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Winner, Loser, or Innocent Victim? Has Renewable Energy Performed As Expected?

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Author Info
Burtraw, Dallas () (Resources for the Future)
Palmer, Karen () (Resources for the Future)
Darmstadter, Joel () (Resources for the Future)
McVeigh, James

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Abstract

This study provides an evaluation of the performance of five renewable energy technologies used to generate electricity: biomass, geothermal, solar photovoltaics, solar thermal, and wind. The authors compared the actual performance of these technologies against stated projections that helped shape public policy goals over the last three decades. Their findings document a significant difference between the success of renewable technologies in penetrating the U.S. electricity generation market and in meeting cost-related goals, when compared with historic projections. In general, renewable technologies have failed to meet expectations with respect to market penetration. They have succeeded, however, in meeting or exceeding expectations with respect to their cost. To a significant degree, the difference in performance in meeting projections of penetration and cost stem from the declining price of conventional generation, which constitutes a moving baseline against which renewable technologies have had to compete.

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Paper provided by Resources For the Future in its series Discussion Papers with number dp-99-28.

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Date of creation: 01 Mar 1999
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Handle: RePEc:rff:dpaper:dp-99-28

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  1. Vajjhala, Shalini, 2006. "Siting Renewable Energy Facilities: A Spatial Analysis of Promises and Pitfalls," Discussion Papers dp-06-34, Resources For the Future. [Downloadable!]
  2. Macauley, Molly & Shih, Jhih-Shyang, 2003. "Effects of Carbon Policies and Technology Change," Discussion Papers dp-03-14, Resources For the Future. [Downloadable!]
  3. Austin, David & Macauley, Molly & Darmstadter, Joel & Shih, Jhih-Shyang & Aronow, Emily & Bath, Tom, 2002. "Measuring the Contribution to the Economy of Investments in Renewable Energy: Estimates of Future Consumer Gains," Discussion Papers dp-02-05-, Resources For the Future. [Downloadable!]
  4. Darmstadter, Joel, 2003. "The Economic and Policy Setting of Renewable Energy: Where Do Things Stand?," Discussion Papers dp-03-64, Resources For the Future. [Downloadable!]
  5. Burtraw, Dallas & Palmer, Karen, 2005. "Cost-Effectiveness of Renewable Electricity Policies," Discussion Papers dp-05-01, Resources For the Future. [Downloadable!]
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