industry profiles

21 March 2011

NewNet Industry Profile: John Kourtoff, Trillium Powerp

While the province of Ontario in Canada is doing much to foster the growth of its renewable energy industry, further measures are needed to help make the sector more appealing to prospective investors and developers.

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28 February 2011

NewNet Industry Profile: David Milroy, Vertichemp

The market for transportation-focused biofuels is contracting, as feedstock requirements become more challenging and the performance requirements are becoming higher. While in North America there has historically been a strong focus on corn ethanol and transportation fuels, there has been very little thought as to industrial processes and green chemicals from waste streams, says David Milroy, chief executive of Toronto-based green technology company Vertichem.

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7 February 2011

Industry Profile: Rachel Carroll, Ener1p

The broad range of applications for energy storage technology is attracting the attention of global industrial and manufacturing groups, and offers growing companies in the sector a variety of opportunities to partner with large multinational companies, according to Rachel Carroll, vice president of corporate communications for energy technology business Ener1.

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25 January 2011

Thought Leader Profile: James Smith, Shell UKp

The energy challenge offers a vast opportunity to global industry as it looks to overcome the twin hurdles of rising population and the need for lower carbon emissions, according to James Smith, chairman of energy giant Shell UK.

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27 December 2010

NewNet Profile: SJ Berwinp

As a law firm that specialises in the structuring of private equity and venture capital funds, SJ Berwin was well-placed to observe the growth of the clean energy investment theme, says Frank Vogel, a partner in the firm’s Berlin office. The firm has advised the fund formation of corporate structuring of funds such as the Environmental Technologies Fund, and also groups including Climate Change Capital, zouk ventures and Triodos Bank.

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10 December 2010

NewNet Industry Profile: Better Placep

While the electric automotive sector has been the subject of much interest in recent years, its growth has been hindered by the lack of infrastructure to support consumer take-up. With this in mind, Palo Alto-based electric vehicle network company Better Place aims to rejuvenate flagging demand for an emerging electric transport sector with a global rollout of a new electric vehicle infrastructure.

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28 October 2010

NewNet Profile: Christian Kjaer, European Wind Energy Associationp

The risk-return profile of wind energy is growing in attractiveness as investors seek stability in new asset classes, according to Christian Kjaer, CEO of the European Wind Energy Association.

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7 October 2010

Energy policy falling short in growth of US renewablesp

Transferrable technology drove expansion into solar energy for US company Applied Materials, but the continued success of the sector needs to be bolstered by supportive regulation and investment to compete with the aggressive growth of renewable energy markets in Asia.

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24 August 2010

NewNet Industry Profile: Brooks Herring, Solar Frontierp

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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12 October 2009

NewNet Industry Profile: Rick Wilson, Cobalt Biofuelsp

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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28 September 2009

NewNet Industry Profile: Tom Bartolomei, Ausra Energyp

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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18 September 2009

NewNet Industry Profile: Fairtradep

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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2 September 2009

NewNet Industry Profile: Lee Edwards, Virent Energy Systemsp

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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26 August 2009

NewNet Industry Profile: Duncan Grierson, Sterecyclep

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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5 August 2009

NewNet Industry Profile: Eurostarp

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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29 July 2009

NewNet Profile: Colorado Cleantech Industry Associationp

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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20 November 2008

NewNet Investor Profile: Andrew Lee, Good Energiesp

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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