PowerSwitch

It was assumed that as long as oil prices stayed low, we could rock on with business as usual and not worry about the need for alternatives. That has changed.

This trend in customer-owned, distributed power generation has the utility industry scrambling to adjust business models and grid operations across the United States, Europe and Australia. Electricity from rooftop solar systems is cheaper than local utility rates in 42 of the 50 largest cities in the United States

Utility companies are responding by searching for new ways to bill solar customers who are connected to the grid, known as “access fees,” as well as adding extra “renewable energy” fees to non-solar customers.

Renewables provided 15% of the EU's energy in 2013, according to new data published yesterday by Eurostat, the EU's official statistical body.

The figures show the EU is on track to meet its 20% renewables target in 2020. Transport and heat lagging are behind progress in electricity, where wind and solar remain relatively small contributors. The figures also show that the UK is further behind its 2020 renewable energy target than all other member state.