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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

Google allocates $280 Mil in Residential Solar Projects

According to the Google Green Blog (official Google Blog), “Imagine sitting on your patio watching the sun’s rays pass overhead, knowing that they power your home with clean energy—at a cost that’s less that what you would have paid using just the grid. That’s what my colleague, engineer Michael Flaster, has been doing at his [...]

First Solar Reaches 4 Gigawatt Manufacturing Milestone

According to the press release, “First Solar, Inc. (Nasdaq: FSLR) today announced that it has manufactured 4 gigawatts (GW) of thin-film photovoltaic solar modules since beginning commercial production in 2002. A 4GW generation capacity is enough solar electricity to power around two million households, displacing more than 2.5 million metric tons of CO2 emissions a [...]

Tesla Motors to Raise More Capital

Founded in 2003, Tesla Motors has announced it is offering an additional 5.3 million shares of common stock. In addition, Tesla Motors CEO Elon Musk and Daimler affiliate Blackstar Invesetco plan to purchase additional company shares in a private placement at the public offering price (PIPE). Part of the funds will go into developing Tesla’s [...]

EnerNOC and Electricity North West Limited Sign Five-Year Demand Response Agreement

The press release states, “EnerNOC, Inc. (NASDAQ: ENOC), the leading provider of demand response applications and services, today announced that it will provide demand response capacity to Electricity North West Limited, a major distribution network operator that delivers power to 2.4 million domestic and industrial customers in the North West of England, including Greater Manchester [...]

Solazyme and Bunge Sign JDA Partnership for Production of Renewable Triglyceride Oils

The press release states, “Solazyme, Inc., a leading renewable oils and bioproducts company, today announced a two-year joint development agreement (JDA) with Bunge Limited (NYSE: BG) to develop microbe-derived oils utilizing Brazilian sugar cane feedstock. The agreement builds on Bunge’s earlier equity investment in Solazyme, and the letter of intent signed by both firms in [...]

Germany Doubles Electric Vehicle Research and Development Aid

Bloomberg reports, “the German government announced an additional 1 billion euros ($1.4 billion) in research and development aid for electric vehicles, doubling its budget by 2013 in a bid to position itself at the technology’s vanguard. Tax rebates, dedicated parking spots and measures aimed at promoting government use of electric cars are among the other [...]

Exelon Corp and Constellation Energy to Merge

The press release states, “The boards of directors of Exelon Corporation (NYSE: EXC) and Constellation Energy (NYSE: CEG) announced today that they have signed a definitive agreement to combine the two companies in a stock-for-stock transaction. The agreement brings together Exelon’s large, environmentally-advantaged generation fleet and Constellation’s industry-leading customer-facing businesses, creating a platform for growth [...]

Alaska Signs Energy Performance Contract with Ameresco to Increase Energy Efficiency in State Facilities

Press release states, “Ameresco, Inc. (NYSE:AMRC), a leading energy efficiency and renewable energy company, announced today that it has entered into a Professional Services Agreement for Energy Savings Performance Contracting (ESPC) with the State of Alaska encompassing all State of Alaska and University of Alaska Fairbanks facilities. Under this agreement, Ameresco has been selected by [...]

Johnson Controls Announces Agreement to Acquire EnergyConnect

The press release states, “Johnson Controls (NYSE: JCI), the global leader in delivering products, services and solutions that increase energy efficiency in buildings, and EnergyConnect Group, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: ECNG), a leading provider of smart grid demand response services and technologies, today announced the signing of a merger agreement under which Johnson Controls would [...]

Solyndra Closes $75 Mil Credit Facility

According to the press release, “Solyndra, a manufacturer of cylindrical solar photovoltaic (PV) systems for large industrial and commercial rooftops, today announced the closing of a new $75 million secured credit facility underwritten by existing investors. The proceeds from the financing will be used to support Solyndra’s working capital requirements, accelerate the Company’s ongoing cost [...]

USABC Awards $15.6 Mil in Advanced Battery Tech Contracts to 3 Firms

The press release states, “The United States Advanced Battery Consortium LLC (USABC), an advanced research collaboration among Chrysler Group LLC, Ford Motor Company and General Motors Company, today announced approximately $15.6 million in advanced battery development and technology assessment contracts to three firms. The competitively bid contract awards are co-funded by the U.S. Department of [...]

Imperial Valley Solar Project Acquired by AES Solar

According to the press release, “Tessera Solar announced today that AES Solar, a joint venture between the AES Corporation and Riverstone Holdings, has acquired the Imperial Valley Solar Project. AES Solar develops, finances, constructs, owns and operates utility‐scale solar power plants, globally. AES Solar intends to move the project forward and is committed to working [...]

First Solar, Southern California Edison Sign Contract for 250 MW of Solar PV Power

The press release states, “Southern California Edison (SCE) has signed a power purchase agreement with First Solar for 250 megawatts AC of electricity to be generated with solar photovoltaic panels. This emission-free power source is the equivalent, in greenhouse gas terms, of removing 30,000 cars from the road annually. The solar panels will be ground-mounted [...]

GM Ventures Makes Strategic Investment in Envia Systems

The press release states, “General Motors Ventures LLC invested $7 million in Newark, Calif.-based Envia Systems to provide GM’s battery engineering team with access to advanced lithium-ion cathode technology that delivers higher cell energy density and lower cost. In a separate agreement, GM has secured the right to use Envia’s advanced cathode material for future [...]

GE Capital, NRG Energy, ConocoPhillips form JV

According to the press release, “Three major American energy corporations – GE (NYSE: GE), NRG Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NRG) and ConocoPhillips (NYSE: COP) – are joining forces to become the premier investor and commercial collaboration partner for emerging and innovative energy technology companies. The companies have committed $300 million in capital to the new joint [...]

EnerNOC Acquires M2M Communications

Press release states, ” EnerNOC, Inc. (NASDAQ: ENOC) today announced that it has acquired M2M Communications, a leading provider of wireless technology solutions for energy management and demand response. M2M manages hundreds of megawatts of demand response capacity throughout the United States and has contracts with leading utilities including Pacific Gas and Electric, Idaho Power, [...]

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