February 13, 2009

Last week I wrote about the struggles of the solar and wind industries in the United States, as the financial crisis deepens.European renewables are also affected — though not to the same extent — as bank lending has slowed.

For solar, the dark spot is Spain. Solar there had been growing at a breakneck pace, but last fall Spanish officials capped the amount of solar power that they would subsidize, amid concern about the expense.Industry experts also report a seasonal slowdown for solar installations elsewhere in Europe, and that the broader concern is financing.