Renewable energy includes a wide range of assets and related infrastructure associated with both fuel production and electric power generation. Renewable energy assets produce fuel or electric power from naturally replenishing or otherwise inexhaustible resources. Renewable energy technologies include wind, biofuels, biomass, geothermal, hydroelectric, solar photovoltaic and solar thermal.
Renewable energy is the fastest growing segment of the global energy sector, as a result of the coming together of several trends in recent years: market forces, technological innovation and enhanced policies and regulations motivated by the desire of governments to promote domestic energy sources, diversify energy supplies, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and stimulate new types of economic activity. The rapid growth of the renewable energy sector is bringing about a large number of opportunities for private equity, including development of new assets, associated infrastructure and service companies; buyout and consolidation of existing assets; partnerships with balance sheet players; and post- R&D technology deployment.
Renewable energy power assets generally have low exposure to commodity price volatility, either possessing a regulated, government-backed revenue stream, or a long-term offtake contract with a utility or fuels supplier, which are subject to increasingly aggressive renewable energy mandates in many countries. Renewable energy is therefore viewed as one of the most attractive types of asset for receiving project finance.