European Renewables Support Mechanisms Strategy

Strategies for the future being devised by countries range from the nuclear reliance now practiced primarily by France to mixed strategies, including renewables, cleaner use of traditional fossil fuels, and carbon capture, as espoused by the UK, and the “dash for renewables” that is supported at EU level and is practiced by some economies such as Germany and Austria.

Features and benefits

• Update on Business Insights' global report on renewable support mechanisms.
• Background and political, economic, and geographic context to support choices.
• Theoretical evaluation of the relative strengths and weaknesses of specific mechanisms.
• Review of recent literature evaluating the success of specific types of mechanism.

Highlights

Instrumental in this shift in energy policy are support mechanisms, in terms of subsidies and grants, as well as fiscal and other alternatives that may be used either to transform the energy playing field to favor renewables development, or at the very least to kick-start them until such time as they are viable in purely market terms.

This report focuses on the range of mechanisms adopted by leading European economies. It builds on a recent report by Business Insights, entitled Renewable Support Mechanisms, which provided a solid overview of the state of support being provided across the world.

Your key questions answered

• What is the current state of play in respect of renewables support in Europe?
• What are the key factors pushing governments to amend their policies?
• Which players are demonstrating “best practice” in terms of support mechanisms? Which are failing to produce results?