The rise of renewables

Investment in renewable energy infrastructure is experiencing a boost - though not just because of any green agenda, but because the rising oil price and recent advances in wind-power technology have suddenly made this attractive to investors

There are two good reasons why renewable energy infrastructure is hitting its stride, but neither of them have anything to do with the future of the planet. Firstly, the rising oil price has made renewable energy worth investing in. The technology in wind-power generation is maturing, so at times it is more expensive to produce energy through oil than wind. As a result, the investment world has turned much greener. Secondly, and perhaps more importantly, governments have stepped in. Bernard Fairman, managing partner of private equity managers Foresight Group, explained: "Government inte...