The Sustained Development of Renewables in Asia Requires Two Fundamentals; The need for clear Government Policy on Renewables & the Widespread Understanding of the Need for Renewables
(Room Jupiter 8)
01 Sep 15
11:00 AM
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12:30 PM
Increased need for renewable energy as an alternative to conventional power generation provides many challenges in Asia, not least of which is the need for market stability to allow such long term investment to succeed. However, the need for clean green energy has often been taken for granted by the power sector. In several parts of the world there is increasing resistance to renewables on the basis of increased costs compared to conventional generation technologies, community impacts such as visual intrusion, and in some cases perceived impacts on health. Increased resistance can increase delays and project costs, but perhaps more importantly increased public opposition can influence Government policy, often bringing conflict between different departments, resulting in a lack of consistency which worries both companies and investors who can deliver this technology.
This paper explores the three interrelated policy grounds of energy security, energy costs and a realistic green energy balance. All three policy areas need to be managed in order to facilitate the delivery of effective renewables infrastructure. Such policy clarity would provide the basis for an understanding by investors that the technology will have time to make a reasonable rate of return, encouraging companies to bring forward new projects. However, clarity of purpose requires the context for renewables to be understood by the public who are more interested in the cheapest form of energy. This understanding would allow the public to accept the need for, and cost of, renewables, but more importantly it is likely to increase acceptance of such projects nearer to areas of higher population, providing significant project benefits in regions with variable grid connections.
This paper argues that the most effective way to deliver renewables infrastructure is through a coordinated communication of policy between Governments, the energy sector and the general public.