20111031-IEA-Renewable_Energy_Policy_Considerations_for_Deploying_Renewables_76页_1mb

Summary of the Information Paper: Policy Considerations for Deploying Renewables

Core Content

This information paper, Policy Considerations for Deploying Renewables, is part of the IEA publication Deploying Renewables 2011: Best and Future Policy Practice. It provides detailed data and analysis on the strategic drivers and policy tools for the deployment of renewable energy technologies (RETs), with a focus on energy security, affordability, and sustainability. The paper is intended to complement the main publication and is supported by two other information papers.

Main Viewpoints

1. Strategic Role of Renewables: Drivers and Benefits

Renewables are being deployed for three principal reasons:

• Energy Security: Ensuring reliable and affordable energy supplies while reducing environmental impacts.
• Economic Development: Encouraging growth, particularly in rural and agricultural sectors, and fostering innovation.
• Climate and Environmental Protection: Reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and mitigating the environmental impacts of fossil fuel use.

These motivations are interlinked, and policies must be designed to address the interactions between them. The paper highlights the importance of a long-term perspective in policy formulation, as well as the need to adapt energy systems to integrate variable renewables.

2. Energy Security

Energy security involves providing sufficient, reliable, and affordable energy supplies. Key aspects include:

• Availability: Ensuring that energy sources are available at all times.
• Diversity: A diversified energy portfolio reduces the risk of supply disruptions.
• Infrastructure Resilience: Renewable technologies, with the exception of large hydro, can be deployed in a geographically diversified manner, reducing the impact of localized events such as natural disasters or terrorist attacks.

3. Energy Affordability

Renewables are increasingly cost-competitive, especially in off-grid applications. However, their affordability is influenced by:

• Price Volatility: Fossil fuels are subject to significant price fluctuations, which can have detrimental economic effects.
• Price Uncertainty: The future price of fossil fuels is uncertain, making them a less reliable source for long-term planning.

Renewables, such as hydro, solar, and wind, are not exposed to these aspects because they do not require fuel inputs. The paper discusses how the integration of renewables can help reduce dependency on volatile and uncertain fuel sources.

4. Sustainability

The paper emphasizes that sustainability and energy security are not independent; they are interrelated. Current patterns of energy production and consumption are unsustainable due to:

• Climate Change: Business-as-usual energy use will lead to unacceptable increases in global temperatures.
• Resource Depletion: Fossil resources will eventually be exhausted, necessitating a shift to sustainable energy sources.

Renewables are essential for both short- and long-term energy security and play a central role in reducing carbon emissions and environmental impact.

5. Economic Development

Renewables contribute to economic development through:

• Green Growth: Promoting sustainable economic growth and environmental protection.
• Innovation and Industrial Development: Encouraging the development of new technologies and industries.
• Rural Development: Providing access to energy in remote areas and supporting local economies.

Key Information

• Main Drivers for Deploying Renewables:

  • Energy security
  • Economic development
  • Climate and environmental protection

• Key Barriers to Deployment:

  • Economic barriers (e.g., high initial costs)
  • Non-economic barriers (e.g., policy, regulatory, and market challenges)

• Policy Tools:

  • Support mechanisms (e.g., subsidies, tax incentives)
  • Financing options (e.g., public-private partnerships, international funding)
  • Regulatory frameworks (e.g., feed-in tariffs, renewable portfolio standards)

• Deployment Phases:

  • Market initiation
  • Market take-off (increasing deployment)
  • Consolidation (integration challenges)

• Challenges in Developing Countries:

  • Main barriers include lack of infrastructure, financing, and policy support.
  • Special emphasis is placed on rural electrification and decentralized renewable energy projects.

• Case Studies and Examples:

  • The paper includes case studies on renewable energy deployment in various countries, such as Germany’s solar PV initiatives.
  • It also discusses the role of the European Commission and other stakeholders in supporting renewable energy policies.

Conclusion

The paper concludes that renewable energy technologies are crucial for achieving energy security, economic development, and environmental sustainability. It stresses the need for a strategic, long-term approach to policy development, recognizing the interplay between energy security, affordability, and sustainability. Additionally, it highlights the importance of addressing both economic and non-economic barriers to ensure the successful deployment of renewables, especially in developing countries.

Supporting Elements

• List of Figures:
  • Includes data on patent shares, CO₂ emissions, and energy technology diffusion.
• List of Tables:
  • Provides information on the characteristics of energy sources, employment in the renewable sector, and CO₂ savings.
• List of Boxes:
  • Offers insights into specific policies and case studies, such as the Green Growth in China's 12th Five-Year Plan and the DESERTEC Concept.

Acknowledgements

The paper is authored by Simon Müller, Adam Brown, and Samantha Ölz from the IEA Renewable Energy Division. It is supported by numerous colleagues, consultants, and stakeholders, including the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, the Japanese NEDO, and the European Commission.

References

The paper references several studies and reports, including the World Energy Outlook and the IEA Renewable Energy Policies and Measures Database, to support its findings and recommendations.