Electricity Certification Programs

1
Electricity Certification Programs

• Ian Rowlands
• University of Waterloo
• CEA/NRCan Workshop
• 25 November 2002

2
Purpose

• to introduce electricity certification programs
• generate discussion about their role in
  diversifying the mix

3
Outline

• ecolabels, generally
• electricity certification programs (ECPs)
• intentions
• some global examples
• similarities and differences, worldwide
• Canadian situation
• ongoing issues and prospects
• summary and conclusions

4
Ecolabels, generally

• ecolabels intention
• identify those products and services that are,
  based on life cycle considerations,
  environmentally-preferable

5
Ecolabels, generally

• the motivation?
• to get consumers to buy more environmentally-frien
  dly products and services

6
Electricity Certification Programs ECPs

• intentions
• similar to those of ecolabelling programs more
  generally
• unlike many products, however, it is not the
  product itself that is different
• instead, virtually all environmental impacts
  occur earlier in the lifecycle

7
ECPs some global examples
Switzerland
United States
United Kingdom
Australia
Germany
8
ECPs similarities, worldwide

• what is
  green?
• what is not
  green?

9
ECPs differences, worldwide

• declared aim of the program

reduce GHG emissions
reduce air emissions
reduce environmental impacts
broad
narrow
10
ECPs differences, worldwide

• inclusion of light green resources
• particularly hydropower and biofuels

11
ECPs differences, worldwide

• inclusion of new versus old green electricity
• percentage of new in a certified product
• how is new defined (i.e., what cut-off date is
  used?)

12
ECPs differences, worldwide

• part of broader ecolabel program, or not
• governance
• executive responsibilities
• day-to-day management

13
ECPs differences, worldwide

• levels of certification
• only one, or more than one
• certification of blends
• role of green power funds

14
ECPs Canadian situation
Discussion Draft ECP-79 Guideline on Renewable
Low-Impact Electricity
15
ECPs ongoing debates and prospects

• certification programs have had an impact to date
• verifying supplies and increasing consumer
  confidence
• however, on their own, electricity certification
  programs may only get us so far ...

16
ECPs ongoing debates and prospects

• ... thus, their relationship with other
  strategies needs to be considered
• for example, renewable portfolio standards,
  systems benefits charges and so on

17
ECPs ongoing debates and prospects

• international interactions among different
  certification programs
• in North America, any incongruity between
  continentalisation and sub-national activity to
  promote green electricity?
• potential for trade and/or investment disputes?
• encourages us to ask at what scale should
  certification programs be undertaken?

18
ECPs ongoing debates and prospects

• international interactions among different
  certification programs
• benefits of a harmonised approach
• benefits of a localised approach
• more fully describing a middle ground
• lessons from Europe?

19
Summary and Conclusions

• Presenters contact details
• Ian Rowlands
• Faculty of Environmental Studies
• University of Waterloo
• tel [phone], ext. 2574
• email irowland_at_uwaterloo.ca