The past two weeks have seen some significant deals in the sustainable business sectors. Let’s start with everyone’s favorite–solar.
Perhaps the biggest news in solar was the decision by Trina Solar (NYSE: TSL) to cancel plans for a $1 billion polisilicon manufacturing plant in China. The move suggests that the supply for polysilicon–the primary raw material used for producing photovoltaic solar cells–is loosening up, as predicted by analysts.
Also significant was the move by two U.S. solar equipment makers into new markets. GT Solar announced its first deal in Europe to supply polysilicon producing equipment worth $91 million to Netherlands-based The Silicon Mine.
Meanwhile, Spire Corporation announced it will be providing a turnkey solar module assembly line for Alpex Exports in New Delhi, marking Spire’s first deal in India.
Colorado-based thin-film company, Ascent Solar (Nasdaq: ASTI), announced two deals with European roofing materials companies within the span of a week. These deals demonstrate the company’s committment to breaking into the young European market for building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) roofing proucts. Deals were made with Icopal SAS of France and Giscosa Sociedad Limitada of Spain.
Closing out the solar news, a new index has launched to track the growth of the sector through the Wall Street fates of 25 leading companies. Dow Jones will publish the index developed and maintained by MAC Indexes, LLC.
Funding Rounds
Several interesting venture capital funding rounds were announced in recent weeks.
Two companies developing energy metering software and devices received funds, indicating that the push to make efficiency the "first fuel" is perhaps catching on. California-based eMeter Corporation, which is allied with Siemens (NYSE: SI), brought in $12 million, and London-based Onzo, which has signed supply deals with Scottish & Southern Energy, snagged £2 million.
Hydro Green Energy secured $2.6 million from the Quercus Trust to develop it’s river- and ocean-based hydrokinetic power systems.
RecycleBank, which creates incentives for people to recycle, received some high profile attention from Kleiner Perkins Caufield and Byers, as well as others, to the tune of $30 million.
And another U.S. thin-film solar company, Sencera International Corporation, came onto the scene with $3.6 million in funding from the Quercus Trust.
Other Big News
Several other stories deserve noting as well.
The Canadian Pension Plan Investment Board purchased a stake in wind developer Noble Environmentall Power for $200 million.
The third-largest U.S. Grocer, Supervalu, Inc (NYSE: SVU) launched its own organic and natural food brand.
And finally, SunEdison, a leading North American solar energy service provider, acquired Portland, Oregon based Renewable NRG for an undisclosed amount.
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