The latter's economic cost structure with high fixed cost and low variable costs does not match up well with the risk preferences of private investors. Based on financial considerations alone, the latter will always prefer low fixed cost and high variable cost technologies even at comparable discounted lifetime costs. This, however, corresponds to the cost structure of carbon-intensive technologies based on fossil fuels. It is thus comprehensible and, wherever relevant decision-making processes have concluded favourably, justifiable, that public policy takes on a special role in promoting low-carbon technologies.