Essays on renewable energy policy and economics

• Main Author: Ebers, Anna
• Format: Dissertation
• Language: English
• Published: ProQuest Dissertations & Theses 01-01-2014
• Subjects: Alternative Energy; Economics; Public policy
• ISBN: 9781321648560; 1321648561

This dissertation analyses different aspects of two renewable energy sectors: production of electricity and heat from forest biomass in the United States and off-grid electrification with solar panels in Mexico. First manuscript inventorizes existing state, regional, and federal policy instruments that influence production of electricity and heat in industrial, residential, and commercial sectors. The chapter provides a four-level classification framework for 494 bioenergy policies according to their approach (regulation, information, incentive), type (e.g. tax incentive), subcategory (e.g. production payment), and specification. Proposed classification framework distinguishes between policies specifically targeting forest bioenergy sector and broader bioenergy and renewable energy policies. The chapter gives an overview on the types of policies implemented in each state and comments on regional differences and time trends. Second manuscript estimates the impacts of bioenergy policy on generating capacity for production of electricity and heat from forest biomass in the US. This manuscript focuses on large-scale (larger than 1 MW) installations that use either black liquor or woody biomass as feedstock. By means of fixed-effects estimations, the chapter identifies policies that were associated with an increase in generating capacity for years 2003-2012. In addition, a bioenergy policy index is developed to rank policy-making activity in different states. The dissertation is concluded by a study that investigates household characteristics of adopters of solar home system technology in Campeche, Mexico, as well as estimates the willingness-to-pay for different solar energy products based on interviews conducted in Queretaro, Mexico. The manuscript outlines potential challenges and advantages for use of micro-credit as a financing tool for rural electrification with solar panels.