Renewable Energy and Distributed Generation

Summary of Renewable Energy and Distributed Generation Task Force Action Plan

Renewable energy and distributed generation technologies (REDG) will be critical to the future energy mix of all seven Partner Countries. Energy access, energy security, poverty alleviation, and environmental considerations, combined with increasing fossil fuel prices, are key drivers for accelerating the adoption of affordable and reliable renewable energy and distributed generation.

Renewable energy technologies, such as hydro (large and small), solar, geothermal, biomass, and wind, can deliver power with virtually zero emissions. Distributed generation (smaller generators that produce power locally apart from centralized grid) also has the potential to significantly reduce emissions and promote greater cost and network efficiencies. Both renewable energy and distributed generation lend well to promoting energy security and are financially attractive options under certain circumstances. The first set of projects approved by the Task Force has the potential to achieve deployment of an additional 1.8GW of renewable energy and distributed generation capacity within five years. The Task Force is working to promote investment in these technologies and address any market and technical impediments that may prohibit their adoption.

U.S. Task Force Members
Renewable Energy and Distributed Generation Task Force  PDF version   10/31/06
Renewable Energy and Distributed Generation Task Force on the APP International Website

---

Transforming Markets in Renewable Energy and Distributed Generation

A particularly important role for the Task Force is to identify barriers to technology deployment and financing associated with the deployment of REDG technologies. Australia, South Korea, and the United States are working together to analyze regulatory barriers in Partner countries and create an enabling framework for renewable energy deployment. Republic of Korea is taking a comprehensive look at smart grid integration of distributed generation sources, working in cooperation with China, India, and Japan. The United States is working to commercialize distributed power generation using hydrogen–fueled generators in India. This project is targeting identified rural communities in India that can benefit from stable sources of electricity and will potentially increase by 1,000 to 2,000 the number of homes or small businesses with access to clean, reliable electricity.

Sharing Best Practices in Renewable Energy and Distributed Generation

Republic of Korea is working with China and Japan to study the expansion of bio-diesel for transportation in Partner countries. Ultimately sharing best practices on how to build the infrastructure for distribution of biodiesel will enable solutions that increase biodiesel’s market share as a transportation fuel.

Facilitating Investment in Renewable Energy and Distributed Generation

The Partnership is helping provide customized power solutions based on local fuel sources in rural parts of India and China by partnering industry with U.S. government. Deployment of gasified biomass-fueled engines will provide power to some of the almost 400 million rural residents who lack adequate and/or reliable power supplies, and will power schools, health clinics, small industry, and agricultural production.

The United States, in public-private partnership, will deploy combined heat and power systems in China that use petroleum coke oven gas for electricity and thermal energy. Australia is facilitating investment in a Mega Solar Project in South Korea that will both broaden the visibility of solar photovoltaic technology and contribute added capacity to help with peak load reduction.

---

Summary of U.S. Led Renewable Energy and Distributed Generation Projects

Grid Connected RE and DG Partnerships

Participating Organizations: U.S. Department of State, United States Energy Association

Current power plants in India rely heavily on sources like coal that increase greenhouse gas emissions. This project focuses on the identification of barriers to deployment and increasing the utilization of renewable energy and distributed generation projects. This project is facilitating the deployment of renewable energy and distributed generation technology in India by identifying enabling environments including, but not limited to, finances, regulation and policies.

Rural Entrepreneurship Zones - Bridging the Economic Divide through Renewable Energy Based Empowerment

Participating Organizations: U.S. Department of State, Society for Development Alternatives

This project is resulting in the increased deployment of green power in India by establishing Rural Entrepreneurship Zones (REZ) and providing critical outreach and support services to businesses in key sectors. This project is promoting green power by developing a portfolio of connected businesses, focused on the building materials and traditional skill-based craft sectors, coupled with necessary support services such as green power. Additionally this project is demonstrating the financial and institutional viability for REZ’s and is building and nurturing partnerships for leveraging “policy support and financial investments” to accelerate the adoption and replication of REZs throughout India.

Facilitating a 1MW Solar Photovoltaic plant Pilot Project to be integrated into North Delhi Power Ltd.

Participating Organizations: U.S. Department of State, Morse Associates, Inc.

This project is currently facilitating the development of a first, large-scale (1 MW), solar photovoltaic power plant for the Tata Power Company, Ltd around the city of Mumbai, India. India has a large potential solar market. Expanded use of large-scale solar PV will create a growing, but not yet quantifiable, contribution to GHG emission reductions. This project is already making a small, but significant contribution to clean, pollution- and GHG-free power production, particularly in comparison to the current dominant Indian power production based on low-quality coal resources. This project is also developing a systematic assessment of solar generating opportunities in Tata’s service areas by identifying areas with additional power needs, finding suitable sites for solar generation, and assisting Tata in negotiations to obtain financing for a 1 MW SPV plant.

Accelerate Commercialization of Renewable Energy for Distributed Generation in India

Participating Organizations: U.S. Department of State, Orb Energy, Ltd.

Today the India commercial solar PV market is mainly concentrated in the southern or middle parts of Karnataka. This project enables the grantee to conduct market-scoping activities in areas where potential customers have limited, if any, options to purchase solar power units. Currently this project is facilitating the establishment of 50 new franchised branches in new markets (on top of 20 branches in existing markets in south and mid-Karnataka). This project is already well ahead of schedule and is also improve consumer finance terms for the purchase of 1 mega-watt of PV systems and is demonstrating to partner banks the merits of retaining such new terms on an on-going basis.

Market Development for Renewable Energy

Participating Organizations: U.S. Department of State, U.S. Agency for International Development - India

The government of India’s renewable energy policy provides the regulatory framework to facilitate the rapid market oriented growth and development of renewable energy technologies for rural electrification. This specific project advances green technologies such as biomass, solar, waste-to-energy, wind, small hydro, fuels cells, and micro turbines, in partnership with state agencies and local utilities. This project results in policy advocacy, reform and fiscal measures which enhance the share of renewable energy technologies in India’s energy mix.

Creating an Enabling Framework for Renewable Energy Deployment in APP

 Participating Organizations: U.S. Department of State, U.S. Department of Energy – National Renewable Energy Laboratory

This project is being implemented to identify priority resource assessment and decision support tools needed in India in order to better inform renewable energy and distributed generation project planning and policy development in India. The project is strengthening and training Indian institutions in the field of incorporating current data into decision making tools and is producing a usable solar map product for Indian industry and government stakeholders. This project is providing technical collaboration to and with Indian counterparts on market relevant resource data and outreach to enhance industry access to, and awareness of, resource information tools.

Identifying Optimal Legal Frameworks for Renewable Energy in India

Participating Organizations: U.S. Department of State, Renewable Energy and International Law Project

REIL and its sub-contractors are providing an overview of the regulatory and policy situation for renewable energy in the key, rapidly-developing Asia Pacific Partner country of India, using case studies, especially those that demonstrate positive steps already being taken to promote increased investment in renewable energy markets. This project is encouraging and enhancing the capacity for emission reduction efforts in India, by promoting legal and regulatory measures to help create the enabling environments for the uptake of renewable energy.

Solar PV Standards and Testing

Participating Organizations: U.S. Department of Energy

U.S. DOE is collaborating with SunTech, the largest solar energy company in China, and the China General Certification Center to engage Chinese manufacturers on photovoltaic module qualification standards and methodologies currently being used in the US and Japan. This project will ensure that world photovoltaic manufacturers embrace and adopt state-of-the-art reliability practices.