However BNEF's Energy Transition Investment Trends 2022 report notes that these investment levels need to triple to $2.1 trillion per annum between 2022-2025, and double again to around $4.2 trillion between 2026-2030, in order for the world to reach net-zero emissions by 2050.
The report said 2021 saw the lion's share of the investment go toward renewable energy and electrified transport, as wind and solar installations and electric vehicle sales surged.
Companies, governments and households invested US$366 billion in new renewable energy capacity in 2021, up 6.5%. They also spend $273 billion on electric vehicles and associated charging infrastructure, up a massive 77%.
The report expects EV sector investment to overtake renewable energy investment this year and is the only sector on track to meet any of BNEF's net-zero emissions scenarios.
The next largest sectors of spending were electrified heat at $53 billion, and nuclear energy at $31 billion.
The vast majority of investment, $733 billion, went to celan power, and electrification.
"The global commodities crunch has created new challenges for the clean energy sector, raising input costs for key technologies like solar modules, wind turbines and battery packs," BNEF analysis head Albert Cheung said.
"Against this backdrop, a 27% increase in energy transition investment in 2021 is an encouraging sign that investors, governments and businesses are more committed than ever to the low-carbon transition, and see it as part of the solution for the current turmoil in energy markets."
Hydrogen, CCS and sustainable materials made up the rest totalling $24 billion, however CCS was the only sector not to see a rise in investment, dropping slightly to $2.3 billion.
Investment would need to average around $4.2 trillion between 2026 and 2030.
"The world is rapidly running out of carbon budget to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement," BNEF energy economics head Matthias Kimmel said.
"The energy transition is well underway, and moving faster than ever, but governments will need to mobilise much more finance in the next few years if we are to get on track for net zero by 2050."
China was again the largest single country for energy transition investment, committing $266 billion in 2021.
The US was in second place with $114 billion, though EU member states as a bloc committed more at $154 billion.
Asia-Pacific countries now hold four of the top 10 places in terms of energy transition investment levels, with India and South Korea joining China and Japan.
Separately from the previous figures, the report saw climate-tech finance total $165 billion in 2021; funds raised by companies in the climate-tech space from either public markets or private investment.
Two-thirds of this funding came from public markets, including SPAC reverse mergers, and the vast majority went to companies focused on the energy and transport sectors.
"There has never been more capital available to companies tackling the hardest aspects of the climate challenge," BNEF technology & innovation head Claire Curry said.
"It is true that we have solutions ready to deploy today, but there is still the need for continued innovation.
All forms of corporate finance will play an important role in helping develop and scale climate-tech in the coming decade."
