Financial measures by the state for the enhanced deployment of renewable energies

The character of barriers in the way of faster market penetration by renewable energy suggests a need for a broad package of financial and non-financial political steps and measures. The financial measures presently form the backbone of all policies to assist renewable energies in the market. Experience gained with measures in Germany such as operating and investment cost grants, favorable loans and tax relief are manifold and could be of interest to other nations, especially since the most important market barrier, i.e. the lack of competitiveness against conventional technologies (except in certain niches), is typical for most countries. Their manner of application and their effects vary greatly, therefore offering the opportunity to select and employ them in keeping with the different technologies and the respective situation in each country. (C) 1998 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.