Catchups

Recent deals in the news:

• VentureWire reported earlier this week that CoalTek raised a $33mm Series C, led by Lightspeed Venture Partners, with participation by existing investors Braemar Energy Ventures, Draper Fisher Jurvetson, Element Venture Partners, Technology Partners, and Warburg Pincus. There's been a bit of controversy lately over whether coal-related technologies can be considered "cleantech" or not. However one cares to classify it, in the case of CoalTek, Jonathan Shieber reports in VentureWire that "according to the company, the coal it treats has a BTU content that is up to 33% higher than normal coal, while at the same time has 70% less sulfur dioxide content than untreated coal."

• REC retailer Sterling Planet raised a $7mm Series B financing. Low Carbon Accelerator of the UK provided the funding. Sterling Planet supplied green power certificates to the recent SuperBowl. ...And on the general topic of RECs and carbon offsets, here's a very educational give-and-take prompted by a column by Adam Stein of TerraPass (read the comments section as well). For more useful reading on the topic, here's another good article as well.
  

• ACAL Energy, which is developing "low temperature fuel cell cathode" technology, raised GBP1.6mm from Synergis Technologies, Rising Stars Growth Fund, the North East Co-Investment Fund, and the Carbon Trust. The company claims their technology will allow fuel cells to operate five times longer than currently possible.

Cleantech investors in the news:

• CalPERS announced last week that they are committing $400mm to Pacific Corporate Group, with the funds to be specifically targeted to cleantech investments.
  

• Nomura International plc recently announced that Whitney Rockley has joined the firm as Principal of New Energy and Clean Technology Ventures.
  

• The Cleantech Venture Network is starting a new effort called the Cleantech Innovation Initiative, to tackle key transformational efforts. The first such effort? Smart financing solutions for getting more hybrid taxis on the streets...
  

Other news and notes:

• Looking forward to seeing everyone at the MIT Energy 2.0 Conference next weekend!

• Most readers are probably already aware of the critical role of green power issues in the recently announced TXU buyout. For venture-stage investors, the importance is that it demonstrates just how seriously utilities are taking cleantech these days -- these technologies aren't just on the fringe anymore. Wind power, broadband over powerline, clean coal ("cleantech" or not) are all emerging energy technology areas that have played a major role in the transaction...

• The latest on cellulosic ethanol and biodiesel.

• Finally, here's a very thoughtful piece on clean water technology investments, by Neal Dikeman. Out of the various limiting factors he identifies, price is probably the most important one right now...