Saving greentech

April 23rd, 2009 4:39am

For a symbol of the new, diminished expectations of the once swaggering US “greentech” industry, look no further than Ausra.

With blue-chip backers like Khosla Ventures and Kleiner Perkins, Ausra was one of those Silicon Valley companies that thought on a grand scale. Using a variety of techniques that included low-cost ways of producing and installing vast arrays of mirrors, it dreamt of building and operating utility-scale solar thermal power plants.

As we reported early on in the financial crisis (and the company went on to confirm earlier this year), Ausra changed course and decided its future lay in selling its technology to established utilities rather than becoming a power producer itself. As the project finance markets seized up, only a company with the balance sheet of a utility could hope to fund such ambitious projects, though Ausra said its decision reflected over strategic priorities as well. Continue reading "Saving greentech"

Intel wants smarter stimulus tools

February 25th, 2009 11:55pm

Intel, the world’s biggest chip maker, is warning that companies taking advantage of government stimulus packages to build future infrastructure and transportation projects are relying on tools of the past that waste energy and cost more.

Speaking at the Cleantech Forum in San Francisco, Sean Maloney, Intel executive vice president, urged the adoption of 3D simulation software to improve design and implementation. Continue reading "Intel wants smarter stimulus tools"

Freescale’s escalation of power

February 16th, 2009 12:01pm

Energy harvesting - drawing power from our surroundings - has seemed a tad futuristic, but a new advance by chipmaker Freescale being unveiled today promises practical applications within a year.

Freescale has found a way of tapping tiny amounts of voltage and amplifying them to usable levels. Continue reading "Freescale’s escalation of power"

Solar and biofuel projects score early 09 investments

January 9th, 2009 10:48pm

sf-1100s-cpv-28.jpgIn what promises to be a dismal year for cleantech investment, there are two early bright spots.

Today SolFocus, a Silicon Valley company developing concentrator photovoltaic (CPV) technology, announced that it has raised $47m in series C financing. And earlier this week ZeaChem, a Colorado startup aiming to produce cellulosic ethanol, announced it raised $34m in series B financing.
Continue reading "Solar and biofuel projects score early 09 investments"