Solar investment surpasses oil for first time

SGGP 05/27/2023 10:26

On May 26, the International Energy Agency (IEA) released its latest report saying that investment in clean energy will continue to exceed investment in fossil fuels in 2023, when solar energy projects will surpass the amount spent on oil for the first time.

Clean energy projects continue to thrive

Good news

The IEA’s World Energy Investment Report found that annual investment in renewables has increased by nearly a quarter since 2021, while investment in fossil fuels has increased by 15%. About 90% of clean energy spending comes from developed economies and China. However, the IEA stressed that fossil fuel investment is still double the limit needed to reach net-zero emissions by mid-century. “Clean energy is growing very fast, faster than many people realize,” said Fatih Birol, IEA’s CEO. “Today, for every $1 invested in fossil fuels, $1.7 is invested in clean energy. Five years ago, the ratio was 1:1.”

Total global energy investment in 2023 is expected to be around $2.8 trillion, of which more than $1.7 trillion will go to renewables, nuclear power, electric vehicles and energy efficiency. The remainder will be invested in oil, natural gas and coal. In 2023, spending on solar is expected to reach more than $1 billion per day or around $380 billion per year.

“Solar is a true superpower,” said Dave Jones, of energy consultancy Ember. “It’s the biggest tool we have to decarbonize the economy. But the irony is that some of the sunniest places in the world have the lowest levels of investment in solar.” Investment in new fossil fuel supply will rise 6% in 2023 to $950 billion, according to the IEA report.

Economic opportunity

IEA research shows that clean energy production could add more than $650 billion to the global economy by 2050. The IEA report also shows that countries will need to overcome challenges related to supply chain concentration and workforce to realize the economic potential of clean technology sectors.

The report welcomes new flagship policies that will help drive the market in the near term. For example, the US’s Deflation Relief Act is a package of measures to help vulnerable people pay for healthcare and reduce emissions, focusing on energy and transport. Elsewhere, the European Union’s Fit for 55 package and REPowerEU plan are driving market growth, as are Japan’s Green Transition program and India’s production-linked incentive program that encourages solar and battery production.

The European Commission has published its much-anticipated proposals for a Net-Zero Industry Act to accelerate the scale-up and production of clean technologies across the EU. Initial drafts of the Net Zero Industry Act have been adopted, which include new targets for at least 40% of clean energy technologies to be produced in the EU by 2030…

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