30th September 2008
Scott MacDonald on taking cleantech mainstream, on smart grid, on sector expertise, on the evolution of an industry and on feeling good about the money you make.
Emerald Technology Ventures was founded in 2000. The firm focuses exclusively on innovative technologies in energy, advanced materials and water. Emerald has 19 team members in offices in Zurich, Switzerland and Montreal, Canada, The firm manages three venture capital funds and two venture capital portfolio mandates totaling over €300m.
26th September 2008
Unnoticed by most, the developed world has become utterly dependent on electricity for its lifestyle, its security and its prosperity. Our accidental addiction also makes us susceptible to many risks. Even as this addiction has been taking hold, the electric power industry has undergone a quiet ‘revolution by evolution’ as it converts gradually to a digitally controlled smart grid. These two trends are now meeting. The appetite for electricity is exploding just as we are gaining new and better ways to deliver it. Put simply, the problems brought about by the first trend are creating demand for the solutions emerging from the second. This convergence is unleashing new products, new investment opportunities and new markets of global proportion, according to this report from Global Environment Fund and GlobalSmartEnergy.
24th September 2008
Julian Turecek on investing in cleantech opportunities in Australia, on a funding gap in the market, on turning quality deal flow into investible opportunities and on being the only shop in town.
Cleantech Ventures is an Australian venture capital company. The firm targets companies from pre-seed to expansion stage in the cleantech sector. Cleantech Ventures has AUS$80m under management.
18th September 2008
Recently, hedge funds have been accused of short-term opportunistic trading. At the end of June 2008 a bill was approved by a vote of 402 to 19 in order to strengthen powers of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission against opportunistic speculation. At the same time, CFTC charged an international arbitrage firm and some of its employees with manipulation and attempted manipulation of energy futures contracts. Politicians are mistaken in their over-generalisation of the negative consequences of energy trading by hedge funds, writes Stevin Levitt of Park Sutton Advisors.
12th September 2008
There are a number of factors driving the cleantech sector: climate change concerns, global energy security, technological advancements and, of course, rising oil prices. The latter is hard to ignore given recent meteoric price rises, says Library House.
Scott MacDonald on taking cleantech mainstream, on smart grid, on sector expertise, on the evolution of an industry and on feeling good about the money you make.
