China Overtakes UK in List of Most Attractive Countries for Renewable Energy Investment

Source: citywire.co.uk  (8/27/08)

By contrast with the UK China met its expected renewable capacity of 5GW by 2010 three years early, and Ernst & Young expect its 2020 target of 30GW to be exceeded. The top three places in the table were unchanged – the US is still the most attractive country for investment in renewables followed by Germany, which set out a comprehensive feed-in tariff framework in a short space of time, and India.


China has replaced the UK in the top five most attractive countries for renewable energy investment as the British government stalls with consultation on its ambitious targets, according to research from Ernst & Young.

Britain now takes sixth place in the overall index, and fell from second to fifth in the league table for long-term investment in wind power.

Despite publishing its Renewable Energy Strategy on 25 June which raised the 2020 target for renewable energy generation to 33% from 20% of the total, the government’s two-year consultation and review period is likely to cause.

Moreover, the report cast doubt on the UK’s likelihood of achieving its goals: ‘The UK is possibly being overly dependent upon its ability to translate ambitious targets into reality and needs to concentrate and improve its delivery track record if its position is not to decline further.’

By contrast China met its expected renewable capacity of 5GW by 2010 three years early, and Ernst & Young expects its 2020 target of 30GW to be exceeded. The top three places in the table were unchanged – the US is still the most attractive country for investment in renewables followed by Germany, which set out a comprehensive feed-in tariff framework in a short space of time, and India.