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The most active investors in the cleantech, renewable energy and sustainability sectors share their views on the market at the fourth annual LP-GP Forum: Clean Energy & Sustainability.
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Dr Helmut Vorndran discusses investment into the solar and wind sectors, the valuation dips facing the cleantech space and the future for private equity and clean energy.
'I am convinced that renewable energy and cleantech will be one of the dominating industry segments for the private equity and venture capital spaces.' 
Ann Partlow discusses the growing commercial opportunities in resource efficiency, the US East Coast venture capital scene and the challenges facing a newly-launched fund focusing on clean energy.
'It is always challenging to be a pioneer. We look for technologies and sectors in the market where there is a real need for a different solution today. We do not want to be so far ahead of the adoption curve that the companies have to struggle to create a new market.' 
Matt Taylor discusses the environmental infrastructure sector, the strategy behind a succesful biomass investment and why he tends to steer clear of some of the newer crop of technologies.
‘We are pretty sceptical about a lot of the technology plays. Because there is a lot of existing commitment behind change in certain areas, such as getting this new infrastructure in place, while there will be technological improvements, a lot of the developments in this space will be about using what we already know, and the refinement of existing technologies, rather than a radical introduction of completely new technologies. I prefer to focus on what is good now, rather than what could be good somewhere down the line.' 
Rick Fratus discuss investments into clean energy funds, the rise of Latin America and the implications of wider financial unrest on the clean energy space.
‘Obviously I am not happy about the state of global markets as a whole, but if you look at it there is probably some good medicine for clean technology companies, reinforcing emphasis on capital efficiency and discipline.' 
Andrea Davi discusses opportunities in the water sector, his preference for building businesses from the ground up, and what he looks for in a clean energy company.
'We look for the best technical performers in the space and we like to pick a strong team that has an in-depth knowledge and can work against the clock' 
David Hunter discusses the search for genuinely compelling technologies, the difficulty in finding follow-on investments and the prospects for cleantech against the wider backdrop of the credit crunch.
'I think the funding constraints will affect cleantech as well, but there is more money in the cleantech sector generally, as a lot of funds have been raised in the last 12 - 24 months with much cash in the bank. In some respects you have a stronger chance in the cleantech sectors than you have in others.' 
Nigel Grierson discusses why Europe is the new Silicon Valley and the prospects for cleantech under a new US president.
'I believe the Obama administration will drive changes on a global scale. The more people that get behind this trend and the more money invested into exploring new cleantech technologies will be good news for the green economy in Europe, as well as globally. Anything the Obama administration does to help environmental welfare can surely only be a good thing.' 
Jack Levy discusses the impact of the economic downturn on cleantech and why Israel could be a key player in the green economy. 'From the Israel perspective, I believe our country will continue to be a rich source of innovation because we have a culture that promotes creativity and risk-taking.' 
Ralf Schnell discusses the strategies of a corporate investor and the challenges faced when applying the venture capital model to cleantech. 'The cleantech space is an industry where innovation takes time and a lot of money is needed. The biggest challenge in applying the venture capital model to the cleantech space is to carefully watch the timing and the money spent.' 
Patrick Burtis discusses venture capital investment in European clean energy and the future prospects for the sector. 'People ask if this is a bubble. A bubble for me is driven by valuations, and whilst there are sectors overvalued from time to time, in the long run this is a trend that is going to sustain and yield investment returns for many years. If anything, we are just at the beginning.' 
Eduardo Giuliani discusses the Brazilian venture capital scene and the future for biofuels.
'The use of these inefficient biomasses will soon stop, and other, more advanced biomasses, will replace them, offering a genuine solution. It makes perfect sense, putting carbon in the atmosphere and taking it back. It is sustainable.' 
Peter Horsburgh discusses the growing appetite for clean energy amongst institutional investors and what the future has in store for cleantech.
‘Our approach is that we try to be agnostic, and to become experts in particular fields, following what we see on a day-to-day basis. I do not think you can stand still for one moment in this sector, but I really would not have it any other way.' 
Salvador Escobedo discusses investing in Latin American cleantech, the debate surrounding biofuels and the need for forward-thinking policy.
‘There needs to be a perception shift to realise that clean technologies are available and that they are fully proven to work on a commercial scale. This is beginning to happen slowly, but stronger government commitments are necessary.’ 
