Clean Ventures

Cleantech Clusters

2011-06-10T20:06:00.005+01:00

The Cleantech Clusters event series was launched earlier this year by Rushlight Events and Cleantech Investor. The first three events have each featured a venture capital investor on the panel - discussing topics relating to the emergence of cleantech clusters around the UK and centres of excellence in cleantech industry sub sectors.The first event, sponsored by BDO, was held in London in

Stockholm Cleantech Showcase

2011-06-05T09:27:00.005+01:00

Cleantech Investor organised an event at the residence of the Swedish Ambassador in London in partnership with STING Capital of Stockholm last week, showcasing cleantech companies. The event was broadcast live and a video of the presentation of each of the companies is available online at www.cleantechinvestor.com/liveProfiles of the presenting companies, which are at various stages of maturity

Bright start to 2011 for solar

2011-03-05T11:42:00.003Z

Venture capital investment in solar got off to a strong start in 2011. In the solar thermal sector BrightSource Energy in the US and EnviroMission, an Australian company, both raised funding. In thin film, fund raisings by companies including SoloPower, Sulfurcell were reported. In the CSP space, deals so far this year have included GreenVolts and Sopogy. Amongst solar installers raising funds

Leading VC offers tips for cleantech businesses

2010-11-14T00:59:00.002Z

Dr Rob Wylie of WHEB Ventures provides ten tips for cleantech businesses in the latest issue of Cleantech magazine.Rob's Dos and Don'ts for the cleantech entrepreneur include:1. Be realistic about cash requirements2. Find ways to generate profitable revenue early3. Look carefully at sales lead times4. Avoid capital-intensive projects unless it is clear how they can be financed5. Find an investor

Fuel cells and venture investment

2010-10-12T23:42:00.004+01:00

We've just published a special issue of Cleantech magazine on fuel cells. The entire issue is available as a virtual magazineThere are several features on venture investors including profiles of two funds, Conduit Ventures and the PGM Development Fund.We've also included a feature entitled Fuel Cells: the role of Venture Investors.With Bloom Energy looking like an IPO candidate, this could be the

Cleantech Survey

2010-07-31T12:47:00.002+01:00

Results of the Cleantech Investment and Private Equity survey conducted by Cleantech Investor and Norton Rose earlier this year have now been published. The survey was conducted amongst both cleantech companies and investors - predominantly from Europe and North America. Key findings included the following:Energy efficiency is expected to be the cleantech sector attracting the most investment

WHEB chosen by Environmental Innovation Fund

2010-04-21T18:23:00.003+01:00

WHEB Ventures is the first fund to receive investment from the Hermes Private Equity Environmental Innovation Fund. WHEB Ventures focuses on Cleantech companies with solutions for resource efficiency and conservation and invests predominantly on Europe.Hermes was selected to manage a fund of funds on behalf of the UK Innovation Investment Fund and confirmed that it had raised £125 million in

Cleantech Investor takes over Clean Ventures blog

2010-04-16T18:56:00.003+01:00

Cleantech Investor has taken over the Clean Ventures blogspot from Tim Chapman. Tim has been a regular contributor to Cleantech magazine for almost three years and we are sad to lose his input, but we wish him well in his new role - and we would like to thank him for handing over the blog. We hope we can keep up the high quality of comment and insight into venture activity in cleantech which Tim

A clean break

2010-04-06T16:12:00.002+01:00

Because of a return to full-time employment, I'm winding up the Clean Ventures blog and am no longer freelancing. Thank you to everyone who has read and supported the blog over the past few years, especially those who have commissioned work.I'll still be writing on clean(ish) technology related matters in the new job, but in a rather different context - I'm now communications manager at the

Budget wishlist for renewables

2010-03-05T12:17:00.002Z

Industry group RenewableUK (formely the BWEA) has released a Budget Submission to UK Treasury (pdf 1mb) outlining the government support that the renewables industry wants to see - more money in a range of targeted programmes, basically. The headline demand is a further £200-300m over two or three years to invest in facilities and technologies for offshore wind and tidal power. Also on the

Clean Sweep 78

2010-03-01T17:20:00.001Z

A round-up of recent news in clean technology and cleantech investment. DealsUK tidal group Marine Current Turbines has secured an extra £4.8m funding courtesy of engineering group Siemens. The funding follows a £3.5m round led by Carbon Trust Investments in January. The new money will help Bristol-based MCT deploy its Seagen tidal turbine tech to create the UK's first commercial tidal energy

Clean Sweep 77

2010-02-10T16:16:00.001Z

A round-up of recent news in clean technology and cleantech investment. DealsEmissions management firm AMEE has closed a $5.5m second round led by Amadeus Capital Partners. Existing investors including O’Reilly AlphaTech Ventures and Union Square Ventures also joined the round. AMEE, which has offices in London and San Francisco, provides the data, modelling systems and application programming

EIB energy head interviewed

2010-02-03T16:49:00.002Z

Christopher Knowles is head of energy, environment and investment funds at the European Investment Bank. EIB has emerged as a major provider of project finance to the renewable energy sector, committing Euro6bn in 2009. Deals included the underwriting of Belwind's 330MW offshore wind development off the Belgian coast, the first time that EIB has assumed project finance risk for such a venture.I

Clean Sweep 76

2010-01-25T15:35:00.002Z

A round-up of recent news in clean technology and cleantech investment. DealsBristol-based tidal power developer Marine Current Turbines has raised £3.5m in a deal led by Carbon Trust Investments. Dutch sustainability-focused VC High Tide, Nordic investor BankInvest and utility group EDF Energy also joined the round, along with private individuals. MCT will use the funding to help deploy its

UK offshore wind developers named

2010-01-08T14:28:00.004Z

The Crown Estate, which 'owns' the seabed around the UK, has named developers for the latest round of offshore wind power development. The nine development zones and successful bidders are:Moray Firth Zone, Moray Offshore Renewables Ltd which is 75% owned by EDP Renovaveis and 25% owned by SeaEnergy Renewables – 1.3 GWFirth of Forth Zone, SeaGreen Wind Energy Ltd equally owned by SSE Renewables

Clean Sweep 75

2009-12-22T13:19:00.000Z

A round-up of recent news in clean technology and cleantech investment. DealsAberdeen-based marine contractor Subocean Group has raised £17m from LDC, the private equity arm of Lloyds Banking Group, plus £25m debt from HSBC. Founded in 2005, Subocean provides a range of services to offshore operators based on skills and technology developed for the oil and gas sector. The firm is increasingly

Hermes to head cleantech UKIIF

2009-12-09T15:57:00.002Z

Hermes Private Equity is managing a new £125m cleantech fund-of-funds anchored by UK government money.The fund is one of two in the UK Innovation Investment Fund (UKIIF) scheme. The brainchild of science minister and erstwhile tech entrepreneur Paul Drayson, UKIIF aims to attract more institutional money into early-stage venture capital for UK tech companies. The business ministry BIS has put up

Clean Sweep 74

2009-11-30T14:08:00.000Z

A round-up of recent news in clean technology and cleantech investment. DealsAfter some 20 months of wrangling, UK renewables group Novera has been taken over by Infinis, a buy-and-build renewables vehicle backed by private equity group Terra Firma. Infinis paid 77p per share for a final batch of shares to take a 50.15% stake in Novera, and is making a recommended offer at the same price for all

Clean Sweep 73

2009-11-04T15:40:00.001Z

A round-up of recent news in clean technology and cleantech investment. DealsUK cleantech specialist Ludgate Environmental Fund has made a follow-on investment of Euro2.3m in portfolio company agri.capital. The investment bring's Ludgate's total investment up to Euro7.3m.Münster-based agri.capital produces biogas from manure and silage feedstocks, and currently operates at 44 sites with total

Clean Sweep 72

2009-10-16T15:56:00.001+01:00

A round-up of recent news in clean technology and cleantech investment. DealsWaste treatment group New Earth Solutions secured £5m from Ludgate Environmental Fund as part of an ongoing £15m fundraising round. The Dorset-based group provides waste services, including a proprietary temperature-controlled composting process, for local authorities across southern and central England. Its New Earth

Clean Sweep 71

2009-10-05T15:40:00.000+01:00

A round-up of recent news in clean technology and cleantech investment. DealsWave power developer Aquamarine Power raised £10m to support offshore testing of its Oyster device. Investors include Scottish & Southern Energy and Sigma Capital, who previously backed Aquamarine in 2007.The Oyster is a hydro-electric wave energy converter, which uses the motion of the sea to pump high-pressure water to

Clean Sweep 70

2009-09-17T12:13:00.002+01:00

A round-up of recent news in clean technology and cleantech investment. It's been a while since the last one, and there's been plenty happening. DealsEnergy-efficient electronics developer Nujira raised a £10m fourth round from new investor Environmental Technologies Fund, Bank Invest, 3i, Amadeus, Mitsubishi UFJ Capital and private investors. The Cambridge-based firm provides a range of

Clean Sweep 69

2009-08-25T13:08:00.002+01:00

A round-up of recent news in clean technology and cleantech investment. DealsGreen cement developer Novacem raised something over £1m from Imperial Innovations, the London Technology Fund and the new Royal Society Enterprise Fund. A spin-out from Imperial College London, Novacem is developing a cement which absorbs more carbon dioxide over its lifetime than is emitted in its production.

Clean Sweep 68

2009-08-04T15:32:00.002+01:00

A round-up of recent news in clean technology and cleantech investment. I've been laid up with a cold for the past week, so plenty to catch up on. DealsCellulosic biofuel developer TMO Renewables has closed a £11m round, with Presnow, Diverso and Libra Advisors joining existing investors Jupiter Asset Management, Noble Group, and RAB Capital.Guildford-based TMO plans to use thermophilic bacteria,

Clean Sweep 67

2009-07-16T15:46:00.002+01:00

A round-up of recent news in clean technology and cleantech investment. DealsGreen building firm E-Stack has raised £1.1m from growth specialist MMC Ventures. MMC manages funds under the Enterprise Investment Scheme as well as a syndicate of private investors. A spin-out from Cambridge University, E-Stack produces and installs low-energy ventilation systems based on technology developed at the BP

Low carbon transition plan, and more

2009-07-15T14:19:00.002+01:00

A busy day in policy land, with a suite of strategy documents and grand green plans emerging from Whitehall.The big one is the UK Low Carbon Transition Plan, detailing how the country can meet its binding target of cutting greenhouse emissions by 34% from 1990 levels by 2020 (or, more pertinently, by 18% from 2008 levels).Key elements, many of which have been previously announced, include

Clean Sweep 66

2009-07-03T14:50:00.002+01:00

A round-up of recent news in clean technology and cleantech investment. DealsNext-gen solar cell developer QuantaSol has closed a funding round at just under £2m from existing investors Low Carbon Accelerator and Imperial Innovations. LCA is investing £1.175m in two rounds, and also converting an existing £400k loan into equity. QuantaSol, a spin-out from Imperial College London, also announced

Clean Sweep 65

2009-06-26T07:02:00.001+01:00

A round-up of recent news in clean technology and cleantech investment. DealsCambridge solar tech start-up Enecsys has raised a £6m first round led by Wellington Partners. Denmark's BankInvest New Energy Solutions also joined the round. A spin-out from the University of Cambridge, Enecsys is commercialising a micro-inverter for solar PV modules. By getting rid of components such as electrolytic

Clean Sweep 64

2009-06-16T12:34:00.002+01:00

A round-up of recent news in clean technology and cleantech investment. DealsAlertMe, a Cambridge-based producer of domestic energy monitoring systems, has raised an £8m second round from Good Energies, Index Ventures, SET Venture Partners and VantagePoint Venture Partners. The money goes towards product development and establishing distribution links with retailers and utilities.AlertMe provides

Top ten VCs

2009-06-11T15:00:00.002+01:00

To mark the second anniversary of Clean Ventures, here's an informal ranking of the most active equity investors in UK cleantech companies.The VCs are primarily ranked by the number of investments from June 2007 to date, as identified from the 'Clean Sweep' deal round-ups on this website. Where two or more investors had equal numbers of deals, I've given preference to large deals and leading

Clean Sweep 63

2009-06-05T11:36:00.001+01:00

A round-up of recent news in clean technology and cleantech investment. DealsLondon-based waste-to-energy firm Advanced Plasma Power has raised $10m from US investor Leveraged Green Energy. APP was founded in 2005 to commercialise the Gasplasma incinerator process, developed by plasma arc tech group Tetronics, which converts waste into syngas and a vitrified solid. The firm currently has a pilot

Clean Sweep 62

2009-05-22T15:09:00.002+01:00

A round-up of recent news in clean technology and cleantech investment. DealsEnvironmental Technologies Fund has led a £5.1m follow-on round in speciality metals group Metalysis. Previous investors including 3i, Chord Capital, Seven Spires and defence tech group Qinetiq (investing via Cody Gate Ventures) also returned following the firm's £13m round in July 2007. 3i's involvement is interesting

Clean Sweep 61

2009-05-13T15:01:00.001+01:00

A round-up of recent news in clean technology and cleantech investment. DealsWater management group i2O Water has raised £4.2m growth funding in a round led by Swarraton Partners. Southampton-based i2O is commercialising a software-based system for controlling the pressure of water as it's piped into district systems. By reducing pressure when demand falls, the sytem can significantly reduce

Clean Sweep 60

2009-04-24T13:27:00.003+01:00

A round-up of recent news in clean technology and cleantech investment. PolicyWednesday's underwhelming Budget promised new funding mechanisms for two to four carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects, plus £90m for preparatory studies. The following day, energy secretary Ed Miliband fleshed that out by announcing that all new coal-based generation in the UK must have some CCS capability.

2009 Budget - what's in it for cleantech?

2009-04-22T14:08:00.001+01:00

Alastair Darling's 2009 budget had some bright spots for cleantech developers and investors, but was far short of the brave green budget that many wanted. Most of the goodies came some 40 minutes into the 50 minute speech, under the theme of 'building a low-carbon recovery'. Darling acknowledged green technology as one of the great growth sectors for the world, and emphasised the legally-binding

Electric car proposals unveiled

2009-04-16T11:25:00.002+01:00

The UK government has published its strategy for promoting 'ultra-low carbon vehicles' - meaning all-electrics and hybrids, though obviously their 'low-carbon' nature depends on the source of their electricity - as part of its low carbon industrial strategy. It's being promoted as a £250m, five-year strategy, adding (limited) detail to the previously announced plan. The headline initiative, which

Sustainable energy - without the hot air

2009-04-14T17:44:00.002+01:00

Inspired by the glowing review in the Economist, I've just been reading David MacKay's Sustainable Energy - without the hot air (available as a book through the usual sources, or as a free download under a Creative Commons licence). Like the Economist, I'd strongly recommend the book to anyone involved in sustainable energy, whether as technology developer, investor or policy-maker; and whether

Clean Sweep 59

2009-04-08T15:22:00.002+01:00

A round-up of recent news in clean technology and cleantech investment. DealsAIM-listed cleantech specialist Low Carbon Accelerator has announced follow-on investments in two of its portfolio companies. Scotland's Proven Energy, a producer of small (2.5-15KW) wind turbines, secures an extra £500,000 in two tranches, giving LCA a 49.83% stake in the company. LCA last invested £700,000 in Proven in

Clean Sweep 58

2009-03-26T16:13:00.001Z

A round-up of recent news in clean technology and cleantech investment. DealsWastewater treatment firm Bluewater Bio has raised £2.3m from specialist investor Aqua Resources Fund. The round gives LSE-listed Aqua a 15% stake in Bluewater.The London-based firm is commercialisting a proprietary wastewater treatment technology called HYBACS, or Hybrid Bacillus Activated Sludge, which can reduce the

New Deal or dead end?

2009-03-23T10:15:00.002Z

The UK, like the US, has heard a lot of talk about using investment in renewable energy and other clean technologies to lever us out of both our economic and environmental crises. Last week, energy minister Mike O'Brien was spreading the word at OPEC. In the Guardian, economics editor Larry Elliot again outlines the case for a Green New Deal:For Britain, a Green New Deal (GND) is even more of a

Clean Sweep 57

2009-03-12T15:51:00.002Z

A round-up of recent news in clean technology and cleantech investment. DealsSouth London waste management group Vertal has raised £5m from cleantech specialist Foresight Group. Founded in 2006, Vertal is commercialising an anaerobic digestion technology to convert food waste into high-grade fertiliser. The new funding goes towards completing its first full-scale, 200t/day facility in Mitcham.

Low Carbon Industrial Strategy

2009-03-06T10:24:00.003Z

The government has today launched its Low Carbon Industrial Strategy, with a draft report setting out the UK's industrial priorities in the emerging cleantech economy. The report highlights four key areas: * Energy efficiency to save businesses, consumers and the public services money * Putting in place the energy infrastructure for the UK’s low carbon future – in renewables, nuclear,

Clean Sweep 56

2009-02-23T16:04:00.001Z

A round-up of recent news in clean technology and cleantech investment. DealsOxfordshire-based Nexeon has raised £10m to help develop its advanced Li-ion rechargeable battery tech. The company was founded by Mino Green from Imperial College London, and started life in Imperial Innovations' incubator programme. Imperial Innovations put in £4m in this latest round, with another £5m coming from

Clean Sweep 55

2009-02-06T13:58:00.000Z

A round-up of recent news in clean technology and cleantech investment. DealsGerman biomass tech developer Maxxtec has raised Euro10m from corporate VC Siemens Venture Capital. Siemens VC takes a 20% stake in the company, in the first deal from its new Growth Capital programme of later-stage investment. Maxxtech provides a range of hardware for biomass power generation and industrial

Clean Sweep 54

2009-01-21T15:23:00.003Z

A round-up of recent news in clean technology and cleantech investment. DealsPlastics recycling company 2K Manufacturing has secured a £5m funding package backed by cleantech specialist Foresight. The London-based firm turns waste plastics into plywood-substitute boards for the construction industry, using a patent-protected moulding technology. The new funding goes towards new recycling

Clean Sweep 53

2009-01-09T16:06:00.002Z

A round-up of recent news in clean technology and cleantech investment. DealsFrench domestic heating specialist Cede has raised Euro5m from funds managed by Turenne Capital. Cede, based near Nantes, says its systems can cut domestic heating bills by 75%. Its heat pumps can provide heating in winter and act as a cooling air-con substitute in summer. The firm also supplies high-efficiency electric

The year that was

2009-01-01T14:12:00.002Z

A round-up of some the most notable deals and developments of 2008, month by month -JANUARYKhosla Ventures and KPCB announced clean motoring deals at the Detroit Auto Show. In the first direct investment by a Wall Street major in a cleantech VC, Morgan Stanley bought into NGEN Partners.FEBRUARYTwo German thin-film developers raised big rounds - $40m for CIS developer Odersun and Euro48m for

Clean Sweep 52

2008-12-19T13:24:00.001Z

A round-up of recent news in clean technology and cleantech investment. Seems like everyone's getting their deals wrapped up before the holidays.DealsClimate Change Capital is backing a landfill gas project in Northern Ireland with £2m capital funding. The investment comes from its Ventus Funds, specialist venture capital trusts (VCTs) focused on renewable energy projects. The project is a joint

Clean Sweep 51

2008-12-05T16:04:00.002Z

A round-up of recent news in clean technology and cleantech investment. DealsUK fuel cell developer Acal Energy has raised a £3.3m round from state-backed Carbon Trust Investments, Belgian chemicals group Solvay and another un-named investor. Cheshire-based Acal is developing small (<1kW) PEM fuel cells for domestic and transport applications, based on a proprietary 'liquid cathode' technology

CCC sets out carbon budgets

2008-12-02T10:57:00.001Z

Yesterday saw the release of the first full report from the UK government's Committee on Climate Change, Building a low-carbon economy - the UK's contribution to tackling climate change. The top line is that the CCC is urging the government to commit to unilaterally reducing national greenhouse gas emissions by at least 21% (relative to 2005 levels) by 2020 (or, if you prefer the classic Kyoto

Clean Sweep 50

2008-11-26T13:37:00.001Z

A round-up of recent news in clean technology and cleantech investment. DealsLondon-based Climate Change Capital Private Equity has invested Euro10m in German broadband group Power Plus Communications. PPC provides broadband over low- and medium-voltage powerlines. Climate Change Capital says this will form a key element in smart grids, allowing electricity providers to communicate with smart

Clean Sweep 49

2008-11-12T14:58:00.000Z

A round-up of recent news in clean technology and cleantech investment. DealsScotland's Pelamis Wave Power has raised a £5m round from existing shareholders including Emerald Technology Ventures, Statoilhydro Venture, BlackRock, Atmos and Sustainable Performance Group. The Scottish Venture Fund, a government-backed co-investment fund, contributed £2m. The money goes towards the firm's continuing

The Low Carbon Innovation Partnership

2008-11-03T09:23:00.004Z

There was some fairly big news for UK cleantech venture capital announced yesterday - a new £250m fund backed by oil money. The Qatar Investment Authority is bankrolling the new Low Carbon Innovation Partnership with £150m. UK emissions-cutting quango the Carbon Trust is contributing £10m and managing the fund through its CT Investment Partners advisory business. The Carbon Trust will be looking

Clean Sweep 48

2008-10-31T15:13:00.002Z

A round-up of recent news in clean technology and cleantech investment. DealsWaste treatment firm Morgan Everett has raised £1.45 million growth funding. The round includes £750,000 from PUK Ventures, the venture capital arm of Partnerships UK; the Sustainable Technology Fund, which previously joined in a £1.25 million round in July 2007; and private investors. The new funding allows the

Clean Sweep 47

2008-10-09T17:06:00.003+01:00

A round-up of recent news in clean technology and cleantech investment. DealsItalian renewables group ICQ Holding has secured Euro20.5m from Milan-based environmental investor Ambienta. Ambienta takes a 15.4% stake in ICQ, with an option to increase to 26.5% on an extra investment of Euro20m. ICQ has developed a portfolio of 1200MW of wind, hydroelectric and biogas projects for clients, and is

Clean Sweep 46

2008-09-29T13:15:00.001+01:00

A round-up of recent news in clean technology and cleantech investment. DealsA US cleantech firm has established a new global headquarters in Cambridge after raising its first VC funding in the UK. Colorado-based Vairex raised £4m from London-based Entrepreneurs Fund (the parent fund of cleantech stalwart Good Energies) and Conduit Ventures, along with local business angels. Vairex produces air

Cleantech 100

2008-09-18T10:00:00.003+01:00

Today sees the launch of the Cleantech 100, a new listing of Europe's 'hottest 100 private cleantech companies', compiled by the good folk at Library House and published by the Guardian newspaper. German thin-film solar developer Odersun takes the top spot - its CIS-based modules were used in many of the buildings for the Beijing Olympics. A couple of lower-profile UK energy management firms take

Clean Sweep 45

2008-09-16T16:43:00.002+01:00

A round-up of recent news in clean technology and cleantech investment. DealsElectronic cooling tech firm 4energy has raised £2m from Carbon Trust Investments and Catapult Venture Managers. The Nottinghamshire-based company produces passive cooling systems that can replace energy-intensive air-conditioning in ICT equipment rooms. Its CoolFlow system promises energy savings of up to 90% over

Clean Sweep 44

2008-09-02T13:05:00.001+01:00

A round-up of recent news in clean technology and cleantech investment. DealsUK wind turbine developer Quiet Revolution has raised £7m growth funding. German energy group RWE Innogy provided £6m, with the rest from undisclosed private investors. The London-based firm produces small vertical-axis turbines for distributed generation. The firm says they're particularly suited for use in built-up

Clean Sweep 43

2008-08-20T11:36:00.002+01:00

A round-up of recent news in clean technology and cleantech investment. DealsSpanish solar developer Fotowatio has raised a Euro225m round from General Electric Energy Financial and the Landon family office. The firm is developing a string of 10-20MW PV parks around Spain, and is also looking at thermosolar and biofuel opportunities. Italian environmental investor Ambienta has taken an 80% stake

Clean Sweep 42

2008-07-29T16:43:00.001+01:00

A round-up of recent news in clean technology and cleantech investment. DealsWelsh solar tech developer G24 Innovations has raised its second major investment in less than two months. Following a $20m injection from Morgan Stanley Principal Investments in June, the Cardiff firm has secured $30m from new Luxembourg-based fund 4RAE. 4RAE partner Rijkman Groenink, formerly CEO at ABN Amro, takes a

Clean Sweep 41

2008-07-14T15:13:00.000+01:00

A round-up of recent news in clean technology and cleantech investment. DealsUK fuel cell developer Intelligent Energy has raised $13.6m growth funding from undisclosed private investors. The Loughborough-based firm is developing hydrogen fuel cells for partners including Suzuki, Peugeot Citröen and Boeing. A joint venture with Scottish and Southern Energy is meanwhile developing CHP systems for

Clean Sweep 40

2008-06-30T16:49:00.003+01:00

A round-up of recent news in clean technology and cleantech investment. DealsWelsh solar tech developer G24i has secured a $20m investment from Morgan Stanley Principal Investments. The bank is acting as lead investor in the G24i's ongoing fundraising.The Cardiff firm is developing dye-sensitised thin-film solar cells, based on the same titanium dioxide technology as Konarka - Konarka is backed

Clean Sweep 39

2008-06-16T15:32:00.003+01:00

A round-up of recent news in clean technology and cleantech investment. DealsPower semiconductor firm Evince Technology has raised £500k seed funding from a syndicate of early-stage and cleantech specialists. Based in Sedgefield, County Durham, Evince is developing non-silicon high-voltage devices for renewable power applications. Technical details are scanty, but according to investor Imperial

Clean Sweep 38

2008-05-29T19:06:00.002+01:00

A round-up of recent news in clean technology and cleantech investment. DealsClean plastics company Novel Polymer Solutions has raised a £5m second round. The Malvern-based company is commercialising a new patent-protected process for manufacturing polymers with near-zero emissions of volatile organic compounds. Early target markets include replacing PVC in building, protective clothing and

All-Energy - and on the second day...

2008-05-22T18:19:00.000+01:00

Day two of the UK's largest renewables event, with some weary faces after the previous night's big football game. Delegates who'd been off to enjoy Aberdeen's famously boisterous nightlife didn't seem too disappointed. The morning saw some events directly addressing some of the issues we regularly look at here on Clean Ventures, beginning with the plenary session. David Clarke, the head of the

All-Energy - memo from the Highlands

2008-05-21T22:41:00.003+01:00

So I'm up in Aberdeen for the All-Energy exhibition and conference - the two-day shindig that claims to be the UK's largest renewables event. It's certainly big, sprawling across the labyrinthine complex of the AECC - delegates wandering confused in search of the next talk were a regular feature of the day. It's events like this, with 380-odd exhibitors, that give you a better idea of the size

Clean Sweep 37

2008-05-07T18:13:00.003+01:00

A round-up of recent news in clean technology and cleantech investment. Lots to catch up on again, so let's crack on!DealsFirst up, a couple of smallish deals from UK specialist investors. Ludgate Environmental Fund has put £4m into Rapid Action Packaging, a manufacturer of 'environmentally responsible packaging', as part of a wider placing. Can throw-away sandwich-wrapping really be considered '

Clean Sweep 36

2008-04-18T17:56:00.001+01:00

A round-up of recent news in clean technology and cleantech investment. DealsIn a corporate deal, Coventry-based Geothermal International has raised up to £15m from utility group Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE). SSE takes a 20% stake in the company which, as the name might suggest, designs and installs ground-source heating and cooling systems - with over 1300 systems totalling over 90MW

Clean Sweep 35

2008-04-08T12:56:00.002+01:00

A round-up of recent news in clean technology and cleantech investment. Plenty of new deals to catch up on since last time - DealsKent-based cleantech specialist Foresight has announced three new investments, worth a total £14m. All three companies, I'm proud to say, are based in Yorkshire.Biomass fuels company Land Energy secured £5m to help roll out its services nationwide. The group aims to

Clean Sweep 34

2008-03-24T11:45:00.000Z

A round-up of recent news in clean technology and cleantech investment. DealsUpdate on a story from last month - 3i Infrastructure, a specialist investment vehicle backed by the private equity giant, appears to be losing its bid for UK renewables group Novera Energy. Infinis, the renewables group backed by private equity group Terra Firma, has launched a rival bid and, according to a Reuters

Clean Sweep 33

2008-03-08T15:47:00.002Z

A round-up of recent news in clean technology and cleantech investment. DealsUK wave energy developer ORECon has netted a $24m first round from an international syndicate of VCs. London-based Advent Venture Partners led the deal, joined by pan-European house Wellington Partners, Venrock of the US, and Nordic tech specialist North Zone.A spin-out from the University of Plymouth, ORECon is

Clean Sweep 32

2008-02-26T14:15:00.001Z

A round-up of recent news in clean technology and cleantech investment. Deals3i Infrastructure, a specialist investment vehicle backed by the private equity giant, has confirmed a possible takeover bid for UK renewables group Novera Energy. 3i is considering a 90p/share offer for the listed group, valuing it at £112m. Novera is developing a portfolio of windfarms, landfill gas generators waste

'The Hot Topic' review

2008-02-22T11:51:00.001Z

Given some of the headlines surrounding the publication of The Hot Topic last month ('Science chief: greens hurting climate fight') and the cantankerous reputation of co-author David King, it's almost a disappointment that the book itself is so resolutely unsensational. It's only disappointing if you're looking for ideological fistfights, though - instead, it's a level-headed overview of the

Clean Sweep 31

2008-02-15T10:14:00.002Z

A round-up of recent news in clean technology and cleantech investment. DealsDorset-based waste treatment group New Earth Solutions has landed £4m pre-IPO funding from clean utilities specialist Impax. New Earth uses a range of composting methods to treat biodegradeable municipal waste, with one 50,000t/a facility in Dorset and another under construction in Kent. The funding supports the

Clean Sweep 30

2008-02-01T11:50:00.000Z

A round-up of recent news in clean technology and cleantech investment. DealsNext-gen solar cell developer QuantaSol has received £320k follow-on funding from specialist investor Low Carbon Accelerator. LCA participated in the firm's £1.35m seed round in June 2007. QuantaSol, a spin-out from Imperial College London, is developing thin-film photovoltaic cells for use in concentrating solar modules

European masterplan

2008-01-23T14:22:00.000Z

The European Commission has officially unveiled its much-anticipated (and much-leaked) energy package, containing cross-continental proposals on how to reach the targets agreed last year. The headline figures are to cut CO2 emissions by at least 20% by 2020 (rising to 30% if global targets can be agreed), and to source 20% of energy supply from renewable generation. The primary mechanism is the

Clean Sweep 29

2008-01-21T12:35:00.000Z

A round-up of recent news in clean technology and cleantech investment. DealsIn a potentially important non-VC deal for a major market, AIM-listed fuel cell business Ceres Power secured a £20m investment from utility group Centrica (trading as British Gas). The investment is part of a development and supply agreement following trials of Ceres' residential CHP unit, with British Gas placing a

Clean Sweep 28

2008-01-11T10:23:00.000Z

A round-up of recent news in clean technology and cleantech investment. DealsNewcastle-based recycling group Alternative Waste Solutions has secured £2m growth funding. Early-stage tech specialist E-Synergy led the round with £1.4m from its Sustainable Technology Fund. The balance came from NorthStar Equity Investors with £400k, and a private investor. AWS was formed in 2000 to recycle plastics

Clean Sweep 27

2008-01-07T14:41:00.000Z

A round-up of recent news (from either side of the holidays) in clean technology and cleantech investment. Happy new year, everyone!DealsGermany's Schmack Biogas signed a Euro130m funding deal with mid-market private equity group HgCapital. The 'strategic framework agreement' funds the construction of up to 15 biogas plants with a total capacity of around 30MW over the next two years. The deal

Clean Sweep 26

2007-12-19T11:50:00.000Z

A round-up of recent news in clean technology and cleantech investment.DealsVCT manager Matrix Private Equity Partners has invested £3m in a management buyout at environmental technology consultancy Monsal. Mansfield-based Monsal offers a range of services to the water and waste sectors. Notably, it's the UK market leader in anaerobic digestion technology that breaks down biological solid waste

Merton revisited

2007-12-18T13:10:00.000Z

As we relayed a few months ago, the government was reportedly planning to drop a mandate that all new buildings should include some renewable energy capacity.The so-called Merton rule, introduced by the eponymous London borough in 2003, requires any new building to reduce its carbon emissions by 10%. It had been taken up by around 150 other local authorities with encouragement from Whitehall, but

Clean Sweep 25

2007-12-11T11:22:00.001Z

A round-up of recent news in clean technology and cleantech investment.DealsMid-market bank investor Barclays Ventures has backed the buyout of two green building services companies, Solar Home Energy and Warmroof. The Hampshire-based sister companies provide domestic solar thermal installations and spray foam loft insulation, respectively.The £10m+ deal's described as a BIMBO (that's a combined

Clean Sweep 24

2007-11-30T17:53:00.000Z

A round-up of recent news in clean technology and cleantech investment.DealsFuel cell tech developer Bac2 has raised £2m from private investor network London Business Angels. The deal is the largest to date for the 25-year-old network, part of the GLE group. The investment will help Southampton-based Bac2 commercialise its 'ElectroPhen' conductive polymer. When used in a composite, the polymer

Everyone's business

2007-11-26T15:02:00.000Z

Today's report from the CBI's 'climate change taskforce' has generated plenty of coverage for the business lobby group. While there's not exactly much new in the report, it's still good to get a signal that the corporate heavyweights are taking the challenges of climate change seriously. And if the signatories are serious about cutting their emissions, it can only be good news for the cleantech

Clean Sweep 23

2007-11-22T11:42:00.000Z

A round-up of recent news in clean technology and cleantech investment.DealsReading-based energy tech supplier Semplice Energy has raised $1.23m from Bahamas-based BIP Fund. Founded in 2005, Semplice provides energy efficiency and renewable energy products, plus consulting, design and installation services, to business customers including Mothercare, Macdonalds and Tesco. German specialist

Clean Sweep 22

2007-11-14T16:32:00.001Z

A round-up of recent news in clean technology and cleantech investment. DealsThe UK's Low Carbon Accelerator has led a C$21.5m second round in Canadian ethanol tech firm Vaperma. Volvo Technology Transfer also joined the round in its first parallel investment alongside its cleantech partner Emerald Technology Ventures, a first-round backer of Vaperma. Existing investors BDC Capital, and FIDD also

Generation and KPCB team up

2007-11-12T16:10:00.000Z

News of a major cleantech investment partnership setting up in London, with a rather big name on the masthead. Generation Investment Management, a specialist in sustainability-focused investment in listed equities, and veteran tech VC Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers have announced a dedicated greentech alliance.The collaboration will, to quote the PR, find, fund and accelerate green business,

Clean Sweep 21

2007-11-05T14:51:00.000Z

A round-up of recent news in clean technology and cleantech investment.Consider this one as either late for last week or early for this - I'm having a busy couple of weeks. DealsWelsh battery business Atraverda has won the backing of two new European investors in a £10.4m second round. Denmark's BankInvest New Energy Solutions and Portugal's Espirito Santo Ventures led the round, with existing

A Stern response to the bubble question

2007-10-30T10:00:00.000Z

One year ago, the UK Treasury published the Stern Review on the Economics of Climate Change to intense media interest. Unlike previous surveys or popular accounts of climate change, Stern put a financial cost on both action and inaction in cutting emissions of greenhouse gases and moving to a low-carbon economy. The work was of obvious relevance to the clean energy industry, which can't always

Clean Sweep 20

2007-10-25T10:38:00.000+01:00

A round-up of recent news in clean technology and cleantech investment.DealsEnergy-efficient electronics group CamSemi has raised a £13m third round. The government-backed Carbon Trust comes in as a new investor with a £2m stake, alongside existing investors 3i, Scottish Equity Partners and TTP Ventures. The Cambridge-based firm is developing pwer-management circuits for mains converters and

Investing in climate change

2007-10-19T15:45:00.000+01:00

Deutsche Asset Management has released an interesting report on Investing in climate change. It's based on the belief that climate change, and all the economic and technological issues around it, is emerging as a 'mega-trend' that will shape the asset management industry in the near future. Ultimately, they reckon, most mainstream investment analysis will have to take into account the effects of

Clean Sweep 19

2007-10-18T15:47:00.001+01:00

A round-up of recent news in clean technology and cleantech investment.DealsIn what it's calling one of Europe's largest growth cleantech deals of the year, London's Zouk Ventures has led a Euro53.4m round in specialist waste management group SiC Processing. Merrill Lynch Corporate Principal Investments Group, CC Private Equity Partners, Masdar Clean Tech Fund, and Foursome Investments also

Clean Sweep 18

2007-10-11T17:13:00.000+01:00

A round-up of recent news in clean technology and cleantech investment.DealsMicro-power group Perpetuum has closed a £5m second round led by Environmental Technologies Fund. The investment is the second from ETF's targeted Euro150m fund. Existing investors Quester and Top Technology also joined the round. Southampton-based Perpetuum is commercialising a range of vibration-harvesting generators

Clean Sweep 17

2007-10-04T11:08:00.000+01:00

A round-up of recent news in clean technology and cleantech investment.DealsThin-film solar firm Konarka announced a $45m private round from new and existing investors. New investor Mackenzie Financial, a generalist investment manager, led the round alongside existing investor Good Energies, a leading renewables specialist. Pegasus Capital also joined in, along with existing investors Draper

Clean Sweep 16

2007-09-27T12:04:00.000+01:00

A round-up of recent news in clean technology and cleantech investment.DealsUniversity spin-out EVO Electric (no online presence that I can find as yet) has raised £1.5m funding. Uni tech transfer company Imperial Innovations led the round with a £375,000 investment, and now holds 38% of EVO. Consensus Business Group, a family trust vehicle for the Tchenguiz brothers, and a group of private

Clean Sweep 15

2007-09-20T10:50:00.000+01:00

A round-up of recent news in clean technology and cleantech investment.DealsInsource Energy, a waste-to-energy business set up by the UK government-backed Carbon Trust, has secured funding from Scottish and Southern Energy plc. SSE is investing up to £2.7m for a 40% stake in the business, with a further £10m on the table as the company develops. Insource provides on-site CHP, biomass boilers and

Clean Sweep 14

2007-09-13T11:51:00.000+01:00

A round-up of recent news in clean technology and cleantech investment.DealsNascent wave-power company Embley Energy has won a £150,000 Applied Research grant from the Carbon Trust to develop a prototype of its Sperboy device. When floating in the sea, waves drive air into and out of a chamber within the Sperboy, driving a generator on top. The grant will fund a two-year trial of the

Clean Sweep 13

2007-09-06T12:18:00.000+01:00

A round-up of recent news in clean technology and cleantech investment.DealsUK solar provider Solarcentury Holdings secured a £13.5m development round led by London-based cleantech specialist Zouk Ventures and Marcel Brenninkmeijer's Good Energies. Vantania Holdings Limited and Foursome Investments also chipped in alongside existing investors VantagePoint Venture Partners and Scottish and

Vin ruse

2007-08-29T17:27:00.000+01:00

It seems the great European wine lake is taking on a greenish tinge (and not because of an influx of vinho verde). Reuters reports that the European Union is preparing to sell its stockpiled wine surplus for conversion into biofuel. A tender notice in the EU's Official Journal (available as pdf here) offers around 70 million litres of alcohol distilled from otherwise unsellable plonk - strictly