China, India Most Attractive Renewables Markets

China and India have surpassed the United States to become the two most attractive countries for renewable energy investment, a report by UK accountancy firm Ernst & Young showed on Tuesday. In an annual ranking of the top 40 renewable energy markets worldwide in terms of allure, China was the top country, followed by India. The United States, which ranked the highest last year, slumped to third place, due to a shift in US energy policy under President Donald Trump, Reuters reported.

“The fall—the first for the US since 2015—to third in the ranking of the top 40 countries follows a marked shift in US policy under the new administration,” the report said.

Trump has issued orders to roll back many of the previous administration’s climate change policies, revive the US coal industry and review the Clean Power Plan, which requires states to cut carbon emissions from power plants.

Meanwhile, China announced this year that it would spend $363 billion on developing renewable power capacity by 2020. India’s government has unveiled plans to build 175 gigawatts of renewable energy generation by 2022. Among European countries, Germany ranked fourth, France eighth and Britain moved to 10th place, from 14th last year.

While Britain’s renewable investment environment is more settled than in recent years, which were beset by subsidy cuts, future energy policy after it leaves the European Union is uncertain, the report said.

“The UK’s reappearance in the top 10 is the result of other countries falling away – notably Brazil, which cancelled a wind and solar auction in December - rather than any particularly encouraging resurgence,” said Ben Warren, EY’s head of energy corporate finance.

Kazakhstan (37), Panama (38) and the Dominican Republic (39) have all entered the index for the first time.

The report also suggested that the Indian government needs to increase compliance with the Renewable Purchase Obligation (RPO), as well as ensure that India’s distribution companies, many of which are financially distressed, have the capacity to continue to purchase renewable electricity, especially if bid prices level off or rise.