LONDON, UK, May 16, 2007.
The United States continues to be the most attractive country in the world for renewable energies, according to a quarterly global assessment.
It received a ranking of 72 on the ‘all renewables’ index compiled by the consulting firm Ernst & Young. It scored 73 on ‘wind’, with 79 for ‘onshore wind’ and 58 for ‘offshore wind,’ with 75 for ‘solar’ and 64 for ‘biomass / other’ and a score of 76 on ‘infrastructure’ for all renewables.
India moved up from third place in the previous ranking to share second place with Spain, both of which received 63 on ‘all renewables.’ Spain scored 63 on wind (70 on onshore and 48 on offshore), 71 on solar, 57 on biomass and 74 on infrastructure, while India scored 64 on wind (74 onshore and 41 offshore) with 61 for solar, 50 for biomass and 65 for infrastructure.
The UK remains in fourth place with a 62 score, but now shares that spot with Germany which rose from fifth spot. China remained in sixth spot with 57 overall, but it now shares the spot with Italy. A four-way tie for eighth spot (56 overall) is shared by France, Portugal, Greece and Canada.
In a separate rating on long-term wind, the US retained top spot, with India taking second place and pushing Spain into third. The UK, Germany, China, Canada and Greece are next in the ratings, with a three-way tie for ninth spot among Portugal, Ireland and Italy. For long-term wind, the US is followed by Spain, India, Germany, Canada, UK, Italy, France, China and Portugal.
The Country Attractiveness Indices provide scores for national renewable energy markets, infrastructure and their suitability for individual technologies, the quarterly report explains. They take a “generic view and different sponsor / financier requirements will clearly affect how countries are rated.”
The long-term indices are forward looking and take a long-term view, noting that the UK’s high ranking in wind is due to the “large amount of unexploited wind resource, strong offshore regime and attractive tariffs available under the ROCs system.” Conversely, although Denmark has the highest proportion of installed wind capacity to population, “it scores relatively low because of its restricted grid capacity and reduced tariff incentives.”
Weighting on the ‘all renewables’ index is based on 85% for wind (70% onshore and 30% offshore), 5% for solar and 10% for biomass and other renewable resources.
“The momentum of climate change action is now building with the prospect of full global co-operation to reduce GHG emissions much closer,” explains Jonathan Johns of E&Y. “For the first time, the power of individuals and business appears to be influencing the path we take for meeting our future energy needs whilst cutting emissions and growing in a sustainable and environmentally sound manner.”
“Climate change and the environment has become one of the biggest issues facing our plant, but is also one of the most significant business opportunities as well,” he continues. Global investment in clean energy last year was estimated at US$100 billion for the first time.
