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In 2009 China took the lead in global renewable investments

In 2009, for the first time China ranked first among world investors in renewable energy, largely ahead of the United States: 25.8 billion euros, against the States’ 13.9 billion. Italy ranked eighth.

Worldwide, clean energy investments reached 121 billion euros, with a 6.6% decrease over 2008. However, this percentage is viewed positively considering the global economic downturn, and taking into account that investments increased remarkably during the last two quarters, compared to the same period of 2008 and first quarter of 2009.

Various circumstances suggest that a significant growth will again take place in 2010, with a predicted turnover of 150 billion euros (+25%).

This information is contained in a report called Who’s Winning the Clean Energy Race? Growth, Competition and Opportunity in the World’s Largest Economies", drawn up by the non profit association Pew Charitable Trust together with Bloomberg New Energy Finance.

The study performs an in-depth analysis of information regarding individual countries. In 2009, Italian investments reached 1.94 billion euros, ahead of large countries such as Australia, France, Japan and India, but far from better placed European countries: the United Kingdom invested 8.4 billion euros, Spain 7.8 billion and Germany 3.2 billion.

Italy invested mostly in wind power (61.6%) followed by solar energy (20.3%).

China became the No. 1 wind turbines market in 2009, installing a record 13.75 gigawatts (GW) of new capacity, and three Chinese suppliers ranked among the Top-10 turbine manufacturers, Danish consultancy BTM said in a summary of its annual wind energy market review for paying subscribers.

China’s new capacity accounted for more than a third of the world’s total new wind energy capacity of 38 GW last year, which was a record despite the financial crisis, BTM said.

The global market for wind power capacity is expected to nearly triple in the next five years to 447 gigawatts (GW) and could expand to almost 1,000 GW within 10 years, BTM said.

China’s Sinovel grabbed the No. 3 spot among wind turbine makers, while rival Chinese manufacturer Goldwind ranked No. 5 and Dongfang was No. 7, BTM said.

www.pewtrusts.org/uploadedFiles/wwwpewtrustsorg/Reports/Global_warming/G-20%20Report.pdf

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