By Ethan Brooks, Senior Technology Journalist VFutureMedia.com February 11, 2026
Walking through a bustling solar manufacturing plant in Shenzhen or watching electric buses zip through European cities, it’s hard not to feel the momentum. Despite political turbulence, economic jitters, and trade tensions, the world poured a staggering $2.3 trillion into the energy transition in 2025—a new all-time high, up 8% from the previous year. That’s according to BloombergNEF’s latest Energy Transition Investment Trends report, released just weeks ago. Clean energy isn’t just surviving; it’s thriving, even as headlines scream about setbacks.
I’ve spent years tracking this space, from early solar booms to today’s battery megafactories, and 2025 felt different. Investments defied expectations, driven by surging demand for electricity (hello, data centers and AI), falling technology costs, and a stubborn global push toward net-zero. Yet the pace still falls short of what’s needed to limit warming to 1.5°C. As we roll into February 2026, the big questions are: Can this momentum hold? Where’s the money flowing next? And who’s leading the charge?
In this deep dive, we’ll break down the record numbers, spotlight China’s outsized role in EVs and batteries, examine regional trends, highlight standout deals (including Cemex Ventures’ bet on hydrogen tech), profile companies to watch, and explore the challenges ahead. Because while the dollars are flowing, the real story is whether we’re moving fast enough.
The Record-Breaking Numbers: $2.3 Trillion and Counting
BloombergNEF’s report paints a clear picture: global energy transition investment reached $2.3 trillion in 2025, an 8% jump despite headwinds like U.S. policy rollbacks and China’s regulatory tweaks.
Breakdown of major categories:
- Electrified Transport (EVs + charging): $893 billion — the single biggest slice, fueled by Asia and Europe.
- Renewable Energy (solar, wind, etc.): $690 billion — down 9.5% YoY due to China’s policy shifts, but still massive.
- Power Grids & Storage: $483 billion — critical for handling rising demand from data centers and electrification.
- Other areas (heat pumps, nuclear, low-emissions fuels): Remaining billions, with hydrogen still small at ~$7-30 billion globally.
The International Energy Agency (IEA) offers a slightly broader view, putting total energy investment at $3.3 trillion in 2025, with $2.2 trillion going to clean technologies—twice the amount for fossil fuels. That’s a historic flip: clean now commands the majority.
Projections for 2026? BloombergNEF’s base-case Economic Transition Scenario sees average annual investment climbing to $2.9 trillion over the next five years. The IEA expects continued growth, though execution gaps (permitting delays, grid bottlenecks) could slow things.
What drives this surge? Cheaper batteries and solar, corporate net-zero pledges, and exploding electricity needs from AI and electrification. It’s no longer just environmental—it’s economic necessity.
China’s Dominance: The Engine of Global Green Tech
No discussion of green tech in 2026 skips China. The country remains the undisputed leader, outspending everyone else even as its renewable power investment dipped for the first time since 2013 due to new pricing rules.
Key stats tell the story:
- Asia-Pacific (led by China, India, Japan) accounted for nearly half of global transition spending in 2025.
- China controls ~69% of the global EV battery market (per SNE Research) and dominates solar, wind, and critical minerals supply chains.
- Outbound investments: Chinese firms committed ~$80 billion in overseas cleantech in the past year alone, pushing total since 2023 past $180 billion (Climate Energy Finance report).
- Domestic growth: Green tech sectors (EVs, batteries, renewables) grew 18% in 2025, with value added nearly doubling since 2022.
Companies like CATL (batteries), BYD (EVs), and Longi (solar/hydrogen) are expanding aggressively abroad—building plants in Indonesia, Europe, Latin America, and Africa. This isn’t charity; it’s strategic: securing supply chains, absorbing domestic overcapacity, and gaining geopolitical leverage in a post-carbon world.
Critics point to risks—Western tariffs on Chinese imports could raise global costs—but analysts like BNEF’s Albert Cheung argue blocking cheap tech hurts the transition more than it helps domestic industries.
Regional Breakdown: Where the Money Flows
- Asia-Pacific: Dominant force, with China’s scale and India’s 15% growth.
- Europe: Up 18%, strong in grids and renewables despite energy crises.
- United States: Only +3.5% to $378 billion, hampered by federal support cuts, yet private investment (data centers, manufacturing) keeps it afloat.
- Emerging Markets: Lagging—low- and middle-income countries get just ~7% of clean spending despite huge needs.
Latin America sees Chinese green-tech surging (solar, batteries, EVs), even amid political shifts rightward.
Spotlight Deals: Cemex Ventures Backs WtEnergy Hydrogen Tech
Amid the mega-numbers, targeted investments highlight innovation. Cemex Ventures, the corporate VC arm of building materials giant Cemex, recently backed WtEnergy, a Spanish startup developing modular green hydrogen solutions for industrial decarbonization.
WtEnergy’s tech uses biomass and waste to produce low-cost, on-site hydrogen—ideal for hard-to-abate sectors like cement and steel. This deal underscores a trend: corporates investing in practical, scalable solutions that align with their operations. Hydrogen remains small-scale globally, but deals like this signal growing interest as costs fall.
Other notable flows: massive Chinese overseas projects (e.g., Longi’s $8.28B green hydrogen venture in Nigeria, CATL’s $6B battery plant in Indonesia).
Top Green Tech Companies to Watch in 2026
The ecosystem is vibrant. Here are standouts blending scale, innovation, and momentum:
- CATL & BYD (China): Battery and EV giants expanding globally; watch for more overseas megafactories.
- NextEra Energy (U.S.): World’s largest clean power utility; utility-scale renewables leader.
- First Solar (U.S.): Thin-film solar manufacturing powerhouse.
- Fervo Energy (U.S.): Enhanced geothermal; potential 2026 IPO candidate after big raises.
- Northvolt (Sweden): Sustainable batteries; scaling European supply chains.
- Solugen (U.S.): Bio-based chemicals replacing fossil inputs.
- Bloom Energy (U.S.): Fuel cells for reliable, low-carbon power.
Startups like Greenlyte (DAC + green hydrogen) and Eslando (textile circularity) show niche breakthroughs.
Challenges Ahead: Pace, Equity, and Execution
The record is impressive, but warnings abound. Investments aren’t growing fast enough for net-zero by 2050. Grid bottlenecks, permitting delays, and talent shortages slow deployment. Western “onshoring” efforts clash with China’s cost advantages, risking higher prices.
Equity gaps persist: developing nations need far more capital. Tariffs and geopolitics could fragment supply chains.
Yet optimism prevails. Falling costs, corporate demand, and policy persistence (even in tough climates) keep the flywheel spinning.
Looking to 2026 and Beyond
February 2026 feels like a tipping point. With AI-driven demand soaring and renewables proving reliable, green tech isn’t a side bet—it’s the main game. China leads manufacturing, but innovation spreads globally. If we bridge execution gaps and ensure fair access, this decade could define a cleaner future.
The dollars are there. Now it’s about turning investment into impact.
For more insights, explore our archives: EV Trends 2026 and Clean Energy Outlook.
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