MODEL INDIAN R E LAW
INTERNATIONAL COMPARATIVE TABLE

 

DIFFERENTIAL TARIFFS FOR RENEWABLE ENERGY

 

Feed-in tariffs stimulate the generation and entry of renewable energy into the electricity grid by offering a minimum price per KWh produced. The price varies across technologies and is set by the regulator.

 

Although feed-in tariffs are designed to reflect long-term marginal production costs, in practice they are set at higher levels to attract investors seeking profits. This means they can prove to be an expensive instrument if they are set too high and attract fickle investors. More research needs to be done in fleshing out the three alternative:
 

►   Long-term marginal production costs
 

►   Tariffs too low to attract investors
 

►   Tariffs too high that they are cost ineffective
 

In the 1980-90s IEA countries supported feed-in tariffs with investment incentives and tax measures. Now on the market, feed-in tariffs in conjunction with tradeable certificates are the main school of thought. Offsetting this direction, however, is maintaining attractive rates for investors and maintaining flexibility to ensure that prices are minimised and fall over time.

 

Country Name Feed-in Tariffs Comment
Asia      
Australia   No feed-in tariffs  
China China Renewable Energy Law - Provisional Administrative Measures on Pricing and Cost Sharing for Renewable Energy Power Generation

Feed-in  tariffs differentiated by source. There are two methods by which the tariff may be determined:

(i) fixed Government
price; or

(ii)
Guidance price of the Government. The Guidance price is determined through bidding by the price authorities of the State Council.

Effective from January 1 2006. Responsible agency is the National Development and Reform Commission.

The pricing of electricity has two interesting features:

feed-in tariffs and tariff surcharges. Tariff surcharges are incurred on the end-user and go into a separate China fund that is spend on renewable project development.
 

Japan   No feed-in tariffs  
Korea Electricity Business Law

Mandates the purchase and fixed feed-in price of renewable energy supplied by renewable energy generators connected to the grid. Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) responsible for purchasing renewable electricity.

Effective from 2001. Contact is the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Energy (MOCIE)

Further information at www.go.mocie.kr

 

Non - Asia      
Denmark Adaptation of the Electricity reform Agreement

Fixed feed-in tariffs differentiated by source.

For description of the different tariff rates:

http://www.renewable-
energy-policy.info/relec/

denmark/policy/
feed-in.html

and

http://www.iea.org/dbtw-
wpd/textbase/pamsdb/

detail.aspx?mode=
cc&id=18

The current tariffs are too low to attract investment compared with the last decade.
France Electricity Law 2000

Feed-in tariffs but only for renewable energy installations up to 12 MW that were constructed after the adoption of the law in 2001. Tariffs depend on source type and may include a premium for some sources. Rates are adjusted for inflation and are guaranteed for 15 or 20 years.

Tariff for wind is only high enough to attract small or medium wind-energy projects. Tariffs generally are quite low and guarantee periods are long enough to secure investment. Tariffs may be more attractive if administrative and grid barriers are removed
Germany Renewable Energy Sources Act (2004)

Fixed feed-in tariffs differentiated by technology.

For description of the
different tariff types:

http://www.iea.org/ textbase/pamsdb/ detail.aspx?mode= gr&id=2241
 

There has been a shift in support slightly from wind to biomass because the later is lagging. Limited capacity on the grid in northern geographies is a hindrance. Currently high feed-in tariffs and subsidies has created a strong market. For example wind energy generators receive 90% of government-set price
United Kingdom   No feed-in tariffs  
United States Public Utility Regulatory Polices Act Requires utilities to purchase electricity from certain qualifying non-utility producers at feed-in tariffs prices. The qualifying non-utility producers include small (below 80 MW) renewable energy plants.

Effective from 1978.

Further information at:

http://www.iea.org/textbase/
pamsdb/detail.aspx?mode
=gr&id=1060

 

 

MANDATORY RENEWABLE ENERGY TARGETS
 

Targets have been set to increase the generation of energy on the electricity grid from renewable energy sources. However targets have been under-utilised in the Asia-Pacific compared with the US and Europe. 
 

General issues that need to be considered regarding the implementation of targets include:

  • ensure implementation rules lead to sufficient market liquidity so that targets are met with economic efficiency
     

  • proper enforcement of banking and penalty rules to encourage target achievement

Country Name Target Authority Comment
Asia        
Australia

Mandatory Renewable Energy Target, Renewable Energy (Electricity) Act 2000

World-first mandatory renewable energy target that guarantees an additional 9500 GWh of electricity from renewable energy sources by 2010 (MRET). Incorporates tradeable permits – Green Certificates.

Office of the Renewable Energy Regulator

Effective as of April 1 2001

Further information at:

http://www.greenhouse. gov.au/ markets/mret/

 

China China Renewable Energy Law

The Law sets a obligatory target of 10% of power capacity generated from renewable sources by 2010, effective from 1 January 2006. Policy target of  20 % by 2020 announced in November 2005.

National Development and Reform Commission

An unofficial translation of the new Law can be found at

http://www.martinot.info/ China_RE_Law_WWF.pdf

 

Japan New Energy Indicator

The government set the obligatory target of 3% of primary energy supply in 2010 to be sourced in new energy forms.

Japanese government advised by advisory committee of ANRE (METI).

Further information at:

http://www.iea.org/ textbase/pamsdb/ detail.aspx?mode =gr&id=1695

 

Korea 2nd Basic Plan for New & Renewable Energy Technology Development & Dissemination with Detail Plan

The Plan has a obligatory target of increasing the percentage contribution of renewable energy in the energy mix to 3% in 2006 and 5% in 2011. The Plan has legal force under the Promotion Act for NRSE Development, Utilisation and Dissemination. 

Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Energy

 

The Plan was announced in 2003.

Further information at:

http://www.oja-services
.nl/iea-pvps/ar03/kor.htm

 

Non-Asia        
Denmark EU Directive target 29% of gross electricity consumption by 2010 to be sourced from renewable energy.    
France EU Directive target 21% of gross electricity consumption by 2010 to be sourced from renewable energy.    
Germany Renewable Energy Sources Act (2004) Target The Act sets a obligatory target of 12.5% of gross electricity consumption by 2010 to be sourced from renewable energy, and 20% by 2020. Ministry for Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety

Effective from 2004 Further information at:
www.bmu.de/files/
english/renewable_energy/
downloads/application/pdf/
eeg_gesetz_merkmale
_en.pdf#search='Renewable
%20energy%20sources%20
act%20EEG%20Germany

United Kingdom Renewable Obligation Order The Order sets a obligatory target of 10.4% of electricity sold by 2010 to be from renewable sources. It has been announced that this will be extended to 15.4% by 2015 Her Majesty's Treasury

Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)

Effective from 2002

Further information at:

http://www.dti.gov.uk/ renewables/
renew_2.2.htm

 
United States New York State Energy Plan The Plan sets a goal of 50% of the State's energy to be generated by renewable energy by 2050. This is only a framework policy New York State Energy Research and Development Authority

Implemented in 2002

Further information at:
http://www.nyserda.org/

 

RENEWABLE OBLIGATIONS AND CERTIFICATES
 

There has been a policy trend over the last 30 years towards tradeable certificates.
 

Country Name Description Agency Implemen
-tation
Comments
Asia          
Australia

Green Electricity Market

Voluntary, industry-owned programme that trades 'green electricity rights' under the Renewable Energy Commercialisation Programme (RECP).  It incorporates the Renewable Energy Certificates traded under the MRET. Compliance based system with primary obligations on electricity retailers. Renewable energy certificate creation, transfer and surrender. Penalties for non-compliance. Australian Greenhouse Office, Department of Environment and Heritage In force
since 2001.

The government decided to discontinue the scheme after 2010. The legislation stimulated large investment renewable technologies, esp biomass, wind, hydro and solar PV projects.

 

Further information at:

www.greenhouse.
gov.au

www.greenelectricity
market.com

 

China China Renewable Energy Law Electricity users are encouraged to voluntarily purchase electricity generated from renewable energy. National Development and Reform Commission January 1, 2006  
India Model Renewable Energy Law Requires State Commissions to introduce a mandatory obligation for electricity utilities to compulsorily acquire electricity from renewable generating sources   N/A  
Japan New Energy Obligation Bill, Electricity suppliers are obligated to supply a certain percentage of energy generated by solar, wind, biomass, geothermal and small to medium hydro projects. Utilities must meet mandatory goals for renewable energy generation set annually until 2010. Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry In force since Bill passed in June 2002.

Bill targets 12.2 billion kWh of electricity generated from renewable sources in 2010.

 

Further information at:

www.meti.go.jp

 

Korea Introduction to a domestic emission trading scheme Framework policy will be introduced to test the possibility of a domestic carbon market. At present only a demonstration project. Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Energy In force
since 2002

Further information at:

www.mocie.go.kr/
english/policies/
policy/default.asp;

http://www.iea.org/
textbase/pamsdb/
detail.aspx?mode
=gr&id=1687
 

Non-Asia          
Denmark Law on CO2 Quotas

Ceiling for total CO2 emissions from the electricity sector. Implements the EU Directive.

No obligations at present but green certificate market has been announced.

Danish Ministry of Economic and Business Affairs In force
since 2004

Delay of the implementation of the green certificate scheme.

 

Further information at:

www.ens.dk/
sw1277.asp

 

France   No obligations      
Germany Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Law (2004)

Implements EU Directive 2003/87/EC re establishment of GHG emission allowance trading (see EU). Germany's allocations amount to 499Mt CO2 over the period 2005-7

Federal Ministry for Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety In force
from 2004

The National Allocation Plan covers approx 1850 installations.

 

Further information at:

www.bmu.de/files/
pdfs/allgemein/
application/pdf/
tehg.pdf

 

United Kingdom

Renewables Obligation Order

Requires all licensed electricity providers in England, Wales and Scotland to supply to a specified and growing proportion of their sales from renewable energy. Target of 10% by 2010. Obligations are met via Renewable Obligation Certificates (ROCs)

•Her Majesty's Treasury
•Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)
In force
from 2002
Further information at http://www.dti.
gov.uk/renewables/
renew_2.2.htm
United States California Renewable Energy Production Regulation

Requires all companies selling retail electricity in California to increase their use of renewable energy by 1% up to the point at which 17% of the electricity they sell is from renewables sources by 2017

California State Government In force from Sept 2002

Further information at

www.state.ca.us

PREFERENTIAL TREATMENT FOR GRID CONNECTION OF RENEWABLE ENERGY

Country

Name

Grid Connection treatment

Asia

 

 

Australia

 

No obligations re grid connection

China

China Renewable Energy Law

Under the new law, there is a requirement on grid operators to:

 

provide grid connection to renewable generators; and

purchase a portion on energy from renewable sources.

India

Model Renewable Energy law

Electricity and system grid operators must give preference to renewable energy generators. Any costs of upgrade to the transmission and distribution system to be borne on system operator,

Japan

 

No preferential treatment

Korea

 

No preferential treatment

Non-Asia

 

 

Denmark

Legislation on Electricity Favourable to Renewables.

All renewable electricity given priority access to the grid.

Germany

Renewable Energy Sources Act (2004)

Grid operators obliged to give priority access to renewable energy generators and purchase at feed-in prices.

The Act requires plant operators to pay for grid connection but obliges grid operators to bear the cost of grid reinforcement


 

  Copyright © World Institute of Sustainable Energy

Designed and Powered by WISE