Investments in solar power, wind energy, bio-fuels, and fuel cells surged 40% last year to $US77.3 billion ($A83.6 million) and will more than triple in the next decade, according to industry group Clean Edge. Revenue from alternatives to oil, coal and other fossil fuels will reach $US254.5 billion by 2017, Clean Edge, a research firm based in Portland, Oregon, said in a statement. Investment in alternative energy has jumped as oil topped $US100 a barrel, coal reached records in global spot markets and governments faced increasing pressure to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Installations of wind turbines, which last year reached a record 20,000 megawatts worth $US30.1 billion, will jump to $US83.4 billion in 2017, Clean Edge said. Solar, with almost 3000 megawatts installed last year, will more than triple to a $US74 billion market by 2017.