Are Renewables Worth The Subsidies?
Are Renewables Worth The Subsidies? / Fereidoon Sioshansi. EU Energy Policy blog, 3/11/2011
http://www.energypolicyblog.com/2011/11/03/are-renewables-worth-the-subsidies/
There is little disagreement that, with a few exceptions, renewable energy technologies tend to be more expensive than conventional options, especially considering their intermittent and unpredictable nature, which often requires backup generation or storage. Their main selling point is that they are non- or significantly less polluting. Renewables gain comparative advantage if a price were put on greenhouse gas emissions. This has always been among the main arguments for providing subsidies and encouraging their growth…