How to profit as the world struggles to keep the lights on

As the world turns to renewable energy, problems of storage and transmission remain. But that means opportunities for adventurous investors. James McKeigue investigates, and picks the best way to invest.

In 2010 Britain experienced its coldest December for a century. Temperatures around the country plummeted; snow piled up; roads froze. Everyone whether they were stuck at home or somehow made it into work cranked up the heating. Power demand soared as the cold dug in.

But December wasn't simply cold it was unusually still, something that caused a new kind of problem for the National Grid. Wind farm output fell by two-thirds from forecast levels as the nation's turbines and great renewable energy hope slowed and stopped. As a result, the National Grid was forced to import more electricity from France.

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James McKeigue

James graduated from Keele University with a BA (Hons) in English literature and history, and has a certificate in journalism from the NCTJ. James has worked as a freelance journalist in various Latin American countries.He also had a spell at ITV, as welll as wring for Television Business International and covering the European equity markets for the Forbes.com London bureau. James has travelled extensively in emerging markets, reporting for international energy magazines such as Oil and Gas Investor, and institutional publications such as the Commonwealth Business Environment Report. He is currently the managing editor of LatAm INVESTOR, the UK's only Latin American finance magazine.