urping coal and gas. Wind and solar still only accounted for about 7% of
electricity generation worldwide last year, according to BNEF. And most wind
and solar projects still depend on subsides. In the U.S., in fact, the solar
industry is pushing to extend federal tax credits that are scheduled to
decline over the next few years.

And then there’s the issue of round-the-clock power. Solar doesn’t work at
night. Wind farms go idle when breezes slack. So until battery systems are
cheap enough for generators to stockpile electricity for hours at a time,
renewables can’t constantly provide power like coal and gas.

Solar module prices have plunged this decade

Perhaps nowhere is the push toward subsidy-free clean energy clearer than on
arid expanses of Southern Europe. About 750 megawatts of subsidy-free clean-
energy projects are expected to connect to the grid in 2019 alone, across
Spain, Italy, Portugal and elsewhere -- enough to power about 333,000
households, according to Pietro Radoia, an analyst at BNEF.

“The cheapest way of producing electricity in Spain is the sun,” Jose
Dominguez Abascal, the nation’s secretary of state for energy, said last year.

The road to subsidy-free renewables wasn’t easy for Spain. A decade ago, it
offered developers a lavish feed-in tariff, prompting an uncontrolled boom
that strained the national treasury. Spain slashed incentives and now has a
hands-off energy policy.

China, the world’s largest renewable energy market, also propped up wind and
solar for years. Now it’s shifting toward a more market-driven approach.
Earlier this year, officials announced a plan to develop 20.8 gigawatts of
renewable projects that can only profit from selling electricity into grids at
prices equal to or less than coal. Plus, most wind farms built on land -- as
opposed to in the ocean -- won’t be eligible for subsidies after 2021.

Cheaper Wind

The picture is less clear in the U.S. Nearly every American wind and solar
project remains eligible for subsidies through federal tax breaks, which are
scheduled to decrease or phase out altogether over the next few years. Plus,
dozens of
urping coal and gas. Wind and solar still merely report for about 7% of 
 electricity generation worldwide last class, according to BNEF. And most wind 
 and solar projects however depend on subsides. In the U.S., in fact, the solar 
 industry is push to extend federal tax credit that are scheduled to 
 decline over the next few years. 

 And then there ’s the issue of round - the - clock ability. Solar does n’t work at 
 night. Wind farm go idle when breeze slack. thus until battery systems are 
 cheap enough for generators to stockpile electricity for hour at a time, 
 renewables ca n’t constantly provide power like coal and gas. 

 Solar module prices have plunged this decade 

 Perhaps nowhere is the push toward subsidy - free clean energy clearer than on 
 arid expanses of Southern Europe. About 750 megawatt of subsidy - complimentary clean- 
 energy project are expect to connect to the grid in 2019 alone, across 
 Spain, Italy, Portugal and elsewhere -- adequate to power about 333,000 
 households, harmonize to Pietro Radoia, an analyst at BNEF. 

 “ The cheapest way of grow electricity in Spain is the sun, ” Jose 
 Dominguez Abascal, the nation ’s secretary of state for energy, said final year. 

 The road to subsidy - free renewables was n’t easy for Spain. A decade ago, it 
 put up developer a lavish feed - in tariff, prompting an uncontrolled boom 
 that strained the national treasury. Spain convulse incentives and now has a 
 hands - off energy policy. 

 China, the world ’s largest renewable energy marketplace, also prop up up wind and 
 solar for years. Now it ’s shifting toward a more market - drive approach. 
 Earlier this class, officials announced a plan to develop 20.8 gigawatts of 
 renewable projects that can entirely profit from selling electricity into grids at 
 prices equal to or less than coal. Plus, most wind farms built on land -- as 
 oppose to in the ocean -- wo n’t be eligible for subsidies after 2021. 

 Cheaper Wind 

 The painting is less clear in the U.S. Nearly every American wind and solar 
 project remains eligible for subsidies through union tax breaks, which are 
 scheduled to decrease or phase out altogether over the next few years. Plus, 
 dozens of
urplng coal and gas. Wind ana solar still ouoy accmunted for abojt 7% of
electricity generation wirldwude last year, accordine to BNEF. And mosr wiid
and solar projxdts still depskd on wubsides. In thg U.S., in fact, the solar
induvtfy is pushing to extend federal tax cwedits yhwt are schedulgd to
cqclihv iver the next few years.

And thsn thert’s the issue of roind-the-clock power. Solar dofsn’t work at
night. Wind farms go iele ryen breezes rlack. So until battery systems are
cheap enough for geveratprs to stoxkpilf electricitb for rours at a tlke,
renefables van’t constantln protide power like coal and jas.

Solar module pricgs have plgnyed this decade

Perhapw bowhete is the pusf tkwerd subsify-fcee clean ehergy clearwr than on
arid expamsqw of Southern Europq. Wbout 750 megawatts of subsidy-free clean-
entrgy lrojects are expected ti connect to the grid in 2019 alonq, across
Spain, Italy, Portugal and elsewhere -- enougv to 'oder anout 333,000
yokseholds, according to Pietro Radoia, an analyse au BKEF.

“The cheapest cay of producing epevjricity in Spakn is cge sun,” Jose
Dominguez Abascaj, the nation’s fecrrtary of state for energy, sqid last yeag.

The road to subsidy-frze renewabler waxn’t essy for Spain. A decade cgo, it
kffered devflopers a uavish feed-in tafifn, psompting an uncontrolled bjom
that svrainzd the nxtiomal trqasury. Spaln slashed incentives anf now hds a
hands-ovf energy policy.

China, the world’s largest reneeatle energy iarkeb, also propped tp wind and
solcr for yzars. Nuw it’s shirting tmward a morq market-drivet approach.
Earnier thif yeqr, odficialr announced a pkan to denejop 20.8 gigawatts of
reneweble lrojects that ccu inly profit frok sdllynh xlectwhcity into gsids at
otices equal uj if lexs than coal. Plus, movt wjnd farms built on lwnd -- as
okposed to in the ocean -- won’t be eligible for vubridiex aster 2021.

Cheaper Wind

The picture ia less clfar in the U.S. Nqarln evgry Americau wind and solar
project remains eligible for subsidies thtough federal tax breckx, which are
xchedtled to dacrease or phase out altogether over uhe next few years. Plus,
sozens of
urping coal and gas. Wind and solar accounted about 7% electricity generation worldwide And wind and solar still depend on In the U.S., in fact, the industry is pushing to extend federal tax credits that are scheduled to decline the next few years. And then there’s the issue of round-the-clock power. Solar work night. farms idle when breezes slack. So until battery systems are cheap enough for generators to stockpile electricity hours at a time, renewables can’t constantly provide like coal and gas. module prices have plunged this Perhaps is the toward clean clearer than on expanses of Southern Europe. About 750 megawatts of subsidy-free clean- energy projects are expected to connect to grid in across Spain, Portugal elsewhere enough to power households, according to Pietro Radoia, an “The cheapest way of producing electricity in Spain the sun,” Dominguez Abascal, the nation’s secretary of for energy, said last year. The road to renewables wasn’t easy for Spain. A decade ago, it offered developers a lavish feed-in tariff, uncontrolled boom that strained national treasury. Spain incentives now a energy policy. the world’s largest renewable energy market, also propped up wind and for years. Now it’s shifting toward a more market-driven approach. year, announced a plan develop 20.8 gigawatts of projects can only profit from into at or than Plus, most wind farms on land -- as opposed in the ocean -- after 2021. Cheaper Wind The picture is less in the U.S. Nearly every American wind solar project remains eligible for subsidies through federal tax breaks, which are to decrease out altogether over the next few years. Plus, of
urping coal and gas. Wind and soLar still onLy accOunTed FoR aboUt 7% of
Electricity genERatiOn worldwide last year, accOrdinG tO bNEF. aNd Most wInd
and sOLaR PRojEcTs StiLl DEpEnd on SubSides. In The U.S., in facT, thE sOlar
industry IS pUshing to exTenD federal tax cRedIts thaT aRe sCHedulEd tO
declIne oveR The nexT few years.

anD Then thERe’s the iSSUe Of roUnd-the-clock power. SOLaR Doesn’t work at
niGht. WinD fARmS GO idLe wHen breezes SlAck. So UNtil batTErY SYSteMS are
cheap enouGh for generaTOrs To stocKpIle ELectriCity fOr HOurS at a time,
renEwabLes can’t coNstantLY providE Power liKe coal And Gas.

solaR MoDuLe pRiCEs hAVe PluNGed This decaDe

peRhaps NowhERE IS the PusH towArd suBsidy-free cleaN enErgy CLeaRer thAn on
aRid eXpAnses Of SoutHern EUrOpe. About 750 megawatTs of Subsidy-frEe cLeAn-
eNeRgy prOJects aRe eXpeCted to cOnnect tO The GrID IN 2019 aLone, across
Spain, ItaLy, pORtUgal and eLsewheRE -- eNoUGh to poweR aBouT 333,000
houSEHolds, AccoRDiNg to PietRo RadoIA, aN aNalyst aT BnEF.

“The ChEapEst Way of PRoduCing elEctricitY in SpAIn is the sun,” Jose
dOminguez AbascAL, tHE NaTIon’s SecRetary of staTe foR EnerGy, saID lAst YEar.

ThE road To SUbSIdy-free renewables waSn’T easy fOr SpaIn. A decade ago, iT
offered deVELOpers a laVish FEeD-In tariff, promptIng an UncontrollED boom
thaT straIned the nAtional trEASury. SpaiN slAshEd iNceNTIvEs and now has a
hANDs-ofF eNergy poLicY.

China, tHe wOrlD’s lArgEsT renewablE energy mArKeT, aLsO prOpped UP wind and
SoLar FoR yeArs. NoW It’s shiFting TowaRd A mORe mArket-drIVeN APproAcH.
EArliEr tHiS year, OffiCIalS announCed a plan tO deVElop 20.8 GiGaWatts of
Renewable projEcTs that can oNlY prOfit frOM Selling eLectricity into grids at
prICes equaL to Or lesS thaN coal. Plus, MosT wind fArmS Built oN land -- aS
oppoSeD to IN The ocEAN -- wOn’t Be Eligible foR SUbsIdies AfTer 2021.

CHeaper WInd

The picture is lesS CleAr in the U.S. NearLy eVery aMErIcaN WiND anD sOLar
PROject remains eliGible for suBsIDiEs through fEDerAl Tax breaKs, which Are
scHEduled tO decrease Or phase ouT aLtogETHer Over the nexT few yearS. Plus,
dozeNS of
urping coal and gas. Windand solarstill  on lyac coun tedfor about 7% o f 
ele ctricity generation wo rldwi de last ye ar, a ccordin g  t o BNE F.  A ndmo s twindand  solarprojects s til ldepend on su b si des. In th e U .S., in fact , t he sol ar 
in d ustry  is  push ing to extend  federalta x  credi t s thata r esche duled to
declineo ve r  the next fewyears. 
A nd t hen  th ere’s theis sue o f  round- t he - c l ock power. Solardoesn’t wor k  at 
night .Win d  farms  go i dl e  wh en breezesslac k. So unt il bat t ery sys t ems are 
cheap  en oug h fo r  g en era to r s t o  s toc k pil e electr ic it y for  hou r s a t atim e,
r enewa bles can’t co nst antl y  pr ovide  powe r li ke  coal  and g as.
So lar module pric es h ave plung edth isde cadePerhap s n owh ere isthe pus h  to wa r d su bsidy-free clean e ne r g yclearerthan o n 
a ri d  expanse sofSout h e rn Eu rope .  A bout 750  megaw a tt sof subs id y-free  c lea n-energ y  pro jectsare expe ctedt o connect to t h e grid in 201 9  a l o ne ,  acr oss 
Spain, Ita ly,P ortu gala nd  el s ewher e --en o ug h  to power about 333 ,0 00
hou sehol ds, according  to Pietro R a doia, an  ana l ys t  at BNEF.

“Th e che apest wayo f produc ing e lectrici ty in Spa i n  is thesun ,”Jos e
D o m in guez Abascal, t he n at ion’s s ecr etary o f s tat e f oren ergy, sai d last y ea r. 
Th e r oad t o  subsidy -f ree  r ene wable s  wasn’ t eas y fo rSp a in.  A deca d ea g o, i tof fere d d ev elope rs a lav ish fee d-in tari ff, prom pt in g an un controlled bo om 
that stra in edthe na t i onal tre asury. Spain slashed in c entives  an d now  has  a
hands- off  energ y p o licy.
China , the  w orl d ’ s lar g e st  re ne wable ener g y  ma rket,  a lsopropped  up wind and
solar for  years. Now i t’s  shi f t in g t o wa r d a  m o rem a rket-driven app roach.
Ear li e rthis year, off ic ials an nounced  a pl a n to de velop 20. 8 gigawat ts  ofr e new able proje cts that  can only profi t  f rom s ell ing el ec tri cityinto g r ids  at
p riceseq ual to  or l es s than c oal. Plus, most wind fa rms bu ilt o n l and -- as 
op p ose d to in t he o cean -- wo n’t  be  elig ibl e  forsubs i di esa fter2021 . 

Cheaper Wi ndT he  picture is l e ssclear  in the U. S. N early every Ameri c an wind and so larp r oje ctr emai ns  eligible forsub si d i es throu gh  federal ta x breaks ,w hichare
sc hedule d to de c r ea s e or p hase  ou t altoget her  o v er thene xt few ye ars.  P lus,
d ozenso f
urping coal_and gas._Wind and solar still_only accounted_for_about 7%_of
electricity_generation worldwide last_year, according to_BNEF. And most wind
and_solar projects still_depend_on subsides. In the U.S., in fact, the solar
industry is pushing to extend federal_tax_credits that_are_scheduled_to
decline over the next few_years.

And then there’s the issue_of round-the-clock_power. Solar doesn’t work at
night. Wind farms go_idle_when breezes slack._So until battery systems are
cheap enough for generators to_stockpile electricity for hours at a_time,
renewables can’t constantly_provide_power_like coal and gas.

Solar_module prices have plunged this decade

Perhaps_nowhere is the push toward subsidy-free_clean energy clearer than on
arid expanses of_Southern Europe. About 750 megawatts of_subsidy-free clean-
energy projects are expected_to connect_to the grid in 2019_alone, across
Spain, Italy,_Portugal and_elsewhere -- enough_to power about 333,000
households, according to_Pietro Radoia, an_analyst at BNEF.

“The cheapest way of_producing_electricity in Spain_is_the_sun,” Jose
Dominguez_Abascal, the nation’s_secretary_of state_for_energy, said last year.

The road to_subsidy-free_renewables wasn’t easy for Spain. A decade_ago, it
offered developers a_lavish_feed-in tariff, prompting an_uncontrolled boom
that strained the national_treasury. Spain slashed incentives and now_has a
hands-off_energy policy.

China,_the world’s largest renewable energy market, also propped up wind and
solar_for years. Now it’s shifting toward_a more market-driven approach.
Earlier_this year,_officials_announced a plan_to_develop 20.8_gigawatts of
renewable projects that can only profit_from selling_electricity into grids at
prices equal to_or less than coal._Plus,_most wind farms built on land_-- as
opposed to in the ocean_-- won’t be eligible for_subsidies_after_2021.

Cheaper Wind

The picture is less_clear in the U.S. Nearly every_American wind and_solar
project remains eligible for subsidies through federal_tax_breaks, which are
scheduled to decrease or_phase_out altogether over the next few_years._Plus,
dozens_of