• CERAWEEK 2025 | March 10-14, 2025
  • CERAWEEK
  • March 10 - 14, 2025

Rafael McDonald

IHS Markit

Director, North American Renewable Power

Rafael McDonald, Director, focuses on North American renewable energy fundamentals and long-term scenarios planning. His focus includes renewable power supply and demand, capacity and cost outlooks, renewable power policy, and interfuel competition. For 10 years, he worked on the IHS Markit Global Gas and LNG team, on both retainer and consulting work. Prior to joining IHS Markit, Mr. McDonald worked for the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection’s Office of Research and Standards. He holds a BSE from Princeton University and an MS from Washington University in St. Louis.

Sessions With Rafael McDonald

Thursday, 14 March

  • 06:10pm - 06:40pm (CST) / -

    Why Power Costs Vary Globally: Technologies & fuels
    Panel Power Technology/Innovation

    Solar and wind power costs globally have dropped rapidly during the past decade. Renewable project tender prices and feed-in tariffs are also dropping across the world. Many believe aggressive cost declines are still possible and will likely allow renewables to reach parity with conventional power very soon. How will technological development, scale of manufacturing, and local development experience build-up continue to affect costs for wind and solar? When should we expect renewable costs to become competitive with thermal generation costs? Will storage cost fall fast enough to allow system-wide costs of firm renewable power also reach parity with conventional power?