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. .

Climate Change Policy and Safe Investing

From the New York Times Green Inc. blog:

"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.

In an accompanying ranking of 109 countries and regions, Deutsche Bank found that those with such clean-energy-friendly regulatory regimes included Australia, France, China and Germany.

By contrast, North America presents a higher-risk environment that is considered less attractive to investors, although a growing number of states and provinces are adopting feed-in tariff strategies."

Read more.

Report on FITs Commissioned by Colorado Public Utility Commission

 
This report on "The Application of Feed-in Tariffs and Other Incentives to Promote Renewable Energy in Colorado," was prepared by the staff of the Colorado PUC for its use in analyzing the pros and cons of Feed-in Tariffs for Colorado. Read more.

(Image shared under a Creative Commons by Flickr user Wolfgang Staudt.)

US Legislative Action, January - April 2009

During this time, Renewable Energy Payment legislative action has moved forward in 16 states: Arkansas, California, Florida, Hawaii, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Virginia, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin.

Columbia University Consulting Project

On behalf of the Columbia University Environmental Science & Policy Program I am delighted to announce the collaboration of EarthAction, Alliance for Renewable Energy and our Columbia graduate consulting team in promoting the widespread adoption of Renewable Energy Payments in the US.

(Photo of Columbia statue courtesy of Lois Barber.)

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!