Is the Renewable Energy Foundation Correct about UK Wind Subsidies? Renewable Energy World Europe 2012 Renewable Track Session 3: Renewable Energy Policy & Finance Leslie Martel Baer, MS, MA, Strategist 13 June 2012 REW Europe 2012 | L. M. Baer | REF and the U.K.'s Wind Subsidies 1
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Is the Renewable Energy Foundation Right About UK Wind Subsidies?
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REW Europe 2012 | L. M. Baer | REF and the U.K.'s Wind Subsidies 1
Weather systems are bigger than countries, making smoothing difficult
Wind requires firm generators to cycle more than without wind
Wind reduces investment in more firm renewables
Dramatic increases of wind could cause struggles with system balancing
Avoid regressive RE levies Non-profits: implement climate,
efficiency agenda Efficiency to cushion lower
income consumers from prices Focus: firm generation
(biomass), district heating (waste)
Policies, costs, savings on bills Make data accessible and more
transparent to consumers
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Where Do REF’s Recommendations Apply? Policy-making bodies: dig deep into
the technical and economic implications
Question “prevailing wisdom” Regionalism is crucial for analysis
(REF’s analyses do not apply globally)
A “price” on carbon emissions may ultimately be the best mechanism for market efficiencies13 June 2012
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The AlternativesOther Models
13 June 2012
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Colorado GEO:Wind as a Least Cost Resource Utility-scale RE
13 June 2012
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Colorado GEO:Wind as a Least Cost Resource Utility-scale RE Water issues
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Colorado GEO:Wind as a Least Cost Resource Utility-scale RE Water issues Large geographic
region; weather systems factor differently
Large grid; balancing factors differently
Mid-continent NG (?)13 June 2012
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NREL: Making Room for Coal The “right”
carbon cap and RPS
Reduce emissions w/ more coal in portfolio (not CCS)
Cheap domestic fuel
Modest impact to prices
Unlikely, but feasible
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Reinventing Fire:An Optimal Energy Scenario to 2050One of Rocky Mountain Institute’s scenarios shows the “best case” dovetails with REF’s recommendations:
• Incentivize efficiency and DSM first, fairly
• Renewables make it to parity
• Transparency for and by producers, suppliers, consumers is essential
• Players operate under values, goals that fit their functions (e.g., suppliers supply)
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Is REF Right? Yes…
We need people asking these questionsThe UK focus is not in the best placeOther think tanks support REF’s analysis○ Efficiency and DSM are the crucial first steps○ RPSs and carbon caps will change the landscape
But…Solutions are not globalPolicies must consider the region
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