Choosing the right course is critical—
ICF International’s experience and analytics help clients make the best strategic
resource development decisions. From broad analyses to detailed market assessments
to developing strategic business plans, ICF International serves a vital role in
the power sector.
Our evaluations of both supply-side green power and demand-side
green power and renewable portfolio standards and programs
have spanned 10 U.S. states, 8 countries, and 3 continents.
Renewables as Emission Reduction Strategies
Green Power Emission Offset Valuation
Work for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
and Private-Sector Clients. ICF International has performed numerous analyses of emission
offsets and their ability to increase profitability of
green power projects. As the value of emission reductions
is becoming more important in every project's financial
analysis, the opportunities offered by green power for
offsetting various air emissions, such as nitrous oxides
and volatile organic compounds, are also becoming increasingly
important. ICF International’s green power emission
offset valuation work has been presented to EPA and numerous
private-sector clients.
Toronto Renewable Energy Cooperative
Validation of Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions Reductions
for Toronto Renewable Energy Cooperative Wind Turbine Project. ICF International and MacLeod Dixon LLP conducted an independent
third party validation of potential GHG emission reductions
associated with the development of the Toronto Renewable
Energy Cooperative (TREC) and Toronto Hydro Energy Services
Inc. (THESI) Waterfront Windmill project. The validation
report summarized the results of the project validation,
performed on the basis of currently existing and emerging
requirements for validation.
Assessing Opportunities to Derive Value
from Green Assets.
ICF International helped a French-based global waste management
company assess the opportunities from green certificate
trading and greenhouse gas emission reduction projects throughout
its overall portfolio of landfills.
Analysis of Renewable Energy Credit
(REC) Trading Programs
Renewable Portfolio Impact Analysis
for Various State and Regional Agencies. ICF International,
using our proprietary Integrated
Planning Model (IPM®),
analyzed the impact of renewable portfolio standards on
several states and regions in the continental United States.
Data on resource availability, cost and performance of
renewable generation technology, and state versus regional
trading of renewable energy credits were combined to develop
integrated forecasts of renewable energy credit (REC) prices
and impacts on system costs. IPM is
particularly well suited to assess the complexity of emission
regulations and renewable portfolio standards, including
current cost and performance data for both existing technologies
and imminent technologies. Through IPM, ICF International
provides our clients with continually accurate modeling forecasts
of the green power resource market.
Due Diligence and Financing Support
Wind Plant Due Diligence and Market
Projections for a Mid-Atlantic Wind Plant Developer. ICF International developed a comprehensive market assessment
to support negotiations for the construction of a wind
plant in Pennsylvania-New Jersey-Maryland power pool (PJM).
Using our proprietary Integrated
Planning Model (IPM®),
we analyzed renewable portfolio standards, green power demand,
multipollutant legislation, production tax credits, accelerated
depreciation, and unique financing structures. ICF International
incorporated this analysis into a projection of the market
value of this large wind farm. Green Tag, emission market,
and power market projections were made and rolled up into
a cash flow analysis weighing the revenues, costs, and
tax savings for the project. ICF International provided the
credibility and breadth of power and emission market knowledge
required to help procure a purchaser of the project.
Green Power and Green Power Pricing
Seminars and Workshops for Pacific Northwest Generating
Cooperative (PNGC), Portland, Oregon and the American Municipal
Power-Ohio (AMP-Ohio), Columbus, Ohio. ICF International
presented workshops regarding all facets of green power
and green power pricing to senior management of the power
authorities and their member utilities and cooperatives.
As a result, PNGC implemented a successful green pricing
program through their member cooperatives, and AMP-Ohio
contracted with green resources to offer a green pricing
program. The U.S. Atmospheric Pollution Prevention Division
of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency also participated
in this work.
Renewable Siting and Transmission Assessments
Assessment of Green Power and Emissions
Markets for Confidential European Electric Utility Client. In
support of a European independent power producer interested
in the market potential for renewable energy generation
in Europe, ICF International prepared a study examining the
European Commission’s
new directive on green power as well as the European Union
Member State’s domestic policies for Tradable Green
Certificates. ICF International also prepared an analysis
of the potential for obtaining a green price premium over
the prevailing wholesale power market price in Italy for
a new wind power project.
Forecast of Renewable Green Certificates. ICF International provided forward curve analysis of the renewable
Green Certificates for Dexia in Italy. We used our proprietary
Integrated Planning Model
(IPM®) to determine the competitive baseline
based on the joint optimization of conventional and renewable
energy markets. The analysis paid particular attention to
the role of GRTN, the Italian system operator, which as holder
of the rights to the sale of certificates from CIP6 projects,
can keep certificate prices above the competitive level for
several years. The timing of this transmission would be critical
to determine the most appropriate financing arrangements
for the wind projects under consideration.
Assessment of the Value of a Proposed Wind Plant
in Ireland. ICF International analyzed the rate of
return for a private developer of wind energy plants in
Ireland. Our analysis examined the value of renewable energy
premiums in evolving Irish electricity markets, including
the shift towards an all-Ireland market as well as a competitive
domestic market in Ireland.
Supply Options for Green Power
Strategic Green Power Options-Resource Assessment
for a Major Midwest Utility. ICF International analyzed
innovative green power options from both the wholesale and
retail perspective for a major Midwest electric utility
that was interested in using green power to develop additional
market share. A renewable resource supply curve was developed
by ICF International to determine the quantity and cost of green
power and other technologies’ relative
position among other green power suppliers in the utility’s
marketing region. By comparing regional resource availability
and cost points with potential green power demand, ICF International
was able to help the client focus its development and marketing
efforts on markets with the greatest potential.
Market Potential Assessment for Renewable
Energy Generation in Europe. In support of a European
independent power producer interested in the market potential
for renewable energy generation in Europe, ICF International
prepared a study examining the European Commission’s
new directive on green power as well as the European Union
Member State’s domestic policies
for Tradable Green Certificates. ICF International also prepared
an analysis of the potential for obtaining a green price
premium over the prevailing wholesale power market price
in Italy for a new wind power project.
Economic and Environmental Impact Analyses
Landfill Methane Outreach Program (LMOP)
for the U.S. EPA. ICF International supported EPA’s
effort to increase the number of landfill gas-to-energy
(LFGTE) projects throughout the United States by providing
marketing assistance to facilitate project implementation
to create positive local economic and environmental benefits
and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. ICF International
designed green pricing offerings and premiums for wholesale
green energy buyers throughout the United States and also
facilitated "green
matches" among wholesale green energy buyers, energy
marketers, and providers, and LFGTE project developers.
ICF International supported EPA in conducting green power
workshops at EPA's Annual Landfill Methane Outreach
Program Conferences.
Impact Analyses of Offset Projects. ICF International assisted the U.S. Initiative on Joint Implementation
(USIJI) Secretariat in conducting and managing the technical
verification assessments of the emissions measurement processes
of all submitted international GHG offset projects to the
Secretariat and compiling the annual official U.S. Activities
Implemented Jointly (AIJ) report to the United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Chang (UNFCCC) Secretariat. Under this
assistance, ICF International has evaluated the credibility
and accuracy of all types of offset projects. Such offset
verification was conducted for more than 100 energy efficiency
(supply and demand side management), fuel switching, renewables
(wind, solar, hydro, biomass, and geothermal), solid waste
and landfill methane recovery, forestry, coal mine methane,
natural gas industry improvement, livestock, and agricultural
offset projects in over 50 countries around the world.
Valuation of Renewable Energy Premiums
in Various European Markets. ICF International
provided forward curve analysis of the renewable energy
premia across a number of European energy markets using
our proprietary Integrated
Power Model (IPM®) to
model the European electricity supply system by simultaneous
optimizing the dispatch and development of conventional energy
resources across international borders taking renewable energy
targets and the tightening of carbon emissions into account.
Evaluation of UK Renewable Obligation
Certificates Market for UK Waste-to-Energy Company. ICF International analzsed the market for renewable obligation
certificates (ROC) in the UK for a leading UK waste-to-energy
company. Our analysis considered the likely impact on revenues
from ROCs caused by the confluence of several waste and
energy market directives.
Voluntary Programs in Renewable Energy and Green Power
Review of Utility Green Pricing Voluntary
Programs. In support
of EPA voluntary program outreach efforts, and as a strategy
to promote renewable energy resources, while expanding
utilities’ service offerings in an increasingly competitive
environment, ICF International conducted an extensive review
of utility green pricing programs. Through these programs,
customers can voluntarily contribute an incremental portion
of their electric bill toward the funding of renewable
energy projects. For EPA, ICF International is currently exploring
the establishment of several pilot programs that would
incorporate green pricing and an EPA supply side program.
Outreach Support for Voluntary Pollution
Prevention Programs. ICF International
assisted EPA’s Atmospheric Pollution
Prevention Division (APPD) in its outreach to utilities for
all of its voluntary programs. ICF International has assembled
and disseminated information on these programs to utilities
in an effort to gain more widespread support and greater
participation. ICF International has developed outreach efforts
to utilities to compile information on how voluntary programs
can be improved to assist utilities in their conservation
efforts. As part of this outreach, and in order to more effectively
market EPA voluntary programs, ICF International undertook a
survey of utilities to examine the various motivations behind
customer energy purchase decisions, including fuel switching.
Within this context, residential, commercial, and industrial
utility financing programs for a variety of electrical end-use
equipment were examined.
|
