Latest Updates: cleantech RSS

• Algae Biofuel Doubles its Demand
  Srikant Rajan 05:11:12 am on October 26, 2008 | 0 | # |
  Tags: algae biofuel, Algal Biomass Organization, biofuel, byrne company, cleantech, vinod khosla

  The Algal Biomass Summit, in Seattle would see twice last years participation .The event will feature 50 presentations and 30 odd presentations and would act as a knowledge sharing platform for discussing viability off algae as a fuel source. Clean-tech investor Vinod Khosla will also be participating in this conference. Khosla has invested quite some billions in a variety of clean tech startups such as solar, carbon capture.

  Tom Byrne, president of The Byrne Company and secretary of the (Algal Biomass Organization ), ABO Steering Committee adds , “ That more than 600 people from around the world have registered, reflects the intense global interest in algae as one of the most promising renewable energy sources. But it’s also clear that people are coming to learn from the best and the brightest scientists, engineers, entrepreneurs, government leaders and venture capitalists who are speaking and presenting posters at the event “

   

• Go Green For a Better Economy
  Srikant Rajan 03:31:42 pm on June 18, 2008 | 1 | # |
  Tags: carbon credits, cleantech, energy independence, geothermal energy, tidal energy, wind power

  "Decarbonized" nations have strong economies.Sweden, for instance had announced a carbon tax in the year 1991 .This lead to a rush of entrepreneurs in the cleantech sector; generating power from wind,sun,and tidal energy.Even garbage,agricultural wastes were used for energy generation.As a result Sweden’s growth rates surged in the corresponding period.Spurred by this success, Sweden is now aiming at complete elimination of fossil fuel based power by year 2020.Iceland ,another nation was dependent on imported coal and oil for nearly 70% of its energy needs during 1970’s.Today Iceland has successfully tapped geothermal energy and hydroelectric power for its energy needs.90% of all housing in the country is heated with geothermal energy; the remainder being heated mainly with electricity. The majority of the country’s electricity (80%) is generated using hydropower; the remainder being based on geothermal power. The immediate fallout of this energy independence is a fourth ranking of Iceland, in the most affluent nations of the earth by the International Monetary Fund.

  And finally ,California notorious for its commitment towards environment protection is one of US’s most energy efficient states and also possesses a robust economy .Studies have also revealed that US has greater domestic energy resources compared to Iceland or Sweden and an estimated second-largest geothermal energy resource in the world.Give these facts perhaps the republicans can have a rethink of their continued support to oil companies.

   

• Viaspace Betting Big on Lithium Ion Technology
  Srikant Rajan 03:29:07 pm on May 21, 2008 | 0 | # |
  Tags: advanced battery, cleantech, hyb, lithium ion, viaspace

  Viaspace Inc is involved in leveraging space and defense technologies from NASA and Department of Defense,USA to develop advanced clean energy generation technology.The company is commercializing  a host of new technologies developed at NASA’s Jet Jet Propulsion Laboratory and Caltech.It is also  engaging in strategic partnerships with contractors,OEM’s to enable widespread adoption of clean technologies.It has recently signed an agreement with a Chinese based company HYB Battery Co. Ltd for global distribution of rechargeable lithium ion batteries.HYB founded in 1999, produces high quality,low cost batteries which are used in portable electronic goods.Its quality parameters have been  audited and certified by major customers,such as Samsung, Tyco, Garmin, Philips, Varta, Foxconn, and CelExpert.Viaspace CEO Carl Kukkonen, expects nearly a 400% increase in sales of batteries in coming years ,specifically in applications  such as power tools, electric bicycles and scooters.

   

• Cleantech Companies Attract Increased Investment
  Srikant Rajan 01:16:41 pm on May 8, 2008 | 0 | # |
  Tags: cleantech, funding, venture capitalists

  Venture capitalists seem to be aggressively pursuing clean tech companies.Despite a recession in the US economy investments in the clean tech industry reached nearly $570 million in the first quarter of 2008 as compared to $480 million in the corresponding quarter in 2007 according to Ernst & Young.In addition during the period 2002-2007 cleantech investments increased from 1% to excess of 8% of total US annual venture capitalist investment.Such investments signify a growing acceptance in the public market for cleantech IPO’s and also indicate a  supportive government policy.

   

• General Electric (GE) A Cleantech Behemoth
  Tate 03:13:35 am on April 28, 2008 | 0 | # |
  Tags: cleantech, GE, solar, water, wind

  Good post at the Cleantech Blog regarding GE’s growing dominance in everything green energy..

  In the past few years they have purchased Enron Wind making them one of the top 5 wind players overnight, purchased a leading gas engine manufacturer making them an overnight leader in small clean power systems, acquired one of the top 5 solar companies in 2004 (Astropower), in 2005 acquired one of the largest water technology businesses (Ionics) assuring a leadership position in water purification which will be huge in the coming years.  I agree with the author that a spinoff of one of these would create a big time IPO.