Tioga Energy captures $1M to broker solar power purchase agreements
Tioga Energy, a San Mateo, Calif. company that facilitates affordable power purchase agreements between solar energy generators and commercial, government and non-profit consumers, has raised $1 million in debt and rights, according to a filing with the SEC.
This type of power purchase agreement allows energy providers and consumers to agree to a rate that is compatible with or less than market rates. Tioga goes as far as to install and maintain rooftop solar panel systems… Continue Reading
Hara lands $14M to track environmental ‘metabolisms’
Hara, maker of environmental and energy management software, has raised $14 million in a second round of funding only three months after its launch. Backed by Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, the company is unique in its ability to track not only energy consumption or carbon output, but what it dubs “organizational metabolism.” It looks at all the resources that go into its clients’ supply chains — including water — how they are used, and… Continue Reading
SynapSense gets $7M to make data centers more energy efficient
SynapSense, a Folsom, Calif. company that uses wireless sensors to track thermal, pressure and humidity conditions in corporate data centers, has tacked $7 million onto its second round of financing.
Its customers include the New York Stock Exchange and Verizon, among others.
Data centers are where companies store their servers and other networking and power gear. As the recession pinches capital budgets, companies are looking to get more out of the data center capacity they already have…. Continue Reading
Concentrating solar outfit Soliant Energy gets General Electric investment
General Electric seems to be covering its bases when it comes to solar power. The company, which four months ago bought a controlling stake in thin-film solar panel maker PrimeStar Solar, has added concentrating solar to its portfolio with a $2.5 million bet on Soliant Energy, based in Monrovia, Calif.
The two startups are about as different as they come. Whereas thin-film solar, such as PrimeStar makes, is very low efficiency but dirt cheap, Soliant makes… Continue Reading
Pentadyne Power raises $22M for flywheel energy storage
Pentadyne Power, a Chatsworth, Calif.-based developer of flywheel energy storage systems, has just closed a $22 million financing round, led by return investors. The company didn’t disclose the identity of its backers though it has previously received support from Rustic Canyon Partners, Loudwater Investment Partners, Nth Power, Energy Innovation Portfolio and others.
It will use the proceeds to expand its operations overseas and to increase its sales of existing and new systems. Flywheel systems, an alternative… Continue Reading
Arxx Building Products raises $5M for green building materials
Arxx Building Products is an Ontario maker of green building supplies and designs, including the walls and foundations of new homes. The company helps homeowners save money by lowering energy costs for cooling and — especially for Canada — heating.
The company is already selling its products, including a new installation in Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri. According to an article about the development in STLtoday, using Arxx flooring and walls also reduces insurance costs.
There are… Continue Reading
Roundup: Search-within-search causes angst, secretive Modu raises $100M, Sun tries optical photonics & more
Here’s the latest action:
Google’s search-within-search bugs some publishers — Apparently some folks such as the Washington Post aren’t looking too kindly on a feature Google added earlier this month, which lets people search within publications like the Post directly from Google. The feature lets you search for a publication on Google, for instance the Post or other sites like Wikipedia, The New York Times, and Wal-Mart, and then gives you a secondary search bar to search… Continue Reading
The future of solar is nanotech: Nanogram, Sunflake and other upcoming technologies
With a fresh $32 million funding going to nanotechnoloy firm NanoGram, mainly for development of next-generation solar cells, it’s a good time to point out some up-and-coming technologies that work on very small scales to make photovoltaic cells more efficient.
NanoGram has already had several commercial successes, including inventions in both electronics and medicine. However, the company has of late turned its sights on boosting the efficiency of solar cells.
The company is working on ultra-thin crystalline… Continue Reading
Tioga Energy raises $4M more for solar power financing
Tioga Energy, a Sunnyvale, Calif. company that wants to makes solar power financing easier for mid-sized businesses, has raised $4 million more to complete its first round of venture financing.
We covered this company in June, when it raised a $10 million first round of capital. The total for the round is now $14 million.
The new money is supplied by Nth Power, a San Francisco firm focused on energy investments.
Previous investors include NGEN Partners, Draper… Continue Reading
SpectraSensors raises $14M for natural gas analysis
SpectraSensors, a Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. company that makes sensors to optically analyze natural gas, has raised $14 million in a third round of funding.
The technology is used to test energy levels and other factors that affect the gas’ usage in refineries, for example.
The round was led by by Nomura’s New Energy & Clean Technology Ventures. Chevron’s CTTV Investments also participated, as did existing backers American River Ventures, Blueprint Ventures and Nth Power.
An announcement is here.
The… Continue Reading
TerraPass, the company that helps you be carbon neutral, raises $5.8M
We wrote about this funding a couple of weeks ago, but didn’t have the exact funding amount. It was released today, by an SEC filing.
Biodiesel maker, Imperium Renewables, files for IPO amid growing losses
Imperium Renewables, a biodiesel maker in Seattle, Wa, filed for an initial public offering to raise up to $345 million, the latest sign of heat in the green technology industry.
This was expected. See the filing here.
Note that the company had an operating loss of more than $3.4 million in the three months ending March 31, and a net loss of almost $3 million. Note too that the cost it incurs for its revenues (”cost… Continue Reading
Terrapass lets you be “carbon neutral,” raises cash
(Update: The cash raised was $5.8 million, according to a regulatory filing at the SEC)
Terrapass, a Menlo Park, Calif. company that lets people calculate the greenhouse gas emissions caused by daily activities such as driving, and then pay to offset them, has raised another round of funding.
Despite no prior backing, the company is growing very quickly, now boasting 50,000 adherents. It has become a leader of the movement to go “carbon neutral,” a trend is… Continue Reading
Nth Power tops off energy fund with $62M
Nth Power, a San Francisco venture capital firm that has been investing in energy companies for years, has added another $62 million to its latest fund, according to a regulatory filing cited by VentureWire (sub required).
Last year, the firm raised $70 million for its fourth clean-technology focused fund. It has now raised a little more than $132 million, closer to its $200 million target.
Clean technology investments, elaborated
Ok, you’ve heard versions this headline before: “Investments in clean technologies doubled last year, compared to the year before.”
So far, definitions of clean technology have remained vague, and we’ve remained suspicious about the accuracy of industry data on investments in this area.
Today, Dow Jones Venture One has released a more precise definition of what “clean technology.” Earlier, the group also tightened the definition of “Web 2.0″ investments, which greatly improved upon previous efforts.
In 2006,… Continue Reading
Whopping $113M round for biodiesel company, Imperium
Biodiesel company Imperium Renewables, of Seattle, said it has raised $113 million in equity financing and is wrapping up a $101 million line of credit, continuing the massive injection of capital into the alternative fuel sector.
The financing of Imperium, run by former Microsoft executive and venture capitalist, Martin Tobias, is believed to be the biggest private equity investment in the sector to date.
The company said Société Générale is arranging the credit financing.
From the statement:
The… Continue Reading
Accelergy, advanced catalytic materials co., raises undisclosed round
Accelergy Corporation, a Palo Alto company which says it offers “high throughput solutions for accelerated discovery, development and commercialization of advanced catalytic materials,” has said it raised a second round of financing from Goldman Sachs (which led the round), Sequoia Capital China and Lux Capital. Accelergy’s existing investors, Nth Power, Technology Partners, Mobius VC and Advent International also participated.
It says it helps companies use environmentally friendly fuels and petrochemicals. It has offices in both the… Continue Reading
Practical Instruments joins solar gold rush, raises $8M
Updated
Practical Instruments has raised $8 million in a first round of funding to develop what it says is the most powerful solar “concentration” technology yet.
It uses solar panels that track the sun as it moves. The panels use mirrors to concentrate the sunlight for the photovoltaic process, thereby boosting performance.
It is the latest in a wave of entrants in the booming solar power industry, and will compete against a number of other “concentration” companies, including… Continue Reading