Renewables subsidy shift brings opportunity for energy firms

Germany began encouraging renewable generators to directly market their own production in 2012, reflecting a trend of giving renewables greater exposure to wholesale markets across Europe. That could spell an opportunity for more well-established energy market participants, writes Gillian Carr

Renewable sources of energy, such as wind and solar, are in the ascendance in Europe, dampening the prospects for the old guard that dominate the continent's electricity market, including nuclear, coal and gas. Although many well-established energy companies are feeling the pinch as a result of this trend, they are also having some success in identifying new ways to profit from the increasing might of renewable generation.

In countries such as Germany and Spain, the recent build-out of renewable