China, South Africa lead rebound in Q2 2013 renewable energy investments investments

Global investment in renewable energy was USD 53.1 billion in the second quarter of 2013, up 22% from the first quarter thanks to an upturn in the financing of wind energy and solar power projects and a 170% surge in equity funding for specialist companies on public markets, Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF, New York, New York, US) announced.

The Q2 rebound was led by the US, which saw investment jump 155% compared to a weak first quarter, to reach USD 9.5 billion, and also China (up 63% at USD 13.8 billion) and South Africa (up from almost nothing in Q1 to USD 2.8 billion in Q2).
However Europe, for many years the mainstay of clean energy activity worldwide, saw investment fall 44% compared to Q1, reaching just USD 9.5 billion