With government austerity tightening budgets in Europe, the solar industry is finding that tight times mean less for subsidies. Several countries in Europe in the past year have either severely reduced or outright dropped feed-in tarrifs for solar power generation. Looking for a more sure thing, governments have dedicated more of those subsides toward fossil fuels, which, according to the International Energy Agency, received almost $5.94 for every dollar spent on solar.
Despite all of these moves, the solar industry is starting to find its own without those subsidies. With major utilities like Southern (SO -0.13%) and Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway all buying into solar in recent weeks, there are some strong signs that the cost to produce from solar could be in the same conversation as fossil fuels. In this video, Fool.com contributor Tyler Crowe talks with Aimee Duffy to look at some of the places solar feels a little less welcome and how it is finding success on its own.
