industry

NewNet Industry Profile: Brooks Herring, Solar Frontier

24 August 2010

The solar energy technology arm of Japanese oil refiner Showa Shell Sekiyu is expanding and rebranding as it aims to translate its domestic technological edge onto a global platform.

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Tags: solar energy
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NewNet Industry Profile: Rick Wilson, Cobalt Biofuels

12 October 2009

Rick Wilson of US biofuel technology company Cobalt Biofuels discusses the need for private investment in new energy, the huge potential for development in biofuels and why a financial downturn encourages innovation.

‘The fuels market is huge. Next generation biofuels are only going to get better over time. The aim is to get to the point where we are cost competitive with crude oil refinery, but no-one is here yet.’

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Tags: biofuel
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NewNet Industry Profile: Tom Bartolomei, Ausra Energy

28 September 2009

Amid growing public demand for clean energy, Ausra Solar has created a place for itself in the burgeoning global solar industry. Tom Bartolomei, senior vice president of the company, quashes concerns that the solar sector is too heavily dependent upon subsidies, arguing that the huge market opportunities means it will have a key role to play as the developed world looks to transform its energy usage.

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Tags: solar
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NewNet Industry Profile: Fairtrade

18 September 2009

Louise Luttikholt of Fairtrade looks at what governments are doing to support cleantech production, the effects of the economic downturn on the poorer nations, and urges developed countries not to hinder the growth of developing countries.

‘With Copenhagen coming up, we must ensure that climate change and development remains high on the agenda. In meeting the climate change challenge it’s critical that the world’s poorest farmers and workers don’t lose out.’

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Tags: climate change
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NewNet Industry Profile: Lee Edwards, Virent Energy Systems

2 September 2009

Lee Edwards of Virent Energy Systems looks at the stigma surrounding biofuels, the concerns over food-based feedstocks and the role of private investment.

‘The other area that comes into play is the fact that carbon is not priced in the world markets today and the technologies being developed today have environmental CO2 supremacy over fossil fuels.’

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Tags: biofuel
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NewNet Industry Profile: Duncan Grierson, Sterecycle

26 August 2009

Duncan Grierson discusses the challenges in gaining venture funding for a cleantech start-up, the growth of opportunities in the waste and recycling space across Europe and the need for governments to provide drivers to encourage investment in emerging environmental technologies.

‘It is extremely important for governments to put in place these broad economic drivers. But it would be a mistake for governments to make technology choices. Once the financial drivers and mechanisms are in place, then governments should leave the market to decide which are technically and commercially the best technologies to build out.’

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Tags: bioenergy, biomass, policy, private equity, venture capital, waste, waste energy
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NewNet Industry Profile: Eurostar

5 August 2009

Louisa Bell of Eurostar discusses its mission to make its journeys carbon-neutral, talks about the role of governments and tells us why CSR has escaped the curse of the recession.

‘Everything we are looking at makes very good financial sense regardless of the environmental impact. However, coupled with the need to fight against climate change, there is absolutely no reason to reduce our focus in this area.’

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Tags: corporate sustainability, energy efficiency
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NewNet Profile: Colorado Cleantech Industry Association

29 July 2009

Christine Shapard, the executive director of the Colorado Cleantech Industry Association discusses why private investment is crucial in pushing cleantech forward, the effects of a new Administration and the potential impact to the industry of stimulus funding.

‘The stimulus packages that were recently introduced do focus on cleantech and we see a great deal of money going into smart grid proposals. Of course none of that money has yet made its way to the companies as they are still assessing applications but knowing funds will go into this area has boosted confidence and aroused an interest amongst companies.’

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Tags: biomass, cleantech, smart grid, solar, wind
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NewNet Investor Profile: Andrew Lee, Good Energies

20 November 2008

Andrew Lee discusses investing in solar energy and the potential effects of a recession on the clean energy industry.

‘Energy is an essential purchase, and I am afraid that the polar ice caps will not stop melting because the world has gone into a recession. We need to address climate change as strongly as we did before.’

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Tags: private equity, solar, wind
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