The International Energy Agency (IEA)  says global markets are seeing the first signs of green shoots in energy technology development as efforts intensify to end world dependence on fossil-based fuels such as oil and gas.

The Paris-based agency says that, despite the economic downturn, global investment in renewable electricity generation, led by wind and solar, reached an all-time high of around $110 billion in 2008 and remained broadly stable in 2009, but it warns much more needs to be done