Advanced Mechanisms for the Promotion of Renewable Energy: Models for the Future Evolution of the German Renewable Energy Act

The German Renewable Energy Act (EEG) has been very successful in promoting the deployment of wind power plants and other renewable energy power generating technologies in Germany. The increasing share of EEG-power in the generation portfolio, increasing amounts of fluctuating power generation, and the growing European integration of power markets governed by competition calls for a re-design of the EEG. This article identifies increasingly important problems and describes three different options to amend the EEG without jeopardising the fast deployment of renewable energy technologies. In the "Retailer Model", it becomes the responsibility of the end-use retailers to adapt the EEG power to the actual demand of their respective customers. The "Market Mediator Model" is the primary choice when new market players are regarded as crucial for the better integration of renew-able energy and enhanced competition. The "Optional Bonus Model" relies more on functioning markets.Regulation, Renewable Energy, Promotion, Policy Design, Feed-In Tariff, Minimum Price Standards

How much market do market-based instruments create? An analysis for the case of "white" certificates

In the context of economic instruments for more energy efficiency and climate protection, tradable certificates have been investigated for renewable energy and for a number of emissions. In contrast, tradable energy efficiency - or "white" - certificates have only lately been considered as a market-based tool to foster energy efficiency as compared to standards and labelling, for example. Theoretically, there is little doubt about the advantages. In practice, however, some fundamental problems arise. Critical issues are the design of an efficient artificial market for "white" certificates, its compatibility with the European emissions trading system, the identification of a suitable target group for an energy efficiency obligation and the measurement of energy savings as compared to a reference use of energy. We use the theoretical framework of Transaction Cost Economics to elaborate these issues. We conclude that transaction costs and investment specificity will restrict markets for "white" certificates in practise. Long-term contracts rather than spot trade will be the prevailing form of governance for energy efficiency investments

Advanced mechanisms for the promotion of renewable energy: models for the future evolution of the German Renewable Energy Act

The German Renewable Energy Act (EEG) has been very successful in promoting the deployment of wind power plants and other renewable energy power generating technologies in Germany. The increasing share of EEG-power in the generation portfolio, increasing amounts of fluctuating power generation, and the growing European integration of power markets governed by competition calls for a re-design of the EEG. This article identifies increasingly important problems and describes three different options to amend the EEG without jeopardising the fast deployment of renewable energy technologies. In the Retailer Model, it becomes the responsibility of the end-use retailers to adapt the EEG power to the actual demand of their respective customers. The Market Mediator Model is the primary choice when new market players are regarded as crucial for the better integration of renew-able energy and enhanced competition. The Optional Bonus Model relies more on functioning markets

Solarimport

Die vorliegende Arbeit ist durchgeführt worden im Rahmen eines Forschungs- undEntwicklungsprojekts für das Bundesministerium für Forschung und Technologie imUnterauftrag des Deutschen Instituts für Wirtschaftsforschung (DIW), Berlin, mit demTitel$\textbf{Instrumente für die Entwicklung von Strategien zur Reduktionenergiebedingter Klimagasemissionen in Deutschland}$$\textbf{Ziel des Projektes}$ ist es, Instrumente in Form von Modellen, einheitlicher Datenbasisund einheitlicher Bewertung von Potentialen und einer umfassenden Datenbankbereitzustellen, mit deren Hilfe Strategien zur Reduktion energiebedingter Kilmagasemissionenentwickelt und beurteilt werden können. Das Projekt ist in neun Teilprojektegegliedert. Allen Teilprojekten gemeinsam ist ein "Gemeinsames Analyseraster"mit Definitionen, Vereinbarungen,' einer Spezifikation der Energieträger und einerErläuterung der Wirtschaftlichkeitsberechnung.Im $\textbf{Teilprojekt 3 "Primärenergie"}$ werden Daten über die Gewinnung fossiler Energieträgerim Inland, über den Außenhandel mit diesen Energieträgern und über dieNutzung erneuerbarer Energiequellen, soweit sie nicht an bestimmte Endverbrauchsbereichegekoppelt sind, bereitgestellt. Bei Importen werden auch die "vorgelagertenEmissionen" bei Gewinnung und Transport ermittelt bzw. abgeschätzt. [...