Snow Falling in Rome, First in 26 Years

Snow is falling in Rome. It is the first time in 26 years. In fact, the Colosseum, Palatine Hill, and the Roman Forum shutdown over ice fears. A cold front is sweeping across Europe. Nearly 11,000 villagers in Serbia are stuck by heavy blizzards. The last recorded substantial snowfalls in Rome were in 1985 and [...]

MidAmerican Renewables, LLC Completes Acquisition of 550-MegawattAC Topaz Solar Farm

The press release states, “MidAmerican Renewables, LLC, a subsidiary of MidAmerican Energy Holdings Company, announced it has completed its acquisition of the Topaz Solar Farm from First Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ: FSLR). The 550-megawatt photovoltaic power plant being built in San Luis Obispo County, Calif., will have the capacity to generate enough renewable energy to power [...]

SDG&E Launches “Green Button” Customer Energy Usage Data Tool

Press release states, “San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) announced the launch of the “Green Button,” a new tool that will provide customers with easy access to their energy usage data. SDG&E customers are now among the first in the nation to be able to download their energy usage data in a simple-to-read format and [...]

Varentec Gets $7.7M in VC Round

Recently, Varentec received US$ 7.7 million from investors led by Khosla Ventures. Varentec is a Menlo Park based startup working on the concept of utilities giving digital control over power grids.  In October 2011, Varentec received US$ 5 million from an ARPA-E Grant for the GENI program, together with a group of partners that include [...]

First Solar Sets Another World Record for CdTe Solar PV Efficiency

According to the press release, “First Solar, Inc.  today announced it set a new world record for cadmium-telluride (CdTe) photovoltaic (PV) solar module efficiency, achieving 14.4 percent total area efficiency. The U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL) confirmed the record, which eclipsed the prior record of 13.4 percent, which also was set [...]

Smart Meter Hysteria

Consumer foes of smart meters are not letting up. In 2011, California’s Pacific, Gas & Electric (PG&E) has been the focus of smart meter installation protests. Some consumers fear that electromagnetic radiation from the radios inside wirelessly networked smart meters could cause harm in humans. Some studies have shown that EMF coming from the latest [...]

Senate Passes Udall-Schumer ‘Buy American’ Solar Amendment for Defense Dept.

According to the press release, ” U.S. Senators Tom Udall (D-N.M.) and Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) today hailed the passage of an amendment they sponsored to close loopholes that put American manufacturers of solar technology at a disadvantage to foreign competitors. The Buy American Solar Amendment, which passed Thursday night as part of the 2012 [...]

Siemens to Acquire eMeter to Enhance Smart Grid Offering

The press release states, “Siemens Industry, Inc.  announced today that it has signed an agreement to acquire all of the stock of eMeter Corporation, headquartered in San Mateo, California (“eMeter”). The parties expect to close the deal in December 2011, subject to necessary approvals and customary closing conditions. The parties will not disclose the terms [...]

NRG Energy Acquires Solar Developer Solar Power Partners

According to the press release, “NRG Energy, Inc. has acquired San Francisco-based Solar Power Partners, a leading developer of commercial and industrial (C&I) distributed solar projects. In addition to 30 megawatts (MW) of distributed solar projects in operation or under construction, NRG also will secure development rights to Solar Power Partners’ extensive pipeline of development projects [...]

Better Place Raises $200 Million Series C Financing

The press release states, “with the launch of the first nationwide electric car networksin Israel and Denmark just months away, Better Place today announced that it has secured $200 million through a Series C equity financing from a consortium of top-tier investors and partners, nearly doubling the company’s valuation to $2.25 billion (post money valuation [...]

Polaris Announces Investment in Brammo

The press release states, “Polaris Industries Inc. (NYSE: PII) today announced a minority investment in Brammo, an Ashland, Ore.-based maker of electric vehicle technology and two-wheel electric vehicles. By investing in Brammo, Polaris obtains access to their proprietary electric vehicle powertrain technology, as well as exposure to the rapidly growing electric motorcycle market. “We are [...]

Facebook Chooses Swedish Town of Luleå for Data Center

Facebook has chosen the Swedish town of Luleå for its first European data center. The city is much farther north than Stockholm. The cost of the data center is projected at US$ 121 million. It will consist of three server buildings. It will be powered by renewable energy sources. Reasons for Luleå: Cold climate (reduce [...]

Apex and Maersk Partner on Offshore Wind Energy

The press release states, “Apex Offshore Wind, LLC and Maersk Line, Limited today announced that they have established a working relationship to support the development, financing and construction of utility-scale offshore wind energy facilities in North America. Maersk Line, Limited (MLL) is a subsidiary of A.P. Moller-Maersk, a global corporation with a long history of [...]

Series B Round for Danotek

Danotek, a company that develops and manufactures permanent magnet generators (PMG’s) and related converter systems that deliver wind energy to the power grid, today announced that it has secured $15 million in funding. Led by four of the world’s leading renewable energy venture capital firms, Khosla Ventures, CMEA Capital, GE Energy Financial Services, and Statoil Technology Invest, along with [...]

ClearEdge Power Gets Series E Financing

The press release states, “ClearEdge Power, a leading manufacturer of scalable, high-efficiency stationary fuel cells, today announced that it has raised $73.5 million in Series E financing through the sale of new shares and the conversion of previously issued promissory notes. New investor Artis Capital Management led this round, which also included Austrian-based Güssing Renewable [...]

Solyndra Goes Bankrupt, Workers Laid Off

Solyndra LLC has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Staff has been laid off. Solyndra is a Fremont-based manufacturer of solar power systems. Global economic conditions and the solar industry have made their business model unsustainable. In June, the company dropped plans for an IPO. American solar manufacturers have been affected by a worldwide plunge [...]

ICE Issued U.S. Patent for Electronic Trade Matching and Confirmation Tech

The press release states, “IntercontinentalExchange, a leading operator of global regulated futures exchanges, clearing houses and over-the-counter (OTC) markets, announced today that the United States Patent and Trademark Office has issued it a patent for the business process that underpins ICE eConfirm, the company’s electronic trade confirmation service. The patent (No. 8,007,743) covers the design [...]

First Solar Dedicates Mesa Factory Site

According to the press release, “First Solar, Inc.  dedicated its factory site in Mesa, Ariz., at a ceremony held this morning. The company also announced that Todd Spangler has been appointed Site Director and General Manager of the new Mesa factory, having previously served as General Manager of First Solar’s factory in Perrysburg, Ohio. Mike [...]

Mission Motors Announces Series B Financing

Press release states, “Mission Motors, a developer of cutting-edge electric vehicle technology, today announced that it had closed on a $9.0 million dollar Series B financing round led by Warburg Pincus, a leading global private equity firm. Warburg Pincus is making an initial investment of $7.5 million in the company and Infield Capital is following [...]

Evergreen Solar Inc. Files for Bankruptcy

The Massachusetts company, Evergreen Solar Inc. has filed for bankruptcy.  The company received millions in state subsidies such as a $58 million financial aid package from Governor Deval Patrick’s administration.  The company listed US$ 485.6 million in debt.  The firm failed to rework its debt and cut 800 jobs.  Evergreen was devastated by competition from low-cost producers in [...]

DOE to Invest $50 Million to Advance Domestic Solar Manufacturing Market

The press release states, “U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu today announced a $50 million investment over two years for the SUNPATH program, aimed to help the nation reclaim its competitive edge in solar manufacturing. SUNPATH, which stands for Scaling Up Nascent PV At Home, represents the second solar Photovoltaic Manufacturing Initiative (PVMI) supporting the Department [...]

Leyden Energy Receives $20 Million in Series B Financing Led by New Enterprise Associates

According to the press release, “Leyden Energy, Inc., a leading manufacturer of advanced lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries for the consumer electronics, energy storage and electric vehicle (EV) markets, today announced that it has received $20 million in Series B financing led by New Enterprise Associates (NEA), with participation from existing investors Lightspeed Ventures, Sigma Partners and [...]

Clean Urban Energy Secures $7M Series A from Battery Ventures and Rho Ventures

The press release states, “Clean Urban Energy (CUE), an energy storage and smart grid performance optimization technology provider, today announced that it has secured $7 million in Series A financing. The investment was co-led by Battery Ventures and Rho Ventures, and will be applied to rapid product development and a multi-city expansion within the United [...]

Semprius Secures $20 Million in Funding for Production of Advanced Solar Modules

According to the press release, “Semprius, Inc., a leading innovator in high concentration photovoltaic (HCPV) solar modules, recently secured $20 million in its first tranche of Series C venture fundraising. Siemens Venture Capital led the investment round and was joined by ARCH Venture Partners, Applied Ventures, Illinois VENTURES, Intersouth Partners, In-Q-Tel and GVC Investment. Semprius [...]

DOE Offers Loan Guarantee for $4.5 Bil in Loans for 3 CA Solar Power Plants

According to the press release, “U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu today announced offers of conditional commitments for loan guarantees, of approximately $4.5 billion, to support three alternating current Cadmium Telluride (Cd-Te) thin film photovoltaic (PV) solar generation facilities.  The Department is offering a conditional commitment for a $680 million loan guarantee to support the Antelope [...]

Next Page »