spotlight
In this section you will find monthly features; CE Top 10 lists of global and U.S. clean-tech developments and investments; and CE editorial picks of the best powerpoints, videos, books, blogs and other resources from across the web.
CE Features
The Vulcan Project (Click here for video)
The University of Purdue recently released maps showing carbon emissions across the United States. The maps are the result of three years of work and provide an unprecedented level of detail. The Vulcan project offers maps that show emissions data at the level of individual factories, powerplants, roadways and neighborhoods and is quantified at the level of fuel type, economic sub-sector, and county/state identification.
The project is complementary to NASA's Orbiting Carbon Observatory project which is collecting carbon data via satellites and is expected to provide a similar worldwide carbon map later this year, or early 2009.
Since you can't manage what you can't measure - the Vulcan Project is an excellent contribution to crafting effective carbon policy. The new maps will not only help in providing a baseline for emissions, but could provide a critical 'check' to data reported under any future regulatory system.
For more information visit the Vulcan website where you can actually download portions of the data that went into the map. Also be sure to check out the video.
2008 Presidential Candidates Environmental Scorecards
As we approach the end of the 2008 presidential primaries and caucuses, renewable energy and conservation are becoming major campaign issues. In recent months, the House has passed extensions for renewable energy tax credits twice, but the Senate has fallen just short of being able to send the bill to the President's desk. Bush has said he would likely veto either of those bills. But with the election this November the public is increasingly looking ahead to see what each party's nominee would do if elected into office. The League of Conservation Voters publishes a 'Scorecard' that clearly compares each candidates record on important environmental issues including carbon cap and trade, investment in renewable energy, and conservation. See their rankings and overviews for Senators Clinton, McCain, and Obama for more information.
Clean Energy Trends 2008 - Free Report
Amid a challenging economic outlook - plummeting housing prices, rising foreclosure rates, record-high oil prices, sinking consumer confidence, looming recession - 2007 was another banner year for clean energy, with no signs of a slowdown in 2008. Solar, wind, biofuels, geothermal, energy intelligence, hybrid- and all-electric vehicles, advanced batteries, green buildings, and other clean-energy-related technologies and markets provided bright spots in an otherwise sluggish economy.
Download the full report.
CE Picks
The following lists are CE editorial picks that we think provide key insight into the clean-tech space, organized in alphabetical order. We will update and add new lists regularly as we come across new material.
(Click on a category or use the scroll bar below to view all the lists.)
Powerpoints | Books | Blogs | Videos | Competitions
- Powerpoints
- 1. Carbon Policies and Renewable Markets
Lori Bird, NREL (July 2007) - 2. Energy Efficiency Resource Standards: The New Kid on the Block
Steven Nadel, American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (July 2006) - 3. Overview of Venture Capital/Private Equity Investment in Clean Energy
Michael Liebreich, New Energy Finance (May 2007) - 4. PV in 2012
Michael Rogol, MIT (January 2007) - 5. Renewable Energy Technology Opportunities: Responding to Global Energy Challenges
Dan Arvizu, NREL (January 2007) - 6. State of Renewable Energy
Mike Eckhart, ACORE (January 2006) - 7. Ten Things You Should Know About Green Power Markets
Blair Swezey, NREL (May 2006) - 8. The Future of Geothermal Energy: Impact of Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS)
Jeff Tester, MIT (March 2007) - 9. The Investment Community's Relationship with the Clean Energy Industry
Andrew Kinross, Navigant Consulting (March 2007) - 10. Will High Priced Oil Revolutionize the Energy Industry
William Steigelmann, Aspen Systems (September 2005)
- Clean Tech Business Books
- 1. Biomimicry
Janine Benyus - 2. Capitalism at the Crossroads
Stuart Hart - 3. The Clean Tech Revolution
Ron Pernick & Clint Wilder - 4. Cradle to Cradle
William McDonough & Michael Braungart - 5. Ecology of Commerce
Paul Hawken - 6. Garbage Land
Elizabeth Royte - 7. Green to Gold
Dan Esty & Andrew Winston - 8. Natural Capitalism
Paul Hawken & Amory Lovins - 9. The Prize
Daniel Yergin - 10. Winning the Oil Endgame
Amory Lovins
- Blogs
- 1. Breakthrough Institute Blog
Several Contributors - 2. Clean Break
Tyler Hamilton - 3. Cleantech Investing
Rob Day - 4. Cnet Green Tech Blog
Michael Kanellos - 5. Earth2Tech.com
Katie Fehrenbacher & Others - 6. EcoGeek.org
Hank Green & others - 7. The Energy Blog
James Fraser - 8. Green Wombat
Todd Woody - 9. Gunther Portfolio
Edgar Gunther - 10. R-Squared Energy Blog
Robert Rapier - 11. Two Steps Forward
Joel Makower
- Videos
- 1. Biofuels - The Holy Grail of Clean Energy
Onsite Power Systems (12/1/2006) - 2. Biomimetic Design
Jane Benyus, Biologist, Ecological Design Consultant (October 2005) - 3. Energy Independence & Climate Protection: The Business Case
Dan Kammen, Others (January 2007) - 4. Green Investment
Bill Joy, Kleiner, Perkins, Caufield & Byers (September 2006) - 5. Greening the Ghetto
Majora Carter, Sustainable South Bronx (February 2005) - 6. Necessity and Invention
Terry Tamminen, US Energy and Environmental Strategist (March 2007) - 7. Power to the People
Vijay Vaitheeswaran, Journalist (June 2004) - 8. Renewable Solutions
Matthew Simmons, Chairman of Simmons & Company International (February 2007) - 9. Renewables Future
Mike Eckhart, ACORE (4/13/2005) - 10. (no title)
Dr. Hermann Scheer, GABA/MIT of Northern CA (July 2007)
- Competitions
- 1. California Clean Tech Open
Acterra - Action for a Sustainable Earth - 2. Clean Technology Business Plan Forum & Competition
Global Plastics Environmental Conference - 3. Cleantech Venture Challenge
University of Colorado Business School - 4. Global Social Venture Competition
UC Berkeley Haas School of Business - 5. ICE - Ignite Clean Energy
MIT Enterprise Forum of Cambridge - 6. Intel + UC Berkeley Technology Entrepreneurship Challenge
Intel & UC Berkeley - 7. NCIIA Sustainable Visions
NCIIA - 8. Rice Business Plan Competition
Rice Alliance for Technology & Entrepreneurship
CE Top 10
The CE Top 10 lists track the largest installations and financial transactions that we have come across in our research and want to share with the clean-tech community. We will update and add new lists regularly.
(Click on a category or use the scroll bar below to view all the lists.)
Projects: Global Solar PV Installs | US Wind Installs | US Geothermal Installs | US Ethanol Plants | US Biodiesel Plants
Finance & IPO's: Global Venture Financings - 2007 | US Venture Financings - 2007 | Global IPO's - 2007 | IPO's on US Exchanges - 2007
- Top 10 Global Solar PV Installs
- (Source: PVResources.com)
- 1. Solarpark Beneixama - 20 MW
Beneisama, Spain (City Solar AG) - 2. Planta Solar de Salamanca - 13.8 MW
Salamanca, Spain (Avanzalia Solar, S.L. Kyocera) - 3. Solarpark Lobosillo, Murcia - 12.7 MW
Lobosillo (Murcia), Spain (Ecostream) - 4. Solarpark Gut Erlasee - 12 MW
Erlasee/Arnstein, Germany (Solon AG) - 5. Serpa PV power plant - 11 MW
Serpa, Portugal (Powerlight Corp.) - 6. Solarpark Pocking - 10 MW
Pocking, Germany (Shell Solar GmbH) - 7. Huerta Solar Monte alto - 9.51 MW
Milagro, Spain (Acciona Solar S.A.) - 8. Parque Fotovoltaico Viana - 8.76 MW
Viana, Spain (Solartia) - 9. Solarpark Zeche Gottelborn - 8.4 MW
Gottelborn, Germany (City Solar AG) - 10. Solarpark "Waldpolenz" - 8.05 MW
Brandis, Germany (juwi GmbH)
- Top 10 US Wind Installs
- (Source: AWEA)
- 1. Horse Hollow, Texas - 736 MW
FPL Energy - 2. Sweetwater, Texas - 505 MW
Babcock & Brown, Catamount - 3. Buffalo Gap, Texas - 353 MW
AES - 4. Maple Ridge, New York - 322 MW
PPM Energy/Horizon - 5. Stateline, Washington/ Oregon - 300 MW
FPL Energy - 6. King Mountain, Texas - 281 MW
FPL Energy - 7. Wild Horse, Washington - 229 MW
Puget Sound Energy - 8. New Mexico Wind Energy Center, New Mexico - 204 MW
FPL Energy - 9. Big Horn, Washington - 200 MW
PPM Energy - 10. Wind Installation
- Top 10 US Geothermal Installs
- (Source: geo-energy.org)
- 1. Socrates - Dry Stream - 113 MW
Sonoma County, CA (Calpine) - 2. Quicksilver - Dry Stream - 113 MW
Sonoma County, CA (Calpine) - 3. Lake View - Dry Stream - 113 MW
Sonoma County, CA (Calpine) - 4. Grant - Dry Stream - 113 MW
Sonoma County, CA (Calpine) - 5. Cobb Creek - Dry Stream - 110 MW
Sonoma County, CA (Calpine) - 6. Eagle Rock - Dry Stream - 110 MW
Sonoma County, CA (Calpine) - 7. NCPA I - 110 MW
The Geysers, CA (Northern California Power Agency) - 8. NCPA II - 110 MW
The Geysers, CA (Northern California Power Agency) - 9. Sulfur Springs - Dry Stream - 109 MW
Sonoma County, CA (Calpine) - 10. Ridgeline - Dry Stream - 106 MW
Lake County, CA (Calpine)
- Top 10 US Ethanol Plants
- (Source: Renewable Fuels Association)
- 1. Jefferson, Wisconsin - 130 MGY
(Renew Energy, LLC) - 2. Aurora, South Dakota - 120 MGY
(Verasun) - 3. Fairbanks, Iowa - 115 MGY
(Hawkeye Renewables, LLC) - 4. Mason City, Iowa - 110 MGY
(Golden Grain Energy, LLC) - 5. Clymers, Indiana - 110 MGY
(The Andersons Clymers Ethanol, LLC) - 6. Alberta City, Iowa - 110 MGY
(US BioEnergy) - 7. Charles City, Iowa - 110 MGY
(Verasun) - 8. South Bend, Indiana - 102 MGY
(New Energy Corp.) - 9. Iowa Falls, Iowa - 100 MGY
(Hawkeye Renewables, LLC) - 10. Winthrop, Minnesota - 100 MGY
(Heartland Corn Products)
- Top 10 US Biodiesel Plants
- (Source: National Biodiesel Board)
- 1. Hoquiam, Washington - 100 MGY
(Imperium Renewables) - 2. Galena, Texas - 86 MGY
(Green Earth Fuels of Houston, LLC) - 3. Velva, North Dakota - 85 MGY
(ADM) - 4. Natchez, Mississippi - 80 MGY
(Delta Biofuels, Inc.) - 5. Memphis, Tennesse - 51 MGY
(Memphis Biofuels, LLC) - 6. Elizabeth, New Jersey - 51 MGY
(Fuel Bio One, LLC) - 7. Perdue Hill, Alabama - 41 MGY
(Independence Renewable Energy Co.) - 8. Iowa Falls, Iowa - 37.5 MGY
(Cargill) - 9. Jefferson City, Missouri - 30 MGY
(ADM) - 10. Oakland, California - 20 MGY
(Blue Sky Biofuels)
- Top 10 US Venture Financings - 2007
- (Source: New Energy Finance)
- 1. HelioVolt Corporation - $100.5M
Series B (August) - 2. GreatPoint Energy - $100M
Series C (September) - 3. Arcadian Networks - $90M
Series A (April) - 4. Solyndra Inc - $79.2M
Series B (January) - 5. SolFocus Inc - $63.6M
Series B (November) - 6. Calera Corporation - $58.5M
Series A (October) - 7. Miasole Inc - $50M
Further Round/Pre-IPO (September) - 8. Solaria Corp - $50M
Series C (July) - 9. Serious Materials - $46M
Further Round/Pre-IPO (November) - 10. Konarka Technologies Inc - $45M
Further Round/Pre-IPO (October)
- Top 10 Global Venture Financings - 2007
- (Source: New Energy Finance)
- 1. HelioVolt Corporation - $100.5M
Series B (August) - 2. GreatPoint Energy - $100M
Series C (September) - 3. Arcadian Networks - $90M
Series A (April) - 4. Solyndra Inc - $79.2M
Series B (January) - 5. SolFocus Inc - $63.6M
Series B (November) 6. BIG SUN Energy Technology Inc - $61.3M - 7. Calera Corporation - $58.5M
Series A (October) - 8. Miasole Inc - $50M
Further Round/Pre-IPO (September) - 9. Solaria Corp - $50M
Series C (July) - 10. Serious Materials - $46M
Further Round/Pre-IPO (November)
Further Round/Pre-IPO (August)
- Top 10 Global IPO's - 2007
- (Source: New Energy Finance)
- 1. Iberdrola Energias Renovables (Iberenova) - $7.2B
Spain (Wind) - 2. Hansen Transmissions International NV - $648M
Belgium (Wind) - 3. Terna Energy - $479M
Greece (Wind) - 4. LDK Solar Co Ltd - $469.8M
China (Solar) - 5. EAGA Partnership - $438.6M
UK (Efficiency) - 6. PV Crystalox Solar AG - $438
UK (Solar) - 7. China Agri-Industries Holdings Ltd - $413M
Hong Kong (Biofuels) - 8. Leaf Clean Energy - $398.5M
US (Services and Support) - 9. Solaria Energia y Medio Ambiente SA - $341.5M
Spain (Solar) - 10. Yingli Green Energy Holding Co Ltd - $319M
China (Solar)
- Top 10 IPO's on US Exchanges - 2007
- (Source: New Energy Finance)
- 1. LDK Solar Co Ltd - $469.8M
China (Solar) - 2. Yingli Green Energy Holding Co Ltd - $319M
China (Solar) - 3. JingAo, aka JA Solar Holdings Co - $225M
China (Solar - 4. Gushan Environmental Energy Ltd - $172.8M
China (Solar) - 5. Comverge Inc - $124M
US (Efficiency) - 6. EnerNOC Inc - $112
US (Smart Grid) - 7. BioFuel Energy Corp - $108
Hong Kong (Biofuels) - 8. China Sunergy Co Ltd - $107.5M
China (Solar) - 9. Ocean Power Technologies Inc - $100M
US (Marine) - 10. ZBB Energy Corp - $20M
US (Power Storage)