Zero-subsidy renewables herald new era

Subsidy cuts have led to falling investment in Europe’s renewables sector, but there are signs that wind and solar projects are increasingly becoming able to compete without government support. 

Subsidies in the form of feed-in tariffs created a boom in renewable energy investment over the last decade and have helped European countries reach their binding 2020 renewables targets. Renewables account for around 17% of Europe’s final energy consumption and around 30% of its electricity consumption – twice as much as...