Fuel cell manufacturer ClearEdge raises $73.5M
ClearEdge Power, a manufacturer of fuel cells that run on natural gas, announced today that it has raised $73.5 million in its fifth round of funding.
The company manufactures fuel cells that run on natural gas, which is broken down into a hydrogen-rich gas. The natural gas mixes with oxygen in the fuel cell, inducing a chemical reaction and generating electricity within the cell. The reaction also produces heat, which can be used in commercial … Continue Reading
Fuel cell manufacturer ClearEdge snags $2.8M DOE grant
ClearEdge, a manufacturer of fuel cells that run on natural gas, announced today that it has secured a $2.8 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy.
The grant will give ClearEdge working capital to produce and install fuel cells in 10 new businesses in Oregon and California. The funding came from the Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), which will monitor the fuel cells to see if they are producing the kind … Continue Reading
On the GreenBeat: DOE awards $967M loan guarantee for solar, Tesla to unveil Model X this year
Here’s the latest action we’re following today on the GreenBeat:
Tesla will unveil Model X electric SUV this year — Elon Musk laid out the company’s electric car lineup plans and said Tesla would develop a “mainstream” car costing $30,000 in four years, Earth2Tech reports. The company currently makes the all-electric sports car Roadster (pictured), and is working on the Model S sedan for release in 2012.
First Solar gets $967M from DOE for Arizona … Continue Reading
Bloom Energy "not focused" on fuel cells IPO, no plans for a mini-Bloom Box
Bloom Energy is toning down talk of its much-speculated IPO plans this year and looking to expand its reach with a new, more affordable offering that sells electricity generated from its fuel cell-packed Bloom Box, without requiring customers to pay for any of the pricey Bloom hardware.
“We’re not focused on an IPO, we’re focused on building a company that can deliver clean, reliable affordable energy, and we’re quite happy with our ability to finance … Continue Reading
Coca-Cola, Walmart sign up for Bloom's new fuel-cell electricity service
In a carefully orchestrated series of announcements this morning, hot fuel cell company Bloom Energy announced a new electricity service that allows customers to buy electricity produced by its Bloom Box fuel cells without having to buy any of the hardware.
It looks like Bloom’s attempt to expand its reach and offer more affordable options — it has been criticized in the past for the roughly $800,000 price tag of its Bloom Boxes. Bloom also … Continue Reading
VentureBeat's best and worst of cleantech in 2010
It’s been quite a year for energy-related investments and other ventures looking to make some green from green. Here’s a look back on the biggest successes and flops of 2010.
Best of cleantech in 2010:
Bloom Energy — The fuel cell maker made a big splash entrance with a 60 Minutes segment in February. It said its Bloom Boxes, which cost around $800,000, can each power up to 100 American homes. The company has installed … Continue Reading
Ciara's top posts of 2010
Tech journalism, and tech companies, for me have always been about ideas and their ability to change the world. What matters is not only the strength of the light you can shed on a subject but what you choose to illuminate. For me, technology should either be delightful or do something important or both. Here are the articles I loved writing in 2010:
Augmented Reality: The Next generation because Terminator‘s augmented reality vision was as … Continue Reading
Coming soon … a green laptop that runs on water?
Green chemistry company SiGNa Chemistry has unveiled a new chemical process for generating hydrogen from water, which the company says could solve both of the most vexing hydrogen fuel cell problems: real-time hydrogen generation and storage.
SiGNa Chemistry’s CEO Michael Lefenfeld told me that the new process could make hydrogen fuel cells practical as a power source for consumer electronics like laptops and cell phones. Since the hydrogen is generated from water, this effectively means … Continue Reading
GM backs hydrogen fueling stations in Hawaii — setting the stage for Chevy sales?
GM announced it will join an initiative to build hydrogen car fueling infrastructure and increase hydrogen cars on the roads in Hawaii by 2015.
The initiative is called the Hawaii Hydrogen Initiative, and it aims to make hydrogen available for all one million residents on the island of Oahu by 2015 through a total of 20 to 25 hydrogen stations installed around the island. It mirrors some of the infrastructure being built nationwide, like the … Continue Reading
On the GreenBeat: Boeing will test Chinese biofuel, ClearEdge raises $10 million
Here are the cleantech stories we’re following on the GreenBeat today:
Boeing will test biofuel made by PetroChina, the Wall Street Journal reports.
Chinese solar stocks have stumbled since Friday’s news that the U.S. government is investigating subsidies that the Chinese give its solar companies, Investors Business Daily reports. The United Steelworkers unions filed a complaint saying the subsidies have allowed Chinese solar companies to undercut American companies in price.
WeatherBug announced a … Continue Reading
At Adobe campus, Bloom Energy completes largest fuel-cell installation to date
Bloom Energy has just completed its largest installation to date of its fuel cells, placing 12 of its powerful Bloom Boxes at Adobe’s San Jose campus.
The company makes fuel cells that generate energy onsite. Each of its parking-space sized Bloom Boxes contains thousands of ceramic squares that can convert air and natural gas into electricity while producing little to no emissions.
The fuel cells will power Adobe’s three office towers (four boxes assigned to … Continue Reading
Kleiner-backed Bloom Energy looking for $50M more before its IPO?
Bloom Energy shook the cleantech sector earlier this year when it unveiled its unique Bloom Box, a fuel cell capable of powering 100 homes while producing close to zero greenhouse-gas emissions. Now, despite the company’s assurances that it is closing in on an IPO next year, it looks like it might be raising $50 million more to get it there.
The company has declined to comment on the story. Private Equity Hub caught wind of … Continue Reading
Akermin raises $5M for fuel-cell bioenzymes
Bloom Energy shook the cleantech sector earlier this year when it unveiled its unique Bloom Box, a fuel cell capable of powering 100 homes while producing close to zero greenhouse-gas emissions. Now, despite the company’s assurances that it is closing in on an IPO next year, it looks like it might be raising $50 million more to get it there.
The company has declined to comment on the story. Private Equity Hub caught wind of … Continue Reading
