Economics of wind power and comparisons with conventional thermal plant

Commercial deployment of renewables in the UK depends on their prices converging with those of the conventional sources of generation. Price comparisons, however, are distorted by institutional factors such as the very short contract periods for premium prices under the first two rounds of the Non-Fossil Fuel Obligation (NFFO). Prices are therefore put on a common basis and the prospects for wind energy up to the year 2000 are examined. (author)