Promoting Renewable Electricity Generation in Emerging Economies

Abstract

China, India, and South Africa have recognized the importance of renewable electricity for their future development. In this paper, we investigate the experience of the three countries in applying generation-based policies to promote renewable electricity. In contrast to the European experience, which proposes feed-in tariffs as the most successful policy to promote renewable electricity generation, emerging economies show strong interest in little acknowledged auction-based tariffs. We explore how and why different generation-based policies for solar photovoltaic (PV) are applied, as well as what their prospects are. Our comparison highlights the importance of policy objectives on policy choice and design. All three emerging economies need to promote electricity from renewables while keeping electricity prices low. Hence, they are experimenting with policies and design options and arriving at country specific solutions. Despite applying different policy instruments and designs that put strong emphasis on low-cost solutions, all three countries seem able to reach their ambitious deployment targets.

Biomass Feedstock Availability for the Supply of Bioenergy in the Lerma Valley (Salta, Argentina): an Evaluation for Territorial Energy Planning

“…Only this AB was studied through field sampling and the samples were characterized in the laboratory. The selection and analysis criteria established on the basis of relevant literature (Karekezi et al, 2004;Tsoutsos and Stamboulis, 2005;Ladanai and Vinterbäck, 2009;Angelis-Dimakis et al, 2011;Akbulut, 2012;Becker and Fischer, 2013;Sardianou and Genooudi, 2013) and on reflection to define the AB resources were: stock (quantity of resources in weight or volume), expectation (what is the probability that the generating source of the resource will continue to exist), estimate (interest in the use of the resource or social acceptance), requirements (legal and physical accessibility), effects (local impacts of its use), spreading (geographic concentration of the resource), and balance (generation rate of the resource)(see further details in . The AB resources studied were: i) dry biomass waste (including Criollo tobacco, Virginia tobacco, and pepper wastes), ii) wet biomass waste (comprising MSW), and iii) woody biomass.…”

“…Renewable Energy Sources (RES), which participate in the global power grip on an average of 11% 1 (IEA, 2012), are being promoted as an alternative to non-renewable sources that have limited reserves (BP, 2012) and, although they are subsidized in many countries (COM, 2011), they show great price movement which threatens energy security (IRENA, 2013;Becker and Fischer, 2013). The EU, for instance, has set the goal to achieve 20% of RES participation in gross final energy consumption and 10% RES participation in transportation for the year 2020.…”

Is Germany׳s energy transition a case of successful green industrial policy? Contrasting wind and solar PV

“…Based on a comparative assessment of renewable energy support policies in its member states, the European Commission concludes that "well-adapted feed-in tariff regimes are generally the most efficient and effective support schemes for promoting renewable electricity" (EC, 2008, p.3). Experiences in the emerging countries have shown that competitive bidding may be a suitable approach to identify the actual levels of such well-adapted feed-in tariffs (Becker & Fischer, 2013, Pegels, 2014, and Germany could be well advised to 're-import' some such elements when reforming its own support scheme.…”

Renewable energy choice: Cost and energy analysis of grid connected photovoltaic system in Malaysia

“…Solar PV systems are reliable, easy to operate, and require low‐maintenance . Many researchers have carried out user surveys on PV usage and user perception studies to pursue a better understanding of various aspects such as awareness, user willingness to invest, and the issues that users are concerned about the solar PV system .…”

“…However, still it needs to go further as some drawbacks are still remain for the overall PV systems. Additionally, further research and study on technology development, advanced materials and devices and user perception and investment issue is necessary to reach the certain targeted development such as on cost‐competitive SE systems and a scenario based effective renewable‐energy alternatives .…”