Environmental and political aspects of renewable energy

In recent years, much has been written about the technological development and relative economics of renewable energy resources. In fact, the efforts of the last two decades have been sufficiently successful with certain renewable energy sources, to warrant a serious drive towards commercialisation. The purpose of this paper is to suggest that a point has been reached in the evolution of the global energy situation, where the success of such a drive will hinge upon predominantly political considerations. Factors which will weigh heavily in the balance will be the degree of continued government support; the perceived advantages to the environment, and the need to satisfy the burgeoning energy requirements of developing countries