5 Top Alternative Energy Stocks to Consider Buying Now

Alternative energy covers a wide range of sources, with almost anything that's not a fossil fuel falling under the banner. That includes common renewable energy sources such as wind, solar, hydro, and biomass, as well as clean energy options such as nuclear, in addition to emerging alternatives such as algae fuel, wave power, and hydrogen. The overarching theme is that these energy sources produce fewer carbon dioxide emissions, which makes them a better alternative than fossil fuels, given growing climate change concerns.

Those environmental concerns, when combined with falling costs for renewable sources, has fueled breathtaking growth in alternative energy over the past few years. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), two-thirds of all new power capacity added around the globe in 2016 came from renewables, with solar power, for example, growing by 50%. That brisk growth rate appears poised to continue, with the IEA anticipating that global renewable electricity capacity will increase by 43% through 2022. That rapidly expanding market for renewables could fuel market-beating returns for investors in alternative energy stocks in the coming years. Here's are five promising ones to consider buying as the renewable energy market heats up.

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Source: Fool.com