The Renewable Energy Paradox

The renewable technologies still constitute a small part of the total power supply mix. But they are growing rapidly in market share, both in the United States and globally. Yet when we examine the growth of renewables in the United States and around the world, it looks like a paradox. Renewables are growing fast, but most of the new capacity is being added by traditional fossil-fuel sources—coal, natural gas, and oil.

 

It means renewable energy technologies are becoming cost-competitive with fossil fuel technologies. For the time being, they must also be used together in order to continue growing their market share. In fact, if they are not used together, they will most likely lose ground to fossil fuels. This is because fossil fuels can act as a bridge technology that fills in where renewable energy cannot go without expensive upgrades.