Subsidies On Renewables Too High?

You know, we hear an awful lot of whining about how heavily supported this or that renewable is, don't we? For example, in the UK, there's a lot of moaning about offshore wind-farms, and feed-in tariffs on solar panels.

The arguments kind of go along the lines of: They're too high, they're disproportionate, they're unfair.

Really? There are 2 important things to keep in mind here:

Firstly, many governments are committed to renewables legally, economically, and even idealogically.  

For example, the UK is legally bound to get 15% of it's energy from renewables by 2020 (though it's aim is to get to 30%), hence the vast number of offshore wind turbines that are going up around our coast with the blessing and financial assistance of the government.

Meanwhile, the likes of Germany and Denmark see renewables as an economic benefit. Thousands of jobs in a rapidly expanding industry, and an income worth many millions (even billions) from exporting their products and expertise. It makes sense to throw money at something that's going to provide such huge benefits in terms of jobs, exports, and growth.


Secondly, these subsidies are small fry when compared to those being poured into fossil fuels. Worldwide, they are 12 times what they are for renewables! (See here).

Now that is too high, disproportionate, and unfair. In fact, it's downright obscene.