Sunlink raises $1.8 to hook solar into large buildings
Sunlink, maker of rooftop solar panel mounting systems that help integrate solar power into large building grids, has brought in $1.8 million in equity and securities, according to a filing with the SEC. Based in San Rafael, Calif., the company is backed by Clean Pacific Ventures and the Angeleno Group. In July, it raised $1.1 of an anticipated $1.5 million round of debt.
Soros pushes Powerspan to $50M for carbon capture
A group of investors, including George Soros, has funneled $50 million into Powerspan, a company that devises ways to remove carbon dioxide from coal plant emissions. The Portsmouth, N.H.-based company says it will use the new money to set up its system at a utility-scale demo plant in Ohio.
Already, Powerspan is implementing its ammonia-based technology at a 120-megawatt demo plant that is slated to be operational by 2012. The company claims it will catch and… Continue Reading
TPI Composites raises $20M for wind turbine blades
TPI Composites, maker of blades for wind turbines, just brought in $20 million in second-round financing, mostly from General Electric’s Energy Financial Services and equity branch. The Scottsdale, Ariz. company will use the money to build out its manufacturing plants in Mexico, Iowa and China. It is still looking to expand despite the downturn, and had a three-fold increase in production last year.
TPI’s current plants supply energy to Mitsubishi Power Systems and GE Energy, the… Continue Reading
PowerGenix gets $30M for electric scooter batteries
Alt-chemistry battery maker PowerGenix has significantly upped its funding with a $30 million fourth round. The company plans to make batteries for electric vehicles, power tools, electronics and other applications.
One of PowerGenix’s most ambitious plans is to crack into the market for electric scooters, which we recently covered. Its nickel-zinc (NiZn) batteries are cheaper than lithium-ion, the best battery type available, yet more powerful than standard lead-acids.
The company also has potential markets in hybrid electric… Continue Reading
Solar manufacturer GT Solar lands $500M in IPO
Coming in as the largest solar energy IPO since the debut of First Solar (FSLR) on the stock market, New Hampshire-based GT Solar (SOLR) priced its 30.3 million shares at $16.50 each this morning.
GT Solar makes equipment that’s used to manufacture silicon wafers for use in photovoltaic solar cells, as well the cells themselves. Like Applied Materials (AMAT), the company focuses on selling its fabrication technology to others rather than making cells itself.
The market has… Continue Reading
PowerGenix hopes to overtake NiMH dominance with alt-chemistry rechargeable batteries
With the market for hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) finally starting to heat up in earnest, several companies are making big bets on advanced rechargeable battery technologies. One of these is PowerGenix, a San Diego, Calif.-based startup that makes nickel-zinc (NiZn) batteries.
Another is ZPower, a startup that hopes to oust lithium ion as the dominant technology by developing advanced silver-zinc (AgZn) batteries. While they offer greater power density, AgZn batteries haven’t been used much because they… Continue Reading
EdeniQ quietly raises $33 million for cellulosic ethanol
updated
EdeniQ, an Encino, Calif.-based cellulosic ethanol startup, has quietly wrapped up a $33 million round of funding as part of its spinoff from parent company Altra Biofuels. PE Hub reports that Advanced Equities Investments and Draper Fisher Jurvetson were the lead investors; other backers include Element Partners, Angeleno Group, The Westly Group, Omninet, DAG Ventures and Northgate Capital.
EdeniQ claims its processes for converting non-food biomass sources into cellulosic ethanol can be implemented for “a fraction… Continue Reading
Q&A with Jeff Boyd, CEO of Miles Electric Vehicle
Everyone knows the name Tesla Motors. High-profile VC fundings, a high-performance sports car and its layoffs have gotten the company endless coverage. However, there’s also a slew of lesser-known electric car companies. One of the handful with real potential (and real funding) is Miles Electric Vehicle, a Santa Monica, Calif. company with plans to release a highway-speed electric car, the XS500, in 2009.
Miles already sells a few low-speed models, but the XS500 will be the… Continue Reading
Miles Electric Vehicles raises $15M for highway-speed electric car
Miles Electric Vehicle is a fairly well-known maker of low-speed electric vehicles, which are only good for short distances in small towns or inner city environments. However, the company plans on releasing a model that can reach highway speeds in late 2009.
The company has plenty of competition, but relatively few electric car startups have attracted more than small rounds of funding.
Miles is distinguished by the normal appearance of its cars (many electric cars look distinctly… Continue Reading
Konarka raises $45M more for solar, despite no clear direction
Konarka, yet another company experimenting with new-fangled technology to produce more efficient solar cells, hasn’t been able to articulate a clear business strategy in the six years since it started.
However, solar technology is hot, and the company has raised $45 million more in capital to give it more time to keep trying. It has now raised more than $100 million.
Like several other start-ups, the Lowell, Mass. company has been using non-silicon material to produce a… Continue Reading
Cleantech: Verdiem raises $8 million from Kleiner Perkins, others, to save PC energy
Verdiem, a growing Seattle company that makes computer networks use less energy, has raised $8.33 million from seven investors including big-name venture capital firm, Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers.
It is one of many companies riding a wave of public commitments by cities, companies, universities and other organizations to make their IT operations more energy efficient. The City of Boston and the City University of New York are two of Verdiem’s clients.
The company has been “toiling… Continue Reading
PowerGenix, a nickel-zinc battery co., raises $17M
Nickel-zinc battery developer PowerGenix has raised $17 million in a third round of financing, according to VentureWire (sub required).
Angeleno Group was reportedly the lead investor. The San Diego company says it has developed a rechargeable battery “that is as much as 75% lighter, ten times as powerful, 30% smaller and more environmentally friendly than existing nickel-cadmium or nickel-metal hydride batteries.”