Cleantech Investment News; China Leads G-20 Members in Clean Energy Finance and Investment

Cleantech News; China Leads G-20 Members in Clean Energy Finance and Investment

Washington, DC – -(Investorideas.com renewable energy/ green newswire) For the first time, China led the United States and other G-20 members in 2009 clean energy investments and finance, according to data released today by The Pew Charitable Trusts. Last year, China invested $34.6 billion in the clean energy economy – nearly double the United States’ total of $18.6 billion. Over the last five years, the United States also trailed five G-20 members (Turkey, Brazil, China, the United Kingdom, and Italy) in the rate of clean energy investment growth.

In Who’s Winning the Clean Energy Race? Growth, Competition and Opportunity in the World’s Largest Economies (PDF),http://www.pewtrusts.org/uploadedFiles/wwwpewtrustsorg/Reports/Global_warming/G-20%20Report.pdf Pew examines key financial, investment and technological trends related to G-20 members and the clean energy economy. The report tracks and measures global investment activity – ranging from venture capital, initial public offerings from companies seeking to expand, mergers and acquisitions and lending for large-scale projects – in this sector. Pew found that the global clean energy economy has experienced remarkable growth:

Globally, clean energy investments have increased 230 percent since 2005.

Investment by nearly all G-20 members grew by more than 50 percent over the past five years.

Despite a worldwide recession, global clean energy investments reached $162 billion in 2009.

G-20 members accounted for more than 90 percent of worldwide clean energy finance and investment.

More than 250 gigawatts of renewable energy generating capacity have been installed around the world, producing six percent of global energy.

Global clean energy investments are projected to reach $200 billion in 2010.

“Even in the midst of a global recession, the clean energy market has experienced impressive growth,” said Phyllis Cuttino, who directs the Pew Environment Group’s Global Warming Campaign. “Countries are jockeying for leadership. They know that investing in clean energy can renew manufacturing bases, and create export opportunities, jobs and businesses