What's New on Feed-in Tariffs

November 2, 2009

By Paul Gipe

 

We Actually Can?! <http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2009/10/we-actually-can1>  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 <http://www.engineeringnews.co.za/article/nersa-makes-refit-phase

-two-decision-ppa-expected-in-nov-2009-10-30>  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 <http://notesfromotherside.blogspot.com/2009/09/what-solar-will-cost-in

-germany.html>  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 <http://www.wind-works.org/FeedLaws/Germany/MichaelEckhartACOREontheRWI

%20studyofGermanFITs.html> --So, they figure, if they are to justify coal and nuclear, they must first discredit the FIT. . .

Craig Morris German PV Investment Summary <http://www.wind-works.org/FeedLaws/Germany/CraigMorrisGermanPVInvestment

Summary.html>

Germany Installs 2.34GW, FIT to Decline 9-11% <http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/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 <http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/new-rules-could-fuel-green-bonanza/article1343109/> --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 <http://www.environmental-finance.com/onlinews/2910ger.html> --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 <http://greeninc.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/10/27/climate-change-policy-and-safe-investing/>  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 <http://www.grist.org/article/2009-10-13-why-solar-wont-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 <http://www.reuters.com/article/internal_ReutersNewsRoom_BehindTheScenes

_MOLT/idUSTRE59A1HE20091011> --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. .

 

This feed-in tariff news update is partially supported by the Jan  David Blittersdorf Foundation in cooperation with the Institute for Local Self Reliance. The views expressed are those of Paul Gipe and are not necessarily those of the sponsors.

 

Paul Gipe