The World's Top 10 Cleantech Countries

The Cleantech Group has ranked the top ten cleantech countries of 2009.

The rankings are based off the Cleantech Group's analysis of world research, development, and usage of clean energy.

The list is as follows:

1.  Denmark - National goal is to be 100% fossil fuel free.  It is also Europe's largest exporter of energy technology.  Its wind industry accounts for one-third of the world market.

2.  Germany - The solar capital of the world.  In 2008, it led Europe in cleantech investment, by distributing $383 million in capital.  10% of its electricity is generated by clean sources.

3. Sweden - 43.3% of its electricity comes from renewable sources.

4.  United Kingdom - Has set a goal to achieve 60% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, while also targeting to generate 15% of its energy from renewable sources by 2020.

5.  Israel - Recycles 75% of its wastewater, and is home to the world's largest reverse osmosis desalination plant.

6.  Switzerland - It is the international hub for cleantech finance with huge cleantech financial powerhouses SAM andGood Energies basing their operations out of Switzerland.  It also generates 56% of its electricity from hydropower.

7.  United States - Leads the world in venture capital investment in cleantech--over 70% ($5.9 billion USD) of total global investment comes from American-based venture capital companies.

8.  United Arab Emirates - Is currently constructing Masdar, the world's first zero-carbon, zero-waste city.

9.  China - It is one of the world leaders in manufacturing solar photovoltaic technology.  It is also home to serious cleantech potential:  China has the world's largest hydropower potential, as well as the largest wind resources on the globe.

10. Canada - It is the second largest producer of hydropower in the world.  Some of its provinces generate up to 90% of their electricity from hydro resources.

Read the full story at the Cleantech Group:  The top 10 cleantech countries of 2009