New Energy Goes Mainstream as Majors Muscle In

With wind and solar generators becoming more mainstream sources of energy, governments around the world are weaning the industry off subsidies and creating new openings for older utilities built on coal and nuclear power to land their own renewable-fuel projects.

Across Europe, Latin America and India, major electricity suppliers including Enel SpA, Vattenfall AB and Engie SA are proposing to build wind and solar farms, offering low-cost construction bids to win energy-supply contracts. While that can mean cheaper power for consumers, it’s eroding profit margins and increasing competition for small, independent generators who have dominated what was once considered a fringe industry.