global renewable energy markets
BEHIND? In addition to billions in direct government investment, China uses feed-in tariffs, renewable power generation targets, preferential tax rates, extensive tax breaks and other state assistance to create a stable climate for investment in renewable energy.
L
N
I
L
G
A
F
SUNTECH
30 November/December 2011 SOLAR TODA Y solartoday.org
Europe, China and Japan are making mas- sive commitments to renewable energy. The European Union is on track to pro- duce 20 percent of its energy from renew-
able sources pursuant to its 20-20-20 plan, and
moving toward an even more ambitious plan
to make its energy sector entirely carbon-free
by 2050. Within the EU, despite plummeting
incentives in nations like Germany, Spain and
Italy, Germany nonetheless is accelerating its
aggressive transition from nuclear to renewable
energy. China is committing massive financial
resources to solar and wind and easily is the
world’s leading investor in renewable energy. In
the wake of the Fukushima disaster, Japan has
announced significant goals for solar energy and
other renewables, and a phase-out of its aging
nuclear power plants.
