UK clean energy investments rose by 35 per cent during 2011 to $9.4bn, driven by exponential growth in the solar sector as developers rushed to beat deadlines for controversial subsidy cuts.

The surge in investment takes the UK up to seventh in a ranking of the G20 countries compiled by US-based The Pew Charitable Trusts, rising from 13th last year, when investment levels plummeted to $7bn.

However, the performance still falls well short of the $11bn ploughed into the UK’s clean energy sector in 2009 when a raft of new offshore wind projects came online.

The landmark report also reveals that worldwide investment grew to a record $263bn in 2011, a 6.5 per cent rise on the previous year.

The US snatched the global crown for top investor from China, with $48bn invested compared to $45.5bn.

Total clean energy generating capacity grew by a record 83.5GW in 2011 to 565GW, according to the report, over 50 per cent more than installed nuclear power capacity.

“The clean energy sector received its trillionth dollar of private investment just before the end of 2011, demonstrating significant growth over the past eight years,” said Michael Liebreich, chief executive of analysts Bloomberg New Energy Finance, Pew’s research partner.

“Solar installations drove most of the activity last year as the falling price of photovoltaic modules, now 75 per cent lower than three years ago, more than compensated for weakening clean energy support mechanisms in a number of parts of the world.”

The UK experienced a 10-fold increase in solar energy investments, which rose to $4.8bn, financing the installation of more than 300MW of capacity in 2011.

However, the report noted these figures were inflated by investors racing to complete projects before payments under the feed-in tariff incentive scheme declined.

Pew also noted “sustained interest” in offshore wind development in the UK, which helped to spur $2.3bn of investment and 900MW of new wind energy capacity during 2011, taking the UK’s overall total to 6.5GW.

However, Phyllis Cuttino, director of Pew’s Clean Energy Program, warned the UK needed to provide greater policy certainty to sustain its growing renewables sector.

“While solar investment saw the most significant growth in the UK, offshore wind is poised for significant future investments and capacity additions,” she said. “To maintain growth, the UK must provide consistent, long-term market signals that provide certainty to investors.”

She was echoed by Caroline Flint, Shadow Energy and Climate Change Secretary, who noted the UK did not make the report’s top-10 lists for annual clean energy capacity installations or five-year growth in renewable energy.

“The UK must not be allowed to fall behind in the clean energy race,” she said in a statement.

“We are on the cusp of a new industrial revolution that will create a new economy that is cleaner, leaner and more competitive and will provide the energy we need. The government must end the mixed messages, support British businesses and get behind Labour’s plan for an active industrial strategy, focused on growth, skilled job creation and a revival of Britain’s manufacturing sector.”

Behind the US and China, the rest of the top five was completed by Germany with $30.6bn of investment, Italy with $28bn, and the remainder of the EU 27, which saw just over $11bn invested.

India took sixth place, ahead of the UK, with $10.2bn invested, while Japan, Spain and Brazil made up the rest of the 10 leading nations.

The report also revealed that around 95 per cent of all clean energy investment was concentrated in the G20 countries.

Europe maintained its regional leadership position for clean energy investment, growing by a modest four per cent to $99bn. Pew said significant investment growth in Italy, the UK and Spain helped to offset declines in other EU member states.