Supporting solar power in renewables portfolio standards: Experience from the United States

Date Published
07/2011
Publication Type
Journal Article
Authors
DOI
10.1016/j.enpol.2010.11.025
Abstract

Renewables portfolio standards (RPS) have become an increasingly popular option for encouraging the deployment of renewable electricity. It is a relatively new policy mechanism, however, and experience with its use is only beginning to emerge. One key concern is whether RPS policies offer adequate support to a wide range of renewable energy technologies and applications or whether, alternatively, they will favor a small number of the currently least-cost forms of renewable energy. This article documents the design of and early experience with state-level RPS programs in the United States that have been specifically tailored to encourage a wider diversity of renewable energy technologies, and solar energy in particular. As shown here, state-level RPS programs specifically designed to support solar have already proven to be an important driver for solar energy deployment, and those impacts are projected to build in the coming years. State experience in supporting solar energy with RPS programs is mixed, however, and full compliance with existing requirements has not been achieved. The comparative experiences described herein highlight the opportunities and challenges of applying an RPS to specifically support solar energy, as well as the importance of policy design details to ensuring that program goals are achieved.

Notes

This article is based on research from an LBNL report entitled Supporting Solar Power in Renewables Portfolio Standards: Experience from the United States. To see the full report, click here.

Journal
Energy Policy
Volume
39
Year of Publication
2011
Issue
7
Pagination
3894 - 3905
ISSN Number
03014215
Short Title
Energy Policy
Organizations
Research Areas
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