Global clean energy investment by select country 2019

Chinese investment in clean energy is the highest worldwide. In 2019, China pumped some 83.4 billion U.S. dollars into clean energy research and development. The United States and Japan had the second and third highest clean energy investments that year, at 55.5 billion and 16.5 billion U.S. dollars, respectively. All selected countries combined had spent 219.2 billion U.S. dollars in alternative energy technologies. The leading three entries accounted for roughly 71 percent of total investments.

China’s wind and solar capacity

As an economic and industrial powerhouse, China is burdened with a huge daily power demand. Although the government is still heavily involved in broadening its coal-fired power plants, concerns over air pollution and its impact on the health of its most vulnerable citizens have resulted in greater awareness for renewable energy sources. In 2018, China’s cumulative wind power capacity amounted to 209.5 gigawatts. Solar PV is also common in the country, with around 306 gigawatts of cumulative solar power capacity installed as of 2021.

Most attractive countries for renewable investment

The United States is the most attractive market for renewable investment, according to an April 2020 score, which takes into account existing governmental policies and deployment opportunities within each country. It was the first time since 2016 that the U.S. ranked higher than China and largely the result of a production tax credit (PTC) extension and a greater focus on future offshore wind installations.