Saturday, May 08, 2010

Electric Vehicle and Energy Efficiency Developments Drive $733 Million Venture Capital Investment




"Venture investment in cleantech recovering more quickly than venture capital overall


SAN FRANCISCO, May 6 /PRNewswire/ -- US venture capital (VC) investment in cleantech companies in Q1 2010 hit $733.3 million in 72 financing rounds, a 68% increase in capital and a 118% increase in deals compared to Q1 2009, according to an Ernst & Young LLP analysis based on data from Dow Jones VentureSource. Compared to Q4 2009, these results represent a 6% decline in funding and 1% decline in financing activity.

Cleantech investment is recovering faster than overall venture capital investment, which increased 11% from Q1 2009 to $4.7 billion. The total share of venture capital invested in cleantech reached 16% this quarter.

Early stage venture financing was particularly robust in Q1 2010. The 34 seed and first rounds represented 49% of financing activity, the highest percentage since Q4 2008. The Energy Efficiency category received the largest proportion of seed or first round investments, 41%, underscoring the sector's appeal for new financing and company creation.

"With rising oil prices and growing signs of economic recovery, particularly in Asian markets, the drivers for cleantech remain strong," said Gil Forer, Ernst & Young's Global Cleantech Leader. "Given that the majority of government stimulus funds have yet to be deployed, the intensifying focus on cleantech solutions as a driver of operational efficiency, and the robust cleantech innovation pipeline, we expect increased activity in coming quarters," added Forer.

Growing focus on Energy Efficiency

Companies in the Energy Efficiency cleantech category garnered the greatest number of deals, 20, in Q1 2010, continuing a trend that emerged in 2009. Activity in this cleantech segment represented 28% of quarterly financings and a 100% increase over the same period last year. With 11 deals, the Energy Efficiency Products sub-segment, which includes technologies such as smart meters and lighting management systems, was the largest segment in this category. Adura Technologies, a San Francisco-based provider of building lighting control systems, received the largest financing in this segment with a $12 millionlater stage round.

The venture investment focus on energy efficiency is reflective of broader trends. Electric utility energy efficiency budgets grew by 60% over the past two years, reaching $4 billion in 2009 – up from $2.5 billion in 2007, according to a report from the Consortium for Energy Efficiency (CEE). In March, the US Senate introduced a bill that would establish a "Building Star" program, which would yield a prospective $6 billion in funding. The program includes rebates and financing incentives for building owners to upgrade their property's energy efficiency, including interior and exterior lighting, energy management, HVAC, motors, and drives.

Electric vehicles drive investment

The Industrial Products & Services category had the largest amount of capital invested, receiving $261.7 million in Q1 2010, and 36% of total quarterly financing. This cleantech segment represented a year-on-year increase of 490%, attributable to large financings of two California-based electric vehicle manufacturers: the $100 million later stage round closed by Coda Automotive, Inc. and the $93 million later stage financing secured by Fisker Automotive, Inc.

Corporations are also pushing the electric vehicle agenda. General Motors will invest $246 million to become the first major US automaker to manufacture electric motors for hybrids and electric vehicles. Toyota, Nissan and Mitsubishi, Fuji Heavy Industries and Tokyo Electric Power jointly created the CHAdeMO Association to increase the number of quick-charge stations for electric vehicles worldwide and standardize how to charge vehicles. UPS deployed 200 hybrid delivery trucks in eight additional US cities. Meanwhile, FedEx plans to be the first US delivery service to use an all-electric truck when it adds four Navistar vehicles to its fleet in June.

Energy/Electricity Generation investment powered by solar

The Energy/Electricity Generation category was the third-largest segment of the quarter and increased 30% in terms of dollars raised from $138 million in Q4 09 to $179.6 million. Solar investment, in particular, rebounded in Q1 2010. It increased 233% from the same period last year to $159.9 million, propelled by the $60 million round received by SolarCity, a solar power solution provider for home owners and businesses, based in Foster City, CA.

Government and utilities are playing an important role in moving solar developments forward. The US Department of Energy will provide $1.37 billion in loan guarantees for solar energy firm BrightSource Energy and its solar power complex in the Mojave Desert, which would be world's largest with combined capacity of more than 400 MW. PG&E and SCE have entered into long-term agreements to purchase the power generated by the plants.

Positive momentum in other asset classes

Quarterly data compiled by Bloomberg New Energy Finance indicate that US clean energy asset finance rose to $3.5 billion in Q1 2010, from $2.4 billion in Q4 2009, and recorded its strongest quarter since Q2 2009.

Additionally, two cleantech companies recently completed IPOs and the pipeline of cleantech companies in IPOs in registration is growing. Attleboro, MA based solar-power sensor maker, Sensata Technologies, completed a $569 million IPO in March. Biofuel company Codexis Inc. completed an IPO in April raising $78 million. Cleantech companies in IPO registration include Tesla Motors, Inc., Amyris Biotechnologies, Inc., Solyndra, Inc., and Silver Springs Networks.

About Ernst & Young's Strategic Growth Markets Network

Ernst & Young's worldwide Strategic Growth Markets Network is dedicated to serving the changing needs of rapid-growth companies. For more than 30 years, we've helped many of the world's most dynamic and ambitious companies grow into market leaders. Whether working with international mid-cap companies or early stage venture-backed businesses, our professionals draw upon their extensive experience, insight and global resources to help your business achieve its potential. It's how Ernst & Young makes a difference.

About Ernst & Young

Ernst & Young is a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services. Worldwide, our 144,000 people are united by our shared values and an unwavering commitment to quality. We make a difference by helping our people, our clients and our wider communities achieve their potential.

For more information, please visit www.ey.com

Ernst & Young refers to the global organization of member firms of Ernst & Young Global Limited, each of which is a separate legal entity. Ernst & Young Global Limited, a UK company limited by guarantee, does not provide services to clients.

This news release has been issued by Ernst & Young LLP, a US client-serving member firm of Ernst & Young Global Limited.

SOURCE Ernst & Young LLP"




2 comments:

Anonymous said...

[b][url=http://www.ecoapp.net/]solar products[/url][/b]

[url=http://www.ecoapp.net/page/product_list/]solar systems[/url]

Get home solar systems is much cheaper than it was ten years ago today. Indeed, the governments of many countries are now offering tax rebates for people who choose to convert their home system of solar systems .
However, if you decide to move to a system using solar energy in your home it is important to your electrical requirements before you go shopping or to determine the planning.

How much power you need - The first thing is to regulate how much power you really need for your home. Various tables and solar panels set-up provides several levels. They are also looking for a figure that takes into account the whole year, and provides for different levels of energy you use during the summer and winter. Most of us use more lights, heaters, air conditioners, etc., at different times of the year.
The quality of the product - When shopping for the right system for the supply of photovoltaic solar electricity in your home, you should research the quality of the product. If you are from neighbors, friends or even strangers that are currently used in solar home, they know to ask to learn. Try to learn more about the differences between different types of systems. You have to take some time to interview and search for different manufacturers and installers.
Choose your system - you need to make a final decision can take over what type of system you use to will provide your home with electricity. be used in three types of photovoltaic systems (solar panels, the application) to provide solar panels home: The first type is a system of grid-connected. In this system, your solar panels, connected to your existing electricity meter. They use both the electricity supplied by your panels, and, if and when necessary, electricity from your power company. The second type of solar panels home is a grid-tie with battery backup. With this system you collect electricity from solar cells to fill your batteries in an emergency, and send the excess to the power of your company through electricity meters.An autonomous system - which is very similar to the system grid tied with battery backup, unless you are not connected to all major energy supplier. This type of system that would be used if the life out of the net.



[b][url=http://www.ecoapp.net/]best solar panels[/url][/b]


[b][url=http://www.ecoapp.net/page/product_list/]environmental friendly products[/url][/b]

Anonymous said...

zeookgndp http://jacques1barron6.blog.com hbwbyiyqd