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Title Renewable energy going forward
Dr. Jennie S. Hwang
H-Technologies group
Renewable energy going
forward
Recently, the debate on climate legislation resource Center). Most RPS laws require to increasing its production capacity,
has reached climax in Washington D.C. states to increase the percentage of subsidizing manufacturers’ R&D and
The narrowly passed House bill (climate- renewable power sources used from the offering incentives to consumers who use
change and energy bill, H.R. 2454) and current amount to between 10 and 20 solar panel energy.
the to-be-voted Senate bill culminate percent over about 20 years. It is stated India, reportedly, has also announced
in the “cap and trade” system. The cap
that increasing the amount of renewable an intention to adopt a 20-gigawatt
and trade system is destined to require
power required over time allows industry program by 2020. Other countries, such
electric utilities and companies to reduce
to grow into the demand and can put the as Australia, have introduced RPS, in an
carbon dioxide emissions each year to
power industry on a path toward increased effort to move forward toward renewable
meet the cap, or to purchase allowances
sustainability. RPS laws ensure that states energy.
from companies whose emissions are
will have a diverse energy portfolio to move
below their cap. Amid this debate, what
into the future. More than sixteen states energy resources vs. environmental
can be anticipated going forward in the
currently have RPS laws. Among them, characteristics
development and deployment of renewable
California is the leader of the pack, to Among the various energy-generating
energy, and how will solar energy play in
generate 20 percent of its electricity from resources, for both fossil fuels and
the U.S. renewable energy arena?
renewable energy in 2010, and there is renewable, their respective environmental
legislation pending now to take it to 33 characteristics as described by NOPEC
u.S. legislation in the works
percent. (Northeast Ohio Public Energy Council) is
Companies and organizations are divided
listed as below:
on the climate change and energy
global activities and legislation
issue, driving in opposite directions.
In the global landscape, the EU sets its goal
• Coal power: air emissions and
Nonetheless, the House bill that cuts
to increase renewable energy penetration solid waste
CO emissions has passed, albeit very
in the region of 27 member states to • Natural gas power: air
2
narrowly. The bill cuts CO
19 percent by 2010 and to reduce its emissions and solid waste
2
emissions
by 17 percent of 2005 levels by 2020 and
greenhouse gas emissions by 20 percent by • Oil power: air emissions and
by 83 percent of 2005 levels by 2050.
2020. solid waste
Additionally, the House bill would
Germany, a leader in solar cell energy • Nuclear power: radioactive
curb the use of other chemicals, such as
use and having the largest subsidized waste
perfluorocarbon, hydrofluorocarbons
market for the past few years, is encouraged • Biomass power: air emissions
and black carbon, which are deemed to
by the government’s goal to increase 100 and solid waste
emit greenhouse gases. The bill is also set,
MW per year and by the incentives to build • Hydro power: wildlife impacts
beginning in 2020, to make importers
plants producing solar energy products. • Wind power: wildlife impacts
of energy-intensive products made in
Japan, another leader in PV technology, • Solar power: no significant
sets the application targets of an increase impact
countries without greenhouse gas emission
in PV electricity generation by 400MW per
regulations to purchase allowances before
year through 2010. It is noted that solar power is rated as most
their goods can cross into the U.S.
China’s grand renewable energy environmentally benign.
(pending further debate.) The bill has
goal includes a 20-gigawatt program
made a major stride in encouraging the use
cumulatively through 2020. Its government World pV installed capacity
of CO
2
emission-free energy resources.
has pledged US $100B allotments on development
On the state level, a renewable portfolio
renewable energy to make renewable energy Presently, PV-generated solar energy
standard (RPS) requires that a minimum
account for 15 percent of total energy constitutes a miniscule portion of total
amount of renewable energy is included
supply by 2020. Taiwan’s government energy assumption. Yet its growth has
in the portfolio of the electricity resources
has also designated solar energy (and
been phenomenal. The installed capacity
serving a state (Ref: State Environmental
LED) as a strategic industry, committing
of PV generated energy in gigawatts (GW)
6 – Global Solar Technology – July/August 2009
www.globalsolartechnology.com
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