- In the lead up to COP26, most markets plan to increase renewable energy targets despite economic environment
- US retains top renewable energy ranking following reacceptance of Paris Accord and new emissions target
- East Asia region emerges as high-potential investment destination for renewables
In 2020, global renewable energy capacity investments grew 2% to US$303.5b, the second-highest annual figure recorded to date despite the impact of the global COVID-19 pandemic. However, the 57th EY Renewable Energy Country Attractiveness Index (RECAI) estimates that future development to achieve net zero will require a further investment of US$5.2t and highlights the role institutional investors will need to play in financing the energy transition.
RECAI 57 finds that environment, sustainability and governance (ESG) goals are increasingly being prioritized on the investor agenda while institutional investors’ interest in renewables continues to grow.
The forthcoming 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) presents an opportunity to close the gap between what governments have promised to do and the level of action they have undertaken to date. RECAI 57 finds that current policy and pledge trajectories from leading nations indicate an increased commitment to greater accountability and transparency, with representatives expected to outline clear roadmaps and detail on policy measures to spur investment in renewables.
Ben Warren, EY Global Power & Utilities Corporate Finance Leader and RECAI Chief Editor, says:
“The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on economies across the globe seems to have refocused investors’ minds on the environmental, social and corporate governance agenda and there is a growing trend toward considering the climate crisis and the energy transition when deploying capital. As a result, interest in renewable energy development has risen among institutional investors who have pledged to incorporate climate-risk concerns into their decision-making processes, resulting in new models of investment to locate opportunities that satisfy their risk and return expectations.”
RECAI 57 also examines green hydrogen case studies in Europe and China that illustrate the great potential of this new technology, but also show the barriers that need to be overcome to reach commerciality and widespread use.
US retains the top position with China and India bringing up the top 3 in the rankings
The US retains top position on the Index and is expected to hold its position under President Biden. The reacceptance of the Paris Accord, coupled with the recent announcement to cut GHG levels by 50-52% as early as 2030 and achieve 100% carbon free power by 2035, will likely see increased investment interest in the US. Similarly, China has remained a buoyant market and maintains second position, adding 72.4GW of new wind power in 2020, as developers rushed to beat an onshore wind subsidy cut. In April, China and the US also announced that they would work together and with other markets to tackle climate change.
India also rose one place in the rankings to 3rd position, with the market’s solar sector expected to grow significantly and with generation from solar PV forecast to exceed coal before 2040. East Asian markets Japan and South Korea (ranking in 8th and 17th positions respectively) also made commitments toward net zero in the past year. In Southeast Asia, the markets featured on the index are Philippines (31st position), Vietnam (34th position) and Thailand (39th position).
Other markets have climbed the Index, as numerous governments take tentative steps toward launching new offshore wind projects. Poland, now in 22nd position, has adopted a new act to promote 5.9GW of offshore wind by 2030 through competitive auctions. And Brazil’s federal environmental authority has released licensing guidelines for offshore wind projects, seeing Brazil climb to 11th position.
Germany drops by one place in the ranking to 7th position, as last-minute changes to the design of future onshore wind tenders came under criticism. These changes would allow regulators to reduce the size of auctions if undersubscribed and developers believe that this uncertainty will lead to decreasing bid volumes.
Italy climbs two places in the ranking to 15th position after receiving a grant of €209b from the EU Recovery Fund. The Italian government has also told developers that it is willing to extend its 4.7GW program of support auctions for onshore wind and solar PV into next year after the initial round was undersubscribed.
Arnaud de Giovanni, EY Global Renewables Leader, says:
“There is a clear shift away from fossil fuel investment and toward environmentally sustainable projects by institutional investors who are typically more risk averse in their investing principles. Risk-mitigation tools, structured finance mechanisms tailored specifically to the renewables sector and regulatory commitment would therefore help increase investment flows. Committed action from COP26 delegates is a must to ensure that the legacy of Paris Agreement is brought to fruition. The leading developed nations must honor existing promises to deliver US$100b per year in climate financing for developing nations, and all nations must urgently set actionable near-term targets, rather than kicking the can down the road. There is not much road left.”
East Asia region emerges as high-potential investment destination for renewables
Northeast Asia markets such as Japan, South Korea and Taiwan have already established a firm hold on renewable energy development and the private sector is now gearing up for large investments in the offshore wind sector. For most markets in Southeast Asia, solar and wind developments still dominate the pipeline of opportunities and represent an economically attractive solution for Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia and the Philippines in their aim to meet the growing demand as well as fuel the transition from a coal-based primary energy approach to renewables.
These markets are also starkly different. From currency, geography to the domestic banking landscape and government attitudes towards power-market policy and climate risk, each market is governed by very particular fundamentals.
Gilles Pascual, EY Asean Power & Utilities Leader says:
“There is a clear and growing demand for renewable energy in East Asia, and the private sector interest is evident from the long list of projects under developments. While the markets in this area are incredibly diverse, continued support by governments – both domestically and across borders – can help to maximize the growth potential of the region.”
For the complete top 40 ranking and analysis of the latest renewable energy developments across the globe, visit https://www.ey.com/en_gl/recai.
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About the EY Renewable Energy Country Attractiveness Index
The EY Renewable Energy Country Attractiveness Index (RECAI) ranks the top 40 markets in the world on the attractiveness of their renewable energy investment and deployment opportunities. The rankings reflect EY assessments of market attractiveness and global market trends. This edition reflects on the glimpse of what the energy industry might look like in the future based on COVID-19 lockdown measures, when large reductions in energy demand resulted in the share of renewables soaring across most regions.
