Start-ups | Renewbl.com

Category: Start-ups

GE Capital, NRG Energy and ConocoPhillips in JV to invest in emerging clean energy technologies

January 29th, 2011 | Posted in General

GE Capital, the investment arm of GE, NRG Energy and ConocoPhillips, one of the leading integrated energy companies in the world, are forming a joint venture in order to invest and become collaborative partners for companies working on emerging clean energy technologies. The three companies have set aside an initial USD 300 million for the joint venture, called Energy Technology Ventures. The funding will be used for investments in 30 venture and growth stage companies, over the next four year period. First benficiaries of the new joint venture's investment round are in companies involved in "potentially game-changing" technologies in the fields of solar energy (PV) – Alta Devices (advanced materials, higher efficiency), cleaner coal technology – Ciris Energy (biochemical conversion of coal to methane at large scale), and biofuels produced from non-food biomass crops/stock – CoolPlanetBiofuels (low-grade biomass to high-grade fuel conversion).

GE Energy Financial Services invests in CoolPlanetBiofuels

November 18th, 2010 | Posted in Biomass

GE Energy Financial Services has joined North Bridge Venture Partners in B round investment in CoolPlanetBiofuels, with a USD 8 million investment into the start-up company. CoolPlanetBiofuels is developing a technology that allows easy, and mobile conversion of low-grade biomass material into high-grade fuel. The previous financing round for the company last year, was also lead by North Bridge Venture Partners.

SustainX issued patent for energy storage technology

September 30th, 2010 | Posted in General

New Hampshire (USA) based energy storage start-up, SustainX, has been issued a patent for its energy storage technology which uses compressed air to store excess generated power (energy) for utility-scale usage. The patent will remain in effect until June 2028. It contains methods for keeping compressed air at a constant temperature (approximately), as the air is expanded or compressed in cylinders – isothermal compression or expansion.

More leases for marine energy developments in Scotland

September 23rd, 2010 | Posted in Hydro

The Crown Estate announced plans to allow more marine energy development in Scotland by offering further leases for marine energy projects. The plan is connected with the Saltire Prize (GBP 10 million challenge for accelerating the commercial development of marine energy), to be awarded by the Scottish Government.

With the rising interest in wave and tidal demo projects with up to 10 MW of capacity, the Crown Estate has decided to extend and update the application process for these projects. All interested developers can apply for these additioanl leases through the same competition framework. There are already two applications submitted for the challenge, and about 150 registrations from around the world.

OSD to being testing of tidal energy device in Humber estuary

September 3rd, 2010 | Posted in Hydro

UK based Offshore Ship Designers (OSD) are going to commence testing activities at the Humber estuary site where Neptune Renewable Energy's (NRE) Proteus NP1000 tidal energy conversion device it to be installed. OSD is the company that brought NRE's technology into life through a catamaran like device, measuring 20 meters in length and 14 meters in width. It weighs more than 150 tons, and was built in Sunderland, under supervision of OSD, then transported to Hull, where performance trials are to take place.

Hammerfest Strøm to develop HS1000 tidal turbines in Scotland

August 18th, 2010 | Posted in Hydro

Hammerfest Strøm (Norway) announced the company's has chosen the fabricator for its HS1000 tidal turbine, having 1 MW of capacity, which is to be installed at the European Marine Energy Center (EMEC) in Orkney, Scotland. The fabrication contract has been awarded to Burntisland Fabrication, based in Fife, Scotland. Hammerfest Strøm announced the HS1000 turbine to ready for fabrication back in Februrary this year, after receiving GBP 4 million in funding from the Crown Estate for its tidal turbine project.

Solazyme raises USD 52 million in Series D funding

August 18th, 2010 | Posted in Biomass

Solazyme announced recently the company has secured USD 52 million in Series D funding. The company's pursuing further development of technology which uses microbial fermentation to produce oil which can be used for the production of scalable biofuels, chemicals, nutritional food ingredients and health and wellness products.

E.ON to test its wave energy device in Orkney soon

August 2nd, 2010 | Posted in Hydro

E.ON announced its Vagr Atferd wave energy conversion device has arrived at the EMEC in Orkney, and is now awaiting installation and the beginning of the testing period. This will be the first time the P2 machine, designed and made by Pelamis Wave Power, will be tested. The Vagr Atferd ("wave power" in old Norse) has 750 kW of capacity, and will be tested over the next months and years, with the goal to transition this technology from development to commercial phase. E.ON initially announced the completion of its first wave energy device in May this year.

Vagr Atferd is 180 meters long, weigh about 1300 tons. The "snake" produced electricity using the oscillatory motion of the waves, which help puch the water within the device through hydraulic "rams", mounted at the hinged joints on the device.

[source: E.ON]

Former Vestas employees in UK form new wind turbine manufacturing company

July 27th, 2010 | Posted in Wind

Four former employees of the Vestas manufacturing facilities in Isle of Wight and Southampton, UK, which were closed months ago, have decided to form a new company which will be involved in micro-wind turbine manufacturing. When Vestas decided to close its manufacturing operations in the UK, some 400 people were left without employment, stirring up quite a bit of dissatisfaction in the local communities.

With the support of Rail Maritime and Transport, the new company called Sureblades, has been set up. It will using the same estates previously occupied by Vestas. The goal of the newly formed company, is to begin production of micro-wind turbines by September this year, and will be able to manufacture blades up to 12 meters long, for starters. Unlike conventional blades, which have to be destroyed and dumped at landfill sites, the Sureblades will be made using technology that allows 100% recycling, giving a "greener" tone to the already "green" technology.

The company will employ up to 40 people at the very beginning, having already secured an order for a thousand wind turbine blades from C&F Green Energy.

[source: New Energy Focus]

New company launched by old green energy developers

May 13th, 2010 | Posted in General

Pioneer Green Energy has been launched, with headquarters in Austin, Texas. The people behind the company are experience renewable energy developers. One of the founders of the new company is Andy Bowman, an executive with 15 years experience in different areas of the renewable energy business. Having worked at Renewable Generatin (later bought by Airtricity), and at E.ON Climate and Renewables (as Chief Development Officer), he brings a lot of know-how to the new company.

Pioneer Green Energy has been formed to meet the increasing demand for clean energy projects in North America, using innovative development strategies. According to Bowman, growth is anticipated in the green energy sector in the United State in the next 3-5 years. With growth, the market has become more complex and competitive, which requires premium experience and track record.

The company is already involved in early stage green energy projects in key areas in the United States, but is planning to target untraditional, complex, challenging sites. The key areas of energy development will be around solar and wind energy projects, but also other green energy technologies.

[source: Pioneer Green Energy]