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Enhancing the Role of Renewable Energy in California. Robert A. Laurie Commissioner California Energy Commission Geothermal Resources Council Annual Meeting September 2000. California Energy Commission.
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Enhancing the Role ofRenewable Energy in California Robert A. Laurie Commissioner California Energy Commission Geothermal Resources Council Annual Meeting September 2000
California Energy Commission • The Energy Commission is the energy policy and information advisor to the California governor and legislature • The agency implements state energy policies while promoting a reliable energy supply at affordable prices for California
Major Functions of the California Energy Commission • Gather and analyze energy data • Forecast energy supply and demand • License large power plants • Promote energy efficiency • Advance energy technologies • Promote renewable energy markets • Plan for and direct response to energy emergencies • Enhance energy export opportunities
Electricity Supply & Demand Balance(7% Operating Reserve at Coincident Peak) 1 in 40 Year Peak Demand 1 in 5 Year Peak Demand 1 in 2 Year Peak Demand Existing generation excludes 2,500 MW for outages
ELECTRICITY SOURCES Twenty five percent of the state’s electricity comes from out-of-state generation
Barriers to Proposed Power Plants • Availability of water for cooling power plants • Air quality standards and emissions from power plants • Supply of natural gas • Local opposition • Transmission constraints & system stability needs
Renewables in California • About 12% of California’s electricity supply in 2000 • California has added 790 MW of renewable plants to the system since 1990 • Geothermal comprises about 5% of state’s total electricity production • State support for geothermal is provided through the Public Interest Energy Research Program, the Renewable Energy Program, and the Geothermal Grant Program
Renewable Energy Program • Also funded from Public Goods Charge established by AB 1890 • $540 million over four years to support existing, new, and emerging renewable technologies • Three of the program’s five “accounts“ offer incentives for the production or purchase of geothermal energy: • Existing ($243 million) • New ($162 million) • Customer Credit Account ($75.6 million)
Renewable Energy Program Existing Account • Pays cents/kWh production incentives (capped at 1.5 cents/kWh) to renewable generators on-line before 9-96 • 259 existing renewable facilities (more than 4,000 MW) have received more than $130 million in incentives • 36 geothermal facilities totaling 1,200 MW have received nearly $13 million (about 10%)
Renewable Energy Program New Account • Pays production incentives (capped at 1.5 cents/kWh) to generators on-line after 9-96 • Auction to allocate funds held June 1998 • 55 winning bidders (500 MW) included 4 geothermal facilities (157 MW) that were awarded over $80 million • Incentive not paid until projects are built and operating
Renewable Energy Program Customer Credit Account • Provides ¢/kWh rebates (capped at 1.5 ¢/kWh) to customers for the purchase of renewable energy • More than $33 million paid in rebates • About 80% of customer rebates is attributable to geothermal sales
PIER Program • Funded from Public Goods Charge established by AB 1890 • $62.5 million annually for “public interest" energy RD&D efforts • Renewable energy one of five subject areas in the PIER portfolio • Three solicitations in 1997 and 1998 committed nearly $51 million to 82 different projects in the five subject areas
Geothermal Grant Program • Funded through Geothermal Resources Development Account (GRDA) • Promotes RD&D of geothermal energy in California through co-funding and technical assistance • Current projects include the Geysers Pipeline and Southeast Geysers projects to carry treated wastewater from treatment plant for reinjection, resulting in increased steam supply at existing geothermal plants
New Developments • Late 2000 - PIER will release a Renewables Affordability Solicitation. Amount of available funds is yet to be determined. • Spring 2001 - Geothermal Grant Program will release solicitation for $2.8 million in GRDA funds for geothermal-related projects • Renewable Energy Program may hold a second auction for new renewable resources that can come on-line by June 2001. Amount of available funds is yet to be determined.
Future of Renewables • Less than half of the state’s potential renewable capacity has been developed • New renewable generation needed to satisfy the growing green market and help alleviate the state’s current electricity supply shortage • AB 995 (currently before the Governor) extends funding for 10 years for both renewables ($135 million/year) and public interest R&D ($62.5 million/year)
In Closing • Through PIER, the Geothermal Grant Program, and the Renewable Energy Program, the Energy Commission will continue to pursue its goals of: • Improving cost-competitiveness of renewable technologies through reduction of high life cycle costs and enhanced productivity • Helping to develop a self-sustaining renewable industry • Encouraging market-based development of new renewable resources • Maintaining the benefits and diversity of the existing renewables industry while helping the transition to a fully competitive market