Capital Dynamics Sees Renewable Energy Growth After Japan's Nuclear Crisis

[kristopher]

Capital Dynamics Sees Renewable Energy Growth After Japan's Nuclear Crisis
By Tomoko Yamazaki and Komaki Ito - Apr 10, 2011 9:38 PM GMT-0400

Capital Dynamics Ltd., a Swiss private equity firm with more than $20 billion in assets, expects demand for alternative energy investments to grow after Japan’s earthquake led to the worst nuclear disaster since 1986.

Demand for renewable energy sources may increase in Japan, where the industry has been dominated by Tokyo Electric Power Co., providing opportunities for independent power producers, said Capital Dynamics Chief Executive Officer Thomas Kubr. The accident may also lead to a regulatory system that would give “sufficient support” for alternative energies, he said.

Policymakers worldwide are reevaluating their commitment to nuclear power, a carbon-free generation source, after the magnitude-9 temblor and tsunami on March 11 crippled Tokyo Electric’s nuclear plant in Fukushima. Investment in so-called clean energy, including wind, solar and biofuels, totaled $243 billion last year, according to Bloomberg New Energy Finance.

“Very clearly, the Fukushima issue will cause a major shift in thinking about nuclear power all over the world,” Kubr said last week in an interview in Tokyo where he was on a business trip. “What that really means is that for clean energy infrastructure, there will be bigger demand and will require more focus on that type of investing.”

Capital Dynamics runs clean energy funds ...
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-04-11/capital-dynamics-sees-renewable-energy-growth-after-japan-s-nuclear-crisis.html

[diane in sf]

1. Interesting how they repeat the "carbon free" lie--using the nuke industry's framing.

But I like the news of support for renewable energy.