Publication Details
Category Text Publication
Reference Category Reports
URL http://hdl.handle.net/10419/130615
Document publication document
Title (Primary) The rationales for technology-specific renewable energy support: conceptual arguments and their relevance for Germany
Author Gawel, E.; Lehmann, P.; Purkus, A.; Söderholm, P.; Witte, K.
Source Titel UFZ Discussion Papers
Year 2016
Department OEKON
Volume 4/2016
Page To 22
Language englisch
Keywords Renewable energy technologies; technology-specific support; market failures; Germany
Abstract In order to achieve cost-effective RES-E deployment it is often argued that technology-neutral support schemes for renewables are indispensable. Against this background, RES-E support policies making widely use of technology differentiation in remuneration settings, e.g. across the EU, are frequently criticized from a theoretical point of view. However, in this paper we provide a systematic critique of the technology neutrality concept as a foundation for designing policy support schemes in the RES-E technology field. Specifically, the main objective of the paper is to scrutinize the arguments for technology-neutrality, and discuss three conceptual arguments for why technology-specific support schemes could in fact help minimize the societal costs of reaching future RES-E targets. We also briefly address different political economy concerns, which could constrain the choice of cost-effective policy support schemes, and that have to be taken into account for economic policy advice. For empirical illustration of the key arguments we refer to the case of German RES-E support.
Persistent UFZ Identifier https://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=20939&ufzPublicationIdentifier=17347
Gawel, E., Lehmann, P., Purkus, A., Söderholm, P., Witte, K. (2016):
The rationales for technology-specific renewable energy support: conceptual arguments and their relevance for Germany
UFZ Discussion Papers 4/2016
Helmholtz-Zentrum für Umweltforschung - UFZ, Leipzig, 22 pp.