Originally published on Best Stocks Category: best stocks to buy nowThe renewable energy industry has grown exponentially in recent years, expanding its reach and availability to more consumers. Integrating renewable energy as a primary source of electricity is especially important because it reduces the impact fossil fuels have on the environment while also lowering operational costs for businesses. Investing in renewable energy can be challenging, though, because there are so many different companies and types of investments to choose from. Therefore, investors should understand several primary ways to invest in renewable energy before putting money into these stocks. Atlantica Sustainable Infrastructure (AY) Atlantica Sustainable Infrastructure is a developer of utility-scale solar farms in the United States. The company owns and operates several solar projects in Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas. These projects are expected to produce approximately 1.3 gigawatts of electricity, enough to power approximately 150,000 homes. The company also owns and operates a biomass power plant in Florida, which is expected to produce approximately 193 megawatts of electricity. This biomass plant converts organic waste into energy, which can help reduce the amount of waste in landfills. Kenon Holdings (KEN) Kenon Holdings is one of the world’s largest independent solar power plant developers. The company owns and operates utility-scale and rooftop solar plants in the United States, Europe, and Israel. These projects generate approximately 876 megawatts of electricity, enough to power nearly 300,000 homes. The company also has a joint venture with Indian company Adani to develop a 4,000-megawatt solar power plant in the Indian state of Gujarat. This plant is expected to be one of the largest solar farms in the world. Vistra (VST) Vistra is one of the largest owners and operators of renewable energy projects in the United States. The company owns more than 1,000 utility-scale wind turbines, generating approximately 5,300 megawatts of electricity. This is enough to power more than 1 million homes. In addition, Vistra owns nearly 100 hydroelectric projects, generating enough energy to power more than 800,000 homes. And the company owns and operates a combined cycle natural gas facility in Texas, producing approximately 1,300 megawatts of electricity. Steris (STE) Steris is the world’s largest provider of sterilization services for healthcare facilities. The company sterilizes medical supplies, equipment, and instruments using steam and ethylene oxide, which can harm humans in high concentrations. Steris owns and operates steam sterilization facilities used by laboratories and healthcare facilities. These facilities use water vapor to sterilize medical supplies and instruments. In addition to sterilization services, Steris also owns and operates a large solar farm in Virginia. This farm uses solar panels to generate enough energy to power more than 1,000 homes. Conclusion Investing in renewable energy can be lucrative, as the industry is growing quickly with government support. However, investors should do their research before making an investment decision to make sure they choose the right stock. When selecting renewable energy stocks, it’s important to choose between those that generate electricity and those that produce equipment used in renewable energy projects. In addition, when investing in these stocks, it’s important to understand how the company’s business model makes it unique from other renewable energy companies.