Top 10 countries investing in clean energy

The clean energy economy is emerging as one of the great global economic and environmental opportunities of the 21st century. In a recent report, The Pew Charitable Trusts, an American nonprofit organization, reports which are the world’s leaders in the clean energy industry, over the past four years.

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#1 China

For the first time, China leads the world in clean energy investments. With $34.6 billion in 2009, China was making up 30.5% of the G-20 nations’ total investment in renewable energy. Below: U.S. Secretary of Energy Steven Chu (R) looks at tubes carrying algae, a promising oil alternative, in Tianjin on July 17, 2009. (UPI Photo/Stephen Shaver) | License Photo | Permalink

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#1 China

From 2005 to 2009, the wind power represented 71.1% of the global Chinese investments in clean energy. The solar energy is the second Chinese key renewable energy sectors, with 8%. China is the world's largest solar-panel producer. Below: Chinese employees work at the Yingli Group's photovoltaic manufacturing plant, building solar power modules, in Baoding City, Hebei Province on June 24, 2009. (UPI Photo/Stephen Shaver) | License Photo | Permalink

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#2 United States

The United States has dropped to the second place, with a total investment in clean energy of $18.6 billion in 2009. The U.S account for 16.4% of the G-20 nation’s total investment in clean energy. The U.S. continue to dominate venture finance and technology innovation, but it lags in manufacturing. Below: Sen. James Talent (R-MO) poses for photographers at the ethanol powered Ford F-150 outside of U.S. Capitol in Washington on May 17, 2006. (UPI Photo/Yuri Gripas). | License Photo | Permalink

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#2 United States

The total U.S clean energy investments included wind power (43.1%) and bio-fuel, with 47m liters of ethanol produced, over the past four years. Below: a Public Relations employee watches the progress of a new wind turbine installation at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory's (NREL) National Wind Technology Center near Boulder, Colorado on August 21, 2009. UPI/Gary C. Caskey | Permalink

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#3 United Kingdom

The United Kingdom is ranked third, with $11.2 billion of clean energy investments in 2009. The U.K. was making up 9.9% of the G-20 nations’ clean energy investments in 2009. The U.K. has been focused on wind energy, with 57.1% of its clean energy investments in 2009. Its targets include procuring 20% of its electricity and 10% of its fuel needs from renewable energy by the end of 2010. Below: Britain's Prime Minister Gordon Brown (L) and his wife Sarah wave on September 29, 2009. UPI/Hugo Philpott | License Photo | Permalink

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#4 European Union countries

The EU-27 countries, not profiled independently, are the fourth-largest investors in the renewable energy, accounting for $10.8 billion in 2009. 9.5% of G-20 clean energy investments were made up by EU-27 in 2009. Below: European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso speaks during a media availability in the East Room of the White House, on June 20, 2005, in Washington. (UPI Photo/Roger L. Wollenberg) | License Photo | Permalink

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#4 European Union countries

From 2005 to 2009, wind power was its key clean energy sector, with 62.9% of EU-27 total clean energy investments. Below: a new tramway runs along the Paris' southern belt December 16, 2006, on its inaugural journey. (UPI Photo/Eco Clement) | License Photo | Permalink

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#5 Spain

Spain is ranked fifth and made up 9.2% of G-20 nations’ renewable energy investments in 2009. Spain invested $10.4 billion in the clean energy industry in 2009. From 2005 to 2009, solar (60.6%) and wind (34.2%) powers were its primary areas of investment. Below: members of Team Spain put finishing touches on their house in the 2009 Solar Decathlon on the National Mall in Washington on October 8, 2009. UPI/Roger L. Wollenberg | License Photo | Permalink

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#6 Brazil

Brazil is sixth among G-20 members for investments in clean energy and second among emerging economies. Brazil is also reported to have the second-highest investment growth rate over the past four years and the world’s leading ethanol infrastructure, relative to the size of its economy. Over the last four years, the Brazilian key renewable energy sectors included ethanol, with 30 billion liters produced in 2009, biomass (5,100 MW) and small-Hydro (4,100 MW). Below: Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva attends the opening plenary of the Nuclear Security Summit at the Washington Convention Center in Washington on April 13, 2010. UPI/Andrew Harrer/Pool | License Photo | Permalink

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#7 Germany

Long-standing global leader in the clean energy, Germany is ranked seventh. With clean energy investments of $4.3 billion, Germany accounted for 3.7% of G-20 nation’s renewable energy investments, in 2009. But Germany’s investments rose more than 18% in 2009. Below: German Chancellor Angela Merkel waves during a visit to the Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot, Israel on March 17, 2008. (UPI Photo/Uriel Sinai/Pool) | License Photo | Permalink

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#7 Germany

From 2005 to 09, German clean energy investments went primarily to solar energy (44.3%) and wind power (31.2%) sectors. Below: Mercede's Benz's Blue Tech, which is being promoted as a clean-burning diesel car, is displayed at the New York International Auto Show at the Javits Center on March 19, 2008. (UPI Photo/Monika Graff) | License Photo | Permalink

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#8 Canada

Canada is the eighth leader for the clean energy investments. Canada saw $3.3 billion invested in its clean energy sector in 2009. It was making up 3% of the G-20 nations’ clean energy investments in 2009. Below: team Montreal cleans solar panels on the roof of their home before the opening ceremony for the Solar Decathlon on the National Mall in Washington on October 12, 2007. (UPI Photo/Roger L. Wollenberg) | License Photo | Permalink

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#8 Canada

The wind power, with 60% of Canada’s clean energy investment over the past four years, and mini-hydro were the leading Canadian sectors. Below: team Montreal cleans solar panels on the roof of their home before the opening ceremony for the Solar Decathlon on the National Mall in Washington on October 12, 2007. (UPI Photo/Roger L. Wollenberg) | License Photo | Permalink

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#9 Italy

Italian clean energy investment constituted 2.3% of the G-20 nations' investments in 2009, ranking it ninth. Italy’s clean energy investments have increased by 110% for the past five years. In 2009, Italy invested $2.6 billion in renewable energy industry. The Italian key clean energy sector was the wind power, with 61.6% of Italy’s clean energy investments, during the last four years. Below: Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi at Villa Madama in Rome December 3, 2009. UPI/Anatoli Zhdanov | License Photo | Permalink

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#10 India

India is ranked tenth and constituted 2% of G-20 clean energy investments in 2009. India invested $2.3 billion in renewable energy industry in 2009. With 59.5% of India’s clean energy investments, the wind power was its key sector from 2005 to 2009. Below: Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Washington on November 23, 2009. UPI/Kevin Dietsch | License Photo | Permalink