Energy

Where Global Investment in Clean Energy Was Highest in Q3

Alternative Energy sources
thinkstock
Worldwide investment in renewable energy and smart-energy technologies totaled $70 billion in the third quarter of 2015, down just 1% compared with the same period a year ago. For the first three quarters of this year, worldwide investment totaled $197.9 billion, down just $4.3 billion compared with the first nine months of 2014.

The largest percentage gains came in the Western Hemisphere, where Brazil invested $2.3 billion, up 131% year over year in the third quarter; Chile, where investment soared from $180 million in the third quarter of last year to $1.6 billion this year; and the United States, where investment rose 25% to $13.4 billion. Investments in Europe dropped 48% to $5.8 billion.

The data were reported Thursday by Bloomberg New Energy Finance. The group’s advisory board chairman, Michael Liebreich, called the investment level “a resilient performance given the sizeable shifts in foreign exchange rates that will have reduced the dollar value of projects outside the U.S.”

The largest projects to receive financing in the third quarter were a solar thermal electricity generation (concentrated solar power, or CSP) plants in China, Israel and South Africa and four offshore wind farms in Chinese waters. Chinese investment totaled $26.7 billion, up 5%, and the most of any nation. The United States ranked second at $13.4 billion invested.

ALSO READ: 3 Top Jefferies Hidden Value Stocks to Buy Now

Utility-scale projects received $47.3 billion in third-quarter financing, down 4% year over year, and small-scale projects like rooftop solar, saw a financing increase of 21% to $19 billion.

Venture capital and private equity funds nearly doubled investments year over year to $2 billion, while investment from public markets dropped 38% to $3.7 billion. The largest equity raises were a $750 million issue from Tesla Motors Inc. (NASDAQ: TSLA) and TerraForm Global Inc. (NASDAQ: GLBL), a yieldco controlled by SunEdison Inc. (NYSE: SUNE) that raised $675 million in an initial public offering.

Globally by sector, investment in solar slipped 1% year over year to $43.9 billion in the third quarter, and investments in wind energy fell 5% to $20.5 billion. Biomass and waste-to-energy projects experienced a 26% decline in investment to $1.3 billion, investment in small hydro-power projects (less than 50 megawatts) rose 41% to $1.5 billion and investment in geothermal energy dropped 16% to $530 million.

In all of 2014, investors poured $318 billion into renewable projects, up 13% compared with 2013.

Bloomberg New Energy Finance also includes in the total estimates of R&D spending by governments and companies, and asset finance for smart grid and storage projects.

ALSO READ: Why Tesla Stock Is Finally Dying

Want to Retire Early? Start Here (Sponsor)

Want retirement to come a few years earlier than you’d planned? Or are you ready to retire now, but want an extra set of eyes on your finances?

Now you can speak with up to 3 financial experts in your area for FREE. By simply clicking here you can begin to match with financial professionals who can help you build your plan to retire early. And the best part? The first conversation with them is free.

Click here to match with up to 3 financial pros who would be excited to help you make financial decisions.

Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us?
Contact the 24/7 Wall St. editorial team.