There has been a surge of interest in renewable energy over the past few months as oil prices–and consequently gas and power prices–have reached record highs. With oil prices peaking at nearly $80/barrel this summer and warnings of steep increases in natural gas prices ahead of the winter heating season in Europe and the US, alternatives like wood-fired boilers or solar water heating have looked more attractive
In Austria, demand the use of wood-fired boilers has risen so sharply that supply of wood chips can’t keep pace with demand, and rising wood chip prices mean the fuel is now less competitive against heating oil, whose price is set to fall on the back of the recent slide in crude prices. In the UK and the US, the rising gas price had stimulated interest in solar water heating systems with major retailers like Home Depot in the US and the Currys group [...]
Will oil price slide dampen renewables prospects?
There has been a surge of interest in renewable energy over the past few months as oil prices–and consequently gas and power prices–have reached record highs. With oil prices peaking at nearly $80/barrel this summer and warnings of steep increases in natural gas prices ahead of the winter heating season in Europe and the US, alternatives like wood-fired boilers or solar water heating have looked more attractive
In Austria, demand the use of wood-fired boilers has risen so sharply that supply of wood chips can’t keep pace with demand, and rising wood chip prices mean the fuel is now less competitive against heating oil, whose price is set to fall on the back of the recent slide in crude prices. In the UK and the US, the rising gas price had stimulated interest in solar water heating systems with major retailers like Home Depot in the US and the Currys group [...]
Original post by The Heritage Foundation – 2006-06-12