May 2010
 
The European Union has committed itself to increase the share of renewable energy up to 20% of the final consumption by 2020, from 9.2% in 2006 (EC 2009). The same political wave is mounting in several other countries, most notably the United States. The feeling that renewable energy sources (RES) should cover a higher share of energy production relies on two major arguments: (a) it is assumed that reliance on fossil fuels should be reduced, both for the sake of energy security and for climate-related reasons; and (b) investing in RES will spur economic growth and, in the post-recession world, will enhance economic recovery.