How could Finland promote renewable-energy technology innovation and implementation?

Several major market failures are hindering renewable energy production.Probably the most significant one of these are negative externalities.Another issue hindering renewable energy production is low technological and commercial maturity.These technologies might not become commercially viable in the near future without state intervention.This study aims to analyse Finnish energy policy based on current legislation related to renewable energy production and budget policy related to renewable-energy subsidies.This study shows that the polluter-pays principle is implemented quite well in Finland due to the emissions trading scheme and taxation.Still,this principle is not entirely implemented in electricity production as electricity tax is not based on the carbon intensity of the fuel used,but rather on who uses the electricity.National subsidy policies focus on a short-term increase in renewable energy production as most subsidies are production subsidies granted through a bidding process,making these subsidy policies partly technology-neutral.These policies do not take into account long-term needs for energy policy as much as they could.

Methodology for the economic evaluation of CO_(2) derived materials

Scoring the technologies in competition for the NRG Canada’s Oil Sands Innovation Alliance Carbon XPRIZE required an economic evaluation to estimate the value created through the conversion of CO_(2) emissions into products.Across all of the Teams participating in the competition,58 different materials were consumed and produced.Standardized prices and market sizes needed to be established for each of these materials to ensure a consistent evaluation across all Teams.The Standards Data Set(SDS)was created as a standardized database of economic data used in the competition.The rationale for the SDS project and the methodology for researching each material is described.Ultimately,credible material definitions using the SDS methodology were created for all materials,and some research and methodological customization were required for materials that did not have credible,publicly available market data.The methodologies for establishing credible values and market sizes for concrete,concrete admixtures and syngas are highlighted as examples of materials whose value and markets are not easily defined.