Clean Power Investment Declines 0.2% to $73.5 Billion

(Bloomberg) — Global investment in clean energy slipped

slightly in the second quarter to $73.5 billion.

That was 0.2 percent lower than the amount invested in

wind, solar, biomass and other renewable sources of energy, in

the same period last year, according to research released Friday

by Bloomberg New Energy Finance.

Financing for clean energy sources has been climbing as

costs decline. Investment in 2014 rose to a revised $321.8

billion, up 19 percent from the prior year, and more than a

fivefold increase from the $60.2 billion in 2004.

China was the biggest market for investment in the second

quarter, up 15 percent to $27.9 billion. Spending in the U.S.

increased 3 percent to $12.2 billion, while Europe slipped 23

percent to $12.7 billion.

Project financing for utility-scale power plants made up

the bulk of investment, with $49.5 billion, down 5 percent from

last year. Financing from public markets totaled $4.5 billion.

Venture capital and private equity investment was $871 million,

down 38 percent.

BNEF expects renewables to draw about two-thirds of the

forecasted $12.2 trillion in spending on new generating capacity

through 2040.

To contact the reporter on this story:

Ehren Goossens in New York at

egoossens1@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story:

Reed Landberg at

landberg@bloomberg.net

Will Wade, Robin Saponar

About BloombergNEF

BloombergNEF (BNEF) is a strategic research provider covering global commodity markets and the disruptive technologies driving the transition to a low-carbon economy. Our expert coverage assesses pathways for the power, transport, industry, buildings and agriculture sectors to adapt to the energy transition. We help commodity trading, corporate strategy, finance and policy professionals navigate change and generate opportunities.
 
Sign up for our free monthly newsletter →

Want to learn how we help our clients put it all together? Contact us