A Mandatory Renewable Energy Target (MRET) is a government legislated requirement on electricity retailers to source specific proportions of total electricity sales from renewable energy sources according to a fixed timeframe. The additional cost is distributed across most customers by increases in other tariffs. The cost of this measure is therefore not funded by government budgets, except for costs of establishing and monitoring the scheme and any audit and enforcement actions.
Targets are typically for shares of electricity production, but some are defined as by primary energy supply, installed capacity or otherwise. While some targets are based on 2010-12, many are now set for 2020 which ties in with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) suggested cuts of 25 to 40% by Annexe 1 countries by 2020.
At least 66 countries, including 27 EU countries have renewable energy policy targets of some type.
- The European Union baseline target is 20% by 2020.
- The USA does not have a national RET 29 of its states do.
- Canada has 9 state RETs but no national target.
- Australia has committed to a 20% by 2020 target, but has not yet legislated for this.
External links
- Wikipedia:Mandatory renewable energy targets
- How the scheme works, Australian Government Clean Energy Regulator
