Ontario's feed-in tariff was reportedly modeled after the feed-in tariffs in Europe, with Germany being the main benchmark. Germany is a leader in wind and solar generation. How did renewable energy financing develop there?
When Germany introduced its feed-in tariff it was accompanied by the readiness of a government-owned bank (KfW) to i) lend and ii) at subsidized rates. In the example of rooftop solar, these projects were done by roof owners initially, secured against the building. As time went on and the market matured, more independent developers emerged while the banks gained experience. The KfW continued to provide funds at generous terms for some time but its involvement has phased out.
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