Investments in Renewables: A Green Lining in Market Meltdown?

[jpdm]

A US group believe that the financial crisis happening right now will compel investors to seek new investments notably in green technology...


In the Philippines, the proponents of the recently passed Philippine law on Renewable Energy (Zubiri et al) believe that in the long run the Philippines though expensive initially will benefit immensely with the development of renewable energy in the country...


I believe, investments in renewable energy (geothermal ,hydro electric, wind farms, solar, enthanol, biodiesel) is better right now that investing in fossil fuel ...because its more socially and environmentally responsive and beneficial to our economy in the long run...


The public can then invest in the upstream (plant) or downstream (stations) that sell renewable energy (i.e. ethanol, biodiesel, solar panels etc..)


What do you think?

Business Mirror
October 25, 2008


[SIZE=3]A Green Lining in a Market meltdown?[/SIZE]
by Stephen Leahy/ Intel press service
October 17, 2008


UXBRIDGE, Canada—Clean and green technologies may end up a big winner in the current global financial crisis, say investment professionals.


Billions of dollars in new investments have been made in clean/green tech such as renewable energy and energy efficiency in recent years. And, despite fears of a major recession in the US, nearly all investment professionals and institutions reported plans to introduce new investment opportunities before the end of 2009, according to a new survey of the 500-member Social Investment Forum (SIF), an association for socially and environmentally responsible investment firms.


It turns out the near collapse of the US financial system has a silver lining for the long-cash-starved alternative energy sector.
“The new Congress will regulate carbon emissions. The costs of fossil fuel will finally begin to reflect the costs of climate change,”


“Despite the credit crisis, the fundamentals of clean energy are so strong, they will find financing,” Seitchik said in an interview.


Companies producing solar products have seen their revenues grow 60 percent to 140 percent this year and expect to reach 45 percent to 200 percent in 2009. One company, SunPower Corp., will see $2 billion in sales in 2009, he said.

Even the falling price of oil won’t take the bloom off the rising green economy, experts say. Alternative energy is more cost-competitive than it once was and when combined with long-term government support incentives, oil would have to be below $50 a barrel to have an impact. It should also be remembered that the oil-and-gas industry receives government subsidies ranging from $20 billion to $40 billion annually.


Large institutional investors like pension funds are also worried about the risks of climate change on their investments and are shying away from putting money into the fossil fuel industry, said Seitchik. Green technologies are far more attractive, particularly over the longer term.

“As energy prices continue to fluctuate and the need to address climate change becomes ever more urgent, many investors want to blaze a trail for clean energy solutions that meet demand and respond to the impacts of climate change,” said Lisa Woll, chief executive officer of the Washington, D.C.-based SIF.


“Our new survey confirms that Social Investment Forum members are at the forefront of ‘green technology’ and clean energy investing, which is rapidly becoming a major element of the mainstream American investment marketplace.”

[True Faith]

Agree here.

For instance geothermal energy plants and hydro electric plants are now being privatized by the government with big companies such as First Gas and Aboitiz are buying formerly government properties..

If these companies will start there IPOs, I think they are a very attractive investment

The country for instance is the 2nd largest user of geothermal energy through PNOC-EC. Now with Red Vulcan, the new owners what new investors...

On the other hand, by 2010 more and more biodiesel and ethanol plants will come on stream in time for the mandated use of more blended fuel in the country.....

[safeorigin]

if only the government invested on alternative energy research. seriously though, we need something renewable with a big bang for the buck(idiom so not to be taken literally)

[normanenoza]

if only the government invested on alternative energy research. seriously though, we need something renewable with a big bang for the buck(idiom so not to be taken literally)

even the richest countries in the world cannot find a practical alternative energy resource. no such thing at the moment come s close to the flexibility of petroleum when it comes to producing fuel and other industrial products. just imagine, plastic will be not even be so common today without the discovery of oil.

[jpdm]

even the richest countries in the world cannot find a practical alternative energy resource. no such thing at the moment come s close to the flexibility of petroleum when it comes to producing fuel and other industrial products. just imagine, plastic will be not even be so common today without the discovery of oil.

Sabagay..

But still, there is a need to limit the use of fossil fuel especially in the area of power generation....

...like what we can do in the philippines...

...as we develop our geothermal plants--we can use these to power our train system...especially the soon to be built Northrail....

[CVT]

Agree here. In our industry for example, makers of solar cells are the ones with brisk production these times....

6909:seehearspeak:

[jpdm]

Agree here. In our industry for example, makers of solar cells are the ones with brisk production these times....

6909:seehearspeak:

Right!

That's the reason why this US solar company (is it Sun power? subsidiary of Cypress)is contemplating of expanding here.

Actually its solar cell plant is the country is the first in the Philippines...

The cells made by Sun power were used by DLSU solar power car project.

Then, I have read , that indeed North rail is contemplating of using electric trains rather than diesel powered ones...(they can used a combination of geothermal plant for the elctric power and solar panels for airconditioning)

Hopefully, malls and factories and hotels will start using solar power too!

[True Faith]

From manila times
October 26, 2008


Can we consider this as an alternative?

Are we ready for a nuclear power plant?

[safeorigin]

yep. a friend of mine who works in a US nuclear sub drinks reactor water

[jpdm]

yep. a friend of mine who works in a US nuclear sub drinks reactor water

really?

-Anyway, the government is reviewing its nuclear program (if there is indeed an existing one)

-Another notable green energy source is windpower. The Northwind Wind farm in Ilocos is just one of the planned windpower projects...

--I hope the government will seriously look at this alternative energy source.