Now, Climatescope 2014 - an interactive "one-stop" online tool from Bloomberg New Energy Finance - gives potential investors a specific breakdown of the renewable energy investment opportunities in 55 countries, including 19 in Africa.
Bloomberg ranks each country on the list based on various factors including its clean energy investment policy; its market conditions; the structure of its power sector; the number and makeup of local companies operating in clean energy; and efforts toward reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
The U.K. Department for International Development, Multilateral Investment Fund and U.S. Power Africa commissioned the project to analyze and rank development scenarios for solar, wind, small hydro, geothermal, biomass, and other renewable energy technologies.
Climatescope was originally developed in 2012 to evaluate 26 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean. This year, thanks to additional support from groups including the U.S. Agency for International Development, the project was expanded to include 19 countries in Africa, 10 in Asia, 15 provinces in China and 10 states in India.
"Climatescope is a critical resource for the Power Africa initiative and our partners, providing an in-depth and objective evaluation of low-carbon energy opportunities in emerging markets including Africa," said Rajiv Shah, administrator for the U.S. Agency for International Development, in a statement.
