Introduction
The clean energy sector continues to exhibit robust growth. Recent strides in China's solar industry and substantial support from the U.S. government have catalyzed this past week's remarkable performance in clean energy ETFs. Alternative Energy, Hydrogen Economy and Solar Energy ETF themes gained 4.48%, 2.88% and 10.90% last week.
Boost from China's Solar Sector
The Clean Energy ETFs benefited from favorable developments within the Chinese solar sector. The China Photovoltaic Industry Association (CPIA) has launched initiatives to address significant industry challenges. These proactive measures have instilled confidence among investors, marking a step towards enhancing the sector's efficiency and sustainability.
U.S. Government Loan Guarantee
An additional boost came from Plug Power (PLUG), which recently secured a substantial $1.66 billion loan guarantee from the U.S. Department of Energy. This financial backing is expected to accelerate the adoption of clean energy technologies, demonstrating the U.S. government's commitment to sustainable energy solutions.
Interest Rates vs. Positive News
Despite the Federal Reserve's comments on maintaining relatively high interest rates for an extended period, these positive developments have overshadowed market jitters. After being neglected by investors recently, the rebound in the clean energy sector this week better reflects its long-term growth potential.
ETF Focus
VanEck Hydrogen Economy UCITS ETF (ETR:HDR0) increased by 7.86% last week; this ETF has 7.39% of its asset invested in Plug Power Inc (PLUG) as of 24th May 2024. The Invesco Solar Energy UCITS ETF (LON:ISUN) did even better with a weekly performance of +11.03% bringing its year-to-date performance to -10.14%.