It’s time to bury the ‘clean vs. dirty’ debate in energy
Guest Post Many companies are finding that a mixture of oil and gas energy, together with solar and wind power, fit their needs -- and the energy industry is benefitting too.
Clean-tech tycoon Warren Buffett bets big on solar with $2 billion deal
January 3, 2013 3:14 PM
Christina Farr
Through his company Berkshire Hathaway, Warren Buffett has acquired two SunPower solar power plant projects for between $2 billion and $2.5 billion.
SolarReserve pulls in $586M for South African clean-energy projects
November 13, 2012 7:10 PM
Christina Farr
SolarReserve, a U.S. based solar energy developer has succeeded in closing a $586 million equity and debt round of financing for two South African clean-energy projects.
Clean-tech startup LightSail pulls in $37.3M from Bill Gates, Peter Thiel
November 5, 2012 2:27 PM
Christina Farr
LightSail has earned some heavyweight support from both venture capital firms and angel investors, including Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates.
Apple is building the largest solar array in the U.S., report says
February 20, 2012 10:22 AM
Sarah Mitroff
Apple released its 2012 Facilities Report today, revealing the company’s data center in North Carolina will be powered by America’s largest end user-owned solar array.
It’s easy to peg Apple as a villain these days, given the situation with workers …
A sunny day for Google, invests $94M in solar power projects
December 20, 2011 6:40 AM
Devindra Hardawar
While the implosion of solar power company Solyndra has seemingly cast a shadow on the viability of the solar industry, that hasn’t stopped Google from investing $94 million in photovoltaic (generating power through solar radiation) projects in California.
Google says …
Panda Power announces $420 million fund for solar and natural gas projects
November 16, 2011 10:28 AM
Chikodi Chima
Dallas-based Panda Power Funds today announced that it has raised a $420 million private equity fund to finance new and existing solar energy and natural gas projects in Texas and other high-growth states. The blockbuster fund will be used for …
Clean Power Finance connects investors, solar providers and gets $75M from Google
September 27, 2011 10:38 AM
Matthew Lynley
Search giant Google today announced it has made another large investment in a residential solar provider, this time dropping $75 million into Clean Power Finance, an online service that connects solar panel installers with investors.
Clean Power Finance connects solar …
Despite falling solar prices, experts say U.S. remains “rare bright spot”
September 20, 2011 11:22 AM
Matthew Lynley
Solar panel prices have fallen more than 40 percent this year to $1.30 per watt, well below the high of $3.50 per watt they hit in 2008. But that shouldn’t scare clean technology investors interested in U.S.-based solar providers, where …
Plunging solar panel prices claim first victim: Solyndra files for bankruptcy
September 1, 2011 8:53 AM
Matthew Lynley
A glut of photovoltaic solar panels on the market has caused solar cell manufacturer Solyndra to go under. The company filed for bankruptcy and laid off 1,100 workers this morning.
The company makes cylindrical solar rooftop systems and is a …
Applied Materials unveils new manufacturing tech for more efficient solar panels
August 31, 2011 5:18 PM
Matthew Lynley
Applied Materials, a provider of manufacturing equipment for solar panel manufacturers, unveiled a new manufacturing process that would give solar panel manufacturers the ability to make more efficient solar panels.
The Baccini Pegaso solar panel printer reduces overall manufacturing costs …
Solar thermal power developer Infinia raising $25M
August 29, 2011 11:33 AM
Matthew Lynley
Infinia, a manufacturer of satellite-like dishes that generate electricity from sunlight, has raised $6 million of a $25 million funding round, according to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Infinia’s PowerDish is a parabolic disk covered with mirrors …
Has cleantech investing lost its glamour? Khosla Ventures loses two partners
August 10, 2011 5:36 PM
Matthew Lynley
Two partners are leaving storied cleantech investment firm Khosla Ventures, as excitement has started to peter out in the once-buzzing clean technology space.
Khosla Ventures partners Jim Kim and Alex Kinnier have followed former partner Gideon Yu in leaving the …
SunPower packages rooftop solar panels with Ford electric cars
August 10, 2011 10:45 AM
Matthew Lynley
Solar panel manufacturer SunPower and Ford announced today that they will give Ford electric car buyers the option to buy and install a residential solar panel array that will charge the electric car.
Focus Electric car buyers will have the …
Department of Energy invests $50M in solar panel manufacturing
August 2, 2011 3:14 PM
Matthew Lynley
The U.S. Department of Energy announced today that it is investing $50 million in the SUNPATH program, which is designed to promote solar panel manufacturing in the United States.
The United States manufactured only 7 percent of the world’s solar …
General Motors invests $7.5M in rooftop-solar company Sunlogics
July 28, 2011 1:24 PM
Matthew Lynley
Car manufacturer General Motors has made a $7.5 million strategic investment in solar-panel provider Sunlogics, which will install solar panels on several GM facilities.
Sunlogics specializes in developing and installing rooftop solar panels that generate small amounts of electricity — …
Solar-leasing startup SolarCity sells subsidized electric car chargers
July 27, 2011 1:59 PM
Matthew Lynley
Solar panel leasing company SolarCity announced today that it will begin selling 240-volt electric car chargers manufactured by ClipperCreek for $1,500 for customers that currently lease solar panels.
The “Level 2″ 240-volt chargers can charge an electric car like the …
Kleiner Perkins partner: Loan guarantees could be next government cut
July 27, 2011 11:50 AM
Matthew Lynley
The next victim of the United States debt crisis could be conditional loan guarantees, says a prominent venture capitalist.
The loan guarantees are one of the financial engines powering many cleantech investments in Silicon Valley.
“I think the loan guarantee …
Sodium-ion cell maker Aquion Energy raises $20M
July 22, 2011 10:00 AM
Matthew Lynley
Aquion Energy, a maker of sodium-ion batteries that can store large amounts of electricity, has raised $20 million of a roughly $30 million round that includes Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers and Foundation Capital as investors, according to a regulatory …
Solar panel leasing company SunRun expands to Maryland
July 12, 2011 12:01 AM
Matthew Lynley
Solar panel leasing company SunRun announced today that it is opening its operations in Maryland, the next state that’s friendly toward solar panel providers, said the company’s CEO Ed Fenster.
“It’s not dependent on budget cycle tax payer funding, it’s …
