An interesting take on the future of renewable energy – at least as some predict for the next 12 months or so: Net Zero Investor writes that
“A growing number of hedge funds are now aggressively placing short bets against clean energy stocks, particularly wind firms, thereby exposing the challenging market conditions the renewables space is currently facing… Recession concerns, regulatory pressures in the UK and across the EU, anti-ESG sentiments in the US as well as a tighter policy by the Fed have hit renewables’ investments and performance, thereby severely rocking investor confidence in the clean energy sector…
Despite a favourable regulatory ecosystem, tax credits and subsidies, clean energy stocks are facing major headwinds. High inflation is making life increasingly difficult for wind and other clean energy providers, as they generally commit to long-term deals that contain fixed prices. Moreover, many clean energy firms rely heavily on debt to finance fresh investments, so raising fresh funds at current interest rates has made it relatively expensive to bring in fresh funds for what are more often than not multi-billion investment projects.”
More salt in the wound for renewables – and more uncertainty in corporate carbon risk management plans. Maybe this is just part of a business maturation process happening during macroeconomic and global policy uncertainty. But investors wanting to put capital to work for long term climate benefit and financial gain may look elsewhere for now, putting even more downward pressure on these companies. And that, of course, can threaten your company’s own carbon/climate risk planning.
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