tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83096119227045978542024-02-22T16:31:51.951-05:00Cleantech Investing in IsraelNews and commentary on Israel's growing clean technology industry.Jonathan Shapirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14149609019910676772noreply@blogger.comBlogger294125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8309611922704597854.post-74036777442006607482011-03-21T20:59:00.005-04:002011-03-21T21:17:42.578-04:00Pythagoras Solar announces pilot installation at Willis Tower<meta charset="utf-8"><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.333em; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; word-wrap: break-word; color: rgb(70, 70, 70); font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; "><a href="http://www.pythagoras-solar.com/">Pythagoras Solar</a>, an Israel-based, venture-backed company developing transparent, energy efficient windows that also generate solar power, announced that it has been chosen by <span class="xn-person" style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; "><a href="http://www.willistower.com/">Willis Tower</a></span>, formerly Sears Tower, the tallest building the Western Hemisphere, to collaborate on a pilot project to help deliver on the building's renewable energy and energy efficiency improvement goals. </p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.333em; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; word-wrap: break-word; color: rgb(70, 70, 70); font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; ">The pilot project, deployed in November 2010 on the south facing windows of the Willis Tower's 56th floor, uses Pythagoras Solar's <a href="http://www.pythagoras-solar.com/why-bipv/">building integrated photovoltaic</a> (BIPV) solution that has the potential to expand to a surface area allowing over two megawatts of solar power generation. </p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; word-wrap: break-word; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(70, 70, 70); font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; "><iframe title="YouTube video player" width="400" height="255" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/D9pTVyY9OZw" frameborder="0"></iframe></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; word-wrap: break-word; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(70, 70, 70); font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; ">"We are excited to launch this pilot with Pythagoras Solar's leading-edge solar window solutions as a test for not only the energy savings that can be achieved, but the potential they represent to actually generate power through the sun," said </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(70, 70, 70); font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; "><span class="xn-person" style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; ">John Huston</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(70, 70, 70); font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; ">, Executive Vice President of </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(70, 70, 70); font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; "><a href="http://www.americanlandmark.com/">American Landmark Properties</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(70, 70, 70); font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; ">, one of the ownership partners of Willis Tower.</span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.333em; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; word-wrap: break-word; color: rgb(70, 70, 70); font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; ">"We are incredibly proud to be considered to contribute our part for the 'greening' of the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere, the iconic <span class="xn-person" style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; ">Willis Tower</span>," said <span class="xn-person" style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; "><a href="http://il.linkedin.com/pub/gonen-fink/3/257/5ba">Gonen Fink</a></span>, Co-founder and CEO Pythagoras Solar. "It is inspiring to see a team not waver in its dedication to making a true and lasting change through smart investments in the right solutions. With its combined benefits, our technology is set to provide <span class="xn-person" style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; ">Willis Tower</span> with a valuable tool that will help move it toward its energy efficiency goals."</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.333em; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; word-wrap: break-word; color: rgb(70, 70, 70); font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; ">According to Pythagoras Solar, it is the first company to offer a fully integrated <a href="http://www.pythagoras-solar.com/technology-and-products/">photovoltaic glass unit</a> (PVGU) that addresses the need for simultaneous benefits of energy efficiency and high power density, while also offering architectural design benefits to increase real estate value and advance Net Zero Energy Buildings (NZB). </p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.333em; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; word-wrap: break-word; color: rgb(70, 70, 70); font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; ">Pythagoras Solar is a privately held company with operations in <span class="xn-location" style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; ">the United States</span>, <span class="xn-location" style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; ">Israel</span> and <span class="xn-location" style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; ">China</span>. Pythagoras Solar was the first company to be incubated by <a href="http://www.precede.co.il/">Precede Technologies</a>, and the Pythagoras Solar raised a $10 million Series A financing in 2008 <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; ">led by <a href="http://www.israelcleantech.com/" style="color: rgb(85, 136, 170); text-decoration: none; ">Israel Cleantech Ventures</a> and joined by <a href="http://www.pitango.com/" style="color: rgb(85, 136, 170); text-decoration: none; ">Pitango Venture Capital</a> and <a href="http://www.evergreen.co.il/" style="color: rgb(85, 136, 170); text-decoration: none; ">Evergreen Venture Partners</a>.</span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; word-wrap: break-word; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;">Related Posts: </span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; word-wrap: break-word; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><a href="http://cleantech-israel.blogspot.com/2008/02/pythagoras-solar-raises-10m-from-israel.html">Pythagoras Solar raises $10 million from Israel Cleantech Ventures, Pitango and Evergreen</a></span></span></p><meta charset="utf-8">Jonathan Shapirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14149609019910676772noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8309611922704597854.post-39602993509076564762011-02-15T20:22:00.003-05:002011-02-15T20:28:11.610-05:00BrightSource Energy Raises Additional $90 Million<a href="http://brightsourceenergy.com">BrightSource Energy, Inc.</a>, developer of utility-scale solar thermal power plants, has raised an additional $90 million in its most recent equity financing, according to a U.S. securities law <a href="http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1471443/000147144311000002/xslFormDX01/primary_doc.xml">filing</a>.<br /><br />Keely Wachs, a spokesperson for BrightSource Energy, <a href="http://gigaom.com/cleantech/solar-firm-brightsource-raising-100m/">reports</a> that the Company has now raised $420 million in equity financing to date. <br /><br />Related Posts:<br /><br /><a href="http://cleantech-israel.blogspot.com/2010/05/brightsource-energy-raises-150-million.html">BrightSource Energy Raises $150 Million Series D Financing</a><br /><br /><a href="http://cleantech-israel.blogspot.com/2008/06/brightsource-luz-ii-dedicate-negev.html">BrightSource / Luz II dedicate Negev Solar Energy Development Center</a><br /><br /><a href="http://cleantech-israel.blogspot.com/2009/09/brightsource-energy-expands-nevada_6667.html">BrightSource Energy expands Nevada solar thermal project to 960 MW</a><br /><p><a href="http://cleantech-israel.blogspot.com/2009/01/brightsource-energy-signs-contract-with.html">BrightSource Energy signs contract with Siemens for solar-powered generator</a></p><p><a href="http://cleantech-israel.blogspot.com/2009/02/brightsource-energy-and-sce-sign-13-gw.html">BrightSource Energy signs 1.3 GW solar thermal deal with SCE</a><br /></p><a href="http://cleantech-israel.blogspot.com/2008/08/brightsource-energy-planning-1200-mw.html"><span id="lingo_span" class="lingo_region">BrightSource Energy planning 1200 MW solar power facility in Nevada</span></a><br /><br /><a href="http://cleantech-israel.blogspot.com/2008/05/arnold-goldman-chairman-of-brightsource.html">Arnold Goldman, Chairman of BrightSource Energy </a><br /><a href="http://cleantech-israel.blogspot.com/2008/05/brightsource-energy-raises-115-million.html"><br />BrightSource Energy raises $115 million in latest round of funding</a><br /><br /><a href="http://cleantech-israel.blogspot.com/2008/04/brightsource-energy-signs-large-solar.html">BrightSource Energy signs large solar deal with PG&E</a>Jonathan Shapirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14149609019910676772noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8309611922704597854.post-20688493375100830132010-05-20T08:41:00.006-04:002010-05-20T09:38:11.837-04:00BrightSource Energy raises $150 Million Series D financing<a href="http://www.brightsourceenergy.com/">BrightSource Energy, Inc.</a>, developer of utility-scale solar thermal power plants, has raised an additional $150 million in its most recent equity financing. The Series D round brings BrightSource’s total equity financing to more than $300 million and positions the company for significant growth.<br /><br />New investors including <a href="http://www.alstom.com/pr_corp_v2/2010/corp/66002.EN.php?languageId=EN&dir=/pr_corp_v2/2010/corp/&idRubriqueCourante=23132">Alstom</a> and the <a href="http://www.calstrs.com/">California State Teachers Retirement System</a> (CalSTRS) joined existing investors in this round, led by <a href="http://www.vpvp.com/">VantagePoint Venture Partners</a>, <a href="http://www.morganstanley.com/">Morgan Stanley </a>and <a href="http://www.dfj.com/">Draper Fisher Jurvetson</a>.<br /><br />The additional financing will be used to support BrightSource's 2,610 megawatts in <a href="http://cleantech-israel.blogspot.com/2008/04/brightsource-energy-signs-large-solar.html">contracts with Pacific Gas and Electric Company</a> (PG&E) and <a href="http://cleantech-israel.blogspot.com/2009/02/brightsource-energy-and-sce-sign-13-gw.html">Southern California Edison</a> to build 14 solar power plants in the US southwest by 2016. The funds will also be used by BrightSource to further its international expansion plans.<br /><br />“A Series D capital raise of this magnitude reflects the market’s confidence in our world-class team and the important role of our <a href="http://brightsourceenergy.com/technology/how_lpt_works">Luz Power Tower</a> technology in meeting the growing global demand for cost-effective and reliable solar power,” said John Woolard, Chief Executive Officer of BrightSource. “By adding new strategic investors to our current blue chip investor base, we strengthen our ability to make solar thermal energy a significant part of the world’s energy mix.”<br /><br /><object width="400" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/0phPIzY7DPA&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/0phPIzY7DPA&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br />As part of the financing, global power-generation leader Alstom has committed to invest up to $55 million. This investment in BrightSource represents Alstom’s entry into the solar market and underscores BrightSource’s leading position in this industry.<br /><br />Philippe Joubert, Alstom Power President, said, “BrightSource Energy’s market-leading solar-tower thermal-power technology complements Alstom’s strong portfolio of renewable energy solutions, building on our strength in hydro, geothermal, wind, tidal power, biomass and waste-to-energy solutions. Following this investment, both companies intend to enter into an industrial relationship, which will enhance BrightSource’s leading position in this industry.”<br /><br />In February 2010, BrightSource received a conditional commitment from the U.S. Department of Energy for <a href="http://www.brightsourceenergy.com/images/uploads/press_releases/BSE_Press_Release_DOE_Announcement_2_22_10_FINAL-2.pdf">$1.37 billion in loan guarantees</a> to support the financing of BrightSource’s <a href="http://brightsourceenergy.com/projects/ivanpah">Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating System project</a> – the first of its US-based power projects. Once constructed, Ivanpah will be the world’s largest solar energy project, nearly doubling the amount of solar thermal electricity produced in the US today. The project will also create more than 1,000 local jobs at the peak of construction and generate $250 million in construction wages. The power plant will be <a href="http://cleantech-israel.blogspot.com/2009/09/brightsource-energy-and-bechtel-to.html">constructed by Bechtel</a>, the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contractor for the Ivanpah project. BrightSource expects to commence construction later this year.<br /><br />“The BrightSource team continues to execute at the highest levels and set the bar for the utility-scale solar industry,” said Alan Salzman, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Partner of VantagePoint Venture Partners. “With BrightSource’s proven ability to hit commercial and technological milestones, we see no limit to the company’s potential in transforming global power markets.”<br /><br />BrightSource is the parent of Jerusalem, Israel-based <a href="http://www.luz2.com/">BrightSource Industries Israel (BSII)</a>, formerly called Luz II. BSII performs R&D, production and project engineering for its California-based parent company.<br /><br />In June 2008, BrightSource <a href="http://cleantech-israel.blogspot.com/2008/06/brightsource-luz-ii-dedicate-negev.html">launched the Negev Solar Energy Development Center</a>, a demonstration plant producing the world’s highest temperature steam from solar, at the <a href="http://www.rotemi.co.il/PARK/">Rotem Industrial Park</a> near Dimona, Israel. <br /><br />Related Posts:<br /><br /><a href="http://cleantech-israel.blogspot.com/2008/06/brightsource-luz-ii-dedicate-negev.html">BrightSource / Luz II dedicate Negev Solar Energy Development Center</a><br /><br /><a href="http://cleantech-israel.blogspot.com/2009/09/brightsource-energy-expands-nevada_6667.html">BrightSource Energy expands Nevada solar thermal project to 960 MW</a><br /><p><a href="http://cleantech-israel.blogspot.com/2009/01/brightsource-energy-signs-contract-with.html">BrightSource Energy signs contract with Siemens for solar-powered generator</a></p><p><a href="http://cleantech-israel.blogspot.com/2009/02/brightsource-energy-and-sce-sign-13-gw.html">BrightSource Energy signs 1.3 GW solar thermal deal with SCE</a><br /></p><a href="http://cleantech-israel.blogspot.com/2008/08/brightsource-energy-planning-1200-mw.html"><span id="lingo_span" class="lingo_region">BrightSource Energy planning 1200 MW solar power facility in Nevada</span></a><br /><br /><a href="http://cleantech-israel.blogspot.com/2008/05/arnold-goldman-chairman-of-brightsource.html">Arnold Goldman, Chairman of BrightSource Energy </a><br /><a href="http://cleantech-israel.blogspot.com/2008/05/brightsource-energy-raises-115-million.html"><br />BrightSource Energy raises $115 million in latest round of funding</a><br /><br /><a href="http://cleantech-israel.blogspot.com/2008/04/brightsource-energy-signs-large-solar.html">BrightSource Energy signs large solar deal with PG&E</a>Jonathan Shapirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14149609019910676772noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8309611922704597854.post-16280537698889498492010-05-10T09:11:00.007-04:002010-05-10T09:42:13.908-04:00Emefcy raises $5m Series A financing<a href="http://www.emefcy.com/">Emefcy</a>, a microbial fuel cell startup based in Caesarea, Israel, has raised $5 million at a company value of more than $10 million, post-money.<br /><br />UK investment fund <a target="new" href="http://www.pondventures.com/index.shtml">Pond Venture Partners</a> led the round, joined by current Emefcy investors <a target="new" href="http://www.israelcleantech.com/">Israel Cleantech Ventures Funds</a> and Plan B Ventures, according to <a href="http://www.globes.co.il/serveen/globes/docview.asp?did=1000558466&fid=942">Globes</a> and <a href="http://www.ivc-online.com/">IVC Online</a>.<br /><br />Emefcy, co-founded by serial entrepreneurs <a href="http://www.linkedin.com/pub/7/774/987">Eytan Levy</a> and <a href="http://www.ivc-online.com/G_info.asp?objectType=9&fObjectID=5250&CameFrom=GoogleSearch&utm_source=google&utm_medium=google_pages&utm_campaign=google_pages">Ronen Shechter</a>, is developing the <a href="http://www.emefcy.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=8&Itemid=31">MEGAWATTER</a>™ technology. This technology produces low cost electricity (at $0.10/kWhr) and hydrogen in a bio-electro-chemical process from wastewater treatment by leveraging <a href="http://www.blogger.com/Microbial%20Fuel%20Cell">Microbial Fuel Cell</a> (MFC) technology.<br /><br />Levy and Shechter previously founded wastewater treatment company <a href="http://www.aqwise.com/new/">AqWise</a>. In February 2009, this blog detailed Emefcy's efforts to raise a $3.5-$5.0 million Series A financing. That same month, Levy presented at a <a href="http://www.meetup.com/boston-israel/calendar/9657295/">public event</a> at MIT organized by the <a href="http://www.boston-israel.org/">Boston Israel Cleantech Alliance</a>. Plan B Ventures is based in Boston and its principal, <a href="http://www.meetup.com/cleanisrael/members/10739422/">Barbara Goldman</a>, is a <a href="http://www.meetup.com/boston-israel/members/10739422/">member</a> of the Boston Israel Cleantech Alliance.<br /><br />Levy told Globes, "The capital raised will help us set up a commercial pilot. We've already established laboratory pilots on increasingly larger scales. Progress to a commercial pilot is based on the successful results of the laboratory pilots."<br /><br /><object width="400" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/7S1Wy7CV9bA&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/7S1Wy7CV9bA&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br />Emefcy's Scientific Advisory Board includes <a href="http://www.engr.psu.edu/ce/enve/logan/">Prof. Bruce Logan</a> of Pennsylvania State University, <a href="http://www.blogger.com/Prof.%20Derek%20Lovely">Prof. Derek Lovely</a> of the University of Massachusetts (Amherst) and <a href="http://www.blogger.com/Bruce%20Rittmann">Prof. Bruce Rittmann</a>, Director of the Biodesign Institute at the University of Arizona.<br /><br />Related Posts:<br /><br /><a href="http://cleantech-israel.blogspot.com/2009/02/emefcy-signs-collaboration-agreements.html">Emefcy signs collaboration agreements, raising Series A funds</a><br /><br /><a href="http://cleantech-israel.blogspot.com/2008/01/israel-cleantech-buys-11-of-aqwise.html">Israel Cleantech buys 11% of AqWise</a><br /><br /><a href="http://cleantech-israel.blogspot.com/2007/10/aqwise-founders-start-new-cleantech.html">AqWise founders start new cleantech venture</a>Jonathan Shapirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14149609019910676772noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8309611922704597854.post-73315163602647610472010-04-13T21:29:00.003-04:002010-04-13T21:55:46.081-04:00EnStorage raises $15M Series B financing led by Warburg PincusIsraeli fuel cell start-up <a target="new" href="http://www.enstorageinc.com/index.html">EnStorage Ltd.</a> has raised $15 million in a Series B financing round.<br /><br />U.S. private equity fund <a href="http://www.warburgpincus.com/">Warburg Pincus</a> led the round, and was joined by all of EnStorage's current investors, including <a href="www.greylock.com">Greylock Partners</a>, <a href="http://www.canaan.com">Canaan Partners</a>, <a href="http://www.ttb.siemens.com/">Siemens TTB</a>, and <a href="http://www.wellington-partners.com/">Wellington Partners</a>, according to a report in "<a href="http://www.globes.co.il/serveen/globes/docview.asp?did=1000551714&fid=942">Globes</a>".<br /><p> EnStorage was founded in 2007 by VP R&D <a href="http://il.linkedin.com/pub/arnon-blum/4/b78/5ab">Dr. Arnon Blum</a>, Chief Scientific Officer <a href="http://www.tau.ac.il/chemistry/peled/">Prof. Emanuel Peled</a> of Tel Aviv University, Chairman <a href="http://il.linkedin.com/pub/nachman-shelef/0/a0/341">Nachman Shelef</a>, and former CEO <a href="http://il.linkedin.com/in/yarkoni">Eran Yarkoni</a>. <br /></p><p>EnStorage is developing and commercializing energy storage systems, based on technology developed for over by Prof. Emanuel Peled and his team at Tel Aviv University. The technology is licensed from <a href="http://www.ramot.org">Ramot</a>, the technology transfer company of Tel Aviv University.<br /></p><p>According to the EnStorage web site, <a href="http://www.warburgpincus.com/people/ViewEmployee,employeeid,129.aspx">James Levy</a>, a Principal at Warburg Pincus, has joined the EnStorage Board of Directors. <br /></p><p>EnStorage raised a <a href="http://cleantech-israel.blogspot.com/2008/01/enstorage-raises-2m-from-greylock.html">$2 million Series A financing</a> in January 2008. </p><p>Eran Yarkoni was the featured speaker at the <a href="http://cleantech-israel.blogspot.com/2008/03/highlights-from-first-cleantech-israel.html">first CleanIsrael Meetup in March 2008</a>. Congratulations to the EnStorage team for the Series B financing!</p><p>Related Posts: </p><p><a href="http://cleantech-israel.blogspot.com/2008/01/enstorage-raises-2m-from-greylock.html">EnStorage raises $2m from Greylock, Canaan and Siemens Venture Capital</a><br /></p><p><a href="http://cleantech-israel.blogspot.com/2008/03/highlights-from-first-cleantech-israel.html">Highlights from first CleanIsrael meetup event</a><br /></p>Jonathan Shapirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14149609019910676772noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8309611922704597854.post-91251313646890428002010-02-22T11:33:00.005-05:002010-02-22T11:47:34.088-05:00GreenRoad raises $10M from Al Gore's Generation Investment Management<a href="http://www.greenroad.com/">GreenRoad</a>, which is developing technologies to encourage safe and fuel-efficient driving behavior, <a href="http://news.greenroad.com/2010/02/22/greenroad-completes-investment-from-leading-sustainability-and-clean-tech-investor-generation-im/">announced</a> today that it has raised $10 million in financing from <a href="http://www.generationim.com/">Generation Investment Management</a>, the investment firm co-founded in 2004 by Al Gore.<br /><br />GreenRoad will use the proceeds of this financing to accelerate the deployment of its GreenRoad 360 service among existing and new customers.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.greenroad.com/"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 182px; height: 45px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW2Hu_HMYb9ZPjb5iJKQBnlCVPUbYDyZujI8JLZHciE0OmQc18LkwGK9BfAKG1xoLSjuP-IpRWFJjezfzQPX5cHX91ZLC-utcpkrv09uc_Qe835UhepN5rYODJCstl50kgjdJLDMYsLpWK/s320/GreenRoad.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441110199156051426" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.greenroad.com/our_solution.html">GreenRoad 360</a>, the Company's proprietary technology-based service, provides drivers and fleet managers with real-time, comprehensive and preventative feedback, analysis, reporting and coaching on drivers’ abilities, maneuvers and patterns.<br /><br />According to GreenRoad, driving behavior is the largest single contributor to driving safety and fuel efficiency and costs the US and Europe over $500 billion dollars per year. A typical GreenRoad customer sees up to a 50% reduction in crash costs and up to a 10% reduction in fuel consumption within the first year. As a result, GreenRoad delivers an innovative solution that saves lives, saves fleets money in top vehicle expense categories (fuel, crash, wear & tear, insurance) and provides a cost-effective way to reduce emissions.<br /><br />“We are very excited to welcome Generation, whose investment philosophy and leadership in sustainability is a perfect fit with GreenRoad,” said Dan Steere, CEO of GreenRoad. “At GreenRoad, our job is to make our roads safer and greener and we look forward to working with Generation in leading the way to cleaner, safer and more cost-efficient transportation.”<br /><br />GreenRoad is headquartered in Redwood Shores, California, with sales offices throughout the U.S. and UK and an R&D Center in Or Yehuda, Israel, which has 90 employees. The company was founded in 2003 by Chief of Safety <span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span><a href="http://il.linkedin.com/pub/hod-fleishman/9/531/467">Hod Fleishman</a> and CTO <a href="http://il.linkedin.com/pub/ofer-raz/0/79/788">Ofer Raz</a>.<br /><br />GreenRoad has raised $48 million to date, including the present financing round, from Generation Investment Management and existing investors <a href="http://www.dagventures.com/">DAG Ventures</a>, <a href="http://www.benchmark.com/">Benchmark Capital</a>, <a href="http://www.virgingreenfund.com/">Virgin Green Fund</a>, <a href="http://www.amadeuscapital.com/">Amadeus Capital</a> and <a href="http://www.balderton.com/">Balderton Capital</a>.<br /><br />Related Posts:<br /><br /><a href="http://cleantech-israel.blogspot.com/2009/05/greenroad-raises-15m-from-dag-ventures.html">GreenRoad raises $15 million from DAG Ventures and existing investors</a><br /><br /><a href="http://cleantech-israel.blogspot.com/2008/10/greenroad-awarded-contract-for-worlds.html">GreenRoad awarded contract for the world's largest teen driver technology-based safety program</a><br /><br /><a href="http://cleantech-israel.blogspot.com/2008/08/uk-bus-company-to-deploy-greenroad.html">UK bus company to deploy GreenRoad Safety Center</a><br /><br /><a href="http://cleantech-israel.blogspot.com/2008/07/greenroad-raises-175-million-in-series.html">GreenRoad raises $17.5 million in Series C funding</a>Jonathan Shapirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14149609019910676772noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8309611922704597854.post-72162734799318646232010-02-18T21:41:00.004-05:002010-02-18T22:03:58.139-05:00AquAgro Fund acquires Kinrot water incubator<a target="new" href="http://www.aquagrofund.com/">AguAgro Fund LP</a> has acquired water technology incubator <a target="new" href="http://www.kinarot.com/">Kinrot Technology Ventures</a> from Canada's <a target="new" href="http://www.sternpartners.com/">Stern Partners Inc.</a> in a share-swap deal, reports <a href="http://www.globes.co.il/serveen/globes/docview.asp?did=1000540221&fid=1725">Globes</a>.<br /><br />Stern Partners, run by president <a href="http://www.sternpartners.com/team/ronald_stern.html">Ronald Stern</a>, will reportedly get a stake in AquAgro, an Israeli venture capital fund focused on innovative water and agriculture technologies, although terms of the deal were not disclosed. <br /><p><a href="http://www.gov.il/FirstGov/TopNavEng/Engoffices/EngMinistries/EngIndustry/">Ministry of Industry, Trade and Labor</a> regulations governing Israel's <a href="http://www.incubators.org.il/">Technological Incubators Program</a> require that AquAgro inject at least $3 million into Kinrot over three years. </p><p>Stern Partners ran Kinrot for the last three years following the incubator's privatization. Under the leadership of CEO <a href="http://www.kinrot.com/index.aspx?id=3274&itemID=2187">Assaf Barnea</a>, Kinrot has invested in a portfolio of 11 cleantech start-ups and entered into strategic partnership agreements with Israel's <a target="new" href="http://www.mekorot.co.il/">Mekorot</a>, the <a href="http://www.ladwp.com/ladwp/homepage.jsp">Los Angeles Department of Water and Power</a>, and the <a href="http://www.milwaukee7-watercouncil.com/wiki/show/Main">Milwaukee 7 Water Council</a>. </p><p><a target="new" href="http://www.gaon.com/">B. Gaon Holdings Ltd.</a> controls AquAgro through <a target="new" href="http://www.gaonagro.com/">Gaon Agro Industries Ltd.</a>. Gaon Holdings CEO and Gaon Agro chairman Shai Preminger told Globes, "Gaon Holdings is one of the players that, a decade ago, inscribed on its flag investment in the water and cleantech industries, through Gaon Agro. The acquisition of Kinrot turns AquAgro, which we own, into the leading Israeli investor in the water and cleantech technologies." </p><p>Related Posts:<br /></p><p><a href="http://cleantech-israel.blogspot.com/2008/06/los-angeles-and-israel-to-cooperate-on.html">Los Angeles and Israel to cooperate on water research</a></p><p><a href="http://cleantech-israel.blogspot.com/2007/10/kinarot.html">Kinrot incubator names Assaf Barnea as CEO</a></p><p><a href="http://cleantech-israel.blogspot.com/2008/03/computerized-electricity-systems-raises.html">Computerized Electricity Systems raises $3.75m from AquAgro Fund</a></p><p><a href="http://cleantech-israel.blogspot.com/2008/02/aquagro-fund-announces-launch-of-aqua.html">AquAgro Fund announces launch of Aqua Lab for early stage investments</a></p> <p><a href="http://cleantech-israel.blogspot.com/2008/01/advanced-desalination-technologies.html">Advanced Desalination Technologies raises $4m from AquAgro Fund</a></p>Jonathan Shapirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14149609019910676772noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8309611922704597854.post-68776500035972960802010-02-18T13:32:00.000-05:002010-02-19T00:37:32.441-05:00CellEra raises $2 million from Israel Cleantech Ventures and BrainsToVentures<a href="http://www.cellera.biz/">CellEra Inc.</a>, a Caesarea, Israel-based start-up developing a platinum-free membrane-based fuel cell technology (PFM-FC), has reportedly raised $2 million from German angel investor group <a href="http://www.b-to-v.com/">BrainsToVentures</a> and existing investor <a href="http://www.israelcleantech.com/">Israel Cleantech Ventures</a>.<br /><br />According to a <a href="http://www.openpr.de/drucken/392330/Private-Equity-Investoren-beteiligen-sich-an-israelischer-CellEra-Technologies.html">German press release</a> from BrainsToVentures and an article in the <a href="http://www.ftd.de/unternehmen/industrie/autoindustrie/:alternative-antriebe-wasser-traegt-autos-weiter/50067541.html">Financial Times’ German edition</a>, both of which were originally reported by <a href="http://earth2tech.com/2010/02/05/cellera-raises-cash-for-cheaper-fuel-cells/">Earth2Tech</a>, CellEra has raised $2 million and developed its first prototype.<br /><br />CEO <a href="http://il.linkedin.com/in/zivgottesfeld">Ziv Gottesfeld</a>, in an interview with Earth2Tech, confirmed the news and said that the $2 million is part of a larger investment round.<br /><br />Gottesfeld also says that CellEra already is working with a major manufacturer and is integrating its fuel cells into backup power systems. CellEra plans to use its new cash to turn its working prototype into its first commercial product, Gottesfeld told Earth2Tech, adding that the company aims to have products ready for the market in two years. <p>According to the press release from BrainsToVentures, CellEra believes it can cut fuel-cell development and manufacturing costs by more than 70 percent by eliminating the most expensive material – platinum. Platinum currently costs $1500 per ounce, approximately double the price from a year ago.<br /></p> <p><a href="http://de.linkedin.com/pub/christian-schuetz/0/18a/500">Christian Schüetz</a>, a at BrainsToVentures, told the <a href="http://www.ftd.de/unternehmen/industrie/autoindustrie/:alternative-antriebe-wasser-traegt-autos-weiter/50067541.html">Financial Times’ German edition</a> that he expects CellEra to introduce fuel cells for hybrid cars by 2015.</p> <p>Gottesfeld refuses to speculate on when CellEra's technology would be ready for vehicle applications, but he said that CellEra's technology could work “very nicely and cost-effectively” with batteries to extend the range of electric vehicles in the future.</p><p>CellEra, founded in 2007 by CEO Ziv Gotttesfeld and VP R&D <a href="http://il.linkedin.com/in/dariodekel">Dario Dekel</a>, raised an inital $2 million investment from Israel Cleantech Ventures in 2008. Later that year, Roger Saillant, a fuel cell industry veteran and former CEO of NASDAQ-listed <a href="http://www.plugpower.com/">Plug Power</a>, <a href="http://cleantech-israel.blogspot.com/search/label/CellEra">joined CellEra's board of directors</a>.<br /></p><p>CellEra's CTO is Dr. <a href="http://www.linkedin.com/pub/a/705/38">Shimshon Gottesfeld</a>, former <span class="hl">CTO for <a href="http://www.mtimicrofuelcells.com/">MTI Micro</a> and the director of the</span> fuel cell research program at <span class="hl"><a href="http://www.lanl.gov/">Los Alamos National Laboratory</a>.<br /></span></p><p>Related Posts:<br /></p><p><a href="http://cleantech-israel.blogspot.com/2008/03/global-map-of-cleantech-startups.html"></a><a href="http://cleantech-israel.blogspot.com/2008/10/roger-saillant-fuel-cell-industry.html">Roger Saillant, fuel cell industry veteran, joins CellEra board of directors</a><br /></p><p><a href="http://cleantech-israel.blogspot.com/2008/03/global-map-of-cleantech-startups.html">Global map of cleantech startups includes five Israel-related companies</a><br /></p><a href="http://cleantech-israel.blogspot.com/2008/01/israel-cleantech-ventures-invests-in.html">Israel Cleantech Ventures invests in CellEra, fuel cell startup</a>Jonathan Shapirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14149609019910676772noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8309611922704597854.post-21344236329378247372010-02-17T23:50:00.004-05:002010-02-18T00:33:39.260-05:00Terra Venture Partners Israel's most active VC in 2009<a href="http://www.terravp.com/">Terra Venture Partners</a>, a Jerusalem-based venture capital fund focused on seed and early-stage cleantech investments, was recently named Israel's most active venture capital investor for 2009.<br /><br />According to the <a href="http://www.ivc-online.com/">IVC Research Center</a>, Terra Venture Partners made six first investments in 2009, followed closely by <a href="http://www.carmelventures.com/">Carmel Ventures</a>, <a href="http://www.gizavc.com/giza.asp">Giza Venture Capital</a>, <a href="http://www.jvpvc.com/">Jerusalem Venture Partners</a>, <a href="http://www.magmavc.com/">Magma Venture Partners</a>, <a href="http://www.pitango.com/">Pitango Venture Capital</a>, <a href="http://www.sequoiacap.com/">Sequoia Capital</a>, which each made five first investments in 2009. <br /><br />Terra Venture Partners has $25 million under management and is headed up by general partners <a href="http://il.linkedin.com/pub/astorre-modena/0/32/AB7">Astorre Modena</a> and <a href="http://il.linkedin.com/pub/harold-wiener/0/327/860">Harold Wiener</a>. Its initial investments in 2007 were in wind energy start-up <a href="http://www.iqwind.com/">IQWind</a> and energy efficiency start-up <a href="http://www.phoebus-energy.com/">Phoebus Energy</a>. Later, Terra Venture Partners invested in <a href="http://www.basdetect.com/">Biological Alarm Systems</a>, a start-up developing airborne biological hazards.<br /><br />IVC Research Center reports that in 2009 Terra Venturea Partners invested in:<br /><ul><li><a href="http://www.linumsystems.com">Linum Systems</a>, a start-up founded in 2009 that is developing an advanced, energy efficient air conditioning technology. Linum Systems was founded by <a href="http://il.linkedin.com/pub/yuval-berson/1/a67/894">Yuval Berson</a> and <a href="http://il.linkedin.com/in/amirhirshfeld">Amir Hirshfeld</a>, two veterans of Israeli solar power company <a href="http://www.matimop.org.il/company.aspx?code=6073">Di.S.P</a><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms,sans-serif;font-size:100%;" ><span><b><span style="font-weight: normal;"></span></b></span></span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms,sans-serif;font-size:100%;" ><span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span></span></span><b><span style="font-weight: normal;font-size:100%;" ><span></span></span></b></span></span></li><li><a href="http://www.lithiumforce.com/">Lithium Force</a>, a start-up focused on providing complete solutions for electric powered transportation fleets (buses, trucks, and taxis)<span style="font-size: 12px;"></span></li><li>PV Nanocell, a stealthy start-up apparently focused on the development and production of nanomaterials for the solar photovoltaic industry<br /></li><li><a href="http://www.silentium.com/">Silentium</a>, which is developing innovative noise reduction products and solutions </li><li><a href="http://www.smartap-tech.com/">SmarTap</a>, a company devloping innovative, efficient electronic water faucets <span style="font-size: 12px;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></span></li><li><a href="http://www.wi-charge.com/">Wi-Charge</a>, a start-up developing technology to enable the safe, reliable and efficient wireless transmission of power. Wi-Charge was founded in 2007 by <a href="http://il.linkedin.com/pub/ortal-alpert/7/771/7ba">Ortal Alpert</a></li></ul>You can follow <a href="http://www.ivc-online.com/upload/archive/MAF/MostActiveFunds2009Eng.pdf">this link</a> to access the original report online.<br /><br />Related Posts:<br /><br /><a href="http://cleantech-israel.blogspot.com/2007/10/terra-vp-raises-15-million-makes-first.html">Terra Venture Partners raises $15 million, makes first investments</a>Jonathan Shapirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14149609019910676772noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8309611922704597854.post-19536096359756526872010-02-11T22:36:00.002-05:002010-02-11T22:54:54.315-05:00SunPower acquires SunRay Renewable Energy for $277 million<span id="mn_Global"><span id="mn_Article"><a href="http://us.sunpowercorp.com/">SunPower</a>, Silicon Valley's biggest solar panel manufacturer, announced Thursday an agreement to buy <a href="http://www.sunrayrenewable.com/">SunRay Renewable Energy</a>, a developer of solar power plants in Europe and Israel, for $277 million.<br /><br /></span></span><span class="t13">Although based in Malta, SunRay is managed by Israelis, including CEO Yoram Amiga and Michael Barnea, Head of Legal and M&A. </span><span class="t13">SunRay established a wholly-owned Israeli subsidiary, <a href="http://www.sunrayrenewable.com/israel.html">SunRay Israel Blue & White</a>, which is working to develop 100MW of solar photovoltaic projects. <br /><br /></span><span class="t13">Kobi Katz, the CEO of SunRay Israel, told <a href="http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1149389.html">The Marker</a> the sale was a vote of confidence by SunPower in the Israeli solar market. </span><br /><br /><span id="mn_Global"><span id="mn_Article">SunRay currently has 1,200 megawatts of generating plants in development in Italy, France, Israel, Spain, the United Kingdom and Greece.</span></span> SunRay is owned by its management and U.S.-based <a href="http://www.denhamcapital.com/">Denham Capital</a>, which bought control of the firm for $200 million in 2007. <br /><span id="mn_Global"><span id="mn_Article"><p>SunPower and SunRay originally joined forces on Montalto, the largest power plant in Italy. "Our experience <span id="mn_Global"><span id="mn_Article">working with SunPower on Montalto and several other power plants in Italy convinced us that SunRay will be joining the global solar technology, performance and quality leader for solar power plants," said Yoram Amiga, CEO of SunRay Group, in a statement.</span></span></p></span></span><span id="mn_Global"><span id="mn_Article"><br /></span></span>Jonathan Shapirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14149609019910676772noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8309611922704597854.post-32180171206760897932010-01-25T09:11:00.007-05:002010-01-25T09:33:25.215-05:00Better Place secures $350 million series B round led by HSBC Group; electric car start-up valued at $1.25 billion<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shai_Agassi">Shai Agassi</a> and the team at <a href="http://www.betterplace.com/">Better Place</a> have done it again: almost two years to the day after <a href="http://cleantech-israel.blogspot.com/2008/01/israel-set-to-adopt-electric-cars.html">announcing</a> its first car partnership and its <a href="http://cleantech-israel.blogspot.com/2008/01/israel-set-to-adopt-electric-cars.html">first country deployment in Israel</a>, Better Place today <a href="http://www.betterplace.com/company/press-release-detail/better-place-secures-350-million-series-b-round-led-by-hsbc-group/">announced</a> that it has signed an agreement with an HSBC-led investor consortium for new equity financing of $350 million. The deal marks one of the largest clean-tech investments in history and values Better Place at $1.25 billion.<br /><br />This Series B equity financing round features participation from new investors including <a href="http://www.hsbc.com/1/2/">HSBC</a>, <a href="http://www.morganstanley.com/msim">Morgan Stanley Investment Management</a>, and <a href="http://www.lazardnet.com/">Lazard Asset Management</a>. These investors will join existing Series A investors including <a href="http://www.israelcorp.com/">Israel Corp</a>., <a href="http://www.vpvp.com/">VantagePoint Venture Partners</a>, <a href="http://www.oferhitech.com/">Ofer Hi-Tech Holdings</a>, Morgan Stanley Principal Investments, <span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span><a href="http://www.maniv.com/">Maniv Energy Capital</a>, and <a href="http://www.israelcleantech.com/">Israel Cleantech Ventures</a>, among others, as shareholders of Better Place. For HSBC, which led the round with an investment of $125 million, the deal represents one of the largest financial investments of its kind by HSBC.<br /><br />As part of the deal, Kevin Adeson, HSBC Head of Global Capital Financing, will join the Better Place Board of Directors, and HSBC will own approximately 10% of the company’s shares.<br /><br />“Today marks the end of an extensive process with the outcome being a decision by one of the world’s largest, most conservative banks, HSBC, to take the validating step of investing in a private company intent on bringing innovation to the trillion-dollar automotive and energy industries,” said Shai Agassi, Better Place Founder and Chief Executive Officer. “The strong investment commitment and global relationships that HSBC, Morgan Stanley Investment Management and Lazard Asset Management bring to the table combined with the continuing confidence from our original investors enables us to scale up globally and execute against our plan.”<br /><br />In welcoming Adeson to the Board, <a href="http://www.israelcorp.com/Management/ExecutiveOfficers/IdanOfer.aspx">Idan Ofer</a>, Chairman of Better Place and Israel Corp., remarked, “Kevin and the entire HSBC team will bring more than just capital to the table. We expect that HSBC will help us to scale in Europe, China and beyond, and we’re already seeing the value that they are bringing to the company and the Board.”<br /><br />Stuart Gulliver, Executive Director, HSBC Holdings and Chief Executive of Global Banking and Markets, said, “We believe the switch from internal combustion engine vehicles to electric vehicles will create future growth opportunities in the auto and utility industries, and we are delighted to take the opportunity of investing in Better Place to put HSBC at the heart of these developments. Better Place is a private-sector solution to the issue of infrastructure provision for electric cars and can succeed without government subsidy and without sacrificing consumer expectations for personal mobility.”<br /><br />Better Place’s new board member, Kevin Adeson of HSBC, commented: “We are confident that Better Place has the technical and commercial solutions to allow for the mass adoption of electric cars in the near term. The Better Place switchable battery solution, which addresses the range limitation of fixed battery electric cars, will offer the consumer an affordable and attractive alternative to current combustion engine and hybrid vehicles. We expect the Better Place model to be widely adopted across many countries and cities, particularly in those markets with policies strongly favoring electric vehicle adoption.”<br /><br />The financing allows Better Place to expand its geographic footprint while continuing to execute against its committed R&D and deployment milestones. The company intends to expand into markets where the business model economics and investor returns are optimized, notably in Europe and Asia.<br /><br />Better Place says that it continues to meet its timetable for Israel and Denmark launch plans for the end of 2011 when the first Renault switchable battery electric cars hit the road. Better Place also will continue to execute against its strategy of early deployment projects in Australia and select North American markets a few months after the Israel and Denmark launches as planned.<br /><br />Additionally, the company’s R&D team is currently testing each element of the Better Place solution in real-life scenarios around the world in a multi-phase cycle, beginning with the company’s managed EV network in Denmark, which began last December, and a Tokyo electric taxi project with battery switch station, which kicks off in April this year. These and other development milestones lead up to full-scale trials in the second half of 2010 and commercial launch in 2011.<br /><br />Agassi added: “Our technology and solutions, together with our strong partnership with Renault, provide us at least a two-year time advantage over all other alternative energy vehicle approaches. Our solution is the only one that can scale to decrease countries’ oil consumption and significantly reduce emissions, while providing consumers with electric cars that are more convenient and affordable than internal combustion engine cars.”<br /><br />“Better Place is a huge experiment in how you sell and fuel vehicles, and these investors are becoming convinced this will make money,” Rod Lache, an analyst at <a href="http://www.db.com/index_e.htm"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Deutsche Bank</span></a> told the <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/25/business/energy-environment/25electric.html?ref=business">New York Times</a>. “It is a financial validation. Now we need to see technical validation and consumer validation.”<br /><br />The transaction is subject to approval by antitrust regulators and other customary closing conditions and is expected to close in the first quarter of 2010.<br /><br />Related Posts:<br /><br /><a href="http://cleantech-israel.blogspot.com/2009/05/better-place-unveils-battery-switch.html">Better Place unveils battery switch technology in Japan</a><br /><br /><a href="http://cleantech-israel.blogspot.com/2009/05/better-place-applauds-hawaiis-electric.html">Better Place applauds Hawaii's electric car legislation</a><br /><br /><a href="http://cleantech-israel.blogspot.com/2009/04/shai-agassi-named-to-time-100-list-of.html">Shai Agassi named to Time 100 list of world's most influential people</a><br /><br /><a href="http://cleantech-israel.blogspot.com/2009/04/better-place-and-haifa-cooperate-on.html">Better Place and Haifa to cooperate on electric car infrastructure</a><br /><br /><a href="http://cleantech-israel.blogspot.com/2009/01/better-place-raises-103-million-names.html">Better Place raises €103 million, names new Danish CEO</a><br /><br /><a href="http://cleantech-israel.blogspot.com/2008/09/better-place-and-hawaii-to-partner-on.html">Better Place and Hawaii to partner on electric car project</a><br /><br /><a href="http://cleantech-israel.blogspot.com/2008/04/deutsche-bank-project-better-place-has.html">Deustche Bank: Project Better Place has "the potential to eliminate the gasoline engine"</a><br /><br /><a href="http://cleantech-israel.blogspot.com/2008/03/project-better-place-appoints-israel.html">Better Place appoints Israel CEO, declares Israel as primary R&D center</a><br /><a href="http://cleantech-israel.blogspot.com/2008/01/agassi-unveils-electric-car-in-israel.html"><br />Shai Agassi unveils Project Better Place electric car</a><br /><a href="http://cleantech-israel.blogspot.com/2008/01/israel-set-to-adopt-electric-cars.html"><br />Israel to adopt electric cars produced by Renault-Nissan and Project Better Place</a>Jonathan Shapirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14149609019910676772noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8309611922704597854.post-73366166541597084102010-01-14T09:24:00.006-05:002010-01-14T10:02:48.213-05:00Arad Technologies wins lucractive water metering deal in India<p><a href="http://www.aradtec.com/">Arad Technologies</a>, a Yokneam, Israel-based wireless water meter manufacturer, and Luxembourg-based meter maker <a href="http://www.itron.com/">Actaris Metering Systems</a> were jointly awarded a deal to provide 150,000 water meters to the city of Mumbai, India according to <a href="http://www.globes.co.il/serveen/globes/printwindow.asp?did=1000530016">Globes</a>.</p> <p>Citing the <a href="http://www.export.gov.il/Eng/">Israel Export and International Cooperation Institute</a>, Globes reports that the deal is part of a $128 million project to install 1.2 million water meters in Mumbai, though contracts for the remainder of the project have not been distributed. Arad and Actaris, however, are expected to win the follow-on tenders, because of logistical difficulties in coordinating different meter systems and technologies in a single municipal network.<br /></p> <p>Arad Technologies—a subsidiary of Tel-Aviv stock exchange listed water measuring technologies manufacturer the <a href="http://www.arad.co.il/">Arad Group</a> —specializes in Web-based automatic meter reading technology for municipal water networks, and also has expertise in electric and gas meters. According to Arad Technologies, its products help to reduce operating costs, allow for more accurate measurements, and increase the lifetime of meters for its customers.</p><p>According to a <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE5A303X20091104">report in Reuters</a>, Arad Technologies sold more than $100 million in water meters in 2008 and is developing a fly-by system using small pilotless aircraft to collect data from water maters in real time. <br /></p><p>Arad Technologies participated in the tender through the Export Institute and the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Labor's Foreign Trade Administration and <a target="new" href="http://www.israelnewtech.gov.il/">Israel NewTech</a> program for promoting the water technology and renewable energy industries. </p> <p>Arad Technologies president Dan Winter said, "Winning this tender is a breakthrough for us, which opens a new market that is full of opportunities. Arad is in the final stages of two other tenders in India, and in view of the heavy demand, we are considering moving some production there." </p> Actaris is a subsidiary of <a href="http://cleantech.com/news/companies/itron">Itron</a> (Nasdaq:<a href="http://finance.google.com/finance?q=ITRI" target="_blank">ITRI</a>), which offers products and services including metering, data collection, and software to utilities worldwide in the energy and water markets<br /><br />Related Posts:<br /><a href="http://cleantech-israel.blogspot.com/2008/04/india-israel-to-collaborate-on.html"><br />India, Israel to collaborate on cleantech</a><br /><br /><a href="http://cleantech-israel.blogspot.com/2008/02/granite-hacarmel-to-invest-in-indian.html">Granite Hacarmel to invest in Indian renewable energy projects</a><br /><br /><a href="http://cleantech-israel.blogspot.com/2008/02/mekorot-to-develop-water-infrastructure.html">Mekorot to develop water infrastructure in India </a>Jonathan Shapirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14149609019910676772noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8309611922704597854.post-55519397713059871282010-01-10T11:39:00.016-05:002010-01-11T12:15:36.844-05:00HelioFocus raises $10m from China's Sanhua and IC Green Energy<a href="http://www.heliofocus.com/">HelioFocus Ltd.</a>, an Israel-based solar thermal systems start-up, has raised more than $10 million from China's <a href="http://www.zjshc.com/en-about6.asp">Zhejiang Sanhua Co.</a> and existing investor <a href="http://www.israelcorp.com/Holdings/Energy/ICGreenEnergy.aspx">IC Green Energy</a>.<br /><br />HelioFocus announced the investment last week at the <a href="http://www.weizmann.ac.il/">Weizmann Institute of Science</a> in Rehovot, Israel, where HelioFocus is developing its solar thermal technology to boost electricity production of existing power plants.<br /><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-CXD3jBM2yKe-49u2gI2iMs2bJYTbsPsoDaEk0Jik82Qw0oQNBkwVNOm-4uEGHXhJtMYgkN5GnC8wt5vUt9PVMAeRgSKt21Iq4waYiFJqIX5KlrxOmVUg3boDT5o3vOCbaXkwHgrTBoxu/s1600-h/HelioFocus+pic.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-CXD3jBM2yKe-49u2gI2iMs2bJYTbsPsoDaEk0Jik82Qw0oQNBkwVNOm-4uEGHXhJtMYgkN5GnC8wt5vUt9PVMAeRgSKt21Iq4waYiFJqIX5KlrxOmVUg3boDT5o3vOCbaXkwHgrTBoxu/s320/HelioFocus+pic.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425531845167952226" border="0" /></a></p>HelioFocus CEO Ory Zik said Sanhua, the Chinese maker of appliance components whose stock is traded on the Shenzhen stock exchange, would be not just a financial investor in the company, but will also produce some solar thermal components. <p> "We will be able to reduce costs and move relatively quickly to manufacturing," Zik told <a href="http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKLDE6040SW20100105?sp=true">Reuters</a>. "Components that can be made at lower cost in China will be produced there."</p> <span id="midArticle_7"></span> <p> Sanhua, which will hold 30 percent of HelioFocus, will invest $9.25 million directly in the company and will acquire $1.25 million worth of shares from its founders.<br /></p> <span id="midArticle_8"></span> <p> IC Green Energy, the renewable energy investment arm of holding company Israel Corp<span style="cursor: pointer;" id="symbol_ILCO.TA_1"></span>, is the largest shareholder in HelioFocus with a 40 percent stake. It will invest $2.3 million in HelioFocus alongside Sanhua's investment. <span id="midArticle_byline"></span></p> <span id="midArticle_0"></span> <p> The rest of HelioFocus is held by workers and management, including Sass Somekh, Co-Chairman of HelioFocus and Founder of <a href="http://www.museaventures.com/Musea_Ventures/Home.html">Musea Ventures</a>.</p><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwrANC_AXWWyOsq8r5CdobAnUGu7lTBfwylUL4hPaSJ49XQObdl5RjBjnf4mkPNxzJaDMCSWgzt5HYsZAdLbs6AjaN2Fy9PZ398HRSH1kLXNH9alIpH-jjCEKCOTAE9H8XmaChUgl9lRgm/s1600-h/heliofocus-israel-china-solar-energy.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 208px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwrANC_AXWWyOsq8r5CdobAnUGu7lTBfwylUL4hPaSJ49XQObdl5RjBjnf4mkPNxzJaDMCSWgzt5HYsZAdLbs6AjaN2Fy9PZ398HRSH1kLXNH9alIpH-jjCEKCOTAE9H8XmaChUgl9lRgm/s320/heliofocus-israel-china-solar-energy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425186841226705490" border="0" /></a></p><p>In 2008, HelioFocus raised a <a href="http://cleantech-israel.blogspot.com/2008/08/ic-green-energy-invests-in-heliofocus.html">$10 million first round of financing</a> from IC Green Energy, and the company is also a recipient of an <a href="http://cleantech-israel.blogspot.com/2009/11/doe-awards-grants-to-heliofocus-tigo.html">$800,000 BIRD Foundation grant</a>. The current investment from Sanhua and IC Green Energy values HelioFocus at $45 million.<br /></p> <span id="midArticle_1"></span> <p> Zik said HelioFocus, whose system converts the sun's rays into hot air to produce electricity, will release its first product in 2012 and is working on a pilot project in Israel. Funds raised from Sanhua will be used by HelioFocus to continue its research.</p> <span id="midArticle_2"></span> <p> "We believe that the thermo-solar market will grow significantly, together with the rapid global development and ongoing legislation in the clean energy market," Yom Tov Samia, Co-Chairman of HelioFocus and president and CEO of IC Green Energy, said in a statement.</p> <span id="midArticle_3"></span> Jacky Eldan, Israeli consul general in China, said the door opened by Sanhua will pave the way for more cooperation and investments of Chinese companies in Israel.<br /><br />HelioFocus' financing announcement is the latest in a series of successes for Israeli solar thermal companies. Siemens AG <a href="http://cleantech-israel.blogspot.com/2009/10/siemens-to-buy-solel-solar-for-418.html">bought Israel-based Solel Solar Systems Ltd. for about $418 million</a> in October 2009, <a href="http://cleantech-israel.blogspot.com/2009/02/aora-raises-5m-for-solar-thermal.html">AORA Solar raised $5 million</a> in February 2009, and <a href="http://www.brightsourceenergy.com/">BrightSource Energy</a>, which conducts R&D through subsidiary <a href="http://www.brightsourceenergy.com/bsii">BrightSource Industries Israel</a>, has announced a series of mega projects in the U.S. over the past year<br /><br />Congrulations to Ory Zik and the rest of the team at HelioFocus!<br /><br />Related Posts:<br /><a href="http://cleantech-israel.blogspot.com/2009/11/doe-awards-grants-to-heliofocus-tigo.html"><br />DOE awards grant to HelioFocus</a><br /><br /><a href="http://cleantech-israel.blogspot.com/2008/08/ic-green-energy-invests-in-heliofocus.html">IC Green Energy invests in HelioFocus</a><br /><br /><a href="http://cleantech-israel.blogspot.com/2008/08/heliofocus-orders-microturbines-for.html">HelioFocus orders microturbines for concentrated solar power systems </a><br /><br /><a href="http://cleantech-israel.blogspot.com/2008/05/ic-green-energy-and-yom-tov-samia.html">IC Green Energy and Yom Tov Samia</a>Jonathan Shapirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14149609019910676772noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8309611922704597854.post-19214406612086547342009-12-05T22:08:00.004-05:002009-12-05T22:26:20.826-05:00Seambiotic and China Guodian utility to build $10 million commercial microalgae farm<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><a href="http://www.seambiotic.com">Seambiotic</a>, a </span></span>Tel Aviv, Israel-based cleantech start-up developing and producing<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> marine microalgae for the nutraceuticals and biofuel industries using flue gas from electric power plants, has announced that it has signed a License Agreement and a Joint Venture Agreement with affiliates of <a href="http://www.cgdc.com.cn/en_no_use/en_index.html">China Guodian Corporation</a>, to establish a Chinese joint venture for the commercial cultivation of microalgae.</span></span> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">China Guodian</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> is one of </span><st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">China</span></st1:country-region></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">’s largest power companies with over 100 power stations. The joint venture with Seambiotic will utilize Seambiotic’s innovative technology for the cultivation microalgae for use in the animal and fish foodstock and nutraceutical industries. The first commercial farm of 12 hectares is expected to cost $10 million, will be situated in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penglai_City">Penglai</a>, a city in Shandong Province, China. <br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The facility will utilize carbon dioxide emitted from the China Guodian's Penglai power station, and, according to Seambiotic, the facility will become operational during 2010. The joint venture agreements, with </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Yantai Hairong and Penglai Weiyuan, affiliates of </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">China Guodian,</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> contemplate additional farms to be established based upon a pre-agreed timetable.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">“The joint venture with Yantai Hairong and Penglai Weiyuan is a major development for Seambiotic,” said </span><a href="http://il.linkedin.com/pub/daniel-chinn/4/692/b0b"><st1:personname st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Daniel Chinn</span></st1:personname></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">, Seambiotic CEO. “Partnering with such significant companies validates our model of working with important power companies around the world, and we look forward to working with our Chinese partners in establishing the first farm and commercializing our product.”</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Seambiotic </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">was founded in 2003 in cooperation with the Israel Electric Corporation (IEC) to grow and process marine microalgae for the nutraceutical and biofuel industries while acting as a carbon capture technology. Seambiotic's research efforts are performed at a pilot plant at IEC’s power station near </span><st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Ashkelon</span></st1:city><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">, </span><st1:country-region st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Israel</span></st1:country-region></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">, where various species of marine microalgae have been successfully cultivated using the power station's CO2 </span><sub><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"></span></sub><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> emissions released directly from their smokestacks. The microalgae are in turn sold into the nutraceutical market or used as feedstock for animal or fish and biofuel.<br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Seambiotic says that it is currently in transition from the pilot plant stage to commercial scale algae cultivation and production.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Related Posts:<br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://cleantech-israel.blogspot.com/2009/07/seambiotic-and-nasa-to-develop-aviation.html">Seambiotic and NASA to develop aviation biofuel feedstock from microalgae</a><br /><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://cleantech-israel.blogspot.com/2008/06/seambiotic-to-build-algae-based-biofuel.html">Seambiotic to build algae-based biofuel plant in Israel</a></p>Jonathan Shapirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14149609019910676772noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8309611922704597854.post-48578132105252303602009-11-24T15:33:00.008-05:002009-11-25T00:40:03.825-05:00DOE awards grants to HelioFocus, Tigo Energy, TransBiodiesel and Motorola Israel for U.S.-Israel energy projects<p>The U.S. <a href="http://www.energy.gov/">Department of Energy</a> (DOE) today <a href="http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/news/progress_alerts.cfm/pa_id=274">announced</a> the award of $3.3 million in grants for four U.S.-Israel cooperative clean energy projects. The projects were selected by the <a href="http://www.birdf.com/">BIRD Foundation</a> and will be funded by the DOE and Israel's <a href="http://www.mni.gov.il/mni/en-US/">Ministry of National Infrastructures.</a><br /></p><p></p><p>The four projects will leverage private sector cost-share for a total project value of $11.6 million:<strong style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></strong></p><p><strong style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://www.heliofocus.com/">HelioFocus Ltd.</a>, based in Ness Ziona, Israel and <a href="http://www.capstoneturbine.com/">Capstone Turbine Corporation</a>, based in Chatsworth, California</strong> have been selected for an award of up to $800,000. HelioFocus and Capstone Turbine will develop and commercialize a micro-turbine to produce electric power from concentrated solar energy. This project includes $2.1 million in private sector cost-share. IC Green Energy <a href="http://cleantech-israel.blogspot.com/2008/08/ic-green-energy-invests-in-heliofocus.html">invested in HelioFocus</a> last year, and this blog reported on HelioFocus' <a href="http://cleantech-israel.blogspot.com/2008/08/heliofocus-orders-microturbines-for.html">cooperation with Capstone Turbine</a> back in August 2008. <strong><br /></strong></p><p><strong style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://www.motorola.com/Consumers/IL-EN/GLP">Motorola Israel Ltd.</a>, based in Tel Aviv, Israel and <a href="http://www.smartsynch.com/">SmartSynch, Inc.</a>, based in Jackson, Mississippi</strong> have been selected for an award of up to $900,000. Motorola Israel and SmartSynch will collaborate in the development and commercialization of a platform to enable implementation of a Smart Grid energy management system. This project will integrate Home Area Network and Smart Grid network management software applications to give utilities greater control while allowing end-users the ability to monitor and control consumption. This project includes $2.8 million in private sector cost-share.<span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><strong style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://www.tigoenergy.com/">Tigo Energy</a>, based in Kfar Saba, Israel and U.S. Architectural Glass and Aluminum Co., Inc., based in Alameda, California</strong> have been selected for an award of up to $900,000. This project will support the development and integration of a complete Building Integrated Photovoltaic (BIPV) system. The partnership will seek to overcome the cost, standardization, generation performance, visibility, and safety challenges that currently hinder large scale adoption of BIPV. This project includes $2.3 million in private sector cost-share. Earlier this year, Tigo Energy announced a <a href="http://cleantech-israel.blogspot.com/2009/05/tigo-energy-raises-10m-series-b-from.html">$10 million Series B financing</a> from Israel Cleantech Ventures, Matrix Partners, OVP and Clal Energy.<strong><br /></strong></p><p><strong style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://www.transbiodiesel.com/">TransBiodiesel Ltd.</a>, based in Shfar-Am, Israel and <a href="http://www.purolite.com/RelId/33637/ISvars/default/Home.htm">The Purolite Company</a>, based in Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania</strong> have been selected for an award of up to $700,000. This project seeks to design a biocatalyst comprised of methanol-resistant lipase immobilized on a cost-effective resin for the production of biodiesel at commercial scales. Lipase biocatalysts offer significant advantages over traditional catalysts used for biodiesel production including lifecycle efficiency gains and consistent product quality, but are currently high-cost and suffer from short operation life-time as they are degraded during the biodiesel production process. This project includes $1.2 million in private sector cost-share. This is TransBiodiesel's second BIRD Foundation grant -- in 2008, it was <a href="http://cleantech-israel.blogspot.com/2008/12/bird-foundation-invests-in-us-israel.html">awarded a grant</a> to partner with Rohm & Hass on biodiesel production.<br /></p> <p>The projects are expected to begin in 2010.</p><p>The BIRD Foundation promotes cooperation between Israeli and U.S. companies in various technology areas and assists in identifying strategic partners in both countries, in order to develop and commercialize novel technologies and products.</p><p>The BIRD Foundation supports projects without receiving any rights in the participating companies or in the project itself. The financial assistance is repaid as royalties from sales. The Foundation provides support of up to 50% of a project's budget, beginning with R&D and ending with the initial stages of sales and marketing. The Foundation shares the risk and does not demand that the investment be repaid if the project fails to reach the sales stage.</p><p>The BIRD Energy program is the result of the U.S.-Israel Energy Cooperation Act, which was <a href="http://cleantech-israel.blogspot.com/2007/12/us-near-approval-for-clean-energy.html">enacted in December 2007</a> and <a href="http://cleantech-israel.blogspot.com/2009/03/us-israel-energy-cooperation-act.html">formally launched</a> at the <a href="http://eilatenergy.org/test/">Eilat-Eilot Energy Conference</a> in February 2009. </p><p>Related Posts: </p><p><a href="http://cleantech-israel.blogspot.com/2009/05/tigo-energy-raises-10m-series-b-from.html">Tigo Energy raises $10 million Series B from ICV, Matrix, OVP and Clal Energy</a><br /></p><p><a href="http://cleantech-israel.blogspot.com/2008/12/bird-foundation-invests-in-us-israel.html">BIRD Foundation invests in U.S.-Israel cleantech projects</a><br /></p><p><a href="http://cleantech-israel.blogspot.com/2009/03/us-israel-energy-cooperation-act.html">U.S.-Israel Energy Cooperation Act launches at Eilat Energy Conference</a></p><p><a href="http://cleantech-israel.blogspot.com/2008/10/aquagro-invests-15-million-in.html">AquAgro invests in Transbiodiesel</a></p><p><a href="http://cleantech-israel.blogspot.com/2008/08/ic-green-energy-invests-in-heliofocus.html">IC Green Energy invests in HelioFocus</a><br /></p><p><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" ><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:Arial;font-size:10;" ><a href="http://cleantech-israel.blogspot.com/2007/12/us-near-approval-for-clean-energy.html">U.S is near approval for clean energy cooperation with Israel</a></span></span></p>Jonathan Shapirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14149609019910676772noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8309611922704597854.post-36479733687274159612009-11-11T08:23:00.002-05:002009-11-14T20:04:34.938-05:00Ormat, NV Energy sign 30MW geothermal power contractOrmat Technologies, Inc. <a href="http://ormat.com/news.php?did=137&aid=3356d08d31271473773868ca322f3ade">announced</a> this week that it has signed a 20-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with <a href="http://www.nvenergy.com/">NV Energy, Inc.</a> for the purchase 30 megawatts (MW) from the McGinness Hills Geothermal project, which is currently under construction.<br /><br />The PPA is subject to various approvals including the approval of the <a href="http://pucweb1.state.nv.us/pucn/PUCHome.aspx?AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1">Public Utilities Commission of Nevada</a> and is projected to come on line in 2012. <p align="justify">When completed, the McGinness Hills project will increase the total output supplied from Ormat to NV Energy, Inc. to approximately 135 MWs, helping NV Energy to meet its renewable energy requirement. Nevada's renewable portfolio standard legislation requires 15 percent of all electricity generated in the state to be derived from new renewable energy sources by the end of 2012. </p><p align="justify">Dita Bronicki, CEO of Ormat said, “We have enjoyed a long and successful relationship with NV Energy and are grateful for its support of geothermal power. This PPA is further evidence that geothermal can supply a significant amount of power and is a preferable choice given its cost effectiveness, reliability and baseload nature.” </p><p align="justify">Ormat plans to apply for federal stimulus funds to help pay for the project, including investment tax credits or performance tax credits, and an Energy Department loan guarantee to back debt financing.</p><p align="justify">The McGinness Hills project will consist of Ormat binary energy converters that re-inject the geothermal fluid produced. <a href="http://ormat.com/"><br /></a></p><p align="justify"><a href="http://ormat.com/">Ormat Technologies</a> is the Reno, Nevada-based subsidiary of Israel-based Ormat Industries. <br /></p><p align="justify">Related Posts: <a href="http://cleantech-israel.blogspot.com/2009/10/ormat-and-sunday-energy-sign-195m-solar.html"><br /></a></p><p align="justify"><a href="http://cleantech-israel.blogspot.com/2009/10/ormat-and-sunday-energy-sign-195m-solar.html">Ormat teams with Sunday Energy on $195M joint venture for 36 MW of solar</a></p><p align="justify"><a href="http://cleantech-israel.blogspot.com/2009/10/ormat-and-sunday-energy-sign-195m-solar.html"></a><a href="http://cleantech-israel.blogspot.com/2009/09/ormat-doubles-production-capacity-at.html">Ormat doubles production capacity at Israeli factory</a><br /></p><p align="justify"><a href="http://cleantech-israel.blogspot.com/2009/05/ormat-to-build-330-mw-geothermal-plant.html">Ormat to build 330 MW geothermal plant in Indonesia</a><br /><br /><a href="http://cleantech-israel.blogspot.com/2009/01/ormat-secures-65m-contract-for-costa.html">Ormat secures $65m contract for Costa Rican geothermal plant</a><br /><br /><a href="http://cleantech-israel.blogspot.com/2008/06/ormat-secures-16m-geothermal-contract.html">Ormat secures $16m geothermal contract in Turkey </a></p>Jonathan Shapirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14149609019910676772noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8309611922704597854.post-18386496257136887542009-11-04T22:25:00.004-05:002009-11-14T19:49:45.027-05:00BrightSource signs research agreements with Hebrew University<a href="http://www.yissum.co.il/">Yissum Research Development Company</a>, the technology transfer arm of the <a href="http://www.huji.ac.il/huji/eng/">Hebrew University of Jerusalem</a>, <a href="http://www.yissum.co.il/upload/cnbc.pdf">announced</a> this week that it has signed two research agreements with <a href="http://www.brightsourceenergy.com/bsii">BrightSource Industries Israel</a> (BSII) for the development of new materials for solar thermal power plants.<br /><br />Under the agreement, BrightSource will fund research in the laboratories of Professors <a href="http://nanoscience.huji.ac.il/researchers/mandler.htm">Daniel Mandler</a>, and <a href="http://chem.ch.huji.ac.il/applsci/ac/magdassi/magdassi.htm">Shlomo Magdassi</a>, both from the <a href="http://chem.ch.huji.ac.il/">Institute of Chemistry</a> at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. This research collaboration is based on the know-how of Yissum and BSII.<br /><br />In addition to payment of research fees, BSII will compensate Yissum upon the successful implementation of the technology in its solar power plants. Financial terms were not disclosed.<br /><br />The new materials may be integrated in the solar thermal power plant technology developed by BSII and implemented in new utility-scale power plants worldwide.<br /><br />The BSII technology generates electric power from solar energy by using a field of mirrors to reflect sunlight onto a boiler mounted atop a central tower (<a href="http://www.brightsourceenergy.com/technology/how_lpt_works">LPT Luz Power Tower</a>), where water is converted to superheated steam that drives a turbine generator.<br /><br />"Solar energy is definitely the most important, yet underutilized, clean energy source. Israel has always been a leading player in the solar energy field, and the Hebrew University is proud to collaborate with BrightSource Industries Israel in increasing the efficiency of solar thermal power plants," said <a href="http://il.linkedin.com/pub/yaacov-michlin/1/97b/b24">Yaacov Michlin</a>, CEO of Yissum.<br /><a href="http://www.brightsourceenergy.com/bsii/team"><br />Yoel Gilon</a>, Senior Vice President of BSII, said, "BSII's partnership with Yissum will leverage the academic and research excellence of the Hebrew University to develop cutting-edge new technologies for clean, cost-effective solar thermal power plants. The excellent level of cooperation among Yissum, the university researchers and BSII will be of great value to all the parties involved."<br /><br />BSII, formerly known as Luz II, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Oakland, California-based <a href="http://www.brightsourceenergy.com/">BrightSource Energy</a>. BSII provides product development and engineering services, and supplies the solar fields, including heliostats, solar boilers, and control systems for all of BrightSource Energy's projects.<br /><br />Related Posts:<br /><br /><a href="http://cleantech-israel.blogspot.com/2008/06/brightsource-luz-ii-dedicate-negev.html">BrightSource / Luz II dedicate Negev Solar Energy Development Center</a><br /><br /><a href="http://cleantech-israel.blogspot.com/2008/12/hebrew-us-yissum-launches-cleantech.html">Hebrew U.'s Yissum launches cleantech program</a><br /><a href="http://cleantech-israel.blogspot.com/2007/12/hebrew-university-to-invest-in.html"><br />Hebrew University to invest in cleantech projects</a><br /><br /><a href="http://cleantech-israel.blogspot.com/2009/09/brightsource-energy-expands-nevada_6667.html">BrightSource Energy expands Nevada solar thermal project to 960 MW</a>Jonathan Shapirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14149609019910676772noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8309611922704597854.post-50777520661870348362009-11-02T22:50:00.006-05:002009-11-02T23:31:38.576-05:00Jerusalem event highlights U.S.-Israel energy cooperationOn Sunday, November 8th, hundreds of young professionals will gather in San Francisco for the <a href="http://www.jrec-conference.org/">Jewish Response to the Energy Challenge</a> conference featuring cleantech entrepreneurs, investors and policymakers.<br /><br />The conference will be broadcast to <a href="http://www.jrec-conference.org/j-rec-in-your-town.html">several cities</a> around the world, including Jerusalem, where organizers have arranged for their own simulcast event on the <a href="http://www.jrec-conference.org/israel.html">U.S.-Israel Partnership for Clean and Secure Energy Solutions</a>. <br /><br />Dr. Isaac Berzin, Director of the <a href="http://portal.idc.ac.il/en/main/research/irep/Pages/aboutus.aspx">Institute for Renewable Energy Policy</a> at IDC Herzliya (and Founder of <a href="http://www.greenfuelonline.com/">Greenfuel Technologies</a>) will give the keynote address. <br /><br />Dr. Berzin will be followed by a panel discussion featuring:<br /><ul><li>Ze'ev Gross, Head of the Infrastructure Resources Management Division, <a href="http://www.mni.gov.il/mni/en-us">Ministry of National Infrastructures</a></li><li>Hezi Kugler, Chairman, Israeli Clean Energy Alliance</li><li>Astorre Modena, <a href="http://www.terravp.com/">Terra Venture Partners </a><br /></li><li>Gal Luft, Executive Director, <a href="http://www.iags.org/">Institute for the Analysis of <span style=""></span>Global Security</a></li><li><a href="http://law.huji.ac.il/eng/segel.asp?staff_id=96&cat=441">Richard Laster</a>, Professor of Environmental Law, Hebrew University of Jerusalem</li></ul>Congratulations to <a href="http://www.linkedin.com/in/bshneyer">Beata Sheyer</a> and <a href="http://www.linkedin.com/pub/lisa-wolf/7/576/542">Lisa Wolf</a>, both new immigrants to Israel, for putting together such an interesting program. <br /><br />Related Posts:<br /><br /><a href="http://cleantech-israel.blogspot.com/2009/10/conference-to-highlight-jewish.html">Conference to highlight Jewish community's response to energy challenges</a><br /><br /><a href="http://cleantech-israel.blogspot.com/2008/06/isaac-berzin-addresses-130-people-at.html">Isaac Berzin addresses 130 people at Cleantech Israel meetup</a>Jonathan Shapirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14149609019910676772noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8309611922704597854.post-79618984000910268742009-10-19T09:27:00.008-04:002009-10-19T13:40:08.918-04:00Ormat teams with Sunday Energy on $195M joint venture for 36 MW of solar<a href="http://www.ormat.com/">Ormat Technologies, Inc.</a>, announced today that its Israeli subsidiary, Ormat Systems Ltd., has signed a Joint Venture Agreement (“JVA”) with <a href="http://www.sundayisrael.com/">Sunday Energy Ltd.</a> (“Sunday”), an Israeli solar integration company, to construct and operate solar-photovoltaic (“PV”) energy systems in Israel with a total capacity of 36 megawatts (MW).<br /><br />Under the JVA, Sunday will contribute the rights to all of its property and roofs required to develop solar energy systems above 1 MW to special purpose entities (“SPEs”). Ormat will own 70% of each SPE and will also have control of it. Under the terms of the agreement, Ormat and Sunday will act, jointly, as the engineering, procurement and construction ("EPC") contractor and the operator of each project in accordance with each company share in the SPEs .<br /><br />Ormat estimates that the capital expenditure for 36 MW of solar power systems will be approximately $195 million. The electricity generated from the projects will be sold to Israel Electric Corporation Ltd. under long-term power purchase agreements (20 years) and will generate approximately $30 million in annual revenues. The SPEs expect to finance their capital expenditure with 80% Non-Recourse project finance debt. <p align="justify">Ormat has more than four decades of experience in the development, construction, financing and operation of hundreds of megawatts of renewable energy projects world-wide, while Sunday is one of the leading developers in the Israeli solar PV market and has experience in the design of solar systems using photovoltaic modules from various suppliers and the capabilities to obtain the necessary regulatory permits for construction and interconnection to the local grid. </p><p align="justify">Prior to entering into this JVA, Ormat has entered into an agreement with Sunday for the <a href="http://cleantech-israel.blogspot.com/2009/04/ormat-installing-solar-panels-at.html">construction of a solar system for up to 1 MW</a> on the roofs of its manufacturing facilities located in Yavne, Israel. The first system with a capacity of 50 kW has been installed and connected to the grid since August 2009.<br /><br />The joint venture represents Ormat's commercial entry into the solar energy market and its first major development in the solar photovoltaic market in Israel.</p><p align="justify"><a href="http://people.forbes.com/profile/lucien-bronicki/60858">Lucien Y. Bronicki</a>, Chairman of the Board and Chief Technology Officer of Ormat Technologies, said, “Ormat's commercial activity in the solar energy market is part of a strategic plan to be a leading player in renewable energy. We have a long, rich history in renewable energy that includes activity in solar energy that we believe we can leverage to bring unique benefits to this project. Our connection to solar energy goes back over 30 years to the solar pond project that we developed between 1977 and 1984. Our work on the solar pond created the technological foundation for our geothermal technology, which today positions Ormat as the industry leader. We are pleased to finally add an Israeli solar installation, to the current 1,200 MW of Geothermal and Recovered Energy power plants that Ormat has installed throughout the years. We are looking at this joint venture as an attractive business opportunity derived by the reduction in solar PV modules prices and the increase in their supply on one hand and the expected Israeli feed-in tariff for large solar PV systems on the other hand.”</p><p align="justify">Related Posts:<br /></p><p align="justify"><a href="http://cleantech-israel.blogspot.com/2009/04/ormat-installing-solar-panels-at.html">Ormat installing solar panels at factory in Israel</a><br /></p><p align="justify"><a href="http://cleantech-israel.blogspot.com/2008/10/sunday-solar-to-power-israeli-kibbutzim.html">Sunday Solar to power Israeli kibbutzim</a><br /></p>Jonathan Shapirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14149609019910676772noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8309611922704597854.post-8400574815099909992009-10-15T14:06:00.004-04:002009-10-15T14:39:39.195-04:00Siemens to buy Solel Solar for $418 millionGerman industrial conglomerate <a href="http://w1.siemens.com/entry/cc/en/">Siemens AG</a> has <a href="http://w1.siemens.com/press/en/events/corporate/2009-10-pk.php">announced</a> that it will buy solar thermal power company <a href="http://www.solel.com/">Solel Solar Systems Ltd.</a> for $418 million.<br /><br />Siemens will buy the Beit Shemesh, Israel-based company from Ecofin Ltd., a London-based investment company which had <a href="http://cleantech-israel.blogspot.com/2008/01/uks-ecofin-buys-40-of-solel-solar.html">purchased a stake</a> in Solel in January 2008 at a company value of $150 million.<br /><br />Solel has a workforce of over 500 and is one of the world´s two leading suppliers of solar receivers, which are key components in parabolic trough solar power plants. Solel posted revenue totaling almost $90 million in the first six months of this year, and Solel is also a leader in the planning and construction of solar fields.<br /><br />“Siemens and Solel are a perfect match,” said <a href="http://w1.siemens.com/press/en/pp_cc/2007/11_nov/axx20071221-17.htm">René Umlauft</a>, CEO of Siemens’ <a href="http://www.powergeneration.siemens.com/press/press-releases/renewable-energy/">Renewable Energy Division</a>. “We are the market leader in steam turbines for solar thermal power plants and, with the power block, we can offer a key part for solar power plants – the part that is responsible for power generation. Solel boasts high-efficiency receiver technology and comprehensive expertise in the engineering and construction of solar fields. In the future, we’ll be able to offer the key components for the construction of parabolic trough power plants from a single source and to further enhance the efficiency of these plants.”<br /><br />Siemens is part of the <a href="http://www.desertec.org/">Desertec Industrial Initiative</a>, an ambitious solar project that could theoretically supply up to 15 percent of Europe's energy needs by 2050 by building plants in the Sahara desert region.<br /><br />“Together, we will utilize our know-how in these core competencies to further optimize the water/steam cycle and to further boost the efficiency of solar thermal power plants. Thus we can accelerate the use of this clean technology,” said Avi Brenmiller, CEO of Solel Solar Systems. “Combined with Siemens’ financial strength and its global sales and marketing activities, this will open up promising prospects for our business and hence also for all of Solel’s employees.”<br /><br />A Solel spokeswoman said the base of the company's operations will remain in Israel.<br /><br />In August, Siemens announced that it <a href="http://cleantech-israel.blogspot.com/2009/09/siemens-invests-15mm-in-israeli-solar.html">invested $15 million</a> for a stake in Israeli solar company Arava Power Co., which is based at Kibbutz Ketura north of Eilat.<br /><br />Related Posts:<br /><p><a href="http://cleantech-israel.blogspot.com/2009/09/siemens-areva-alstom-bidding-for.html">Siemens, Areva, Alstom bidding for Israeli solar firm Solel</a></p><p><a href="http://cleantech-israel.blogspot.com/2009/09/siemens-invests-15mm-in-israeli-solar.html">Siemens invests $15mm in Israeli solar company Arava Power </a></p><p><a href="http://cleantech-israel.blogspot.com/2008/05/solel-to-supply-ibereolica-with-solar.html">Solel to supply Ibereolica with solar receivers </a><br /></p><p><a href="http://cleantech-israel.blogspot.com/2008/05/solel-lands-record-deal-for-solar.html">Solel lands record deal for solar receivers</a><a href="http://cleantech-israel.blogspot.com/2008/01/uks-ecofin-buys-40-of-solel-solar.html"><br /></a></p><p><a href="http://cleantech-israel.blogspot.com/2008/01/uks-ecofin-buys-40-of-solel-solar.html">U.K.'s Ecofin buys 40% of Solel Solar Systems</a></p>Jonathan Shapirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14149609019910676772noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8309611922704597854.post-80806816527496901962009-10-14T15:30:00.006-04:002009-10-14T16:03:22.892-04:00GE invests in SolarEdge, joining $23m Series B funding round<a href="http://www.solaredge.com/">SolarEdge</a>, a Herzliya, Israel-based start-up developing technology that increases solar power systems’ output by up to 25 percent, announced today that GE unit <a href="http://www.geenergyfinancialservices.com/">GE Energy Financial Services</a> has joined a <a href="http://cleantech-israel.blogspot.com/2008/12/solaredge-raises-23m-in-venture-capital.html">$23 million funding round</a> to support growth in residential and large-scale photovoltaic sites.<br /><br />SolarEdge’s other investors are US venture capital funds <a href="http://www.opuscapitalventures.com/">Opus Capital</a> and <a href="http://www.waldenintl.com/">Walden International</a>, Israeli venture capital funds <a href="http://www.genesispartners.com/">Genesis Partners</a> and <a href="http://www.vertexvc.com/index.asp">Vertex Venture Capital</a>, and the Singaporean fund JP Capital Asia. Details of each investor’s contribution to the equity financing were not disclosed.<br /><br />GE Energy Financial Services’ venture capital team has invested in 20 early- and growth-stage energy- and water-related technology companies since January 2006, but this was their first cleantech-related investment in Israel.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/yJLdlFJCNtQ&hl=en&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/yJLdlFJCNtQ&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />“We will use this financing to further promote our solar power harvesting system, which can be embedded in practically all types of solar photovoltaic panels to maximize power generation while dramatically reducing costs,” said Guy Sella, Chairman, CEO and Co-Founder of SolarEdge. “By partnering with GE, we benefit from the company’s proven R&D capabilities, energy technology expertise and deep commercial market reach.”<br /><br />SolarEdge provides holistic photovoltaic power harvesting and monitoring technology to maximize the energy output and cost efficiency of solar PV units. The company is partnering with industry leaders such as BP Solar and Schott Solar, Isofoton, HaWi Energitechnik, Gehrlicher solar and many others to embed its technology into photovoltaic panels to increase their power output by up to 25 percent and provide monitoring and control services.<br /><br />“Our investment in SolarEdge reflects our confidence in the company’s ability to thrive in the growing global solar industry,” Alex Urquhart, President and CEO of GE Energy Financial Services, said at the GE venture capital media forum. “SolarEdge is a smart company, with smart technology that fits well with GE’ ecomagination program to help customers meet their environmental challenges. We view this investment as the beginning of a broader collaboration between GE and SolarEdge that could include joint product development and distribution.”<br /><p> SolarEdge CEO <a href="http://www.linkedin.com/pub/3/B90/694">Guy Sella</a> and VP product development <a href="http://www.linkedin.com/in/liorhandelsman">Lior Handlesman</a> founded the company in 2006, together with <a href="http://www.linkedin.com/pub/1/B2A/1B2">Amir Fishelov</a>, <a href="http://www.linkedin.com/in/meiradest">Meir Adest</a>, and <a href="http://www.linkedin.com/pub/yoav-galin/14/652/677">Yoav Galin</a>.<br /></p><p>The company's roots can be traced to the founding team members' service together in the Israel Defense Forces. Sella commanded the Technology Unit of the IDF's Department of Military Intelligence in 2001-2002 and Fishelov and Handlesman served in management roles in the IDF for close to a decade prior to joining SolarEdge. Meir Adest is a graduate of the prestigious <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talpiot_program">Talpiot program</a> and <span name="additional_honors">recipient of the Israel Defense Award (2004) and the Director of Intelligence Innovation Award (2001).</span></p><p>SolarEdge has raised $35 million to date. </p><a href="http://guntherportfolio.com/2009/07/close-to-the-solaredge/">Gunther Portfolio</a> recently published a detailed look at SolarEdge and an interiew with CEO Guy Sella.<br /><br />Related Posts:<br /><br /><a href="http://cleantech-israel.blogspot.com/2009/05/solaredge-partners-with-bp-solar-to.html">Solaredge partners with BP Solar to test solar efficiency products</a><br /><br /><a href="http://cleantech-israel.blogspot.com/2008/12/solaredge-raises-23m-in-venture-capital.html">SolarEdge raises $23m in venture capital </a><br /><br /><a href="http://cleantech-israel.blogspot.com/2008/12/solaredge-exits-stealth-mode-and-plans.html">SolarEdge exits stealth mode and plans Series B financing</a><br /><br /><a href="http://cleantech-israel.blogspot.com/2007/12/solaredge-raises-118-million.html">SolarEdge raises $11.8 million</a>Jonathan Shapirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14149609019910676772noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8309611922704597854.post-47468695306182932862009-10-14T11:17:00.007-04:002009-10-15T15:30:26.729-04:00BrightView achieves milestones at Signet Solar thin film photovoltaic plant<meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 11"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 11"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5Cjs20%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="country-region"></o:smarttagtype><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><object classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id="ieooui"></object> <style> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style> <![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language:AR-SA;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--><span style=""><a href="http://www.brightview-sys.com/">BrightView<o:p></o:p> Systems</a>, a Petah Tikva, Israel-based cleantech start-up, <a href="http://www.brightview-sys.com/Brightview-Signet%20PR%20final.pdf">announced</a> today the successful integration and validation of its WAM<o:p></o:p> (Wide Area Metrology) process metrology and mapping solution for thin-film PV<o:p></o:p> manufacturers at <a href="http://www.signetsolar.com/">Signet Solar</a>'s production line in <a href="http://www.signetsolar.com/company/locations.htm"><st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Mochau</st1:city>, <st1:country-region st="on">Germany</st1:country-region></st1:place></a>.</span><span style="">
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<br />The WAM tool, developed by BrightView in <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Israel</st1:place></st1:country-region>, has, according to the company,<o:p></o:p> "successfully demonstrated its contribution to both panel efficiency and line<o:p></o:p> productivity via its in-line, true-cell-metrology and measurement<o:p></o:p> capabilities and associated suite of control applications for excursion<o:p></o:p> detection, chamber matching and process window optimization."</span><span style="">
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<br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.brightview-sys.com/"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 248px; height: 155px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2eu0_r7VAT6s4OgSLdwzxZ2G8HoTfCLu-_vri81tpoHLssHpeGFzzhIbc6Y70kjZkXFsdFr9NbnqQM8dYTN2nAF5bREb7pgGtAcHIFlIC6DDtsFQ7Gii6wAfCpBfXgUXV_7Nk4lzgd9lg/s320/logo.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392490222073956274" border="0" /></a><span style="">Signet Solar<o:p></o:p> has now embedded BrightView's system into their production flow is now implementing fully automated continuous full-panel process<o:p></o:p> monitoring and feedback on 100% of production panels. The system, according to BrightView, greatly reduces reliance on off-line measurements and special test panel cycles.<o:p></o:p></span><span style=""><o:p></o:p>
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<br />"The BrightView solution fills a major gap in the industry's transition from<o:p></o:p> pilot to mass production, providing true 24/7 in-line process monitoring while<o:p></o:p> saving long and tedious off-line cycles and test panels," said <a href="http://www.signetsolar.com/company/leadership.htm">Gunter<o:p></o:p></a> Ziegenbalg, Managing Director of Signet Solar GmbH.<span style=""> </span>"The system has been<o:p></o:p> embraced by our R&D engineers, who are finally generating the data they need<o:p></o:p> for concrete process improvements and optimization, and by our production<o:p></o:p> engineers, who are relying on the continuous automatic alerting of process<o:p></o:p> issues, as well as much quicker turn-around following process tool<o:p></o:p> maintenance."<o:p></o:p></span><span style="">
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<br /><a href="http://www.brightview-sys.com/management.html">Benny Shoham</a>, CEO of BrightView added, "Signet Solar has put our system<o:p></o:p> through rigorous testing, allowing us to validate our vision in a high volume<o:p></o:p> production line using actual panel performance data. Their talented team,<o:p></o:p> working with the BrightView state-of-the-art WAM solution, was able to deliver<o:p></o:p> major improvements to line productivity in a very short time.<span style=""> </span>We are excited<o:p></o:p> by the excellent results they achieved, and look forward to continue working<o:p></o:p> with Signet Solar on their next production milestone and process improvement<o:p></o:p> roadmap, as well as accelerate efficiency and productivity gains for the thin<o:p></o:p> film PV industry."
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<br />In 2008, BrightView Systems <a href="http://cleantech-israel.blogspot.com/2009/01/brightview-raises-6-million-from-israel.html">raised a $6 million Series A</a> round of financing from <a href="http://www.israelcleantech.com/">Israel Cleantech Ventures</a> and <a href="http://www.hp-ventures.com/">Hasso Plattner Ventures</a>.
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<br />Related Posts:
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<br /><a href="http://cleantech-israel.blogspot.com/2009/07/brightview-systems-and-epfl-announce.html">BrightView Systems and EPFL announce thin-film solar collaboration</a></span>
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<br /><a href="http://cleantech-israel.blogspot.com/2009/01/brightview-raises-6-million-from-israel.html">BrightView raises $6 million from Israel Cleantech Ventures and Hasso Plattner Ventures</a>
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<br /><span style=""> <o:p></o:p></span></p> Jonathan Shapirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14149609019910676772noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8309611922704597854.post-63442596846078036372009-10-13T11:53:00.006-04:002009-10-14T11:12:00.214-04:00Conference to highlight Jewish community's response to energy challengesYoung professionals will gather in San Francisco next month for a conference featuring cleantech entrepreneurs, investors and policymakers.<br /><br />The goal of the <a href="http://www.jrec-conference.org/">Jewish Response to the Energy Challenge</a> conference, scheduled for November 8th, is to "share ideas and experiences that will advance a generational movement for clean and secure energy."<br /><br />The conference <a href="http://www.jrec-conference.org/conference-agenda.html">agenda</a> features keynote speakers and breakout sessions on U.S.-Israel energy cooperation, transportation, clean economy, policy reform, and sustainability.<br /><br />Confirmed speakers include:<br /><br />Alan Salzman, CEO VantagePoint Venture Partners<br />Adam Werbach, CEO Saatchi and Saatchi<br />Jason Wolf, Head of Better Place California<br />Yosef Abramowitz, Co-Founder Arava Power Company<br />David Arfin, VP Strategy Solar City<br />JB Straubel, CTO Tesla Motors<br />Joel Makower, Executive Director, GreenBiz.com<br />Sanjay Wagle, Special Advisor, DOE Recovery Team<br />Anne Korin, Chair, Set America Free Coalition<br /><br />I am pleased to be moderating the panel on U.S.-Israel energy cooperation, which will feature the following panelists:<br /><br />Arthur Haubenstock, General Counsel, BrightSource Energy<br />Eitan Yudelevich, Executive Director, BIRD Foundation<br />Matan Friedman, Senior Associate, Bessemer Venture Partners<br />Sagi Rubin, Associate, Virgin Green Fund<br />Martin Kace, Founder and President, Empax<br /><br /><a href="http://www.jrec-conference.org/registration.html">Registration</a> for the conference is required.<br /><br />I hope to see you next month in San Francisco!Jonathan Shapirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14149609019910676772noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8309611922704597854.post-1318534790788956212009-10-12T19:53:00.005-04:002009-10-12T20:05:00.367-04:00BGU partners with U. of Johannesburg and UCLA on water research<span class="normal"><a href="http://web.bgu.ac.il/Eng/Home">Ben-Gurion University of the Negev</a> has partnered with the <a href="http://www.uj.ac.za/">University of Johannesburg</a> and the <a href="http://www.ucla.edu/">University of California, Los Angeles</a> (UCLA) to conduct scientific research into the fields of water purification and microalgal biotechnology, according to a <a href="http://web.bgu.ac.il/Eng/home/News/Important+International+Scientific+Research+Collaboration+Signed.htm">press release</a> last month.<br /><br />"This is an international partnership that will benefit the peoples of South Africa, Israel and other countries around the world,” said BGU’s Vice President for External Affairs Prof. Amos Drory on occasion of the signing. Drory and Prof. Derek van der Merwe, Pro Vice-Chancellor at the University of Johannesburg, signed the research collaboration agreement in South Africa.<br /><br />"The two universities will become involved in extremely important, evolutionary research that will mainly benefit third world countries throughout the world,” said Dr. Bertram Lubner, Vice-Chairman of BGU’s Board of Governors and president of the SA Associates of Ben-Gurion University (SAABGU).<br /><br /><a href="http://www.bgu.ac.il/BIDR/school/boussiba.htm">Prof. Sammy Boussiba</a> and <a href="http://w3.bgu.ac.il/ziwr/faculty/oren/index.htm">Prof. Yoram Oren</a> from Ben Gurion University’s <a href="http://cmsprod.bgu.ac.il/Eng/units/bidr">Blaustein Institute for Desert Research</a> will head up the projects in Israel working together with <a href="http://www.gennda.co.za/bhekie%20mamba.html">Prof. Bhekie Mamba</a>, leading the South African research teams. They will be assisted by <a href="http://cee.ucla.edu/cgi-bin/faculty.php?uid=5&fpg=0">Prof. Eric Hoek</a>, an expert in the fields of water purification and microalgal biotechnology at UCLA.<br /><br />According to Prof. Mamba, the two universities will brainstorm on how they can contribute to ongoing South African research into water purification in rural areas and around the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hartbeespoort_Dam">Hartbeespoort Dam</a> near Pretoria. In addition, they will research the feasibility of harvesting algae from the Dam and converting it to energy. The Hartbeespoort Dam remediation programme is being implemented by the South African <a href="http://www.dwaf.gov.za/">Department of Water Affairs and Forestry</a> (DWAF) to address the imbalances and unhealthy biological conditions in the dam.<br /><br />"We will investigate how we can contribute and add value to this ongoing project,” said Prof. Mamba. Ongoing research into the use of membranes to purify water in rural areas will also benefit from the UJ, BGU and UCLA collaboration.<br /><br />"We will look at the effective treatment of dam and river water used for drinking in rural areas,” he continued. "Here, the pollution is not industrial, but microbial. We need to address the issue of bacteria and viruses into the water, and we will be looking at what role UJ and BGU can play. "We hope to come up with a low-cost, low-maintenance solution geared for rural areas,” Prof. Mamba said.</span>Jonathan Shapirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14149609019910676772noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8309611922704597854.post-73049839316143612072009-10-12T19:07:00.004-04:002009-10-12T19:35:35.742-04:00Kaiima raises $8mm in Series A financing from DFJ Tamir Fishman and Draper Fisher Jurvetson<a href="http://www.kaiima.com/">Kaiima</a>, a agro-biotech company based in Kfar Tavor, Israel, that develops and uses proprietary non-transgenic technologies to boost inherent crop productivity for sustainable development, closed in July on an <a href="http://www.tamirfishman.com/opencms/opencms/TamirFishman/Ext/DisplaySubchannel.jsp?lSubChannelID=102&lContentObjectID=1043&lMediaItemID=-1">$8mm Series A financing</a> round co-led by <a href="http://www.tamirfishman.com/opencms/opencms/TamirFishman/Ext/DisplaySubchannel.jsp?lContentObjectID=75&lMediaItemID=-1&lSubChannelID=32">DFJ Tamir Fishman Ventures </a>and <a href="http://www.dfj.com/">Draper Fisher Jurvetson</a> (DFJ) along with alternative energy fund <a href="http://www.museaventures.com/Musea_Ventures/Home.html">Musea Ventures</a>.<br /><br />According to a <a href="http://www.tamirfishman.com/opencms/opencms/TamirFishman/Ext/DisplaySubchannel.jsp?lSubChannelID=102&lContentObjectID=1043&lMediaItemID=-1">press release</a>, the company is using the new financing to establish a world-wide production, marketing and commercialization network to meet growing demand for its products and to expand its development pipeline to additional high-impact strategic crops.<br /><br />Founded in 2006, Kaiima (formerly – Biofuel International) is led by a team of experts in the fields of advanced plant breeding and agro-biotechnology, agrotechnology, and energy. The company is using a proprietary non-transgenic technology platform that increases the yield potential in important crops such as wheat, rapeseed, and castor. The successful application of this technology can help mitigate the threatened shortage in basic food and energy.<br /><br />Green Prophet's Karin Kloosterman <a href="http://www.greenprophet.com/2009/07/27/10948/kaiima-doubles-chromosomes-to-make-more-plant-power/">interviewed</a> a product manager at Kaiima who explained the company's technology and business plan. <strong><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: normal;">At the time of Kaiima's Series A financing, Dr. <a href="http://www.dfj.com/team/BennyZeevi.shtml">Benny Zeevi</a></span></strong>, <strong style="font-weight: normal;">Managing General Partner at Tamir Fishman Ventures and a Board Member at Kaiima</strong> stated: “Kaiima represents for us the winning combination that we seek in Israeli high tech companies: a top tier group of founders, and a unique breakthrough technology. The company’s products are aimed at one of the most urgent major global needs and it has the potential to become a market leader. <p><a href="http://www.dfj.com/team/JenniferFonstad.shtml"> <strong style="font-weight: normal;">Jennifer Fonstad</strong></a>, <strong style="font-weight: normal;">Managing Director at DFJ</strong> added that “Kaiima’s platform promises to deliver important solutions for the alternative energy market worldwide. We are excited to work with the team, the Board, and our partners at DFJ Tamir Fishman in building on this opportunity."</p><p> <strong style="font-weight: normal;">Dr. Doron Gal, Kaiima CEO and co-founder of Kaiima</strong> said: "We share a mutual vision with DFJ Tamir Fishman Ventures and with Draper Fisher Jurvetson, and a mutual excitement at the opportunity to provide solutions to some key challenges faced by contemporary society. We are proud to team with these two leading venture capital groups, and we believe that they will provide both the local support and the global leverage needed by Kaiima to fully realize its potential."<br /></p><p>Related Posts:<br /></p><p><a href="http://cleantech-israel.blogspot.com/2007/10/jennifer-fonstad-dfj-tamir-fishman.html">Jennifer Fonstad of DFJ Tamir Fishman Ventures interviewed by Globes</a><br /></p>Jonathan Shapirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14149609019910676772noreply@blogger.com