Regulatory and policy options to encourage development of ...

MODULE 9: RENEWABLE ENERGY: REGULATORY AND POLICY OPTIONSpage 9.11. MODULE OBJECTIVES1.1. Module overviewWhy support renewable energy? There are many answers to this question. Renewableenergy can aid security of supply. Small-scale renewable energy projects can contributeto a government’s social agenda, for example by increasing access to electricity.On a broader social and political level, the development of a renewable energyindustry can create jobs and enhance technical expertise. Renewables can alsodeliver additional local, regional and global environmental benefits.This module examines types of regulatory/support mechanisms for renewableenergy and the design issues that are involved in these mechanisms. The modulewill also give examples of the mechanisms in practice and provide informationon the pros and cons of each system. Most mechanisms of this type haveonly been functioning for a short while with very limited application in Africa.Consequently, conclusions on their success or failure are hard to draw.Sometimes the best solution is to use a combination of mechanisms to supportrenewable energy development in a country.1.2. Module aimsThis module has the following aims: To provide an overview of the different advantages that a clear renewableenergy policy can provide, and its possible interaction with other policies; To explain what the key building blocks are when designing a regulatory/supportmechanism; To give an overview of the different possible approaches; To show how these have been implemented in different African countries.1.3. Module learning outcomesThis module attempts to achieve the following learning outcomes: To be able to explain that a renewable energy policy can provide advantagesand support a range of environmental and other policies; To understand which design elements are key to the success of the regulatory/supportmechanism;