Clean Energy Investment Grew Despite 2025 Chaos

The doom predictions didn't come true. Despite an aggressive trade war, shifting tariffs, and regulatory uncertainty, clean energy investment actually increased last year.

New market data from clean energy finance platform Crux reveals that project finance, construction lending, and bridge lending all grew at a modest rate in 2025. Renewable electricity and batteries accounted for 80% of the activity, showing where investors placed their confidence during turbulent times.

The situation mirrors what happened when President Trump's first trade war began. Economists predicted markets would seize and the economy would slow sharply. Growth cooled at times and volatility rose, but the system absorbed the shock and kept moving forward.

Clean energy is proving equally resilient. Even as the Supreme Court struck down tariffs only to see new ones immediately put in place, capital didn't flee the sector. Half-written rules on foreign sourcing and energy supply chains created confusion, but investors kept writing checks.

Solar and battery projects weathered the uncertainty particularly well. While they faced turbulence from policy shifts and supply chain questions, these technologies demonstrated their staying power in the market.

The modest growth rate reflects caution rather than retreat. Investors are leaning into proven technologies with clear paths to profitability while pulling back from riskier bets that depend on stable policy environments.

The Bright Side

This resilience tells a bigger story about clean energy's maturation. The sector has evolved from a policy-dependent experiment into an economic force that can absorb significant external shocks and keep growing.

Capital flows follow opportunity, and investors are clearly seeing opportunity in renewable electricity and battery storage even when rules keep changing. That confidence reflects improving economics, proven technology, and growing demand for clean power.

The modest pace also suggests smart money management. Rather than panic or abandon the space entirely, investors are adapting their strategies and continuing to fund projects with strong fundamentals.

Projects already under construction kept moving forward. New deals got signed, though perhaps with more careful terms and risk analysis than in previous years. The machinery of clean energy deployment kept running.

The clean energy transition isn't happening despite uncertainty anymore; it's learning to thrive within it, proving that good economics can overcome shifting political winds.

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