Declining clean energy investment

There are signs that renewable energy investment will decline for the first time in eight years in 2012. Ernst & Young said: This is not bad news because the installed capacity continues to increase and emerging markets are "prosperous." Especially in South Africa and the Middle East and North Africa, PV is experiencing rapid growth.

Gil Forer, Global Clean Energy Manager, said: The transition to a resource-efficient and low-carbon economy is inevitable. Although renewable energy investment in 2012 was lower than the record of 237 billion U.S. dollars in 2011, and the first decline occurred in 8 years, the industry need not feel pessimistic.

Ben Warren, manager of Ernst & Young Energy and the Environmental Division, pointed out that prices have dropped, installed capacity is increasing, and emerging markets are "hot".

As companies assess related risks such as energy security, energy price regulatory environment, branding, and shareholder pressure, they have begun to focus on optimizing energy structures and increasing investment in renewable energy.

In the latest Renewable Energy Countries Acceditation List, we have rated the renewable energy markets, energy infrastructure, and single-technology applicability of 40 countries, and Ernst & Young found that emerging markets have dominated the 2012 renewable energy market. Development, which is consistent with Ernst & Young's forecast at the end of 2010 and at the end of 2011.

Ernst & Young also specifically pointed out that the UAE and Saudi Arabia have entered the list of their 2012 renewable energy market for the first time, ranking 35th and 27th respectively.

Both countries have formulated solar energy development plans. Masdar in the United Arab Emirates has announced that its Shams stage 1 100MW CSP project will begin commercial operation by the end of next year; and the UAE is also planning to build a 100MW Noor stage 1 photovoltaic power generation project. The Saudi government has already indicated that it plans to complete 32 GW of solar power projects by 2032. In addition to the UAE and Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Jordan, and Egypt have all been listed as the most attractive clean energy markets in the Middle East and North Africa in the next five years.