China retains No 1 spot in renewable energy

Nation tops list of favorable markets as index indicates that government policy is pivotal in driving development of environmentally friendly power

China continues to be the world's most favorable market for renewable energy development and investment, according to a new study.

The Renewable Energy Country Attractiveness Index, which is compiled twice a year by London-based financial services company EY - formerly known as Ernst & Young - highlighted the large quantities of public and private funds pouring into renewable power projects in China, as well as several energy-efficiency policies.

After conceding the top place in the poll to China in the previous index, the United States is in third place. The UK ranks 10th among 40 economies.

Earlier this year, China's National Energy Administration announced it would spend $363 billion (307.6 billion euros; ￡273 billion) by 2020 on developing renewable power capacity. The investment will see renewables account for half of all new generated capacity and create 13 million jobs.

Solar capacity in China rose by 21 gigawatts during the past six months, and the government has set new targets to cancel or defer 106 gW of energy created by coal power.

"The index highlights that government policy is pivotal in driving renewable energy development globally," says Ben Warren, corporate finance leader for global power and utilities at EY.

The US lost its top rank in May after the Trump administration decided to roll back many of the previous administration's climate change policies.

The US now sits behind India, with Germany, Australia, France, Japan, Chile, Mexico and the UK rounding out the top 10.

Broken down by sector, China topped the EY rankings for both onshore wind and solar power. EY declared the UK to be the most attractive economy for offshore wind investment, followed by China and Germany.

The report noted Britain's strength in the offshore wind sector, where energy prices continue to fall.

The 50th issue of the EY listing includes projections that new wind and solar power will account for 34 percent of global electricity generation by 2040.

China has established itself as a global leader in clean energy additions in recent years. In 2015, China contributed 36 percent of the global total for new investment in renewable power and fuels, according to the UN Environment Programme.

China accounted for more than 40 percent of capacity growth in global renewable energy in 2016, which was a record year for worldwide clean energy additions, according to the International Energy Agency.

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(China Daily Africa Weekly 10/20/2017 page29)