Examining the use of concept analysis and mapping software for renewable energy feed-in tariff design

Abstract

The Australian Government's installation of the now defunct carbon price in July 2012, triggered a review of the Renewable Energy (RE) Feed-In Tariff (FiT) policies in the state of Victoria. In this article, concept analysis techniques and mapping software have been used to examine RE FiT design elements and priorities proposed by eighty-six RE investors and FiT stakeholders during the course of the review. The results show that concept analysis and mapping can be used to analyse FiT designs enabling identification of combinations of discrete elements including fixed and variable payment rates, differing levels of market regulation and competition, varying tariff operating periods, and eligibility rules for RE system sizes, development sites and low emissions technologies. In addition, while the economic elements of FiT designs were afforded the highest priority by stakeholders, broader contemporary analysis shows that policy makers and regulators should continue to combine economic, technology, system and administration elements into tariffs that can deliver new RE supplies. Also, the results show that governments may elect to change the combinations of these design elements, introduce other ancillary policy instruments and regulatory mechanisms, and reshape the FiT schemes in order to accommodate significant shifts in public policies.