Serious focus on renewable energy has taken time to arrive, but thanks to both R&D and pure economies of scale, production costs have been driven down. Renewables are beginning to look like an attractive business regardless of any government incentives still available. As the oil price has struggled, it has squeezed revenues and forced oil companies to tap new streams of energy to make money. Even outsiders to the energy market are jumping on the renewables bandwagon. Technology giant Apple has invested heavily to create vast solar fields that will power its data servers. Any excess energy can then be sold on the open market. Closer to home, the consequences of investment in renewables are already being felt. For the first time ever, on June 7, more than half of the electricity being produced by the National Grid came from renewable sources. Downstream from power production, the future is arriving at petrol pumps where most of us are best acquainted with the fossil fuels that power our daily lives. 21st century Luddites are unlikely to halt either capitalism or progress. The American solar industry already employs three times as many people as oil, gas and coal combined. The smart money is on a future that is going to be more, not less green.
Telegraph 22nd July 2017 read more »