torsdag 25 september 2008

Cleantech Opportunities in the Eye of the Storm?

The current financial crisis could possibly affect the energy industry in profound ways, according to Wall Street Journal

Although most opportunities may seem risky at this point, for investor with financial soundness and strength now could be a good period to acquire and take over undervalued assets. With banks turning down borrowers, projects could remain undeveloped and innovations left unfinanced.
Speaking of acqusitions, the largest Swedish power company Vattenfall has made an offer on British Eclipse Energy. The offer at £18 per share roughly amounts to £51,5 million. The company has a 250MW combined natural gas and wind power offshore project, on the coast of England, and five land based wind power projects in Wales. Iberdrola and EON are mentioned as other "predators".

tisdag 16 september 2008

New Swedish cleantech company to promote electric car networks in Sweden

According to its CEO Patrik Nilsson, Sustainable Innovation Sust is "a national centre for energy efficiency in everyday life"
The Swedish company is so far supported by a dozen companies, among them Scania, Vattenfall and Sustainable Technology Partners.

Among the top priority for the company is to develop an infrastructue for electric vehicles in Sweden. Through a pilot project using 50-100 electric vehicles Sust and its partner companies will develop an infrastructure and a paymento model.

This project is interesting considering projects being planned or carried out in Israel, Germany and Denmark.

A mix of efforts to achieve higher transport sustainability is necessary to avoid being restrained to only one or two, potentially vulnerable technologies (such as 1st generation ethanol).