Australian Consumer Attitudes and Decision Making on Renewable Energy Technology and Its Impact on the Transformation of the Energy Sector

This paper critically examines research on consumer attitudes and behavior towards solar photovoltaic (PV) and renewable energy technology in Australia. The uptake of renewable energy technology by residential consumers in Australia in the past decade has transformed the electricity supply and demand paradigm. Thus, this paper reviews Australian research on consumer behavior, understanding and choices in order to identify gaps in knowledge. As the role of the consumer transforms, there is a critical need to understand the ways that consumers may respond to future energy policies to mitigate unforeseen negative social and economic consequence of programs designed to achieve positive environmental outcomes.

Some Recommendations for Improving Renewable Energy Policies in China

Renewable energy is the one of the most promising solutions for environmental protection and energy deficiency. Since 2005, the Chinese government has put forward a number of measures in promoting renewable energy. This paper presents those renewable energy policies in China and illustrates their achievements and limits. Comparing the renewable energy policies in Europe and US, feed-in-tariffs and quotas are two main measures that are adopted by western countries. A detailed performance review of feed-in-tariffs and quotas is examined by using effectiveness and efficiency as criteria. The enlightenments to improve renewable policies in China include strengthening compliance with quotas, developing priority dispatch and technical standards for interconnection, putting forward a more advanced feed-in-tariff system, and ultimately guaranteeing the electricity consumer＇s right of choice.

Green Renewable Power and Policy in Canada: A Just Energy Transition to Net-Zero

A just and sustainable future requires green renewable power. Net-zero by 2050 is the international goal to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius and sustain the biosphere. Green renewable energy, including wind, solar, biomass and small hydro is abundant in Canada, with potential to satisfy demand with 100% green renewables. This paper compares the renewable power landscape across Canada’s provinces considering four factors—electricity energy mix, renewable energy targets (RETs), renewable energy standard offer programs (RESOPs), feed-in tariff (FITs) or community FITs (comFITs). The provinces with green renewable energy sources typically have enabling policies of RESOP, RETs and FITS, as Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, Ontario and New Brunswick do. In contrast, provinces with abundant oil and gas or large-scale hydro are without pro-renewable energy policies, nor community power options, excepting green renewables in Indigenous communities due to federal funding programs. Community green renewable power projects, such as the “Indigenous off-diesel initiative”, are creating jobs, community revenue and energy sovereignty, towards just and inclusive energy in off-grid Indigenous communities. To reduce climate change, fast-tracking net-zero electricity by 2035 is recommended with the prioritization of community renewable energy by RESOPs, FITs and comFITs. For the transportation and other sectors, banning of all fossil fuels before 2040 is needed. Finally, a long-term plan to reduce the negative impacts of hydroelectricity water fluctuation is needed, considering decommissioning some dams.

Financial Appraisal of a Small Scale Wind Turbine with a Case Study in Ireland

This research seeks to evaluate the economic benefits to be gained by installing a small-scale wind turbine for a customer with a three-phase electrical supply requirement. The evidence for the claims made in this paper is obtained by using actual data obtained from the installed equipment over a three year period. The objective is to accurately appraise the financial investment using real data. There appears to be limited studies conducted into this type of research, possibly because the renewable energy sector is in the infancy stage in the host country, Ireland. There are some wind energy installations with financial appraisal techniques based on modeled data, which may, or may not, be accurate. The study concludes by claiming that the financial benefits of the wind energy turbine installation had disappointing results when compared to predicted benefits based on modeled data.

Optimal Day-ahead Dynamic Pricing of Grid-connected Residential Renewable Energy Resources Under Different Metering Mechanisms

Nowadays,grid-connected renewable energy resources have widespread applications in the electricity market.However,providing household consumers with photovoltaic(PV)systems requires bilateral interfaces to exchange energy and data.In addition,residential consumers’contribution requires guaranteed privacy and secured data exchange.Dayahead dynamic pricing is one of the incentive-based demand response methods that has substantial effects on the integration of renewable energy resources with smart grids and social welfare.Different metering mechanisms of renewable energy resources such as feed-in tariffs,net metering,and net purchase and sale are important issues in power grid operation planning.In this paper,optimal condition decomposition method is used for dayahead dynamic pricing of grid-connected residential renewable energy resources under different metering mechanisms:feed-intariffs,net metering,and net purchase and sale in conjunction with carbon emission taxes.According to the stochastic nature of consumers’load and PV system products,uncertainties are considered in a two-stage decision-making process.The results demonstrate that the net metering with the satisfaction average of 68%for consumers and 32%for the investigated electric company leads to 28%total load reduction.For the case of net purchase and sale mechanism,a satisfaction average of 15%for consumers and 85%for the electric company results in 11%total load reduction.In feed-in-tariff mechanism,in spite of increased social welfare,load reduction does not take place.