Page 18 - DIY Investor Magazine - Issue 23

INVESTORS AND THE CLEAN ENERGY REVOLUTION
William Argent
Fund Manager
The UK invested nearly £8bn in renewable energy projects in 2018 amid the ongoing push to create a cleaner and greener future for power generation across the country – writes William Argent, Fund Manager, Gravis Clean Energy Fund and Associate Director.
DIY Investor Magazine | Oct 2019 18
We are among the countries leading the charge in many areas of the clean energy revolution with wind and solar projects receiving solid government subsidies and industry investment, and we appear to be already reaping the rewards.
We are among the countries leading the charge in many areas of the clean energy revolution with wind and solar projects receiving solid government subsidies and industry investment, and we appear to be already reaping the rewards.
UK wind energy generation hit a new high back in February, according to National Grid data, and on a single day provided more than a third (36%) of Britain’s
‘THE NATION’S ENERGY MIX IS SHIFTING TOWARDS RENEWABLE SOURCES OF GENERATION’
electricity demand. This is a good example of how the nation’s energy mix is shifting towards renewable sources of generation.
Supporting clean energy generation will be vital as the world transitions towards a lower carbon economy and away from its reliance on fossil fuels..
This growth has opened up a new world of investment opportunity that allows funds such as Gravis’ specialist Clean Energy Fund to access a broad range of investible opportunities.
Wind and solar are often considered key in the battle to reduce fossil fuel consumption, but there are a
broad range of opportunities available to investors
from offshore wind projects to hydroelectric power and anaerobic digestion that many may not yet be aware of. One area in which we expect to see significant growth within the renewable space is the need for energy storage solutions – most typically in the form of battery technology.
Wind and solar generate a volatile and intermittent supply of power for obvious reasons, and as renewables capacity grows this is having an increasing impact on the National Grid in terms of its ability to balance supply and demand.
Developing effective ways of storing energy is a critical step in harnessing the potential of renewable energy supply; effectively storing energy generated when conditions are suitable or when demand
‘RENEWABLE ENERGY HAS BECOME A CRUCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE SECTOR IN ITS OWN RIGHT AS THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE BECOME MORE EVIDENT’