Performance comparison of UK domestic renewable incentives
Authored by Joseph Richard Snape, Peter J Boait, Richard Mark Rylatt
Date Published: 2016
DOI: 10.1680/jener.15.00029
Sponsors:
United Kingdom Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)
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Model Documentation:
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Abstract
The UK has introduced two schemes that incentivise the adoption of
domestic-scale renewable energy technologies (RETs), specifically the
feed-in tariff (FiT) and renewable heat incentive (RHI). Both policies
offer householders who install RETs a payback tariff based on the
quantity of renewable energy they can produce, and were introduced in
the context of UK's 2050 carbon dioxide reduction targets. A dual method
is used to analyse the differing adoption under both schemes and reasons
for it. First, registration data are analysed to assess impact in terms
of stimulation of RET adoption in the domestic setting. Second, agent-based models are used to simulate adoption under both schemes and
test the impact of non-financial factors on the rates of adoption.
Results of the analysis and models are combined to give insight into
differing rates of adoption. The paper concludes that factors beyond
pure financial considerations have significant effects on rates of
adoption, with the FiT stimulating far more adoption of rooftop
photovoltaics than the RHI has stimulated adoption of heat pumps. It is
recommended that policymakers take account of these non-financial
factors when designing policy to encourage adoption of technology
necessary for smart low-carbon-dioxide future energy systems.
Tags
Feed-in tariff