Global Investment in Renewable Energy: Czech Republic

The final country on our list of the largest reported investments in renewable energy in 2010 is the Czech Republic

                               

In the Czech Republic, renewable energy is supported through either a guaranteed feed-in tariff or a green bonus paid on top of the market price. System operators are free to choose either option. Furthermore, renewable energy is promoted through several subsidies and an exemption from the tax on income gained from the sale of electricity from renewable sources.

Policies

Here are a few of Czech Republic’s renewable energy policies (click here for more information):

Tax exemption – No income tax is foreseen neither in the year of putting in operation renewable electricity plants nor for the following 5 years.

EU Structural Funds – From 2007, investors in renewable electricity production had the opportunity to obtain aid from the EU’s Structural Funds via the Operational Programmes. The Operational Programme (OP) for 2007-2013 focused, amongst other things, on the construction and restoration of plants using RES.

Motives

The share of renewable energy sources has been increasing, although still below EU average.

Coal is the main energy source for electricity production. The second most important source is nuclear power.

The share of renewable energy sources has also been increasing, although still below EU average.

 

Renewable Energy Availability

Click to see larger image
and for more information.

Gross electricity production from hydro amounted to 2,090 gigawatt-hours while the total installed capacity amounted to 1,031 megawatts.

Gross electricity production from biomass amounted to 968 gigawatt-hours in 2007 (with an annual increment of 237 gigawatt-hours).

Wind plants produced 125.11 gigawatt-hours in 2007. By the end of 2007, 113.8 megawatts of wind power had been installed in the Czech Republic. In 2007, 10 projects with a total capacity of 70.3 megawatts were put into operation.

To learn about the other countries on this list please see our blog archive or take a look at our GREENcyclopedia for much more!

Thank you for taking the time to learn more about renewable energy - Knowledge Is Power! For more information go to www.endeavorscorp.com or write to us at info@endeavorscorp.com if you have questions or want to get involved. Have a green day!

Res-Legal, EREC, EREC, EREC, Endeavorscorp, Bloomberg New Energy Finance and United Nations Environment Programme (2011)

Global Investment in Renewable Energy: Canada

Next on our list of countries with the largest reported investments in renewable energy in 2010 is Canada

                               

Canada benefits from a wealth of renewable energy sources. The country possesses vast and varied natural resources including massive supplies of water, solar, wind and biomass – the raw materials to produce green energy. Canada has one-fifth of the world's fresh water and is surrounded by three oceans, providing nearly endless water resources.

Policies

Canada's energy policy is guided by a series of principles, agreements and accords. Some principles of energy policy are:

A market orientation – Markets are the most efficient means of determining supply, demand, prices and trade while ensuring an efficient, competitive and innovative energy system that is responsive to Canada's energy needs.

Respect for jurisdictional authority and the role of the provinces – Provincial governments are the direct managers of most of Canada's resources and have responsibilities for resource management within their borders.

(More info available at Natural Resources Canada)

Motives

Click for more details.

Low-impact renewable energy sources can diversify Canada’s energy supplies in a decentralized and distributed manner that would provide enhanced energy security.

History has shown that diversified energy supply speeds recovery from such catastrophic events as the Montreal Ice Storm and the blackout of August 14, 2003.

Renewable Energy Availability

One of the world’s biggest producer of hydropower, generating 353 terawatt-hours per year, and exports 60% of its electricity.

Access to more biomass resources, per capita, than any other country in the world.

Canada’s wind energy sector grew at an unprecedented rate of 51% between 2000 and 2006.

See our Blog Archive for the other countries on our list.

Stay tuned for more countries coming up!

Thank you for taking the time to learn more about renewable energy - Knowledge Is Power! For more information go to www.endeavorscorp.com or write to us at info@endeavorscorp.com if you have questions or want to get involved. Have a green day!

Sources: Invest In Canada, NRCan, Clean Air, Invest In Canada, Bloomberg New Energy Finance and United Nations Environment Programme (2011)