On the GreenBeat: GE acquires Opal, top 100 cleantech companies listed

Here’s the top cleantech news we’re following today:

GE announced today it has acquired Opal Software, a move that expands the company’s smart grid portfolio. Australia-based Opal supplies software and data migration capabilities to utilities. GE also recently announced two moves into thin-film solar.

Rubenius plans to build a first-of-its kind, $4 billion, 1-gigawatt energy storage warehouse in Mexico, Greentech Media reports.

The Cleantech Group has released a report naming the top 100 cleantech companies in the world. Names on the list include ZipCar, Landis + Gyr, Gevo, Fisker, Solazyme, Better Place, Hara and OPower.

Shell is investigating 10 biofuel technologies and plans to narrow its research to five top alternative fuels next year, the company’s chief technology officer told Reuters. The company is experimenting with algal fuel and converting raw materials into ethanol.

Khosla-backed Cogenra Solar announced it has received a $1.5 million grant from the California Solar Initiative. The company makes cogenerative solar thermal and photovoltaic systems that produce hot water as well as electricity.

Viridity Energy announced it received $1.6 million from the California Solar Initiative (the same group that awarded Cogenra’s grant, above) to optimize the deployment of solar energy on the University of California, San Diego’s microgrid.

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