China regained the top spot in global clean energy investment in 2012 with an impressive jump of around 20 percent, according to a report released on Thursday.

China attracted $65.1 billion in renewable energy investment in 2012, according to the Pew Charitable Trusts' report. It marks the third time that China was the global leader in attracting investment in the renewable energy sector since 2009.

The United States, last year's world leaders, ranked second with investment in this sector dropping 37 percent to $35.6 billion in 2012. Germany came third with an investment of $22.8 billion.

China accounted for 30 percent of total clean energy investment in G20 nations in 2012. It added 23 gW of clean energy capacity in 2012, accounting for 25 percent of the world's newly installed clean energy.

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