A new study from LSE Business Review analyzed six renewable energy sources across 27 OECD countries over nearly six decades. The research found that geothermal and biomass, hydropower, and solar deliver the strongest long-run CO2 reductions per unit of electricity generated. Wind and biofuels showed more modest effects, partly due to lifecycle emissions and land-use tradeoffs. The study highlights that the effectiveness of renewables depends heavily on local conditions. Countries with strong hydro resources like Canada and Norway should focus on small-scale hydropower expansion. High-solar regions like Chile and Spain have untapped photovoltaic potential that policy incentives could unlock. Policymakers are urged to prioritize technologies that match national resources rather than assuming all renewables perform equally.
