Alliance for Renewable Energy

What's New with Feed-In Tariffs?

From Paul Gipe (Wind-Works.org):

• We Actually Can?! by Miguel Mendonça--When first writing on this site a few years ago, and advocating the feed-in tariff policy for market development of renewables, there were no such laws in Britain or North America. They are now coming into being, and this is in part due to the fact that initially small, but ever-snowballing groups of people, made it their business to push for legislative progress. . .
• South Africa's Nersa makes Refit phase two decision; contracts expected in November by Christy van der Merwe--The National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) on Friday published it’s decision on the second phase of the Renewable Energy Feed-in Tariff (Refit), and stated that the power purchase agreement could be expected in November. . .
• What solar will cost in Germany by Craig Morris--The RWI study is therefore roughly 50 percent off the mark according to her calculation, i.e. solar is not that expensive. . .
• Michael Eckhart, ACORE, on the RWI "study" of German FITs--So, they figure, if they are to justify coal and nuclear, they must first discredit the FIT. . .
• Craig Morris German PV Investment Summary
• Germany Installs 2.34GW, FIT to Decline 9-11% by Ucilia Wang, Greentech Media--Demand in Germany has picked up since mid-year. The new ruling coalition seeks to calm fears of a cut to the country’s solar incentives. . .
• Globe & Mail: New rules could fuel green bonanza--Ontario's new Green Energy Act could pump as much as $4.5-billion into the hands of the province's renewable energy companies, utilities and power distribution firms. . .
• German coalition steers away from solar tariff cuts--The recently elected German coalition government has dropped plans for major cuts to solar photovoltaic (PV) feed-in tariffs. . .
• New York Times: Worldwide Feed-in Tariffs Best for Investors By John Lorinc--Countries that adopt policies obliging utilities to purchase a percentage of their power from renewable sources at above-market prices ­ also known as a “feed-in tariff” ­ represent the safest harbors for investors looking to finance clean-energy ventures, according to a broad-ranging risk analysis released Monday by Deutsche Bank’s global asset management group and Columbia University’s Earth Institute. . .
• Grist: Why solar won’t topple in Germany by Craig Morris--Since the new center-right coalition won the elections a few weeks ago in Germany, onlookers from the U.S. have been expecting the country to drastically cut its support for solar. . .
• Reuters: New German government won't slash solar power rates--Germany's conservatives and their Free Democrat allies will reform the Renewable Energy Act (EEG) but cuts for solar power rates will be modest to prevent harming the fast-growing industry, a coalition source said on Sunday. .

Greece Unveils New REP Legislation

Greece recently announced new REP legislation for rooftop solar PV. The rate, €0.55/kWh, is one of the highest in Europe, and there is no cap to the program. Read more.

(Photo courtesy of Flickr user Marcelgermain, shared under a Creative Commons license.)

Swiss Adopt Aggressive REP Law

From Paul Gipe,

The Swiss, famed for conservative traditions, stodgy bankers, and trains that run on time, have joined a growing list of countries using feed-in tariffs [a.k.a. Renewable Energy Payments] to promote the rapid development of renewable energy.

Not content to start with a timid program incrementally raising the bar year by year, the Swiss federal government this spring launched a full-system of feed-in tariffs differentiated by technology, size, and application. There are tariffs, or payments per kilowatt-hour (kWh), for solar photovoltaics, wind, hydro, geothermal, and biomass.

Learn More...

(Photo courtesy of Flickr user Tambako the Jaguar, shared under a Creative Commons license.)

Solar Fact Finding Mission to Germany for Utility Decision Makers

• On a sunny day as much as 20% of all power in Bavaria, a region in Germany, is coming from PV.

• The average upfront cost of a residential photovoltaic (solar panel) system in Germany is 4,500€ (US$6,500).

• 40,000 people were employed in photovoltaic manufacturing in Germany in 2007

These are just 3 of the many facts to be found in the Summary Report of a recent solar fact finding mission to Germany. From June 9 to June 13, 2008, thirty-one utility executives and managers traveled to Germany to learn about the country’s success and experience integrating significant amounts of solar energy into the electricity grid. Throughout the five-day fact finding mission, the delegation met with numerous players in the German electricity marketplace, visited multiple solar installations, and toured the largest solar tradeshow in Europe. The report on their trip by the Northwest Solar Center, presents the key findings and provides links to more information.Download the Summary Report!

Solar Future Brightens as Oil Prices Soar

The future of solar power is bright - largely thanks to Renewable Energy Payments, or "Feed-In Tariffs," as they are referred to in this fascinating article from the Guardian. The article discusses the present solar power market and its high potential for growth. Tellingly,

"Demand is particularly high in Spain, Germany and Greece but Britain's PV market remains non-existent in the absence of a feed-in tariff. [emphasis mine]"

Read the rest of the article to find out more!

(Photo courtesy of Flickr user code poet shared under a Creative Commons license.)