biofuels
Algae might have eclipsed corn as the next great source for biofuels, but some leading venture capitalists aren’t buying it … literally. That’s what Vinod Khosla, John Doerr and Bryant Tong said when asked about their interest in algae-based fuel ventures during last week’s ECO:nomics conference in
The last set of solar panels to be installed on the International Space Station will make the vessel the second-brightest object in Earth’s night sky, with only the moon being brighter. The Canadarm2 robotic system for assembling and maintaining the space station is set to install a fourth and
smart homes
AlertMe, a UK-based smart-home technology firm, recently won a £40,000 Shell Springboard Award for its home energy-saving service. The award, offered by Royal Dutch Shell Plc, recognises innovative, low-carbon business ideas in the UK. Due to launch soon, AlertMe’s Home Energy Savings kit uses Smart Plugs, a heating
wind energy
Global wind energy investments will suffer this year, thanks to the ongoing economic crisis, according to a recent report from HSBC. The Wall Street Journal’s Environmental Capital blog says the bank has downgraded its 2009 expectations for the global wind market, revising its initial forecast that wind installations would
Climate change means sea levels in the Mediterranean could rise by up to 61 centimetres this century, according to a team of Spanish and British researchers. Scientists with the Mediterranean Institute for Advanced Studies ran computer simulations for three different climate scenarios to determine likely future temperatures, sea levels and
cleantech
Cleantech news as it happens — check back for regular updates: * The US Environmental Protection Agency today proposed the nation’s first reporting system for greenhouse gas emissions; * The global market for hybrid vehicles will grow slightly this year but will more than double by 2013 as the economy recovers, according
wind energy
Stormy March weather might not make for pleasant outdoor strolls but Spain has discovered it’s great for wind-powered electricity. The Spanish Wind Energy Association reported that high winds blowing across the country on 5 March helped the nation break an all-time record for wind energy generation (PDF). For several
How much money do you have to spend on cleantech? ( surveys)
cleantech
Cleantech private equity firm Element Partners it had closed its Element Partners II LP (Element II) equity fund with $486 million (US) in collected capital — $86 million more than originally targeted. The Element II fund will be used to invest in high-growth cleantech companies in a variety of sectors, including
cleantech
So what else is happening in the cleantech sector this week? Here are some recent headlines you might have missed: * More US residents used public transportation last year than at any other time for the past 52 years, according to news from the American Public Transportation Association; * Quanta Services today
solar energy
The Texas city of Austin could soon be home to the largest solar-energy facility in the US, under a plan approved last week by city officials. The proposed 30-megawatt project would also be one of the 10 largest solar-power installations in the world. The facility, to be built on city
carbon footprint
Index provider Standard & Poor’s today launches the S&P US Carbon Efficient Index, which will measure the performance of large-cap US firms that have relatively low carbon emissions. The new index is the first in a series of indices planned to meet investors’ growing demand for environmentally
