It’s the final countdown! 2017 is going to be the year when things will get interesting for the renewables revolution.

Oh how they scoffed. Will never be viable they said. Wind turbines are crackpot science they said. Well, despite the efforts of may of the naysayers the renewable energy industry is experiencing a global boom, with solar and wind both cutting costs, reducing carbon emissions and providing comparatively pollution free energy.

Offshore wind is now a major domestic industry in the UK, with solar panels increasing their installed capacity at a rapid rate.

China and India are also both growing their renewable energy capacity at a tremendous pace. India was slower to join the march then China but is now making considerable efforts to push its PV and off and onshore wind market, with the recent boost for the EV market also a helpful part of the fight against pollution.

However the key test will be winning the challenges in 2017. While it is encouraging that renewable energy is seeing a major international push, with the USA, Australia and Japan continuing to see continued investment and activity in solar despite the election of Donald Trump, it is a matter of timing.

The world pledged to prevent more than 2 °C of warming, the world last year passed the 400 ppm (parts per million) threshold. The speed at which the climate is changing is such that a combination of a rising population, emissions from the fossil fuel industry and the contributions to climate change from the methane emissions from the agricultural industry mean that the investment needed in renewables is truly breathtaking.

This year represents a rare opportunity for private corporations to partner with citizens and governments to aggressively increase the investments in the renewable energy industry.

Even if you are a dyed in the wool climate change denier the economics of continuing to invest in expensive energy and stranded assets is a poor business decision.

Make 2017 the year in which the renewables revolution sets off, as the consequences for humanity are dire should we choose to take a slower approach to the energy sources that will power our lifestyles. The capital is there,  it just neeeds the deployment.