Over the last few weeks, the renewable energy community has carefully followed three important events:
At the
UN Climate Summit
the statements of the Chinese and US presidents did not meet the high expectations that they would reignite the global talks on
climate change. While the former at least presented "carbon intensity" targets, the latter did not put forward any numbers, and
admitted that progress on the climate agenda was marred by domestic battles.
At the
G20 Summit
in Pittsburgh governments agreed "to phase out and
rationalize over the medium term inefficient fossil fuel subsidies while providing targeted support for the poorest", and to increase,
on a voluntary basis, funding for programs to bring clean affordable energy to the poorest. G20 Energy and Finance Ministers are commissioned
to report their implementation strategies and timeline for acting to meet this critical commitment at the next meeting.
Following the
German elections in September, the renewable energy community is closely
watching the coalition negotiations for any changes to the national energy policy. Though the commitment to produce 30
percent of electricity from renewable
sources by 2020 is not likely to be challenged, some fear delays in the nuclear phase-out plan, as well as significant cuts in the solar feed-in tariffs.
GLOBAL
IRENA agrees on a three-way solution to the headquarters question
In Sharm-El-Sheikh, Members states agreed on a three-way solution to the
headquarters question and to the competition between Germany, the United
Arab Emirates (UAE) and Austria to host the headquarters of the new
International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). Abu Dhabi will host the
IRENA headquarter, Bonn will accommodate the centre of technology and
innovation, and a liaison office in Vienna will facilitate contacts in
the field of energy to UN bodies and other international institutions.
IRENA was founded in January and will promote the transition to
renewable energy across the globe by providing advice and support to
countries seeking to build their capacity in renewable energy.
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more...
AFRICA
South Africa set for "flood" of renewables projects
The renewable energy market in South Africa is expected to grow
exponentially in the next few years, owing to the announcement of a
renewable energy feed-in tariff made in March 2009. New analysis from
Frost & Sullivan, in the report Southern African Renewable Energy
Equipment Market, finds that the industry earned revenues of US$28.4
million in 2008 and estimates this to increase nearly tenfold by 2015,
to reach US$262.3 million. This will include projects to develop energy
from solar photovoltaic, solar thermal, wind power and biomass sources.
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more...
ASIA
New wind power feed-in tariffs in China
On 24 July 2009, China's National Development and Reform Commission
released new guidelines for a national feed-in tariff for wind projects
based on four regional resource categories. The amendments aim to
regulate wind power prices so as to ensure smooth and sustainable
development of the wind power industry in China.
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more...
China raises its PV target
China is set to raise its target for installed solar PV capacity to 2GW
by 2011, a fifteen-fold increase on the 140MW goal it set only last year.
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more...
Feed-In Tariff Comes to Taiwan
Lawmakers on the island country finally passed a feed-in tariff policy,
which would be a boost for its growing number of solar equipment
exporters. The Parliament greenlighted the Renewable Energy Development
Act and sought to replicate the success experienced by some of the
European countries in promoting renewable energy use as well as solar
technology development and sales. But the government has yet to decide
on some key elements, such as the pricing for solar electricity. The
policy would apply not only to solar but other forms of renewable power.
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more...
ADB approves renewable energy grant for Pacific region
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) Board of Directors has approved a
technical assistance grant to help design and deliver renewable energy
products to the Pacific region. The Bank approved a USD 3 million grant
for the development of small pilot projects in Papua New Guinea, Solomon
Islands, and Vanuatu.
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more...
World Bank to provide USD 202 million loan to Vietnam for clean
energy projects
The World Bank (WB) will provide USD 202 million for Vietnam to
implement a renewable energy development project between now and 2013.
An agreement to this effect was signed between the Governor of the State
Bank of Vietnam (SBV) Nguyen Van Giau and the WB’s Director in Vietnam,
Victoria Kwakwa in Hanoi on June 16. Under the agreement, the project,
capitalised at USD318 million in total, aims to provide more renewable
electricity for the national grid to ensure Vietnam’s social development
and protect the environment.
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AUSTRALIA / PACIFIC
Australia Approves Law to Boost Renewable Energy Four-Fold
After rejecting broader legislation aimed at reducing carbon pollution,
on the 20 August 2009, Australia’s Senate passed Expanded Renewable
Energy Target Legislation to require that 20 percent of the
country's electricity come from renewable sources such as the sun and
wind by 2020, matching European standards and up from about 8 percent
now. The law would quadruple the renewable energy target set by the
previous government in 2001. According to the Clean Energy Council it
will help spur AUD28 billion (USD 23 billion) of investment and the
creation of 28,000 jobs in industries such as wind and solar power. The
renewable energy bill and 20 amendments now need to be approved by the
lower house of parliament to become law.
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more...
EUROPE
The European Union Council of Ministers has approved the €3.98
billion ($5.52 billion) energy stimulus package targeting investment in
energy-related projects.
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more...
European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has
announced a three-year investment of between US$4 and US$6.8 billion and
a further co-financing of up to US$13.6 billion in energy efficiency and
low-carbon technologies in Eastern Europe.
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more...
Britain To Launch Innovative Feed-in Tariff Program in 2010
The proposed program, like the successful programs it was modeled after,
was designed to "set tariffs at a level to encourage investment in small
scale low carbon generation."
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more...
UK sets 40 percent low-carbon energy goal
The British government has unveiled a policy white paper for a wide-scale
low-carbon energy switch to help meet its ambitious 2020 emissions
reduction targets. Energy and climate change minister Ed Miliband
announced targets to double the proportion of UK power generated from
low-carbon sources to 40 percent by 2020. Of that portion, more than
three-quarters, or 31 per cent of all power, would come from renewables.
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more...
EIB helps Ireland secure and green its electricity supplies through a
EUR 500 million loan
On 28 September, the European Investment Bank (EIB) inked a loan of EUR 300
million to construct an electricity cable between Ireland and
Wales. The 256-kilometre East-West Interconnector will underpin the
development of renewable energy by enabling the import and export of
excess wind power and improve security of supply through connecting the
Irish electricity market with the rest of Europe. The EIB also signed a
loan of EUR 200 million to build wind farms in various locations in Ireland
by the same date. These efforts will support the country's efforts to
meet its 40 percent target of electricity from renewable by 2020.
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more...
Greek program “Photovoltaics on the roofs”
On a meeting with journalists Minister Kostas Hatzidakis (Ministry of
Development), General Secretary Konstantinos Musurulis and sub-Minister
Joanis Bugas announced a program “PV on the roofs” (further: FO.S
program. fos = “light” in Greek) that will take in force. “We have the
biggest quantity of solar water heating systems per capita in Europe and
we were pioneers here in Greece. In several years, we want to be at the
same place with photovoltaics”, said Hatzidakis.
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more...
European offshore wind declaration: signatories commit to do whatever
necessary to fulfill RE targets”
More than 140 companies have signed a "European Offshore Wind
Declaration", calling on member states to resolve critical issues
affecting the sector such as planning and supply chain. By signing,
businesses commit to ensuring a sufficient supply of turbines,
components, foundations, installation and cable laying vessels are
available to exploit and facilitate a multi-billion euro offshore wind
industry.
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more...
MIDDLE EAST / NORTH AFRICA
On 13 July, a group of European companies and the DESERTEC Foundation
have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to establish a DESERTEC
Industrial Initiative (DII) with the aim to put the DESERTEC Concept
into effect in the EUMENA Region (Europe, Middle East and North Africa).
The DESERTEC concept, developed by the TREC Initiative of the Club of
Rome, describes the perspectives of a sustainable power supply for all
regions of the world with access to the energy potential of deserts.
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more...
NORTH AMERICA
SMUD establishes feed-in tariff for customer-sited distributed
generation
The Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) has established a feed-in
tariff (FIT) effective next January that streamlines buying electricity
fed into its distribution system from eligible generation units at
customer sites. While the SMUD FIT applies to both renewable and fossil-fuel
generation technologies, it sets higher prices for power produced from
renewable sources like solar and biogas, but also applies to so-called
Combined Heat and Power (CHP) generators.
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Ontario launches feed-in tariff programme, streamlined permitting
process
The government of Ontario has finished rule making for its generous
renewable energy feed-in tariff programme and new six-month permitting
process, and will start accepting applications from project developers
on 1st of October. Under the feed-in, wind, solar, biomass, biogas,
landfill gas and small hydro projects will receive rates ranging from
CAD 104/MWh (USD 94/MWh) for landfill gas larger than 10MW to CAD 802/MWh
(USD 735/MWh) for solar projects smaller than 10kW. The programme
includes a CAD 135/MWh (USD 124/MWh) rate for onshore wind and specific
CAD 190/MWh (USD 174/MWh) rate for offshore wind. The province has not
set a capacity limit on the tariff. Priority will go to projects that
rank high on a set of economic, speed of development and community
involvement criteria, rather than on a first-come, first-served basis.
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Renewables industry pushes for tougher targets
Renewable energy advocates have welcomed the momentum toward adoption of
a US federal renewable electricity standard (RES), but vowed to keep
pushing for a stronger mandate.
The American Clean Energy and Security Act , sponsored by
Congressmen Henry Waxman and Ed Markey, was the first bill to pass a
house of Congress that would cap greenhouse gas emissions. However, it
also requires electric utilities to meet 20 percent of their electricity demand
through renewable energy and improved energy efficiency by 2020.
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SOUTH AMERICA
Uruguay launches renewable energy bidding
Uruguay’s state power company UTE has launched bidding to purchase 60MW
of energy from wind, biomass and small hydroelectric sources. Private
companies in Uruguay will be able to sell a total of 20MW from each of
the three renewable sources to UTE. The project aims to diversity the
country's energy matrix, which has faltered recently as a result of low
rainfall.
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Chile approves tax incentive for residential solar systems
Congress approved the new proposal to subsidize up to 100 percent of a new residential thermo solar installation. Following approval by the Chilean
Congress, the new legislation will allow the government to incentivize
the solar industry and promote the installation of thermo solar systems
in new residential buildings. It will subsidize between 20 and 100
percent of the installation costs in some cases.
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REN21 held its 9th Steering Committee meeting in New Delhi
From 10-11 September, REN21 held its Ninth Steering Committee Meeting in
New Delhi, hosted by the India Ministry of New and Renewable Energy. The
Steering Committee discussed the current activities and the Strategy and
Work Programme 2009-2011. By proactively positioning its information and
policy work, REN21 will support an ambitious expansion of renewable
energy. A strengthened Secretariat, Bureau and Steering Committee will
help to achieve its strategic goals (find the Secretariat team
here).
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IRENA and REN21 discussed cooperation
The Ninth Steering Committee Meeting was also the opportunity to discuss
cooperation axes between IRENA and REN21 and to welcome Hélène Pelosse,
Interim General Director of IRENA, as a REN21 Steering Committee member.
All participants agreed that there are complementarities between IRENA
as an inter-governmental organisation and REN21 as a multistakeholder
policy network. IRENA and REN21 will cooperate closely and maintain
close and frequent communication.
REN21 and Indian government will cooperate on DIREC conference
The Indian Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) will organise the
DIREC conference on 26-29 October 2010. The Indian government is
interested in cooperating with REN21 for identifying speakers and
moderators, evaluating applications for side events, international
outreach, pledge process, and structuring and obtaining pledges for the
creation of a renewable energy access fund, which India plans to
initiate. REN21 agreed to help organize DIREC.
REN21 participation at the Tokyo Local Renewables and Climate 2009 – Call for local pledges
In conjunction with the
local RE conference which recently took place in
Tokyo, REN21 is making a call for the submission of
pledges at the local level. Pledges would ideally establish a target and
a proposed implementation plan.
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