“Clean Energy Trends 2005” examines the forces affecting the clean energy market and focuses on key factors likely to spur growth. These include the uptake of clean energy by large consumers like the US military, how cities may be powered by centralised solar farms in sun-rich regions, the burgeoning growth in hydrogen technologies and a growth in green building techniques and technologies.

The report projects that in the next decade markets for solar technologies may grow from $US7.2 billion to $US39.2 billion, fuel cells and hydrogen energy from $US900 million to $US15.1 billion, and wind power from $US8 billion to $US48.1 billion.

Clean Edge also released findings from energy-tech venture firm Nth Power’s annual venture data. The figures show venture capital investments in US energy-tech companies increased by $US11 million from 2003 to 2004, primarily in power reliability, energy intelligence and distributed energy sources, making up almost 3% of US venture capital investments in 2004.

“Nth Power has been tracking energy-tech investments for more than ten years. This year our research shows that energy tech continues to be a major asset class within venture capital and that investors showed growing interest in solar, fuel and battery deals,” said Nth Power principal Rodrigo Prudencio.