AIC’s Go‑For‑Goal Message to Renewable Energy Managers Before COP26
Right before the big climate summit, the Association of Investment Companies (AIC) pulled a few top‑tier renewable finance experts into a candid chat. They shared what they hope will emerge from COP26, how soaring inflation might gnaw at their plans, and which sustainable investment trends they’re head‑banging over as the most promising.
What the Pros Are Saying
- Jonathan Maxwell – Founder & CEO of Sustainable Development Capital, and the brain behind the SDCL Energy Efficiency Income fund – is all about getting lean, not green. He argues that energy waste is like throwing away half your dinner—why should we let that happen? He wants COP26 to make efficiency a headline, so investors get a punchy ROI that turns a broken system into something that actually works for us.
- Jerry Polacek – Fund Manager of Ecofin US Renewables Infrastructure – sees the summit as a rally point for fresh commitments. He’s confident that governments will hand out policy “handouts” that the private sector will gladly snatch up, fueling an explosion of tech innovation and capital inflow to a power grid that’s trying to ditch its carbon baggage. Consumers will keep pushing the envelope of clean energy, and that will keep the growth curve insane.
- Michael Bonte‑Friedheim – CEO & Founder of NextEnergy Capital and driver behind the NextEnergy Solar Fund – is practically buzzing. He believes solar is the rainbow after the storm. The world is ready to deploy a huge influx of green capital; governments will crank up policy gears so solar can thrive as the safest, cheapest, and most risk‑free renewable tech on the market.
Top Take‑Aways for COP26 (and for Investors)
- Efficiency wins. Make the energy system lean and mean.
- Cost‑competitive renewables. Lights on the cheap side keep both governments and mortgaging folks smiling.
- Public‑private synergy. Governments shout “commit,” private investors answer “invest.”
- Consumer demand = catalyst. People love green, and their wallets talk back.
- Solar’s golden ticket. The renewable coin that pays for itself in the long run.
As a final note, AIC swears that the next decade will see the whole world plug into carbon‑free power. Grab your coffee, stay tuned, and get ready to make greener moves—because the future is looking brighter (and faster) than ever before.
