Do renewable energy technologies need government subsidies?
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To what extent are different energy sources subsidised around the world?
By Georgina Kyriacou and Samuela Bassi
Renewable energy comes from sources that are not depleted when used but are replenished naturally. They include wind, solar, hydro, tidal, wave and geothermal energy, and are generally used for power generation or heat production. Their use has grown rapidly in recent years, largely to take the place of fossil fuels as countries try to reduce their carbon dioxide emissions in the fight against climate change.
The International Energy Agency (IEA) has calculated that subsidies to aid the deployment of renewable energy technologies amounted to US$140 billion in 2016. Countries within the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) subsidise green energy more than poorer, non-OECD countries.
While renewables are often criticised for being heavily subsidised, in fact fossil fuels and nuclear power receive more financial support. The IEA calculated that fossil...
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