Clean Energy Policy Analysis With RETScreen ®

Photo Credit: Strong, Steven DOE/NREL

Objectives

 Raise awareness of clean energy policies  Show how RETScreen can be used throughout the policy cycle  Introduce the RETScreen Clean Energy Policy Toolkit

What is RETScreen?

 World’s preeminent clean energy decision-making software  36 languages covering more than 2/3rds of the world’s population  More than 350,000 users in 222 countries and territories; over 500 universities and colleges using for teaching and research  Over $8 billion in user savings as of 2012  Provided free-of-charge by the Government of Canada

Clean Energy Policies - Incentives

 Direct Cash Payments   Grants and Rebates Performance-Based Payments  Tax Incentives    Tax Credits Tax Exemptions Accelerated Depreciation  Loan Programs

Clean Energy Policies - Regulations

 Building Code Mandates  Favourable Permitting Rules  Interconnection Standards

Clean Energy Policies - Hybrids

 Feed-in Tariffs  Utility Quota Obligations  Net Metering  Emissions & Environmental Attributes Trading

RETScreen for Projects and Policy

RETScreen as a tool to demonstrate the viability of clean energy projects But also… …useful for planning, designing, implementing, and reviewing the viability of clean energy policies

The Policy Cycle

 Inform  Design  Implement  Monitor  Review

Examples of RETScreen Use for Policy

 International (UNFCCC)  National (Canada)  Sub-National (Texas)  Municipal (Toronto)  Utility (National Grid)

RETScreen Clean Energy Policy Toolkit

 Developed by RETScreen International  Financially supported by a grant from the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership (REEEP)  Includes Case Studies/Templates, e-Textbook Chapter, Training Slides, and Sample Documents  Available on the RETScreen Website and within the RETScreen User Manual

Case Studies & Templates

 Power – Photovoltaic – Feed-in Tariff – Policy / Canada  Power – Wind – GHG Reduction Income – Policy / China  Heating – Solar Water Heater – Capital Cost Incentive – Policy / USA  User-defined – Tax and Finance Measures – Policy / Canada + many more!

Presentation Slides & e-Textbook Chapter

RETScreen See e-Textbook Clean Energy Project Analysis: ® Engineering and Cases Clean Energy Policy Analysis with RETScreen

Software Demo

Case Study: GHG Reduction Income



Basic information:

   100 MW off-shore wind farm Cost @ $2,500/kW 70% debt @ 6% interest rate 

Scenario 1:

   Guess at capacity factor of 30% Assume cost of coal-fired electricity is around $0.06/kWh 2% annual escalation rate 

Scenario 2:

 Determine rate ($/CO 2 ) on the carbon market required to be paid to the project developer (over 21 years) to achieve an 18% pre-tax IRR on equity

Questions?

Clean Energy Policy Toolkit RETScreen ® International Clean Energy Project Analysis Course