Clean technology is an umbrella term including both the new energy efficient technologies and the related business models that offer competitive returns for investors and customers while providing solutions to global challenges. It is driven by productivity-based purchasing, and therefore, enjoys wider market economics with greater financial upside and sustainability.

Cleantech incorporates a wide range of products, services and processes all aimed to provide high standard performance at a lower cost, eliminate negative ecological impact and to improve the production and responsible use of natural resources.

According to a report by Bloomberg New Energy Finance, global investment in clean energy reached $243 billion last year, which is a 30 percent growth from $186.5 billion in 2009. The rapid growth was mainly driven by players such as China, European rooftop solar, European offshore wind, and research and development. China topped in investment with 30 percent growth reaching $51.1 billion in 2010.
Investment in this sector will hit a new high in 2011 due to the continued growth in Asia and the ongoing push for resource efficiency. Energy efficiency represented the highest number of deals last year. Solar energy was the most popular technology area for investment which is followed by transport and energy efficiency.

As the global economy is recovering from the recession, 2011 is expected to be a record year for renewable energy generation as more and more clean power plants open. Many countries like Germany, France and Spain will generate more energy from zero carbon sources without any deterioration in reliability.
The revenue generating aspect of cleantech comes from a verity of areas such as energy generation, energy efficiency, energy storage, energy infrastructure, transportation, air & environment, water & wastewater, materials, agriculture, manufacturing/ industrial, recycling & waste.