Alternative energy and clean energy trends all arround the
world
The alternative energy and clean energy technology field has been examined for the worlds energy trends. A series of reports have been written which examine markets for solar, wind, geothermal, fuel cells, biofuels, and other clean energy technologies. Since the publication of the first report in 2002, an annual snapshot of both the global and U.S. clean energy sector has been published. Below are a review of these energy trends.
* 1 2006 trends
* 2 2007 trends
* 3 2008 trends
* 4 2009 trends (1Q)
2006 energy trends
2006 was the year when most climate change skeptics began to change their views. Scientists, investors, business leaders, and politicians moved the agenda from whether climate change was occurring to what should be done about it. The acceptance of climate change as “real” helped to unlock latent interest in clean energy technologies on the part of corporate and political leaders.
In Washington and other capitals, clean energy trends became a bipartisan issue. In corporate boardrooms, it is said to be fast becoming an imperative. Clean energy markets are growing. We have reached the point where the steady and rapid growth of clean energy has become an old story.
Each year, it seems, brings an ever-higher plateau of success. This appears to be the future of clean energy, a rolling series of technology breakthroughs, landmark corporate investments, industry consolidation, and the not-infrequent emergence of new and sometimes surprising players entering the field.
2007 energy trends
Projected renewable energy investment growth globally (2007-2017)
A alternative and clean energy trends report in 2007 shows markets for four benchmark technologies — solar photovoltaics, wind power, biofuels, and fuel cells — continuing their steady climb. Annual revenue for these four technologies increased nearly 39% in one year — to $55 billion in 2006 up from $40 billion in 2005. Forecasts that this trajectory will continue to become a $226 billion market by 2016.
Several developments have helped to strengthen clean energy markets in 2007:
1.A near tripling in venture investments in energy technologies in the U.S. to more than $2.4 billion.
2.A new level of commitment by U.S. politicians at the regional, state, and federal levels.
3.Significant corporate investments in clean energy acquisitions and expansion initiatives.
2008 energy trends
In 2008 Green Energy is a booming-fast growth area in venture capital. VC investment in green energy exceeded $7.7 billion in 2008 with over 350 projects. This doubles 2007 totals. One would think that the recession, and the accompanying plunge in the price of oil, is motivating clean tech investment. As a result, we are seeing large, expensive projects to manufacture solar panels and biofuels have fallen out of favor with the venture capitalist community.
The next generation of clean energy investment will no longer be in large energy projects of power plants and coal fired mills, but rather smaller, more distributed, and more personalized than previous solutions for energy. The notion of “negawatts” became common as ventures aimed at maximizing efficiency and limiting wasteful construction and operation.
Some of the biggest winners in this new phase of efficiency and “negawatts” were consultants for efficiency and renewable in the public sector, like Chevron Energy Solutions. Another was the low-cost renewable solutions like Ausra’s flat-mirror solar thermal. Lastly, IBM’s Smarter Planet that provides green IT apps, and construction materials that cut energy use such as Icynene Inc., manufacturer of spray foam insulation and Owen Corning’s manufacturer of efficient windows. These all represent the future players in a “negawatt” revolution that officially began in 2008.
Some losers of 2008 are T.Boone Pickens and his large wind farm project. Another is the unproven, yet promising, technologies of deep-ocean tidal power and bathtub nukes.
If 2008 can teach anyone, it is that in times of economic uncertainty and stagnation, investment will go to projects that are smaller, proven, and efficient.
2009 trends (1Q)
With a full blown recession hindering economic growth and the countervailing forces of the President Obama’s stimulus plan, clean energy revenues saw significant gains. Clean energy witnessed substantial growth—increasing 53 percent from $76 billion in 2007 to $115.9 billion in revenues in 2008.
Key technologies in solar, wind, and biofuels have spearheaded clean energy growth in 2008 and the first quarter of 2009. However, a stagnated, unpredictable market continues to strike uncertainty and fear into venture capitalists and other investors. The backlash effect has hindered the growth of small energy companies that need to garner investments. More so, the tightening credit markets of late 2008 to 2009 forced clean energy companies to delay plans, layoff staff, and postpone their projects entirely.
Progress in the clean energy sectors of Solar, Wind, and Biofuels have produced promising models for global installation and production. Solar photovoltaics have grown to $29.6 billion in early 2009 and are projected to reach $80.6 billion by 2018. Wind power is projected to expand from $51.4 billion in 2008/09 to $139.1 billion in 2018. Wind installations represented 40% of new electricity generators brought online in 2008. In fact, it officially propelled the US as the leading generator of wind, surpassing Germany. The economic ceiling for wind power and potential to limit carbon emissions is supported by President Obama’s policies and stimulus package. Biofuels global production and wholesale reached $35 billion in 2008/09 and is projected to grow to $105.4 billion
by 2018.
