In this paper Dr Gordon Hughes, a Professor of economics at the University of Edinburgh considers whether the large capital investment required to build wind farms is offset by low operating costs and carbon emissions. He has concentrated on wind power but the conclusions apply even more strongly to solar power. No one, other than the most dedicated lobbyists, believes that solar power will make a substantial contribution to the UK’s future energy mix.
There is very little concrete information about other, as yet unproven, forms of renewable generation such as tidal barrages or wave power, but there is no reason to believe that they will be more economic than wind power over the next decade.
This paper is a companion piece to his paper titled ‘The myth of Green
Jobs’. in that paper he examined claims that green energy policies would create substantial employment, concluding that they are misleading in general terms and patently wrong when subjected to careful empirical analysis.
These papers plus much more can be found on our resources page.
There is very little concrete information about other, as yet unproven, forms of renewable generation such as tidal barrages or wave power, but there is no reason to believe that they will be more economic than wind power over the next decade.
This paper is a companion piece to his paper titled ‘The myth of Green
Jobs’. in that paper he examined claims that green energy policies would create substantial employment, concluding that they are misleading in general terms and patently wrong when subjected to careful empirical analysis.
These papers plus much more can be found on our resources page.
RSS Feed
