Good renewable energy market data

Some great U.S. renewable energy market data here. Enjoy.

More on PARC and SolFocus

Following up on the previous post regarding SolFocus and Xerox PARC, here are two good columns on the same topic (actually, here and here), with additional information and thoughts.

[Update: For a fantastic resource, see Xerox PARC's videotaped technology speaker series, many of which are on cleantech topics]


PS... On the topic of the broader cleantech investment thesis, there was this story today. "This is the kind of study that should make people stay awake at night wondering what we're doing to the climate, how we're shaping the planet for future generations and, especially, what we can do about it."

Cleantech company news

A few interesting news items from several cleantech companies have come out over the last couple of days:

• Xerox PARC and solar concentrator PV startup SolFocus have announced that they're teaming up to develop commercial systems. SolFocus won the grand prize at the most recent NREL Growth Forum. You can read more about the PARC-SolFocus partnership here.

• The next "Ginger"? Dean Kamen's technology (he invented the Segway, famously) for a cow dung-powered 1kW generator is apparently the focus of an effort by Grameen Phone's Iqbal Quadir to license the technology for use in providing water and power to rural villages. Quadir's startup, Emergence Energy, would then look to raise $30M in venture capital to bring the technology to market. As we discussed back in October, the device is apparently powered by a Stirling engine, and now it appears he's coupled a second device (this time the code name is "Slingshot") which provides clean water, as powered by the waste heat from the generator. Right now each prototype costs $100,000, but the hope is that the price can be dropped to 1-2% of that.
  

• Why are investors hot on solar? Because of stories like this. 27x is a nice multiple, especially for an investment held less than 2 years...

• A final note not related to any particular company: For the many, many, many of you who regularly contact me for thoughts on how to get a job in clean energy, if you're in the bay area on the 23rd, this general-public event seems tailor-made for you. For my own thoughts on the topic, there was this post a while back...
  

Kleiner Perkins to spend $100M on cleantech

Taking a clear interest in funding clean energy companies and making it official, Kleiner Perkins announced today that they have raised three funds totaling $900M, of which $100M has been earmarked for "greentech" (and $200M directed at pandemics, interestingly). In so doing, they become one of the highest-profile firms to officially set aside capital for funding cleantech firms -- although many of the best-known generalist firms are already also active in the space, of course. It's unclear if KPCB is going to look beyond energy tech in their cleantech investments, but that would seem likely.

Quote of the day, courtesy of John Doerr: "Greentech could be the largest economic opportunity of the 21st century."

Konarka raises $20M

One of the more visible solar startups, Konarka, today announced a $20M raise led by 3i Group plc, with existing investors Draper Fisher Jurvetson, New Enterprise Associates, Good Energies, Vanguard Ventures, Partech International and Chevron Technology Ventures also participating in the raise. As part of the raise, 3i and Good Energies have taken board seats in the company.

To date, Konarka has raised $60M.

Basin Water files for IPO, and other updates

• Basin Water, a groundwater treatment company based in California, has filed for a $52M IPO. Revenues for 2005 were under $8M, which gives a sense of where valuations are in cleantech right now...

• On the subject of nanotechnology, "cleantech" or danger, Joel Makower (as usual) has some thoughts well worth checking out.

• For those tracking biofuels in general and Seattle BioDiesel in particular, here's an interesting article.

• One topic that hasn't been written up much in the press lately is the opportunity for venture investors to get in on wind power technologies, but here's a good overview (self-promotion alert... literally).
  

Notable stories from the week

• SmartMoney posted this good interview with Tim Woodward of Nth Power, one of the best-known energy tech pureplay VCs. Worth checking out...
  

• Fascinating post on CleantechBlog describing GE's decision to back away from superconducting turbines.
  

• The recent State of the Union speech's highlighting of alternative energy sources (notwithstanding actual budgetary decisions to the contrary) has of course re-energized the debate we've mentioned before about the viability of biofuels. To keep up on the latest, read this article in the NYT and the rebuttal from green guru Joel Makower.

• Great article on the intersection of cleantech, nanotech and advanced materials.

• Good interview with Ron Kenedi of Sharp Solar.
  

• Amusing reads: Herb Greenberg slams ECD (sub req'd). Huge Brita filters for St. Paul, MN? And for those with a particular interest in following the vagaries of oil prices and their impact on the economy, here's an interesting analysis of last year's predictions, and a forecast for this year from an admitted pessimist... "From the very first time I cranked up my oil depletion model in 2003, the events of this year have exuded a bad karma. Although I have fine-tuned my model over a hundred times, the result is always the same. 2006 does not look good." Perhaps "amusing read" isn't the best label...