The termite’s blessing: ZeaChem finds more support
Poor termites. They’ll have no part in the ZeaChem facilities that may someday pump out millions of gallons of cellulosic ethanol, even though it’s the humble bug’s legacy that allowed it all to happen. Lakewood, Colo.-based ZeaChem has raised $34 million more for its process, the most important step of which uses a microorganism from the termite’s digestive tract to break down wood and similar materials into fuel.
ZeaChem chief executive Jim Imbler thinks he’s starting… Continue Reading
Mining moves from earth to water with Simbol investment
Simbol Mining, a company that says it has a better way to collect the lithium used in today’s most advanced batteries, has taken a first round of funding.
The idea of mining usually conjures up images of sweating, grime-encrusted men and earth-moving machines. What Simbol is aiming for more closely resembles running a water through a Brita filter. The startup hopes to separate out valuable elements from water stored in mineral-rich deposits deep underground.
That would be… Continue Reading
ZeaChem’s cellulosic ethanol process ready to leave the lab, enter pilot testing
In less than a year, cellulosic ethanol startup ZeaChem has raced through preliminary pilot testing in a tiny Silicon Valley pilot plant, and now plans to build a larger facility in Oregon.
Experts consider cellulosic ethanol one of the most promising technologies for helping to reduce global warming, but the technology is still unproven, and there’s a race on to be first to commercial production. The challenge is to make it cost-competitive with oil.
We first mentioned… Continue Reading
Plextronics gets $20.6M more for plastic solar cells, organic RFID tags
Plextronics, a Pittsburgh-based start-up developing organic photovoltaic technology for solar power, said it has raised $20.6 million in a second round of financing.
The round was led by the Solvay Group, a Brussels-based chemical-pharma group, and included Firelake Capital Management, Birchmere Ventures, Draper Triangle Ventures and Newlin Investment Company. Plextronics has raised a total of $37 million in equity capital over the last five years.
The company specializes in “printed electronics,” a field that covers next-generation light… Continue Reading
Solexant raises $4.3M for new thin film solar cell
Solexant, a secretive solar cell developer in Sunnyvale, Calif, has raised $4.3 million in a first round of capital to develop a prototype of its technology.
The funding came to light in a regulatory filing, and chief executive Damoder Reddy tells VentureBeat he didn’t want to provide many details.
X/Seed Capital led the round, which included Firelake Capital, Medley Partners and Trident Capital. The company earlier raised a seed round, and will like look for a second… Continue Reading
Alternative energy companies keep coming: Zeachem, Catilin, Range Fuels, Sopogy
A host of new alternative energy companies have emerged and raised funding.
Here’s a roundup of the latest action, including news at Zeachem, a cellulosic ethanol company; Catilin, a biodiesel company, Range Fuels, another cellulosic company; Sopogy, a solar thermal company; and finally, a note on Greenvolts, a solar company, and a setback at Greenfuel, an algae-biofuel company.
Zeachem — The company, of Menlo Park, Calif. has developed new way to create cellulosic ethanol, which is… Continue Reading
Advent Solar, solar cell maker, to raise $70M in financing
Advent Solar, an Albuquerque, New Mexico solar cell maker is expected to announce a $70 million fourth round of financing, according to VentureWire (sub required).
We last wrote about the company a year and a half ago, when it raised $30 million in its third round. It has now raised more than $108 million, making it one of the best financed solar start-ups around. It is one of dozens of new solar companies, as the solar… Continue Reading