Renewable Energy Country Attractiveness Indices

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Renewable energy country attractiveness indices

February 2013 Issue 36

Global highlights In this issue: Overview of indices

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Renewables to 2020 and beyond: it’s not just the shale gas challenge

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Global trends in biomass-topower markets

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Large corporations — a new driving force behind renewable energy

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Global trends in geothermal power

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Transactions and finance

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All renewables index

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Wind indices

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Solar indices

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Country focus — China, Germany, US, 21 India, France, UK, Canada, South Africa, Morocco Glossary

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Company index

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Ernst & Young services for renewable 32 energy projects Contacts

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Commentary — guidance notes

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Recent Ernst & Young publications

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Going once, going twice, sold! These are the words echoing across today’s global renewables market as policy-makers deploy alternative ways to support green growth. Against a backdrop of surging subsidy deficits and public outcry against escalating energy bills, capacity auctions are now becoming the preferred policy mechanism and this issue of the Country attractiveness indices (CAI) analyzes these dramatic changes. The end of 2012 witnessed a host of projects under the major government-led procurement in South Africa reach financial close, while Morocco, France, India, Egypt and Argentina also announced various technology auctions, most due to take place in 2013. However, the diminishing role of subsidies and other financial incentives should not be overstated. The resurrection of the US wind sector following the 11th-hour extension of the Production Tax Credit (PTC) and India’s ongoing anxiety as it awaits news on its own subsidies, highlight how pricing mechanisms can dramatically impact deployment. Indeed, there are still examples of countries relying heavily on subsidies to kick-start their renewables sector and, if Japan or Romania are anything to go by, it seems to be working. Yet, previously strong markets such as Spain and Greece continue to fall in the index as a result of harsh measures to combat subsidy deficits. It seems that even Germany is being forced to reduce support in light of a proposed freeze on consumer surcharges. France, meanwhile, is using a six-month energy debate to take stock of its long-term strategy. China, however, has found an innovative way to steer its renewables market through this challenging period of consolidation, grid constraints and protectionism. Increased domestic targets and outbound investment, often backed by the state-run China Development Bank, are helping to prop up the country’s clean energy sector, as Chinese companies pursue opportunities to bundle finance and equipment packages for projects in Latin America, MENA and Australia. But significant barriers remain. Investment in infrastructure has become a recurring theme, with many countries — China, India, Germany and Denmark to name just a few — now battling with aging or capacity-constrained grids, as well as balancing issues from increasing intermittency as more renewables are deployed. It is therefore anticipated that capacity markets, such as those proposed under the UK’s new Energy Bill, and cross-border interconnections, such as the North Sea “super-grid,” will become increasingly important as a means of creating security of supply. The other “obstacle” is the “g” word. Cheap gas in the US has caused debates worldwide on the cost-effectiveness of renewables, and many in the sector fear that a “dash for gas” in pursuit of lower capital costs could divert attention away from greener energy solutions. The lead article in this issue discusses this shale gas challenge, as well as commenting on low carbon prices and nuclear rollout or reduction plans — all in the context of painting a picture for renewables through to 2020.


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