I think a shift in investor mentality towards companies working with common Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) goals will become vital in the next decade. Businesses embracing sustainability and working in areas that promote renewable energy sources are multiplying as we move towards a greener supply chain. And an important concern raised at last year’s COP 26 event is switching to more renewable power sources and phasing out coal power.

I feel UK renewable energy companies can benefit tremendously given recent trends. Here are three shares I’m looking at in this space that could explode in 2022.

EVs take off

If I had to pick one industry that grew enormously in 2021, it has to be electric vehicles (EVs). Car giants are increasing their EV offerings and global markets are opening up infrastructure possibilities that could enable the long-needed switch. And this is where firms like Nexus Infrastructure (LSE: NEX) stand to benefit.

The company’s primary focus is civil engineering and outfitting new homes with utilities. But it also specialises in installing EV charging ports in homes. Last year, the government passed legislation that made EV ports mandatory in all new homes in the country from 2022. This is great news for Nexus because it already works with established builders like Persimmon and Taylor Wimpey. EV ports can be an auxiliary service the company provides, which already gives it a large market share in an emerging space.

It should be noted that a lockdown remains possible given the Omicron spread. And Nexus’s primary business, civil engineering, could be affected given rising construction material shortages and inflation. This could eat into revenue and cause its share price to fall. And Nexus shares already look slightly expensive at 222p, at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 34 times. But I’m watching this renewable energy stock closely to try and find the optimal entry point for 2022 and beyond.

Future power?

Eqtec (LSE:EQT) is a waste-to-energy company that has patented gasification tech to solve two separate environmental issues. The company uses waste to produce gas fuel to power industries. But this innovative tech is a risky pick that has high potential. And a lot of its future revenue rides on massive adoption.

Its share price has remained dormant for nearly a decade now, falling below 10p in 2015 and never recovering. But a new three-year deal with Toyota Motors and two new power plants could breathe life into this renewable energy stock. The company could build recent developments and work towards wider adoption, which is why it is on my watchlist. However, this remains a speculative pick for my portfolio. 

The next company on my list is ITM Power (LSE:ITM). The hydrogen electrolysis machines the company makes separate hydrogen from water and use clean hydrogen as fuel. This process has zero carbon by-products, which is vital. Hydrogen as a fuel source is still in its infancy, in terms of adoption. This makes me optimistic about ITM’s future potential.

Despite impressive tech, the energy firm was plagued by a massive debt pile in 2021, which led to a poor showing last year. The loss-making company expects a 31% increase in projected revenue which could plug the £250m debt hole. And right now, the company is at a crucial point in the market and could take off in 2022, which is why it is on my watchlist.

The post Renewable energy boom: my top 3 shares for 2022 appeared first on The Motley Fool UK.

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Suraj Radhakrishnan has no position in any of the shares mentioned. The Motley Fool UK has no position in any of the shares mentioned. Views expressed on the companies mentioned in this article are those of the writer and therefore may differ from the official recommendations we make in our subscription services such as Share Advisor, Hidden Winners and Pro. Here at The Motley Fool we believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors.

With that in mind, I’m looking into two top ESG plays for me, Coca-Cola HBC (LSE: CCH) and GlaxoSmithKline (LSE: GSK). 

Coca-Cola HBC

This Switzerland-based bottler of the Coca-Cola product and its ESG rating have me asking myself if I should invest. 

It has consistently ranked at the top of the FTSE4GOOD Index series since its inception in 2000. This is due to its advancements in working with recycled materials. By 2025 it plans to be using 50% recycled PET (the type of plastic it uses for packaging) in its European operations and 30% across the company as a whole.

Due to the pandemic, sales fell 12.7% to €6.1bn in 2020, but things are looking up. As vaccinations continue across the world, I’m growing more bullish on the stock and its recovery. In a recent statement, the company said: “We expect to see a strong FX-neutral revenue recovery in 2021”. This has led analysts to provide expectations of revenue growth of 8.3% and 6.7% for FY21 and FY22, respectively.

There is still the risk of renewed Covid-19 cases though, which would throw a spanner in the works of any recovery. Considering the rapidly growing infection rates across major European countries, it’s very possible that business could take another hit. 

The Coca-Cola HBC price is currently 2,488p, up 27% in the past year from a price of 1,952p, and giving it a price-to-earnings ratio of 25. Should the current speed of economic reopening continue, I will be more confident to invest in Coca-Cola HBC as the risk of re-closure reduces.

GlaxoSmithKline

As far as ethical investing goes, you probably weren’t thinking of one of the FTSE 100’s top pharma stocks. However, GlaxoSmithKline has proven to be an ESG leader thanks to its work in providing access to medicine. 

The pharma giant, whom activist firm Elliot Management recently took a large stake in, is ranked highest in the Access to Medicine Index. This index measures Big Pharma’s efforts to make its products available to more vulnerable populations. What’s more, this top British firm has promised to have a net-zero environmental impact by 2030. 

And although GlaxoSmithKline missed out on 2020’s pharma rally, I believe it could be on the up. New pharmaceutical sales rose 12% to £2.5bn in Q3, accounting for 30% of all revenue. It also remained very profitable, with an operating margin of 22%. It is the sixth-largest pharma company in the world with a strong brand and dedicated workforce.

Unfortunately, its planned corporate restructuring and dividend reduction could spell volatility for its share price. By reducing its dividend for the first time in 15 years and welcoming a heavy-hitter such as Elliot Management on board, it could be too much, too fast. 

GlaxoSmithKline is currently priced at 1,333p, down 20% in the past year from a price of 1,668p, and giving it a P/E ratio of 13. As it is still well off its all-time highs, I would be interested in it as a long-term dividend payer. 

The post 2 top FTSE 100 ethical stocks appeared first on The Motley Fool UK.

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Jamie Adams holds no position in stocks mentioned above. The Motley Fool UK has recommended GlaxoSmithKline. Views expressed on the companies mentioned in this article are those of the writer and therefore may differ from the official recommendations we make in our subscription services such as Share Advisor, Hidden Winners and Pro. Here at The Motley Fool we believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors.