The COVID-19 outbreak has had a tremendous impact on the energy sector this year. Even the renewables industry hasn't been immune, as demand for new solar panels has cratered, forcing manufacturers to temporarily suspend production.
However, while demand for new capacity might be facing some headwinds, renewable energy consumption remains steady because utilities continue to favor it over fossil fuels. Because of that, companies that operate these facilities have continued to produce stable earnings. That makes them ideal stocks to buy, especially for investors seeking lower risk exposure to the sector.
Three that stand out right now as the top buys are Brookfield Renewable Partners (NYSE: BEP), Clearway Energy (NYSE: CWEN)(NYSE: CWEN.A), and NextEra Energy Partners (NYSE: NEP).