News Archive 2009

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September 2009

August 2009

July 2009

June 2009

May 2009

April 2009

March 2009

February 2009

January 2009

September

TAP Web Seminar: Feed-In Tariff Policies
The Technical Assistance Project (TAP) for state and local officials will sponsor a Web seminar on October 28 that discusses feed-in tariffs. The presentation, which will be 3-4:15 p.m. (EDT), is titled "Feed-In Tariffs: Best Practices and Application in the United States." During this presentation, speaker Karlynn Cory of NREL will discuss feed-in tariff (FIT) policies and explore the different FIT policies implemented in the United States. She will also highlight a few proposed policies as well as the best practices in FIT policy design, and examine how FITs can be used to target state policy goals.

September

Technology and Program Market Data
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory is leading an effort to provide market data for renewable energy technologies and programs, presented in individual reports for each topic area. Data includes market penetration; industry trends; cost, price, and performance trends; policy and market drivers; as well as future outlook.

Initiated by the Strategic Planning and Analysis (SPA) group of the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), these 10 technology and program market reports represent each of the renewable energy areas managed by EERE. Five of the reports have been published, and we'll keep you posted regarding completion of the other technology and program reports. New reports for this month include:

Geothermal Technologies (PDF 1.4 MB)
Industrial Technologies (PDF 6.7 MB)

Previous Published

Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) (PDF 7.9 MB)
Vehicle Technologies (PDF 1.8 MB)
Wind Technologies (PDF 1.9 MB)

September

Renewable Energy Data Book
The Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) has released the updated version of the 2008 Renewable Energy Data Book, which was produced by NREL. It can be accessed from the Maps and Data section of the EERE Web site (PDF 11.5 MB). This data book contains valuable information on U.S. energy statistics, renewable electricity in the United States, global renewable energy (RE) development, clean energy investments, and data on specific RE technologies, all presented in a graphical format.

September

Federal Solar Photovoltaic Financing
NREL analysts Karlynn Cory, Charles Coggeshall, Jason Coughlin, and Claire Kreycik recently published the report "Solar Photovoltaic Financing: Deployment by Federal Government Agencies" (PDF 3.3 MB)
This report examines how federal agencies can finance on-site solar photovoltaic (PV) projects. It explains availability of state-level cash incentives, the importance of solar renewable energy certificate revenues (in certain markets), and existing financing structures. It also discusses innovative financing structures being used by federal agencies to deploy on-site PV. The report also includes specific examples from the Department of Defense, Department of Energy, and other federal agencies, which help explain federal project financing in detail.

September

Response to Jobs Analysis
SEAC analysts Suzanne Tegen and Eric Lantz recently published "NREL Response to the Report Study of the Effects on Employment of Public Aid to Renewable Energy Sources from King Juan Carlos University (Spain)" (PDF 404 KB)
Job generation has been a part of the national dialogue surrounding energy policy and renewable energy (RE) for many years. RE advocates tout the ability of renewable energy to support new job opportunities in rural locations and the manufacturing sector. Others argue that spending on renewable energy is an inefficient allocation of resources and can result in job losses in the broader economy. The report Study of the Effects on Employment of Public Aid to Renewable Energy Sources, from King Juan Carlos University in Spain, is one recent addition to this debate. This white paper discusses fundamental and technical limitations of the analysis conducted by King Juan Carlos University and notes critical shortcomings in assumptions implicit in the conclusions. The white paper also includes a review of traditional employment impact analyses that rely on accepted, peer-reviewed methodologies, and it highlights specific variables that can significantly influence the results of employment impact analysis.

September

Analysts Meet With Stakeholders
In partnership with the Santa Fe Institute, NREL's SEAC planned and conducted a summer study on sustainability. Participants, who were selected through a competitive process, included mid-career professionals as well as graduate students from leading programs throughout the United States. World-class speakers from the fields of integrated climate assessment modeling, economics, ecology, and complexity science hosted discussions on the concept of sustainability. Final projects will include several research products, many of which touch on the role of renewable energy in responding to climate change internationally and the imperative for speed and scale in the global deployment of clean energy technology.

SEAC Director Doug Arent participated in a workshop "Fossil Fuels to Green Energy: Policy Schemes in Transition for the North Pacific" hosted by the East-West Center and Korea Energy Economics Institute on August 19-20. Delegates from China, Korea, Japan, Norway, Russia, and the United States met to discuss the status of energy policy in their respective countries. They identified possible areas for collaborative policy analysis to evaluate policy effectiveness for renewable energies, energy efficiency, and other low-carbon technologies.

August

TAP Web Seminar: Revolving Loan Funds
The Technical Assistance Project (TAP) for state and local officials will sponsor a Web seminar on August 26 that discusses revolving loan funds. The presentation, which will be 3-4:15 p.m. (EDT), is titled "Revolving Loan Funds: Basics and Best Practices." During this presentation, speakers Samuel Booth of NREL and Theresa Sifuentes of the Texas LoanSTAR program, will discuss how to set up a revolving loan fund to increase the impact of funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Many states are using this funding to set up revolving loan funds for energy programs because, once established, these funds are not subject to the three-year expiration of funding under the Recovery Act.

You can register to attend the seminar, read about the presenter, and find links to background materials and reports on the TAP Section of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Weatherization and Intergovernmental Program Web site.

August

Initiated by the Strategic Planning and Analysis (SPA) group of the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), these 10 technology and program market reports represent each of the renewable energy areas managed by EERE. Three of the reports have been published, and we'll keep you posted regarding completion of the other technology and program reports. Available reports include:

Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) (PDF 7.9 MB)
Vehicle Technologies (PDF 1.8 MB)
Wind Technologies (PDF 1.9 MB)

August

Renewable Energy Project Financing
NREL analysts Paul Schwabe, Karlynn Cory, and James Newcomb recently published the report "Renewable Energy Project Financing: Impacts of the Financial Crisis and Federal Legislation" (PDF 920 KB)

Extraordinary financial market conditions have disrupted the flows of equity and debt investment into U.S. renewable energy projects since the fourth quarter of 2008. The pace and structure of renewable energy project finance has been reshaped by a combination of forces, including the financial crisis, global economic recession, and major changes in federal legislation affecting renewable energy finance. This report explores the impacts of these key market events on renewable energy project financing and development.

August

Renewable Electricity Benefits in California
SEAC analysts Gail Mosey and Laura Vimmerstedt recently published "Renewable Electricity Benefits Quantification Methodology: A Request for Technical Assistance from the California Public Utilities Commission" (PDF 887 KB)

The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) requested assistance from NREL to identify methodological alternatives for quantifying the benefits of renewable electricity. This study was part of its analysis of a 33% renewable portfolio standard (RPS) in California—one element of California's Climate Change Scoping Plan. NREL developed a high-level survey of renewable electricity effects, quantification alternatives, and considerations for selection of analytic methods. This report addresses economic effects and health and environmental effects, and provides an overview of related analytic tools.

August

Analysts Meet With Stakeholders
On July 6-10, SEAC analyst David Kline met with officials in China to work on economic analysis and planning for large wind prospect areas ("wind bases") in the country. NREL is partnering with the key wind analysis group at HydroChina, which directly supports government plans and implementation of China's ambitious wind effort. Chinese officials recently estimated 120 GW as the potential from the wind bases. Kline also held informational meetings on national-scale energy modeling, which is being explored as a way to increase focus on U.S.-China climate cooperation.

NREL analyst Karlynn Cory, lead of SEAC's Finance Team, was a panelist at a July 30 congressional briefing on feed-in tariff (FIT) policies, which was sponsored by U.S. Rep. Jay Inslee of Washington State. Cory discussed best practices for FIT policy design and implementation to achieve a variety of policy objectives, and answered questions about current U.S. FIT policy implementation.

July

A map of the continental United States with the states of Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming pulled out for emphasis.

Law Conference: Renewable Energy and Transmission
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), along with the School of Energy Resources at the University of Wyoming, is sponsoring a law conference discussing "Multistate Decision Making for Renewable Energy and Transmission: Spotlight on Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming." The event will be from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. August 11 at the Doubletree Hotel (3203 Quebec Street) in Denver, Colorado.

This law conference seeks to enhance multistate collaboration and decision making on renewable energy development. Invited papers will identify legal and regulatory issues that affect the ability of states to engage in joint decision making. The day's discussions will provide a forum for state officials and stakeholders to explore institutional options for multistate collaboration. The issues addressed in this conference will parallel issues that have been raised in proposed congressional legislation, but will focus on actions initiated and directed jointly by the states.

Access the Law Conference page on the Energy Analysis Web site for registration and reservation information.

July

Gail Mosey

Eric Lantz

TAP Web Seminar: Estimating Economic Impacts of Renewables
The Technical Assistance Project (TAP) for state and local officials will sponsor a Web seminar on July 29 that discusses the economic impacts of renewables. The presentation, which will be 3-4:15 p.m. (EDT), is titled "How to Estimate Economic Impacts from Renewable Energy." During this presentation, speakers Gail Mosey and Eric Lantz (both of NREL) will demonstrate the Job and Economic Development Impact (JEDI) model, an online tool developed by the laboratory. They will show how to use JEDI to design and run an economic impacts analysis and interpret the results for an individual state.

July

Renewable Energy Feed-in Tariffs
SEAC analyst Karlynn Cory and Toby Couture, of E3 Analytics, recently published the report "State Clean Energy Policies Analysis (SCEPA) Project: An Analysis of Renewable Energy Feed-in Tariffs in the United States." (PDF 1.1 MB) This report, which was produced as part of the State Clean Energy Policies Analysis (SCEPA) Project, analyzes renewable energy feed-in tariff (FIT) policies and explores the different FIT policies currently implemented in the United States. It also discusses a few proposed policies, the best practices in FIT policy design, and examines how FITs can be used to target state policy goals. The report covers current and potential future interactions between FITs and other state and federal energy policies while also providing an overview of the impacts FIT policies have in terms of renewable energy deployment, job creation, and economic development.

For additional information on analysis being done on FITs, access a related feature story on the NREL Web site. For more about SCEPA, access the project Web site.

July

Tool on Alternative Fuels and Transportation
NREL has launched TransAtlas, a comprehensive mapping tool to help industry and government planners implement alternative fuels and advanced vehicles. Using Google Maps, the new tool combines several types of geographic data to identify areas with potential for developing advanced transportation projects. Users can easily find alternative fueling stations, vehicle concentrations, and production plants. TransAtlas is sponsored by DOE's Clean Cities, an initiative which aims to reduce petroleum consumption in the transportation sector by promoting advanced vehicle technologies and alternative fuels.

For additional information on the tool, access a related news release on the NREL Web site.

July

Analysts Meet With Stakeholders
SEAC analyst Suzanne Tegen presented "Jobs and Economic Impacts from Wind in Your State" to the Great Lakes Wind Collaborative on June 4. Her presentation focused on analysis done using NREL's Job and Economic Development Impact (JEDI) model.

On June 8, SEAC analyst Claire Kreycik presented NREL research on renewable energy feed-in tariff (FIT) policy at a New York Senate Roundtable. Her presentation focused on best practices and jobs impacts resulting from European FIT policies. The roundtable experts discussed draft bill S2715, the Renewable Energy Stimulus Act, a bill that would establish a New York State FIT policy.

SEAC Center Director Doug Arent presented at the Deutsche Bank's Alternative Energy/Clean Tech Conference on June 10-11 in Washington, D.C. The event, attended by more than 175 investment and industry professionals, focused on alternative energy technology, market, policy, and financing.

Six high-level managers from the Energy research Centre of the Netherlands (ECN) participated in a workshop on June 22-23 with lead NREL analysts and researchers. Along with Dan Arvizu (NREL director) and Bobi Garrett (vice president for Outreach, Planning, and Analysis), the group discussed collaborations on renewable energy research and technology transfer.

June

Analyzing Proposed Renewable Electricity Standards
SEAC analysts Patrick Sullivan, Jeffrey Logan, Lori Bird, and Walter Short recently published the report "A Comparative Analysis of Three Proposed Federal Renewable Electricity Standards." (PDF 740 KB) This paper compares three proposed national renewable electricity standards (also known as renewable portfolio standards), which are under consideration by committees of the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate. To assess the potential impacts of the three proposed standards on the U.S. electricity sector, a team of senior NREL energy analysts used the laboratory's Regional Energy Deployment System (ReEDS) model, a detailed least-cost optimization tool capable of simulating the special attributes of variable sources such as wind and solar power. Lawmakers in at least 28 states and the District of Columbia have established schedules that mandate minimum uses of renewable energy, typically within the next two decades. The three proposals were compared against a baseline in which only currently enacted laws are considered.

June

Energy Technology Cost and Performance Data
NREL has developed a page on its Energy Analysis Web site, which provides information on cost and performance data for energy technologies. The costs chart indicates the range of recent cost estimates for renewable energy as well as other technologies. This chart is a compilation of available national-level cost data from a variety of sources. The capacity factor chart indicates the range of recent estimates for energy technologies — this information is also taken from a variety of sources.

June

U.S. Renewable Energy Technology Resource Maps
NREL also has developed a complete set of renewable energy technology resource maps for the United States, which are provided in PowerPoint format. The maps include information on solar (photovoltaic and concentrating), wind, and biomass resources. For a quick snapshot of U.S. resource maps for various renewable energy technologies, access the Renewable Energy Technology Resource Maps for the United States (PowerPoint 6.7 MB) presentation on the Dynamic Maps, GIS Data and Analysis Tools Web site. For more information, contact Pamela Gray-Hann.

June

Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency
The Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency (DSIRE) has launched a new solar-specific Web site. The main DSIRE site — which is managed by the North Carolina (N.C.) Solar Center and Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC), and administered by NREL — also has been redesigned to include an improved tool for searching the general database. DSIRE, which is considered one of the most comprehensive sources of information on financial incentives and policies that promote renewable energy and energy efficiency, offers the new solar information at DSIRE Solar. It includes features such as an interactive solar map, solar policy comparison tables, solar policy summary maps, and a solar policy guide.

June

Analysts Meet With Stakeholders
SEAC analyst Lori Bird discussed the economic development impacts of long-term renewable energy policies during the Business of Clean Energy in Alaska Conference on May 18 in Anchorage.

On May 20, analysts Jeffrey Logan and Lori Bird briefed U.S. Senate staff on NREL's recent report that compares three renewable electricity standard bills (see item titled Analyzing Proposed Renewable Electricity Standards above). Senators Robert Menendez (NJ) and Mark Udall (CO) invited NREL to present the findings at the Senate Visitor's Center.

In early May, NREL staff members William Wallace and Min Zhang joined staff members from Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, the Department of Energy's Biomass Program, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture on a biofuels cooperation mission to Beijing, China. The group met with the National Energy Administration under the Chinese National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), with five of the leading biofuels industrial development and investment companies in China (PetroChina, SinoPec, COFCO, CNOOC, and ZTE). The meetings also included U.S. companies Honeywell/UOP, DuPont, and GM, as well as leading research groups at Tsinghua University and the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Engineering. The mission identified mutual research and development opportunities in the fields of feedstock analysis, cellulosic and sweet sorghum conversion technologies, thermochemical conversion, and biodiesel/green diesel research.

May

Jason Coughlin

TAP Web Seminar: Financing for Public-Sector PV Projects
The Technical Assistance Project (TAP) for state and local officials will sponsor a Web seminar on May 27 that explores financing for public-sector photovoltaics (PV) projects. The presentation, which will be 3-4:15 p.m. (EDT), is titled "Third-Party Financing and Power Purchase Agreements for Public-Sector PV Projects." The speaker will be Jason Coughlin of NREL. Coughlin's work focuses on the financial aspects of installing PV systems such as third-party financing models, municipal financing mechanisms, and tax incentives.

May

Regional Energy Deployment System (ReEDS) Model
NREL has developed a Web site to provide information on its Regional Energy Deployment System (ReEDS) model (formerly known as the Wind Deployment System or WinDS model). ReEDS is a computer model that optimizes the regional expansion of electric generation and transmission capacity in the continental United States over the next 50 years. The ReEDS Web site presents an overview of this NREL-developed tool, as well as relevant data and related publications. Site users will find background on the model, including a detailed model description. Along with several independent analyses, ReEDS was used prominently for the 20% Wind Energy by 2030 report and is currently being applied to the Renewable Energy Futures Study—an analysis of how the United States might provide 80% of its electricity from renewable sources. For more information, contact Patrick Sullivan at NREL.

May

Solar Resources in Northwest India
NREL has developed a CD and Web page providing high-resolution solar resource maps and data products for northwest India. The information was developed by NREL in cooperation with India's Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, through funding from the U.S. Department of Energy and U.S. Department of State. The data are provided in a geographic information system (GIS) format, as static maps, and incorporated into a Geospatial Toolkit (GsT). The GsT allows the user to examine the resource data in a geospatial context along with other key information relevant to renewable energy development, such as transportation networks, transmission corridors, existing power facilities, load centers, terrain conditions, and land use. NREL also has developed similar resource information for Afghanistan, Bhutan, and Pakistan. Toolkits for other countries can be found on the main Geospatial Toolkit page. For more information, contact Shannon Cowlin.

May

Biomass Resources in Liberia
SEAC analyst Anelia Milbrandt recently published the report "Assessment of Biomass Resources in Liberia" (PDF 3.5 MB) for the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) under the Liberia Energy Assistance Program (LEAP). Biomass resources meet about 99.5% of the Liberian population's energy needs, so they are vital to basic welfare and economic activity. Already, traditional biomass products such as firewood and charcoal are the primary energy source used for domestic cooking and heating. However, other more-efficient biomass technologies are available that could open opportunities for agriculture and rural development, and provide other socio-economic and environmental benefits. This study estimates the biomass resources currently and potentially available in the country and evaluates their contribution for power generation and the production of transportation fuels. It intends to inform policy makers and industry developers of the biomass resource availability in Liberia, identify areas with high potential, and serve as a base for more detailed site-specific assessments.

May

Analysts Meet With Stakeholders
SEAC analyst Lori Bird discussed the role of renewables and renewable energy credits (RECs) in offset markets during a "Carbon Offsets Symposium" on April 10-11 in Raleigh, North Carolina. The event was part of the Duke University Environmental Markets Symposium Series.

On April 14, SEAC Director Doug Arent presented "Transforming Our Energy Economy: The Role of Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency" (PDF 28.7 MB) Download Adobe Reader during the Holme Roberts and Owen's Rocky Mountain New Energy Markets Summit in Denver. About 250 people attended the all-day event, which featured a keynote speech from Colorado Governor Bill Ritter and a series of panel discussions hosted by a variety of "energy industry experts" from across the Rocky Mountain Region.

SEAC analyst David Kline traveled to Beijing, China, the week of April 13-17 to discuss projects for new wind capacity with the Chinese Hydropower Engineering Consulting Company (HydroChina). NREL is supporting HydroChina, the leading wind energy consultancy to the Chinese government, in a "100-GW Scenario" project sponsored by the Energy Foundation. NREL and HydroChina are also continuing work on geographic-economic analysis of China's major prospects for "wind bases." HydroChina is expected to use the results as part of China's official efforts to assess and plan major resource areas.

April

Analyzing Energy Plans
SEAC analysts Jeff Logan and Ted James recently published the report "A Comparative Review of a Dozen National Energy Plans: Focus on Renewable and Efficient Energy." (PDF 598 KB) Dozens of groups have submitted energy, environmental, and economic recovery plans for consideration by the Obama administration and the 111th Congress. This report provides a comparative analysis of 12 national proposals, focusing especially on energy efficiency (EE) and renewable energy (RE) market and policy issues. Many of the plans considered here call for transformative change, citing decades of inconsistent, inattentive, or otherwise failed national energy policy. Almost universally, plans call for an expansion of clean energy research and development, EE and RE deployment, and climate change preparedness. But sharp differences also exist regarding domestic drilling, nuclear power, carbon mitigation, and the role of government.

April

Regional Supply and Demand
SEAC analysts Lori Bird, David Hurlbut, Pearl Donohoo, Karlynn Cory, and Claire Kreycik recently published the report "An Examination of the Regional Supply and Demand Balance for Renewable Electricity in the United States through 2015." (PDF 889 KB) This report examines the balance between the demand and supply of new renewable electricity in the United States on a regional basis through 2015. This analysis relies on estimates of renewable energy supplies compared to demand for renewable energy generation needed to meet existing state renewable portfolio standard (RPS) policies in 28 states, as well as demand by consumers who voluntarily purchase renewable energy. Given current policies and demand for renewables, this analysis found an overall national surplus of renewable energy generation to meet existing RPS policy targets and voluntary market demand. However, some regional shortages are projected, while other regions are projected to have excess renewable energy supplies.

April

Residential Solar PV Financing
NREL analysts Jason Coughlin and Karlynn Cory recently published the report "Solar Photovoltaic Financing: Residential Sector Deployment." (PDF 2.7 MB) This report presents the information that homeowners and policy makers need to facilitate PV financing at the residential level. The full range of cash payments, bill savings, and tax incentives is covered, as well as potentially available solar attribute payments. Traditional financing is also compared to innovative solutions, many of which are borrowed from the commercial sector. Unfortunately, these programs are limited to select locations around the country. By calling attention to these innovative initiatives, this report aims to help policy makers consider greater adoption of these models to benefit homeowners interested in installing a residential PV system.

April

Renewable Energy Tax Credits
NREL analysts Karlynn Cory and Ted James, along with Mark Bolinger and Ryan Wiser of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), recently published the report "PTC, ITC, or Cash Grant? An Analysis of the Choice Facing Renewable Power Projects in the United States." (PDF 680 KB) Renewable power technologies are inherently capital-intensive, often (but not always) with relatively high construction costs and low operating costs. For this reason, renewable power technologies are typically more sensitive to the availability and cost of financing than are natural gas power plants, for example. This report analyzes, from the project developer/owner perspective, the choice between the production tax credit (PTC) and the investment tax credit (ITC) or equivalent cash grant for different renewable power technologies.

April

Hydrogen Assessment
SEAC analysts Anelia Milbrandt and Margaret Mann recently published the report "Hydrogen Resource Assessment: Hydrogen Potential from Coal, Natural Gas, Nuclear, and Hydro Power." (PDF 5.0 MB) This report estimates the quantity of hydrogen that could be produced from coal, natural gas, nuclear, and hydroelectric power by county in the United States. The study estimates that more than 72 million tonnes of hydrogen can be produced from coal, natural gas, nuclear, and hydroelectric power per year in the country (considering only 30% of their total annual production). The United States consumed about 396 million tonnes of gasoline in 2007; therefore, the report suggests the amount of hydrogen from these sources could displace about 80% of this consumption.

April

Renewable Energy Rebates
SEAC analysts Eric Lantz and Elizabeth Doris recently published the report "State Clean Energy Practices: Renewable Energy Rebates." (PDF 524 KB) This report highlights the impacts of specific renewable energy rebate programs on renewable energy markets around the country, as well as rebate program impacts on overarching energy policy drivers. It also discusses lessons learned, challenges, ideal applications, keys to success, and complementary and alternative policies. Results indicate that rebate programs can have a strong deployment impact on emerging renewable energy markets. This report focuses on renewable energy rebate programs, which are being analyzed as part of the State Clean Energy Policies Analysis (SCEPA) project. SCEPA looks at the impacts of existing state policies and identifies crucial policy attributes and their potential applicability to other states.

April

Feed-in Tariff Policies
SEAC analysts Karlynn Cory, Toby Couture, and Claire Kreycik recently published the report "Feed-in Tariff Policy: Design, Implementation and RPS Policy Interactions." (PDF 466 KB) Feed-in tariff (FIT) policies are implemented in more than 40 countries around the world and are cited as the primary reason for the success of the German and Spanish renewable energy markets. As a result of that success, FIT policy proposals are starting to gain traction in several U.S. states and municipalities. Experience from Europe is also beginning to demonstrate that properly designed FITs may be more cost-effective than renewable portfolio standards (RPS), which make use of competitive solicitations. This report explores the design and operation of feed-in tariff policies, including a FIT policy definition, payment-structure options, and payment differentiation. It also touches on the potential interactions between FIT policies and RPS policies at the state level.

April

Analysts Meet With Stakeholders
SEAC Director Doug Arent attended the New Energy Finance Annual Summit, a gathering of top investors and clean energy companies, in London on March 4-6. Participants discussed the state of clean energy markets, noting both challenging conditions for raising capital in the short term, and optimism relative to new stimulus packages across the globe and supportive policy environments.

On March 16, SEAC analyst David Kline and government relations representative Bob Noun met with a delegation from the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office, which is part of the Taiwan Consulate in the United States. Noun provided an overview of NREL and its programs, and Kline discussed NREL's international programs with the delegation, who expressed strong interest in cooperation between the laboratory and Taiwan.

SEAC analyst Eric Lantz represented NREL in a kickoff meeting for the International Energy Agency (IEA) working group on "Social Acceptance of Wind Energy" in mid-March. Lantz gave a presentation on the status of the U.S. wind industry and discussed the potential implications of recently passed (and proposed) federal legislation that affects the technology. In addition, he detailed current U.S. social acceptance-related research along with ongoing NREL research in this area. The working group's first white paper will provide an international conception of social acceptance as it relates to wind energy, and summarize the breadth of international experience and knowledge on this topic. The meeting (which took place in Magdeburg, Germany) included international experts on wind energy and social acceptance from 10 different countries.

In mid-March, NREL analyst William Wallace attended the Biomass 2009 Conference in Washington, D.C. He also met with various government representatives regarding the status of biofuels activities with China. In April, Wallace and other NREL staff will meet with the National Energy Administration in China and other working groups to consolidate work plans for FY09 and begin discussions for FY10.

March

Solar Leasing for Residential PV
SEAC analysts Jason Coughlin and Karlynn Cory recently published a fact sheet on "Solar Leasing for Residential Photovoltaic Systems." (PDF 566 KB) In the past year, the residential solar lease has received significant attention in the solar marketplace, primarily for its ability to leverage two key commercial tax credits for the individual homeowner. However, on January 1, 2009, the $2,000 cap on the residential investment tax credit (ITC) was lifted. As a result, the expansion of the solar lease model across the United States may be slower than anticipated. Homeowners may revisit the comparison between the solar lease and home-equity financing in light of the change to the ITC. Market conditions have changed, however, and the solar lease provides some distinct advantages. This publication examines the solar lease option for residential PV systems and describes two solar lease programs already in place.

March

Wind Energy Economic Development Impacts in Colorado
SEAC analysts Sandra Reategui and Suzanne Tegen recently published a fact sheet on "Economic Development Impacts of Colorado's First 1,000 Megawatts of Wind Energy." (PDF 281 KB) This fact sheet summarizes their NREL report with the same title (PDF 672 KB), which was prompted by the soaring growth in the number of Colorado's wind power installations in recent years, from 291 megawatts (MW) of capacity in 2006 to 1,067 MW in 2007. Analyzing the economic impact of Colorado's first 1,000 MW of wind energy development not only provides a summary of jobs, land-lease payments, and other revenue, but it also provides a sense of the economic development opportunities associated with other new wind project scenarios. The analysis can be used by interested parties in other states as an example of the potential economic impacts if they were to adopt 1,000 MW of wind power development. To quantify these impacts to Colorado, analysts used NREL's Jobs and Economic Development Impact (JEDI) model.

March

Analysts Meet With Stakeholders
SEAC analysts Lori Bird and Karlynn Cory presented during the EUEC Energy and Environment Conference held February 2 in Phoenix, Arizona. Bird discussed renewable energy certificate (REC) markets and Cory spoke on feed-in tariff (FIT) policies.

Lori Bird discussed renewable energy and electricity disclosure issues at a workshop titled "Transparency and Accountability: The Role of Information Disclosure" at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., on February 6. The event was organized by faculty of the Erb Institute for Global Sustainable Enterprise at the University of Michigan, the Georgetown Center for Business and Public Policy, and the Harvard Business School.

On February 13, NREL participated in meetings with city officials representing the Denver-Chongqing Eco-City cooperation, which is developing an electric-vehicle pilot program. The program involves Ford Motor Company in the United States and Chang'an Motors in China. NREL participated in the four-party talks and also provided laboratory overviews/tours of the facilities for vehicle testing and simulation, solar charging, battery materials research, and battery testing. The meetings resulted in the identification of mutual interests for further development and next steps for advancing the cooperation projects.

On February 14-17, NREL participated in the U.S.-China Clean Energy Forum in the San Francisco Bay Area. The event included meetings with U.S. clean energy companies; a tour of facilities at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in Richland, Washington; and formal meetings and workshops in Seattle, Washington. The Clean Energy Forum has a high-level steering committee led by local Seattle businessmen, Senator Maria Cantwell from Washington, several U.S. trade negotiators and ambassadors, and Chinese government participants and research institutes/universities. The group also has visibility with the U.S. Congress, the Department of State, and the White House. Organizers have structured three working groups around the topics of energy efficiency and conservation, environmental protection, and renewable energy, which have produced preliminary recommendations for enhanced cooperation and clean energy development between the U.S. and China. These recommendations will be further developed and presented to the respective governments.

NREL research associate Sandra Reategui attended the Governor's Forum on Colorado Agriculture on February 19 to talk about the economic impact of wind energy on Colorado. She also presented at the Great Plains and Southwest Summit in Sweetwater, Texas, in February where she discussed "Perspectives and Case Studies from Wind Power Development and Operation throughout the Great Plains and the Southwest." On February 24, she participated in the Climate Change and Utah Water Supply Symposium in Salt Lake City.

SEAC analysts Robert Margolis and Karlynn Cory joined John Lushetsky (solar program manager for the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy) and Mark Bolinger (Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory research scientist) for meetings with analysts on Wall Street in New York City on February 19-20. The laboratory representatives shared solar analysis capabilities, learned about Wall Street analysis capabilities, and discussed the potential for developing ways to share data and analysis.

February

Advancing Technology in Housing
SEAC analysts Gail Mosey, Elizabeth Doris, and Charles Coggeshall — along with Matt Antes, Jennifer Ruch, and John Mortensen of Energetics — recently published the report "Conceptual Soundness, Metric Development, Benchmarking, and Targeting for PATH Subprogram Evaluation" (PDF 1.1 MB). This study evaluates the conceptual soundness of the revised goals for the Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing (PATH), a program established by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). It also establishes and applies a framework to identify and recommend metrics that are the most useful for measuring PATH's progress. This report provides an evaluative review of PATH's revised goals, outlines a structured method for identifying and selecting metrics, proposes metrics and benchmarks for a sampling of individual PATH programs, and discusses other metrics that potentially could be developed that may add value to the evaluation process. The framework and individual program metrics can be used for ongoing management improvement efforts and to inform broader program-level metrics for government reporting requirements.

Febraury

Vehicle Testing and Analysis
NREL's Center for Transportation Technologies and Systems recently published a fact sheet on its "Vehicle Testing and Analysis Group" (PDF 866 KB). This publication outlines the capabilities of NREL's Vehicle Testing and Analysis Group, which provides expert vehicle and fleet evaluations, data, and systems analyses to government and industry partners as well as the R&D community. Vehicle test engineers use the latest equipment and techniques to evaluate vehicle performance in the ReFUEL Laboratory, NREL's controlled laboratory setting. Fleet testing and evaluation engineers employ the latest hardware, software, and analysis techniques needed to capture, process, and analyze data from in-service vehicles. This fact sheet also provides information on how this analysis can help boost fuel economy and reduce U.S. petroleum imports and exhaust emissions.

February

Analysts Meet With Stakeholders
SEAC analysts Karlynn Cory and Maureen Hand served as U.S. representatives to a meeting on the International Energy Agency Implementing Agreement for Cooperation in the Research, Development, and Deployment of Wind Energy Systems (IEA Wind). On January 12-13, Hand and Cory participated in a group focusing on the development of an international methodology for estimating the cost of wind energy as well as the market price. Hand is leading this task, which will analyze the variation of costs among the participating countries. Presentations were given by each participating country with Cory focusing on U.S. policy and markets.

NREL Director Dan Arvizu, along with analysts Maureen Hand and Walt Musial, attended the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) meeting on January 26-30, which discussed the IPCC's Special Report on Renewables and Climate Change Mitigation. Attendees, who are lead authors for the report, discussed outlines and writing assignments for chapters dealing with various renewable technologies and climate change mitigation considerations. Hand contributed to the wind energy chapter, Musial contributed to the ocean energy chapter, and Arvizu is one of the two coordinating authors for the direct solar energy chapter.

NREL Senior Vice President for Outreach, Planning, and Analysis Bobi Garrett and SEAC Center Director Doug Arent visited Germany's DLR (its national center for aerospace, energy, and transportation research) on January 21. The visit focused on the potential for collaboration on analysis topics, including concentrating solar power (CSP) and solar resource assessment. Garrett and Arent also toured the DLR facilities during the visit.

Bobi Garrett and Doug Arent also attended the Global Energy Assessment Council meeting January 19-20 in Austria. The Global Energy Assessment (GEA) is a major initiative established by the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) in late 2005. The GEA helps decision makers address the challenges of providing energy services for sustainable development, while reducing existing and emerging threats associated with security of supply; improving access to modern forms of energy for development and poverty alleviation; reducing local, regional, and global environmental impacts; and securing sufficient investment. NREL also is contributing a chapter on "Key Market Trends in Renewable Energy Development and Deployment" to an upcoming GEA book.

SEAC analyst Lori Bird presented on "Renewable Energy Opportunities" to the 2009 International Economic Development Council Leadership Summit – "Turning Today's Economic Challenges into Tomorrow's Successes." The event was held January 25 in Tempe, Arizona.

January

International Clean Energy Cooperation
NREL, along with a group of key stakeholders, recently released the report "Strengthening U.S. Leadership of International Clean Energy Cooperation" (PDF 1.4 MB). Pressing economic, energy security, and environmental concerns are driving rapid growth in global investments in renewable energy (RE), energy efficiency (EE), and other clean energy technologies. The U.S. government has an unparalleled opportunity to join forces with the private sector, international institutions, and other countries to accelerate this global clean energy market transformation and capture vital domestic benefits. The global financial crisis creates an even more urgent need for government programs to stimulate private investment in RE and EE, which will foster U.S. and international job creation and economic vitality. This report presents proceedings of consultations with U.S. stakeholders that identified four overarching strategies for enhanced U.S. international clean energy cooperation — 1) establish government-wide goals, an action plan, and strengthened international leadership; 2) revitalize U.S. investment-facilitation programs; 3) accelerate clean energy technology cooperation; and 4) pursue market reform partnerships with key developing countries. These strategies and actions in support of each are presented in this report.

January

Assessment of Jatropha Biodiesel
NREL analyst Garvin Heath and Michael Whitaker (Symbiotic Engineering) recently published the report "Life Cycle Assessment of the Use of Jatropha Biodiesel in Indian Locomotives" (PDF 1.8 MB). With India's transportation sector relying heavily on imported petroleum-based fuels, the Planning Commission of India and the Indian government recommended the increased use of blended biodiesel in transportation fleets, identifying Jatropha as a potentially important biomass feedstock. The Indian Oil Corporation and Indian Railways are collaborating to increase the use of biodiesel blends in Indian locomotives with blends of up to B20, aiming to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and decrease petroleum consumption. To help evaluate the potential for Jatropha-based biodiesel in achieving sustainability and energy security goals, this study examines the life cycle, net GHG emission, net energy ratio, and petroleum displacement impacts of integrating Jatropha-based biodiesel into locomotive operations in India. In addition, this study identifies the parameters that have the greatest impact on the sustainability of the system.

January

Investment in Solar Energy
SEAC analyst Robert Margolis, along with Charles Jennings (Financial Analytics Consulting Corporation) and John E. Bartlett (New West Technologies), recently published the report "Historical Analysis of Investment in Solar Energy Technologies (2000-2007)" (PDF 960 KB). The solar energy industry experienced unprecedented growth from 2000 to 2007, with explosive growth occurring in the latter half of this period. From 2004 to 2007, global private-sector investment in solar energy increased almost twenty-fold, marking a dramatic increase in the short span of four years. This paper examines the timing, magnitude, focus, and location of various forms of investment in the solar energy sector. It analyzes the trends, which provide an understanding of the growth of the solar industry during the past eight years and help identify emerging themes in this rapidly evolving industry.

January

Analysts Meet With Stakeholders
SEAC analyst Gail Mosey attended the annual conference for the U.S. Association for Energy Economics (USAEE) held in New Orleans on December 3-5. Mosey presided over the session "Economics of Energy Efficiency and Low Carbon Fuel Standards (LCFS)." The session discussed analysis of willingness to pay for emissions reduction under uncertainty, residential energy efficiency opportunities in New England, and the economics of a low-carbon fuel standard.

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