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On the effectiveness of feed-in tariffs in the development of solar photovoltaics

Author

Listed:
  • Elbert Dijkgraaf
  • Tom P. van Dorp
  • Emiel Maasland

Abstract

Growing concern about climate change and rising prices of fossil fuels has prompted governments to stimulate the development of renewables. The most common instrument is a feed-in tariff (FIT). This paper empirically tests whether or not FIT policies have been effective in encouraging the development of photovoltaic solar (PV), explicitly taking into account the structure and consistency of FITs. Panel data estimations are employed for 30 OECD member countries in the period 1990-2011. We fnd a positive effect of the presence of a FIT on the development of a country's added yearly capacity of PV per capita. This is in line with the results found in the existing literature. However, our study shows that the literature underestimates the potential impact of FITs, as the effect of a well-designed FIT is much larger than the average effect of the currently applied FITs. Not only the height of the tariff is important, but also the duration of the contract and the absence/presence of a cap have an impact. We also show that consistency greatly affects the effectiveness of FITs. Consistency is especially important when the tariff of a FIT is low. The total effect of a FIT can be seven times larger if it is well designed. Our results are robust for differences between countries with respect to the availability of other policy instruments, the use of nuclear or hydro power and the level of CO2 emissions.

Suggested Citation

  • Elbert Dijkgraaf & Tom P. van Dorp & Emiel Maasland, 2018. "On the effectiveness of feed-in tariffs in the development of solar photovoltaics," The Energy Journal, International Association for Energy Economics, vol. 0(Number 1).
    • Handle: RePEc:aen:journl:ej39-1-maaslan
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    Cited by:

    1. Escoffier, Margaux & Hache, Emmanuel & Mignon, Valérie & Paris, Anthony, 2021. "Determinants of solar photovoltaic deployment in the electricity mix: Do oil prices really matter?," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 97(C).
    2. -, 2023. "Foreign Direct Investment in Latin America and the Caribbean 2023," La Inversión Extranjera Directa en América Latina y el Caribe, Naciones Unidas Comisión Económica para América Latina y el Caribe (CEPAL), number 48979 edited by Eclac, September.
    3. Marques, António Cardoso & Fuinhas, José Alberto & Pereira, Diogo Santos, 2019. "The dynamics of the short and long-run effects of public policies supporting renewable energy: A comparative study of installed capacity and electricity generation," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 63(C), pages 188-206.
    4. Polzin, Friedemann & Egli, Florian & Steffen, Bjarne & Schmidt, Tobias S., 2019. "How do policies mobilize private finance for renewable energy?—A systematic review with an investor perspective," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 236(C), pages 1249-1268.
    5. Best, Rohan & Li, Han & Trück, Stefan & Truong, Chi, 2021. "Actual uptake of home batteries: The key roles of capital and policy," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 151(C).
    6. Setiawan, Andri D. & Dewi, Marmelia P. & Jafino, Bramka Arga & Hidayatno, Akhmad, 2022. "Evaluating feed-in tariff policies on enhancing geothermal development in Indonesia," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 168(C).
    7. Thomas Lauf & Kristina Ek & Erik Gawel & Paul Lehmann & Patrik Söderholm, 2020. "The regional heterogeneity of wind power deployment: an empirical investigation of land-use policies in Germany and Sweden," Journal of Environmental Planning and Management, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 63(4), pages 751-778, March.
    8. Inhoffen, Justus & Siemroth, Christoph & Zahn, Philipp, 2019. "Minimum prices and social interactions: Evidence from the German renewable energy program," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 78(C), pages 350-364.
    9. Balta-Ozkan, Nazmiye & Yildirim, Julide & Connor, Peter M. & Truckell, Ian & Hart, Phil, 2021. "Energy transition at local level: Analyzing the role of peer effects and socio-economic factors on UK solar photovoltaic deployment," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 148(PB).
    10. Poponi, Daniele & Basosi, Riccardo & Kurdgelashvili, Lado, 2021. "Subsidisation cost analysis of renewable energy deployment: A case study on the Italian feed-in tariff programme for photovoltaics," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 154(C).
    11. Ivan Hajdukovic, 2022. "The impact of international trade on the price of solar photovoltaic modules: empirical evidence," EconomiA, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 23(1), pages 88-104, July.
    12. Diaz-Rainey, Ivan & Sise, Greg, 2018. "Green Energy Finance in Australia and New Zealand," ADBI Working Papers 840, Asian Development Bank Institute.
    13. Li, Hong Xian & Zhang, Yitao & Li, Yan & Huang, Jiaxin & Costin, Glenn & Zhang, Peng, 2021. "Exploring payback-year based feed-in tariff mechanisms in Australia," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 150(C).
    14. Ghorashi, Amir Hossein & Maranlou, Hadi, 2021. "Essential infrastructures and relevant policies for renewable energy developments in oil-rich developing countries: Case of Iran," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 141(C).
    15. Ivan Hajdukovic, 2021. "The Impact of International Trade on the Price of Solar Photovoltaic Modules: Empirical Evidence," Working Papers hal-02488067, HAL.
    16. Juárez-Luna, David & Urdiales, Eduardo, 2021. "Participación de la capacidad fotovoltaica instalada en México: un análisis benchmarking [Share of installed photovoltaic capacity in Mexico: a benchmarking analysis]," MPRA Paper 114589, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    17. Consolación Quintana-Rojo & Fernando-Evaristo Callejas-Albiñana & Miguel-Ángel Tarancón & Isabel Martínez-Rodríguez, 2020. "Econometric Studies on the Development of Renewable Energy Sources to Support the European Union 2020–2030 Climate and Energy Framework: A Critical Appraisal," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(12), pages 1-26, June.
    18. Kersey, Jessica & Blechinger, Philipp & Shirley, Rebekah, 2021. "A panel data analysis of policy effectiveness for renewable energy expansion on Caribbean islands," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 155(C).
    19. Barroco, Jose & Herrera, Maria, 2019. "Clearing barriers to project finance for renewable energy in developing countries: A Philippines case study," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 135(C).
    20. Rezana Balla, 2020. "Digitalization of Financial Services in Albania Under Restricted Measures Covid-19," European Journal of Marketing and Economics Articles, Revistia Research and Publishing, vol. 3, July -Dec.
    21. Dong, Changgui & Zhou, Runmin & Li, Jiaying, 2021. "Rushing for subsidies: The impact of feed-in tariffs on solar photovoltaic capacity development in China," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 281(C).
    22. Antans Sauhats & Laila Zemite & Lubov Petrichenko & Igor Moshkin & Aivo Jasevics, 2018. "Estimating the Economic Impacts of Net Metering Schemes for Residential PV Systems with Profiling of Power Demand, Generation, and Market Prices," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(11), pages 1-19, November.
    23. Karlson Hargroves & Benjamin James & Joshua Lane & Peter Newman, 2023. "The Role of Distributed Energy Resources and Associated Business Models in the Decentralised Energy Transition: A Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(10), pages 1-15, May.

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    JEL classification:

    • F0 - International Economics - - General

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