Pew Study: United Kingdom Third Among G-20 Members in Clean Energy Investments

Pew finds remarkable growth in the global clean energy economy over the past five years

WASHINGTON, March 25, 2010 - The United Kingdom ranked third among G-20 members in 2009 global clean
energy investments and finance, according to data released today by The Pew
Charitable Trusts. Last year, the United Kingdom invested USD $11.2 billion
in the clean energy sector.

“The clean energy economy represents one of the greatest economic
opportunities of the 21st century and the UK remains a global leader,” said
Phyllis Cuttino, who directs the Pew Environment Group’s Global Warming
Campaign. “Its five-year investment growth rate and significant funding in
the wind energy sector make it clear that the UK is seizing the opportunity
clean energy presents.”

In Who’s Winning the Clean Energy Race? Growth, Competition and
Opportunity in the World’s Largest Economies, Pew examines key financial,
investment and technological trends related to G-20 members and the clean
energy economy. The report tracks and measures global investment activity -
ranging from venture capital, initial public offerings from companies seeking
to expand, mergers and acquisitions and lending for large-scale projects - in
this sector. Pew found that the global clean energy economy has experienced
remarkable growth:

    - Globally, clean energy investments have increased 230 percent since
      2005.
    - Despite a worldwide recession, global clean energy investments reached
      USD $162 billion in 2009.
    - G-20 members accounted for more than 90 percent of worldwide clean
      energy finance and investment.
    - Investment by nearly all G-20 members grew by more than 50 percent over
      the past five years.
    - More than 250 gigawatts of renewable energy generating capacity have
      been installed around the world, producing six percent of global
      energy.
    - Global clean energy investments are projected to reach USD $200 billion
      in 2010.

“The facts speak for themselves,” said Bloomberg New Energy Finance Chief
Executive Michael Liebreich. “2009 clean energy investment in China totaled
USD $34.6 billion, while in the U.S. it totaled USD $18.6 billion. China is
now clearly the world leader in attracting new capital and making new
investments in this area.”

In 2009, the United Kingdom was also a clean energy leader. Among G-20
members, Pew found:

    - The United Kingdom ranked second in investment intensity - the
      percentage of clean energy investment when compared to gross domestic
      product (GDP).
    - The United Kingdom ranked third in overall clean energy investments.
    - The United Kingdom ranked fourth in five-year clean energy investment
      growth rate.
    - The United Kingdom ranked fifth in the percentage of total power it
      receives from clean energy sources - ahead of countries such as France,
      China and the United States.

“Through its investments and policies, the UK is positioning itself for
future leadership in the growing clean energy marketplace,” said Cuttino.

Countries with strong nationwide policy frameworks, including renewable
energy standards, carbon markets, priority loans for renewable energy
projects and/or mandated clean energy targets, such as China, Brazil, Spain,
India, the United Kingdom and Germany, have the most robust clean energy
sectors as a percentage of their economies. Countries without such policy
frameworks lag behind.

Pew published Who’s Winning the Clean Energy Race? to highlight how G-20
members are participating and where they rank in the clean energy economy.
The data have been compiled and reviewed by Pew’s research partner, Bloomberg
New Energy Finance, the world’s leading independent provider of news, data,
research and analysis to decision-makers in renewable energy, carbon markets,
energy smart technologies, and carbon capture and storage. The report’s
primary focus is on investment as it is the fuel that propels the innovation,
commercialization, manufacturing and installation of clean energy
technologies.

The report can be found at
www.pewglobalwarming.org/cleanenergyeconomy/index.html.

The Pew Charitable Trusts is driven by the power of knowledge to solve
today’s most challenging problems. Pew applies a rigorous, analytical
approach to improve public policy, inform the public and stimulate civic
life.

Brandon MacGillis, +1-202-887-8830, bmacgillis at pewtrusts.org, or Nicolle Grayson, +1-202-540-6347, ngrayson at pewtrusts.org, both of Pew Environment Group