According to Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF), global investment in clean energy was $53.1 billion in the second quarter of 2013 (Q2'13), up 22% from the first quarter of 2013 (Q1'13) resulting from an upturn in the financing of wind and solar projects and a 170% surge in equity funding for specialist companies on public markets.

BNEF said the Q2'13 rebound was led by the U.S., which saw investment jump 155% reaching $9.5 billion. China saw investment increase 63% to $13.8 billion. Europe saw investment fall 44% compared to Q1'13, reaching just $9.5 billion - the lowest quarter total for more than six years, according to BNEF.

Financing of utility-scale projects such as solar parks and wind farms represented the biggest category of investment between April and June, BNEF says. Investment in small-scale PV projects of less than 1 MW accounted for $17 billion of outlays in the second quarter, in line with Q1'13, but down 15% from Q2'12, largely because of reductions in the cost of PV panels, BNEF reports.

To read the full Bloomberg New Energy Finance report, click here.