Renewable energy policy: Difference between revisions
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'''Renewable energy policy''' is the principal driver of the growth in [[renewable energy]] use. |
'''Renewable energy policy''' is the principal driver of the growth in [[renewable energy]] use. As of 2011, 119 countries have some form of national renewable energy policy target or renewable support policy.<ref name=ren212011/> There is also a wide range of policies at state/provincial and local levels. Developing countries, which represent more than half of all countries with policy targets and half of countries with [[renewable energy]] support policies, are playing an increasingly important role in [[renewable energy commercialization]]. One of the forces for the development of renewable energy policies is job creation and the creation of new industries. Jobs from renewables number in the hundreds of thousands in several countries.<ref name=ren212011>{{cite web |url=http://www.ren21.net/Portals/97/documents/GSR/GSR2011_Master18.pdf |title=Renewables 2011: Global Status Report |author=[[REN21]] |date=2011 |page=11 }}</ref> |
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As policies spread to more countries, the geography of renewable energy use is also changing. For example, commercial [[wind power]] existed in just a few countries in the 1990s but now exists in at least 83 countries. Solar [[photovoltaics]] capacity was added in more than 100 countries during 2010.<ref name=ren212011/> |
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==Overview== |
==Overview== |
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The [[International Energy Agency]] estimates that nearly 50% of global electricity supplies will need to come from renewable energy sources in order to halve [[carbon dioxide]] emissions by 2050 and minimise significant, irreversible [[climate change]] impacts. The principal driver of today's rapid renewable energy growth is policy. Growth of renewables is strongest where and when the policy-makers have established favourable policy frameworks. In many countries, a rich and diverse policy landscape exists at national and local levels.<ref name=ieapress>[http://www.iea.org/Textbase/press/pressdetail.asp?PRESS_REL_ID=271 IEA urges governments to adopt effective policies based on key design principles to accelerate the exploitation of the large potential for renewable energy]</ref><ref>[http://www.ren21.net/RenewablesPolicy/tabid/5023/Default.aspx Renewable Energy Policies]</ref> |
The [[International Energy Agency]] estimates that nearly 50% of global electricity supplies will need to come from renewable energy sources in order to halve [[carbon dioxide]] emissions by 2050 and minimise significant, irreversible [[climate change]] impacts. The principal driver of today's rapid renewable energy growth is policy. Growth of renewables is strongest where and when the policy-makers have established favourable policy frameworks. In many countries, a rich and diverse policy landscape exists at national and local levels.<ref name=ieapress>[http://www.iea.org/Textbase/press/pressdetail.asp?PRESS_REL_ID=271 IEA urges governments to adopt effective policies based on key design principles to accelerate the exploitation of the large potential for renewable energy]</ref><ref>[http://www.ren21.net/RenewablesPolicy/tabid/5023/Default.aspx Renewable Energy Policies]</ref> |
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Revision as of 01:58, 14 July 2011
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Renewable energy policy is the principal driver of the growth in renewable energy use. As of 2011, 119 countries have some form of national renewable energy policy target or renewable support policy.[1] There is also a wide range of policies at state/provincial and local levels. Developing countries, which represent more than half of all countries with policy targets and half of countries with renewable energy support policies, are playing an increasingly important role in renewable energy commercialization. One of the forces for the development of renewable energy policies is job creation and the creation of new industries. Jobs from renewables number in the hundreds of thousands in several countries.[1]
As policies spread to more countries, the geography of renewable energy use is also changing. For example, commercial wind power existed in just a few countries in the 1990s but now exists in at least 83 countries. Solar photovoltaics capacity was added in more than 100 countries during 2010.[1]
Overview
The International Energy Agency estimates that nearly 50% of global electricity supplies will need to come from renewable energy sources in order to halve carbon dioxide emissions by 2050 and minimise significant, irreversible climate change impacts. The principal driver of today's rapid renewable energy growth is policy. Growth of renewables is strongest where and when the policy-makers have established favourable policy frameworks. In many countries, a rich and diverse policy landscape exists at national and local levels.[2][3]
| Selected global indicators | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Countries with policy targets for renewable energy use | 68 | 75 | 85 |
| States/provinces/countries with feed-in tariffs | 51 | 64 | 75 |
| States/provinces/countries with Renewable portfolio standard policies | 50 | 55 | 56 |
| States/provinces/countries with biofuels mandates | 53 | 55 | 65 |
| Investment in new renewable capacity (annual) | 104 | 130 | 150 billion USD |
| Existing renewables power capacity, including large-scale hydro |
1,070 | 1,140 | 1,230 GWe |
| Existing renewables power capacity, excluding large hydro |
240 | 280 | 305 GWe |
| Wind power capacity (existing) | 94 | 121 | 159 GWe |
| Ethanol production (annual) | 50 | 69 | 76 billion liters |
By early 2009, renewable energy policy targets existed in at least 73 countries, and at least 64 countries had policies to promote renewable power generation, including 45 countries and 18 states/provinces/territories with feed-in tariffs. The number of countries/states/provinces with renewable portfolio standards increased to 49. Policy targets for renewable energy were added or modified in a large number of countries in 2008.[7]
City and local government policies for renewable energy use are a diverse and growing segment of the renewable energy policy landscape. Several hundred cities and other forms of local government around the world have adopted relevant goals, promotion policies, urban planning, and demonstrations.[8]
Power generation
At least 60 countries, 37 developed countries and 23 developing countries, have some type of policy to promote renewable power generation. The most common policy is the feed-in law. By 2007, at least 37 countries and 9 states/provinces had adopted feed-in tariffs. Some 44 states, provinces, and countries have enacted renewable portfolio standards (RPS), also called renewable obligations or quota policies.[9] There are also many other forms of policy support for renewable power generation, including investment subsidies or rebates, tax incentives and credits, sales tax exemptions, direct production payments (tax credits per kWh), green certificate trading, and net metering.[10]
Solar hot water
Mandates for solar hot water in new construction are becoming more common at both national and local levels. For many years Israel was the only country with a national level mandate, but Spain followed in 2006 with a national building code that requires minimum levels of solar hot water and solar photovoltaics in new construction and renovation.[11]
Biofuels
Mandates for blending biofuels into vehicle fuels have been enacted in 17 countries at the national level and at least 36 states/provinces. Most mandates require blending 10–15 percent ethanol with gasoline or blending 2–5 percent biodiesel with diesel fuel.[12]
See also
- Eric Martinot
- Global warming
- Renewable energy commercialization
- Renewable energy industry
- Association of Issuing Bodies
References
- ^ a b c REN21 (2011). "Renewables 2011: Global Status Report" (PDF). p. 11.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ IEA urges governments to adopt effective policies based on key design principles to accelerate the exploitation of the large potential for renewable energy
- ^ Renewable Energy Policies
- ^ REN21 (2010). Renewables 2010 Global Status Report p. 13.
- ^ REN21 (2009). Renewables Global Status Report: 2009 Update p. 9.
- ^ Eric Martinot and Janet Sawin. Renewables Global Status Report 2009 Update, Renewable Energy World, September 9, 2009.
- ^ REN21 (2009). Renewables Global Status Report: 2009 Update p. 8.
- ^ REN21 (2009). Renewables Global Status Report: 2009 Update p. 20.
- ^ REN21 (2008). Renewables 2007 Global Status Report (PDF) p. 22.
- ^ REN21 (2008). Renewables 2007 Global Status Report (PDF) p. 25.
- ^ REN21 (2008). Renewables 2007 Global Status Report (PDF) p. 26.
- ^ REN21 (2008). Renewables 2007 Global Status Report (PDF) p. 27.
Bibliography
- HM Treasury (2006). Stern Review on the Economics of Climate Change, 575 pages.
- International Energy Agency (2006). World Energy Outlook 2006: Summary and Conclusions, OECD, 11 pages.
- International Energy Agency (2007). Renewables in global energy supply: An IEA facts sheet, OECD, 34 pages.
- National Renewable Energy Laboratory (2006). Non-technical Barriers to Solar Energy Use: Review of Recent Literature, Technical Report, NREL/TP-520-40116, September, 30 pages.
- REN21 (2008). Renewables 2007 Global Status Report, Paris: REN21 Secretariat, 51 pages.
- United Nations Environment Program (2006). Changing climates: The Role of Renewable Energy in a Carbon-constrained World, January, 33 pages.
- Worldwatch Institute and Center for American Progress (2006). American energy: The renewable path to energy security, 40 pages.