Photovoltaicenergydiffusionthroughnet-meteringandfeed-.docx

Photovoltaic energy diffusion through net-metering and feed- in tariff policies: Learning from Germany, California, Japan and Brazil Max Staib Ramalho1, Lorrane Camara1, Guillermo I. Pereira2 3, Patrícia P. Silva2 3 4 and Guilherme Dantas1. 1: Electric Sector Research Group Federal University of Rio de Janeiro web: http://www.gesel.ie.ufrj.br/ 2: Energy for Sustainability Initiative MIT Portugal Program Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of Coimbra Pólo II, 3030 - 788 Coimbra web: http://www.uc.pt/efs 3: INESC CoimbraInstitute for Systems Engineering and Computers at CoimbraPólo II, R. Silvio Lima, 3030-290 Coimbraweb:  HYPERLINK http://www.inescc.pt/ http://www.inescc.pt/ 4: CeBER - Center for Business and Economic Research, Faculty of Economics, University of CoimbraAv. Dr. Dias da Silva 165, 3004-512 Coimbraweb:  HYPERLINK http://www.uc.pt/en/feuc http://www.uc.pt/en/feuc Overview Mitigating climate changes and guaranteeing the security of electricity supply are two of the most important drivers behind the adoption of renewable sources support policies. In the last few years, photovoltaic generation has proven growing dynamism and potential through its decreasing costs and accelerated adoption across many countries. Studies indicate that 96.3% of the gloval PV market depends on support schemes. In this context, the most widespread policies supporting photovoltaic generation are net metering and feed-in tariffs. Regarding net metering, California is an outstanding case, which over the past 20 years has played a leading role in photovoltaic energy policies nationally and internationally. Germany, in turn, has also been an early adopter of feed-in tariffs, and has often been signalled for its success in catapulting the country to the forefront of global photovoltaic installed capacity. Additionally, and following this characterization, the study looks at two “later comers”: of Japan and Brazil. Although dissimilar countries both chose to