RENEWABLE ENERGY PORTFOLIO STANDARD: IMPACTS OF STATE FINANCIAL INCENTIVES ON RESIDENTIAL OWNERS OF A PHOTOVOLTAIC SYSTEM

摘要

The Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard (RPS) in several states of the US has been making modest progress in increasing the share of renewable energy in respective state?s energy mix. To enable RPS meet its adoption time frames, it is supported with several financial and fiscal incentives (Fis). We assess the impact of the Fis applicable to the photovoltaic (PV) system on its life-cycle cost (LCC) of energy generation for homeowners in nine RPS states. Without Fis, PV-based energy cost is very high and is strongly related to the availability of solar energy in a particular state. However, with energy cost saved due to the PV system and the Fis, the LCC of PV-based energy is under $0.10 /kWh in four out of 9 states; in fact, for California the LCC is negative. This result indicates a need for reevaluation of the FI regime in the RPS states.