France is one country that is rigorously beginning to improve upon their solar energy efforts. The country's former president, Nicolas Sarkozy, halted new solar installations back in 2011 during an economic stagnation. However, current president Francois Hollande has promised the country to significantly boost the country's reliance on solar energy and to stray away from nuclear endeavors. In 2013 alone, the country has, in fact, doubled its target goal for new solar projects.
In Middle Eastern countries such as Saudi Arabia, focus on solar energy is becoming increasingly significant as the country's oil prices have greatly risen. In recent years, burning oil has actually accounted for approximately 50% of the country's electricity. Saudi Arabia's first solar plant was installed just two years ago. However, the nation's energy agency has vowed to expand upon solar capacity to 41 gigawatts within the next 20 years. Currently, the country's solar capacity is only at .003 gigawatts.
Clean energy subsidies have been a main focus for most developed countries. Finding a satisfying pricing equilibrium for both consumer and producer is certainly an arduous task. Global fossil-fuel energy subsidies are over $500 billion; renewable energy subsidies are just under $90 billion. Ensuring clean energy subsidies is important because it ensures security of the energy supply and ultimately stimulates local economies and helps reduce poverty by making energy more easily accessible in underdeveloped nations. However, ensuring that these clean energy sources are at sensible price points does incur the risk of over consumption. This can potentially place a heavy financial burden upon governments and threaten possible economic growth. Sources:
Renewable Energy World
http://money.cnn.com/2011/11/21/news/international/saudi_arabia_solar/index.htm
http://www.forbes.com/sites/jamesconca/2013/10/20/european-economic-stability-threatened-by-renewable-energy-subsidies/
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