy Methodology: Assessing the greenhouse gas impacts of renewable energy policies, an updated version of its 2020 methodology.
According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the energy sector is the largest source of global CO₂ emissions. Reducing emissions from this sector is therefore critical to limiting the rise in global temperatures and achieving global climate goals.
To support policymakers in designing and implementing effective renewable energy policies, ICAT, with support from the UNEP Copenhagen Climate Centre, developed the updated methodology.
“Countries need credible, well-designed policies that create the right incentives, provide regulatory certainty and unlock the investment needed to accelerate renewable energy deployment. Robust policy assessments help governments understand how effectively their policies are reducing greenhouse gas emissions while advancing sustainable development.” – Dr. Henning Wuester, ICAT Director
The ICAT Renewable Energy Methodology provides detailed guidance for assessing the greenhouse gas impact of renewable energy policies, helping inform policymakers and improve policy effectiveness. It follows a step-by-step approach and includes examples and case studies, showing how to apply the methodology in real-world contexts.
The guide helps users:
- Estimate emissions reductions from renewable energy policies
- Improve policy design and implementation by identifying barriers, gaps and opportunities
- Report on mitigation policies and measures under the Paris Agreement
- Inform NDCs and other national climate strategies
The methodology supports the assessment of policies that promote the deployment of renewable energy for grid-connected electricity generation and provides a flexible framework that can be applied across different stages of a policy cycle.
The Renewable Energy Methodology is based on a previous version published in 2020. The 2026 update revised content to reflect recent developments in the sector, improve user experience, and expand policy coverage. The methodology now covers five common policy interventions:
- Feed-in tariffs
- Auctions
- Tax incentives
- Net metering
- Variable renewable energy integration with grid-battery storage
The Renewable Energy Methodology is part of ICAT’s series of 10 policy assessment guides which support countries in assessing the greenhouse gas and sustainable development impacts of policies and actions, as well as their transformational change potential.
The methodology is freely available on the ICAT website. It is accompanied by detailed how-to videos and other support material intended to facilitate its application.
