Global clean energy investment reached $250 bn in 2012

MEXICO CITY: Global investment in clean energy climbed to a record $250 billion last year despite adverse worldwide economic conditions, the president of the International Solar Energy Society said in an interview in Mexico.

David Renee told EFE that although that figure is still small compared with total global energy investment, the amount spent on renewable energy technologies continues to grow every year and at a pace faster than that of traditional technologies.

He said the political will in favour of clean energy also is increasing steadily year after year, with around 116 countries now having specific objectives in the renewables sector, a significant advance relative to previous years.

Renewable energy is becoming more and more competitive vis-a-vis traditional energy sources due to the environmental costs associated with the latter, Renee added Friday.

The chief of the Germany-based ISES is in Mexico to promote the Solar World Congress 2013, which will run from Nov 3-7 in the southeastern resort city of Cancun under the theme "Renewable Energy for All".

The congress, held every two years since 1970, has never before been hosted by a Latin American country.