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Goodbye Spotted Owl

URL: http://thetyee.ca/News/2007/09/14/SpotTheOwl/ Website: http://thetyee.ca/News/2007/09/14/SpotTheOwl/     

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Cleantech VC Totals Nearly $1Bn

In Q2 2007, North American and European venture investments in the cleantech category totaled just under USD $1 billion, representing a 10% increase over the $903 million invested in Q1 2007. For the first half of 2007, there was a total of $1.90 billion in venture capital invested in the cleantech category in North America and Europe compared to $1.73 billion invested in the first half 2006, representing a 10% increase. Cleantech IPOs totaled 17 over Q207, raising nearly $1.7 billion for cleantech companies. This represents a significant 88% increase from 9 cleantech IPOs in Q107. North American Q207 venture investments totaled $843 million, approximately equal to Q206 and a 15% increase over the Q107 total of $731 million. Q207 European venture investments of $154 million represented an 11% decrease from Q107 and a 43% decrease from the $268 million invested in Q206. The Cleantech Network tracked a total of 77 deals in Q207. Energy generation continued to lead other segments with a total of $535 million invested, an 8% increase from the $495 million invested in Q107 and a 3% decrease from the $552 million invested in Q206. Of the 60 deals done in North America, 25 were in […]

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E.ON About to Enter Russian Electricity Market

E.ON is on the verge of successfully entering the Russian electricity market, one of the world’s largest and fastest-growing energy markets. According to a statement issued by the evaluation commission of RAO UES, the Russian state-owned company, E.ON submitted the best bid for the 47-percent stake in OGK-4, that has being offered by RAO UES. OGK-4 is one of six operators of large-scale generating facilities currently being privatized by RAO UES. The board of directors of OGK-4 has set the purchase price for the upcoming capital increase of about 23 percent. This pruchase price is equivalent to the price E.ON offered for the OGK-4 shares. E.ON also intents to submit a binding offer for this capital increase in order to acquire a roughly 70-percent stake in OGK-4. E.ON would then pay an overall purchase price of 146.5 billion RUB (4.1 billion EUR). Under Russian securities law, after officially acquiring the stake E.ON must make a public tender offer to OGK-4’s minority shareholders. “The acquisition of OGK-4 would be an another important step into the Russia electricity market, which offers enormous growth potential due to the sharp increase in industrial demand and the need for substantial investments,” E.ON CEO Wulf H. […]

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Centrotherm Photovoltaics AG To Go Public

centrotherm photovoltaics AG, supplier of turnkey production lines and key equipment such as PECVD systems and diffusion furnaces, is to proceed with an initial public offering with a listing on the Prime Standard segment of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, the company said. A date has not been set for the IPO. “We plan to finance centrotherm photovoltaics’ further growth from IPO proceeds; in particular we intend to expand our research and development activities, ensure access to complementary technologies, and develop and expand our service and sales organisation in Asia and the U.S.,” explains Board of Directors spokesman Robert M. Hartung. He continues, “The focus of our business strategy is to reduce production costs in the photovoltaic industry, measured in EUR/Wp. We see centrotherm photovoltaics as a driving force and “enabler” for the entire sector. Our goal is to achieve a sustainable improvement in the competitive position of photovoltaic systems compared with fossil energy sources, but also with other renewable energy sources.” The company declared that revenues in 2006 were ¬108.5 million, and that the company currently has more than 100 employees. Customers include Q-Cells, ErSol and Sunways, as well as market newcomers in Europe, Asia and the U.S. Website: http://www.centrotherm.de/ […]

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United Solar Ovonic Signs Agreement with EDF Energies Nouvelles

United Solar Ovonic LLC has signed an 18-month agreement with EDF Energies Nouvelles (EDF EN) for the supply of 12 MW, with an option to buy an additional 18 MW, of UNI-SOLAR® thin-film photovoltaic (PV) laminates to be used for large-scale installations on industrial and commercial buildings. Headquartered in Paris, France, EDF EN will use UNI-SOLAR laminates to develop its photovoltaic business especially in the building-integrated segment. “This is another important illustration of the potential of UNI-SOLAR products in large-scale commercial installations,” said Subhendu Guha, president and chief operating officer of United Solar Ovonic. “These installations benefit our customers, and they benefit the environment. We are pleased to help lead the growing movement toward the increased use of renewable sources of energy.” “This new agreement demonstrates the acceptance of our product in the European market. With the feed-in tariff recently approved in France, there is a preference for building-integrated photovoltaic installations. Our agreement with EDF EN follows our overall strategic plan to expand our presence in emerging markets like France,” said Salama Naguib, vice president of global sales & marketing at United Solar Ovonic. Unlike traditional crystalline technology, which typically uses heavy glass panels, UNI-SOLAR products are flexible, durable, lightweight, […]

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