Among the available options for encouraging the increased deployment of renewable electricity, renewables portfolio standards (RPS) have become increasingly popular. The RPS is a relatively new policy mechanism, however, and experience with its use is only beginning to emerge. One key concern that has been voiced is whether RPS policies will offer adequate support to a wide range of renewable energy technologies and applications or whether, alternatively, RPS programs will favour a small number of the currently least-cost forms of renewable energy. This book documents the design of and early experience with state-level RPS programs in the United States that have been specifically tailored to encourage a wider diversity of renewable energy technologies, and solar energy in particular. State-level RPS programs specifically designed to support solar energy have already proven to be an important, albeit somewhat modest, driver for solar energy deployment, and those impacts are projected to continue to build in coming years.
This paper assesses the market developments in North Carolina's solar energy industry following the state's adoption of a renewable portfolio standard (RPS). It first reviews how solar renewable electricity certificates (SRECs) are intended to act as a support mechanism for the installation and financing of solar power in North Carolina's RPS compliance market. The paper then analyzes why SRECs have not precipitated growth in the solar industry thus far. Instead of attracting a diversity of solar installation and SREC trading businesses to create a competitive market to North Carolina, the RPS has only enabled a few large solar power producers to compete with utility companies to finance, install, and operate solar generating systems. A comparison between the SREC markets in North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey reveals that transparency in prices and volumes of SRECs, limits on utility company self-ownership of solar generators, and more aggressive solar set-aside targets are required to create a competitive market environment that will attract a sustainable and growing solar industry.
Among the available options for encouraging the increased deployment of renewable electricity, renewables portfolio standards (RPS) have become increasingly popular. The RPS is a relatively new policy mechanism, however, and experience with its use is only beginning to emerge. One key concern that has been voiced is whether RPS policies will offer adequate support to a wide range of renewable energy technologies and applications or whether, alternatively, RPS programs will favor a small number of the currently least-cost forms of renewable energy. This report documents the design of and early experience with state-level RPS programs in the United States that have been specifically tailored to encourage a wider diversity of renewable energy technologies, and solar energy in particular. As shown here, state-level RPS programs specifically designed to support solar have already proven to be an important, albeit somewhat modest, driver for solar energy deployment, and those impacts are projected to continue to build in the coming years. State experience in supporting solar energy with RPS programs is mixed, however, and full compliance with existing requirements has not been achieved. The comparative experiences described herein highlight the opportunities and challenges of applying an RPS to specifically support solar energy, as well as the importance of policy design details to ensuring that program goals are achieved.
A component in the America's Energy Future study, Electricity from Renewable Resources examines the technical potential for electric power generation with alternative sources such as wind, solar-photovoltaic, geothermal, solar-thermal, hydroelectric, and other renewable sources. The book focuses on those renewable sources that show the most promise for initial commercial deployment within 10 years and will lead to a substantial impact on the U.S. energy system. A quantitative characterization of technologies, this book lays out expectations of costs, performance, and impacts, as well as barriers and research and development needs. In addition to a principal focus on renewable energy technologies for power generation, the book addresses the challenges of incorporating such technologies into the power grid, as well as potential improvements in the national electricity grid that could enable better and more extensive utilization of wind, solar-thermal, solar photovoltaics, and other renewable technologies.
In the early 1990s, developing countries started to introduce different economic incentives to promote the deployment of renewable energy. This paper summarizes the results of a recent review of the emerging experience with the design and implementation of price and quota based instruments to promote renewable energy in
Scientific Study from the year 2003 in the subject Politics - Region: USA, grade: 1,0 (A), University of Leipzig (Institute for Politcal Science), language: English, abstract: INTRODUCTION "America must have an energy policy that plans for the future, but meets the needs of today. I believe we can develop our natural resources and protect our environment." President George W. Bush (National Energy Policy, 2001) When in 2000 the negotiations over the Kyoto Protocol were proceeding, the Clinton administration showed severe reluctance to commit to another multilateral environmental regime. George W. Bush eventually pulled completely out of the Protocol - much to the disappointment and frustration of many countries which had supported the process despite their own hesitations. As a result, more attention has been paid to U.S. environmental policies that were announced in the aftermath of the U.S. withdrawal. The Bush administration announced the need for further research on climate change and aslo supported, in general, the promotion of renewable energy, particularly of hydrogen technology. As a contribution to the International Renewable Energy Conference to be hosted by Germany in Bonn from June 2 to 6, 2004, this paper seeks to examine domestic policies implemented in the United States to promote renewable energy. With respect to the constitutional division of power and differences in political strategies and programs, the paper makes a distinction between federal and state policies regarding renewable energy. The following discussion will show that, despite a reluctance on the federal level, much progress in promoting renewables on the state level has been made and is likely to continue. While the development on the state level is very promising, a comprehensive federal approach, crucial for a sustainable change in energy supply, is still missing. Chapter One briefly outlines what definition of ‚renewable energy′ is relevant for the paper, and which renewable energy sources are included in the discussion. After a short description of pertinent alternative energy sources, a discussion of federal attempts to further the development of renewables will follow in Chapter Two. The paper identifies federal mandates, incentives, research and development and federal programs as the four major fields of federal activity and discusses them accordingly. Chapter Three gives a comprehensive overview of the state activities regarding alternative energy sources. The paper makes a distinction between financial incentives; rules, regulations and policies; and outreach and voluntary programs to describe activities on the state level. ...
