Editorial Note: This post originally appeared on our companion blog, Fiduciary Matters, on August 24, 2016.
The development of renewables is transforming the energy sector. This has the potential to create opportunities for investors, but also risks. Two particular pitfalls to watch for are the choice of investment vehicle and the level of valuations.
Not merely change, but transformation
The scale of growth in renewable energy has been remarkable. Consider that:
- Investment in renewable energy in 2015 totaled some $286 billion.¹
- Of the estimated $12 trillion expenditure on power plants expected by 2040, two-thirds is in renewable sources².
- In China (regarded by some as less committed to clean energy), 70% of capacity additions over the next 25 years are expected to be in renewables.²
So energy is a big sector, and renewables are fast becoming a key part of that sector. Driven by policy support, technological advances and attractive return potential, the degree of the shift toward renewables represents not merely change, but rather transformation.
This transformation, and the implications for investors, was the subject of a session in 2016 at the Russell Investments Institutional Summit. The session was led by Tamara Larsen (Head of Private Markets Research), who was joined by Kristina Johnson (Co-Founder & CEO of Cube Hydro) and Andrew Greenup (Deputy Head of Global listed Infrastructure at Colonial First State.)
Pay attention to vehicle and valuation
Every investment opportunity carries its own risks, and two potential traps in particular were highlighted in the session: the choice of investment vehicle and the level of valuations.
On the first of these, the panel pointed out that a good underlying investment cannot overcome a poorly structured investment vehicle. Renewables is a fast-growing sector and until recently was something of a niche investment area for institutional investors. Successful investment will require identifying the right spot in the energy development chain for capital allocation and finding suitable investment vehicles: not straightforward tasks. This is where an expert can help many investors find the right vehicles to match their particular desired outcomes.
As to valuations, most investments are rarely a good investment if made at the wrong price. Hot-topic status can shift sentiment and lead to inflated prices: renewables have attracted a lot of attention and prices in some areas have been pushed up as a result.
Becoming mainstream
It seems clear, though, that renewables are moving from the sidelines to the center of the energy sector. Technology is changing fast and the course of development can be unexpected; policy support (which has been a major factor in recent growth) is similarly unpredictable. Hydro, solar, wind, nuclear: each area is distinct and will develop differently. Nobody can be completely sure, for example, of the implications of advances in storage capabilities or a decarbonized transport system.
These are just a few of the considerations coming out of the transformation of the energy sector, giving investment managers and institutional investment programs plenty to think about. Always consult an expert for advice on such investments.
¹Source: The United Nations Environment Programme, Frankfurt School of Finance & Management, Bloomberg New Energy Finance²Source: Source: Bloomberg New Energy Finance
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