The Forum
Due to exceptional demand for the inaugural Private Equity and Venture Capital Clean Energy Investor Forum, the initial target of 50 LPs and 50 GPs grew to 80 LPs and 80 GPs. Alongside corporate investors and venture capital associations, over 170 people joined us on the day, with representatives from the US, the Middle East and Asia joining a host of European delegates.
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The Forum attracted leading representatives from global institutions and investment firms, discussing the most pressing issues facing the clean energy investor community. The day’s debate and analysis of the investment opportunities within clean energy led to frequent participation from the floor, with delegates posing a range of questions to the panelists and speakers.
The day encompassed both panels and presentations, debating the viability of the investment opportunity in clean energy. On the LP side, panelists expressed a distinct appetite to invest in renewable energy and cleantech funds, whilst also conveying wariness over the lack of track record in what is a relatively young asset class. These sentiments were echoed in the day’s second LP panel, which stressed the need for deep due diligence when building a portfolio of clean energy funds.
Speakers included Russell Read, the former CIO of CalPERS, and now CEO of green investment firm C Change Investments, who highlighted the scale of opportunities for investment in clean technologies and renewable energy. He was followed by Dieter Helm, Professor of Energy Policy at Oxford University, who drew attention to the shortcomings of government policy and provided a word of caution to investors regarding the sunken costs attached to such projects, and the shortfall in genuine understanding and analysis of these issues within the industry.
Tom Blaisdell of technology-focused venture capital firm DCM gave an incisive presentation on the subject of emerging cleantech VCs, and how to differentiate the bandwagon-jumpers with those that offer genuinely compelling investment opportunities. Other panel sessions covered topics such as corporate investment in clean technology and renewable energy development, and the opportunities, risks and rewards attached to clean energy infrastructure investments.
A presentation from leading funds of funds discussed the investment prospects for clean energy, an opportunity described by one panellist as a ‘once in 50 year’ prospect. The panel also highlighted the fiduciary responsibility of public pension funds to invest in this area, with institutional capital described as ‘vital’ to the growth of the clean energy private equity scene going forward.
Interviews, presentations and video content from the Forum will be added to the NewNet site on an ongoing basis.
Forthcoming Event
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