The GREEN MARKET

Cleantech the Next Great Investment Opportunity

2012-02-10T10:01:00.000-05:00

Cleantech is the next great investment opportunity. Huge amounts of investment wealth have been generated by technological innovations like the microprocessor (personal computing and mobile telecommunications) and the Internet (ecommerce and social networks). These two innovations have ushered in unprecedented investment growth in the 1980s and 1990s. According to many predictions, Cleantech is the next investment wave that may very well eclipse the first two.

The rise of microprocessors drove herculean growth of companies like Intel (NasdaqGS: INTC), Microsoft (NasdaqGS: MSFT), Dell (NasdaqGS: DELL), and Qualcomm (NasdaqGS: QCOM). The rise of the Internet has catapulted companies like Facebook to become a 28 billion dollar business. The Internet has also driven the stock of companies like Apple (NasdaqGS: AAPL) Google (NasdaqGS: GOOG), Amazon.com (NasdaqGS: AMZN), and eBay (NasdaqGS: EBAY)

Cleantech is all about efficiency and this is a mantra for businesses looking to be more competitive in economically challenging times. The cleantech revolution is sure to grow as oil becomes more scarce and more expensive. Further, attempts to minimize the impacts of climate change will drive the price of cleantech stock.

Cisco Systems (NasdaqGS: CSCO) vice president Marie Hattar has said that cleantech will not only be the biggest innovation ever, but it will be 10 to 100 times bigger than the Internet.

Here are some forecasts for cleantech growth:

The global market for all cleantech applications, which includes energy storage and the smart grid, will double to $3.6 trillion by 2020.

Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS) projects that the annual smart grid revenues will double by 2014 and then quintuple to more than $100 billion annually by 2030.

According to Cisco Systems, the communications portion of smart grid investment alone is expected to reach $20 billion annually.

Goldman Sachs sees smart grid investment of $750 billion over the next 30 years.

Wind power is projected to expand from $60.5 billion in 2010 to $122.9 billion in 2020.

Solar photovoltaics are projected to grow from a $71.2 billion industry in 2010 to $113.6 billion by 2020.

© 2012, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

Foster Friess is the Climate Denying Money Man Behind Rick Santorum

2012-02-09T11:18:00.007-05:00

Foster S. Friess is the climate denying money-man behind Rick Santorum's bid for the GOP presidential nomination. The Republican hopefuls are following the money, Casino mogul Sheldon Adelson is betting on Newt Gingrich and Friess is bankrolling the pro-Santorum super PAC. Friess is a Wyoming cowboy who is known for his opposition to the science of climate change.

Articles on his website deride the science behind climate change by attempting to resurrect "climate-gate" (even though the science was deemed sound and the scientist in question was cleared by a UK parliamentary committee).

Articles on Friess' site with titles like, "It’s Hard to Believe in Global Warming When Climate is Getting Cooler," flagrantly contradict the facts. Recent evidence corroborates the observation that the earth is getting warmer and this is precipitating extreme weather events.

When Friess is not assaulting the science of climate change he is trying to impugn climate scientists. An article on his site brazenly calls global warming the “greatest scam in history” and questions the age and experience of the scientists working for the UN. Another article's headline reads, “Humans Are Not Main Cause of Global Warming.”

Throughout his site the articles he posts use the language of climate change denial. They use deliberately misleading phrases like "global warming alarmists" and "climate change propaganda." Rather than acknowledge that he shares the Republican's anti-scientific bias, Friess tries to frame the issues in terms of free speech and the right to dissent.

Other articles on his site include "Global Warming; A Religion in Decline." In this article he makes wildly inaccurate statements like, "Green technologies have all proved expensive, environmentally hazardous and wildly unpopular duds.”

As a successful investor it is hard to see how Friess could make such outlandish claims. There is a wealth of data supporting the powerful and sustained growth of cleantech. Investing Daily has even gone so far as to describe CleanTech as "the greatest investment opportunity ever."

Cisco Systems vice president Marie Hattar has said that cleantech will not only be the biggest innovation ever, it will be 10 to 100 times bigger than the Internet.

As we get ever closer to the catastrophic impacts of climate change it is unconscionable that those who should know better continue to use their wealth and power to promote denialism at the highest level.

Friess describes himself as the “man atop the horse." Given the implications of runaway climate change, he may best be described as one of the four horsemen of the apocalypse.

© 2012, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

Flagship Ventures' Successful Fundraising for Cleantech

2012-02-09T05:49:00.002-05:00

Venture capital firm Flagship Ventures says they exceeded their target of $250 million for a fund which will invest in cleantech and sustainability. This is noteworthy given that we are in a difficult environment for fundraising, especially for funds that invest in early stage companies. This is flagships fourth fund said to be worth 270 million.

With the closing of the new fund, Flagship has about $900 million of early-stage capital under management in a portfolio of 65 companies (25 of those companies emanated from its in-house venture creation group, VentureLabs).

Some of Flagship's cleantech companies are: Joule (pioneering the production of liquid fuel from the sun); Novomer (bioplastics); zegen (gasification technology that converts ordinary waste streams into energy); Mascoma (biomass to biofuels); LS9 (clean fuels, green chemicals using synthetic biology) and Oasys Water (energy and resource recovery products to address the growing, global water crisis).

© 2012, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

India's GreenMela Website Business Resources

2012-02-08T11:42:00.002-05:00

GreenMela is a new website that focuses on a panoply of green elements including green business. The site claims to be India'a No.1 green online platform. GreenMela aims to unlock India's green potential and help green to grow and grow clean.

GreenMela offers comprehensive coverage of 14+ Sectors and 80+ Sub-Sectors. The GreenMela site includes a platform to showcase CSR activities by green companies, a platform to showcase green entrepreneurs, green business ideas, green news and current affairs, a green marketplace for green and eco-friendly products, green jobs section, green tips, green events, green promotional offers, green social networking. green photos and videos, there is even a whistle blower section to share environmental wrong-doings anomalously.

As quoted on their site:

"One touch of nature makes the whole world kin." - Shakespeare

To review the featured areas on the GreenMela site click here.

© 2012, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

India is the World Leader in Cleantech Investment Growth

2012-02-08T08:01:00.002-05:00

With an investment increase of 52 percent India is a world leader in cleantech investment growth in 2011. Total cleantech investment climbed to $10.3bn in 2011 and was based on strong solar performance.

Solar investments led the growth with a seven-fold increase in funding, from $0.6bn in 2010 to $4.2bn in 2011, just below the $4.6bn invested in wind during the year, according to figures released by analysts Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF).

A record 2,827MW of wind energy capacity was added in 2011, which kept India third behind China and the US in terms of new installations. BNEF said a further 2,500MW to 3,200MW could be added in 2012.

Grid-connected solar also saw a substantial increase, up from 18MW in 2010 to an estimated 277MW by the end of 2011, while another 500MW to 750MW of solar projects could be added in the coming year.

Asset financing for utility-scale projects remains the main type of clean energy investment in India, with $9.5bn in 2011, BNEF said. Venture capital and private equity investment made a strong comeback with $425m invested in 2011, more than four times the 2010 figure, but equity raising via the public markets was only $201m compared with a record $735m in 2010, when the Indian stock market was at its all-time high.

BNEF expects India to exceed the target of adding 12.4GW of grid-connected renewable energy during its 11th five-year plan, running from April 2007 to March 2012, and is likely to bring 14.2GW of capacity online.

© 2012, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

Webinar: Low Carbon Future

2012-02-07T18:47:00.001-05:00

A complimentary webinar on the low carbon economy entitled, "Steps towards a low carbon future: solutions and technologies that will support the global revolution required," will be aired on Thursday, February 9, 2012 at 11:00 am ET / 4:00 pm GMT.

The United Kingdom is the world’s sixth largest economy, and it expects to exceed EU targets for carbon emission reduction by 2020. Scotland, the Northern part of United Kingdom, is currently becoming a world class leader in promoting sensor, offshore marine and smart grid technologies. Scotland is currently home to over 1000 enabling technology companies and 100 leading sensor technology companies.

In this webinar Frost & Sullivan and Scottish Development International will discuss why government incentives such as the Power Network Demonstration Center and the build out of the International Renewable Zone in Glasgow makes Scotland a destination of choice for research and development and for making investments on carbon reducing technologies.

Gain key insights into:

How smart grid technologies enables low carbon economy
How the technologies will fit together and support each other
Scotland’s strategies for creating a leading business environment for low carbon technologies

To register for the webinar click here.

© 2012, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

Corporate Sustainability is Driving Green Businesses in the UK

2012-02-07T12:28:00.002-05:00

Despite a slow economy, corporate spending on sustainability will grow green businesses in the UK. According to a report from research firm Verdantix spending on sustainability by large UK firms on energy, environment and sustainability initiatives will grow by an average of 16 per cent a year for the next three years culminating in a market worth £6.8bn in 2015.

The report predicts spending on sustainability among the 420 UK firms with revenues of more than £750m will rise 12 percent in 2012 to £4.3bn, 15 per cent in 2013 and 17 per cent in 2014 and 2015.

With the UK economy expected to grow at a rate of the 0.6 percent in 2012 the growth of sustainability is welcome news. Growth is being driven by cost savings and commercial benefits that result from green investments.

The report found that sustainable business spending is dominated by the retail, high tech and emissions intensive energy and heavy industrial sectors, which combined account for over three-quarters of the entire market.

The report also revealed considerable variations in the spending growth rate for different green technologies and services. For example, smart meters, electric cars, onsite renewable energy and product stewardship initiatives are all expected to enjoy compound annual growth rates of 22-23 per cent over the next four years, while social responsibility, employee engagement, and lobbying activity will see slower growth rates of around five per cent.

Government green policies are driving spending as well as the awareness in sectors such as retail that firms will face brand damage without a reputable sustainability strategy.

The report acknowledged that sustainable business spending would be in a healthier position, were it not for weaknesses in the wider economy.

© 2012, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

Environmentally Sustainable Goals for Business

2012-02-07T07:45:00.002-05:00

Sustainability goals require a clear strategy with actionable plans and well defined measurable outcomes. Specific environmental impact goals include things like publicly declared goals on reducing carbon emissions, decreasing energy consumption, diminishing solid waste, conserving water, increasing renewable energy consumption and recycling.

To achieve environmentally sustainable goals you will need determine how success will be measured. More specifically you will need to explain what people will need to do differently from what they are doing now. This involves describing the desired result and how they are expected to get there.

Sustainability requires longer term thinking, meaning multi-year goals with annual milestones which are adjusted along the way.

Companies should craft sustainability goals in consultation with internal and external experts and stakeholders, combining bottom-up and top-down analysis to produce goals that are material, achievable, quantitative and time-bound.

It is important to create a public sustainability report with goals. Making an external commitment in the form of publicly stated goals serves as both a management tool and as a route to gaining trust and credibility with stakeholders. Public sustainability goals are different from private aspirations in that they demonstrate commitment and help galvanize internal staff and drive results.

When creating a sustainability report transparency is key. Sustainability reporting is about building trust, most importantly reporting needs to address what companies will do not just what they have done.

Once you establish sustainability goals, you must manage sustainability performance to ensure that you achieve your goals. You must also determine when and how these sustainability goals will be communicated to the public.

Executive accountability and regular progress reporting are important to achieving sustainability goals. Although it is not common practice, it makes sense to tie compensation packages to sustainability results.

In crafting your goals you must remember that stakeholders don’t buy efforts, they buy results.

© 2012, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

Slash Energy Cost & Reduce Budget Uncertainty

2012-02-06T17:07:00.002-05:00

Here is a white paper on energy for big retailers sponsored by Verisae and published by Environmental Leader. In this special report you can discover energy management ideas tailored to the business of big retailers. New-store design, refurbs and retrofits may present the biggest and most obvious opportunities to make dramatic, long-lasting improvements in energy efficiency and budget certainty. But the weak economy has caused most retailers to cut way back on such projects. Energy-cost reductions can make a big difference for your company’s financial performance. After payroll, energy is among the largest operating costs for any grocery retailer. In fact, energy cost may amount to roughly half or more of net profit. A 10% reduction of energy cost can increase net profit by 5% to 10%.

Click here to download this white paper.

EWEA's Offshore Wind Statistics for 2011

2012-02-06T12:58:00.001-05:00

On January 31, 2012 the European Wind Energy Association (EWEA) published its annual offshore wind statistics for 2011. According to these 2011 statistics there were 235 new turbines with a power capacity of 866 Megawatts (MW) on nine offshore wind farms. These new fully grid connected wind installations are worth approximately 2.4 billion Euros.

With the exception of a minor decline in 2011, there has been a consistent year over year increase in installed wind capacity in Europe. Annual installed new offshore wind turbine capacity (fully grid connected) were 327 MW in 2008, 584 MW in 2009, 883 MW in 2010 and 866 MW in 2011.

Describing the 2011 results as "stable," Justin Wilkes, the Policy Director of EWEA, said “Despite the economy-wide financial squeeze, 2011 saw a 40 per cent increase on the previous year in offshore non-recourse debt financing , up from 1.46 billion Euros in 2010 to 2.05 billion Euros in 2011.”

Nine offshore wind farms currently under construction will bring online an additional 2375 MW – increasing the EU’s total installed offshore wind power capacity by 62%.

Across the EU, a total of 1371 offshore turbines have now been grid connected, with a total power capacity of 3813 Megawatts in 53 wind farms in 10 European countries.

EWEA’s target for installed EU offshore wind power capacity by 2020 is 40,000 MW, producing approximately 4% of the EU’s total electricity consumption.

The majority (87%) of all newly installed and grid connected offshore wind power in 2011 was in British waters. Siemens supplied 80% of the MW installed offshore last year while SSE and RWE Innogy were the most active developers and DONG Energy continued to be the most active equity player in offshore wind power.

© 2012, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

Most Popular Green Search Terms for 2011

2012-02-06T07:36:00.001-05:00

According to Google green searches ranked highly, showing the growing influence of the environment on public consciousness. Every year Google publishes Zeitgeist, a collection of the year's most popular search trends on the world's most popular search engine. According to Google's 11th annual Zeitgeist, people are increasingly looking up all things green. Google has revealed that some of the most robust trends in green search include things like "sustainable development." Some of the fastest-rising search queries in 2011 were “solar energy,” “garbage islands” and “reusable water bottle” .

According to Google Zeitgeist here are the most popular eco-search topics of 2011:

Sustainability

sustainable development
sustainable energy
sustainable agriculture
sustainable design
sustainable living
sustainable communities
sustainable farming
sustainable fish
sustainable growth rate
sustainable food jobs

Alternative Energy

Solar
Nuclear Power
Wind Energy
Ethanol
Biodiesel
Biomass
Fuel Cell
Geothermal Energy
Flex Fuel
E85 Gas Stations

Environmental Questions

How to compost
What is vegan
What causes earthquakes
Is Fish meat
What is led light
How to dispose paint
What is deforestation
What is fracking
What is carbon footprint
Is styrofoam recyclable

Hybrid & Alternative vehicles

Prius
Chevy Volt
Smart car
lexus Hybrid
Honda Hybrid
Nissan Leaf
Ford Fusion
Hybrid Suv
Hyundai
Tesla

Waste Disposal

Garbage Island
E Waste Recycling
Apple Recycle
Trash Pack
Zero Waste Home
Free Junk Removal
Is Styrofoam Recyclable
Recyclebank Codes
Earth911.com Recycling
Oil Recycling Locations

What people are reusing

Reusable Bags
Reusable Diapers
Reusable Water Bottles
Reusable Keurig Filter
Reusable Canning Lids
Reusable Stras
Reusable Ice Cubes
Reusable Hand Warmers
Reusable Swim Diapers
Reusable Air Filters

Quirky Environmental

Wild Kratts
Backyard Chickens
Staycation
Bioluminescent Bay
Dirty Dozen Foods
Composting Worms
Gila Monster Facts
Earless Bunny
Food Fight Grocery
Grade F Meat

Rare Wild Animals

Red Panda
Ocelot
Tapir
Bald Eagle
Giant Panda
Cheetah
Polar Bear
Blue Whale
Komodo Dragon
Clouded Leopard

© 2012, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

Sustainable Leaders forum 2012

2012-02-05T15:20:00.002-05:00

In collaboration with the UAE Business Council for Sustainable Development (UAE-BCSD) and Aliance Middle East, the Sustainable Leaders forum will be held in Dubai on February 15th, 2012.

Based on an increasing interest in Sustainable development related issues in the region at corporate level, this Conference will provide participants unrivaled opportunities to engage with sustainability leaders and practitioners to build the business of a better world.

Sustainable leadership requires leaders to focus on four critical relationships:

Intra-personal
The ability to learn from experience, a sense of personal purpose, and care for own physical well being and vitality.

Organizational
Attending to the conversations going on in the organization and how these
influence cultural norms, the achievement of business goals and the customer experience.

Societal
As we are all participants in creating this society; we need to aim at creating social value and prosperity not only for ethical reasons, but because business needs a healthy
society in which to operate.

Ecological
Protecting the environment and minimizing the environmental impact of the organization.

Responding to the needs in each of these relationships and building connections between them, will become the critical differentiator for 21st century leadership.

The long term commercial future of an organization in an increasingly complex world will depend on successful collaboration, connections and networks of relationships; it will depend on individuals and societies believing that the way businesses operate are generally acceptable and sustainable. This requires ‘sustainable leaders’ – who in turn create sustainable organizations.

Take a look at the conference program, speakers, and register to attend.

© 2012, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

Certified Carbon Footprint Practitioner Training

2012-02-05T10:50:00.001-05:00

The IEMA approved Certified Carbon Footprint Practitioner training will take place in Brussels, on March 1 & 2, 2012. The training is comprised of a 2 day workshop plus additional time for preparation of the assignment.

The course is designed to attract General Managers, Environmental Managers, PR and Communication Managers, Marketing Managers and Sustainability professionals who have so far achieved a good level of knowledge on environmental and climate change issues and wish to learn more about ways they can implement a Carbon Footprint Strategy.

In a world rapidly warming up, and as a response to legal and social pressures, businesses need to adopt innovative and cost- effective ways to limit their adverse effects regarding climate change.

Climate Change is becoming an ever-pressing matter, with its mitigation becoming increasingly demanded by all members of society, including businesses.

Topics covered:

The issue of climate change and sustainable development
The notion of your business’ carbon footprint
GHG emissions Accounting & Reporting
Carbon Regulations
The importance of water footprint
Tools for measuring the GHG emissions of services and products and their impact on your organization
Carbon Footprint Strategy and Energy Efficiency
Product Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) and measuring standards
Creation of Carbon Neutral services and products
Carbon Offsetting
Best Practices for measuring Carbon footprint

The Certified Carbon Footprint Practitioner training is approved by the leading UK Institute for Environmental Management & Assessment (IEMA) and delivers extensive and specialised knowledge for managers dealing with environmental and climate change issues.

At the end of the workshop professionals have the opportunity to complete Final Assignment which qualifies them for certification. Upon successful completion, professionals gain a CCF-P Certification and CCF-P Seal.

Registration Form

© 2012, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

Video: Lightening Electric Motorcycle Goes Over 200 mph for 18 Cents

2012-02-04T15:58:00.001-05:00

Here is a motorcycle that proves you can have radical efficiency and extraordinary performance. In this video you will see just how fast the Lightening electric motorcyle can go (apparently the previous run was even faster at 218.6 mph). This is the first electric motorcycle to go over 200 mph. The black and orange markers on the sides of the track fly by even though they are 1/4 mile apart.

What is most remarkable about this bike is the fact that they used only 18 cents of electricity on this run and were getting the equivalent of over 50 mpg at over 200 mph. The amount of energy in the batteries would allow over 100 miles of range at normal highway speeds and cost about one dollar.

Lightning Motorcycles is the brainchild of Richard Hatfield and a group of Silicon Valley engineers dedicated to the belief that world class performance is compatible with clean tech transportation. At Lightning Motorcycles they believe that choosing to ride an electric motorcycle should not be a compromise. They have honed our understanding of vehicle development as lifetime racers. They seek out competition to refine their technology. The Lightning SuperBike is equally suited to track days, weekend rides on your favorite back roads, or record runs at Bonneville.

In addition to the SuperBike Lightning is producing prototypes of electric commuter bikes, scooters and ATVs.

© 2012, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

Video: The Koch Brothers are Oil Billionaires on a Maniacal Mission

2012-02-04T11:49:00.002-05:00

The Koch brothers are oil billionaires who have spent hundreds of millions of dollars to increase their own profits through decreasing regulations. With a net worth of $43 billion the Kochs have already spent decades of their lives and over $324 million of their wealth exerting their influence. Here is a video from Brave New Foundation outlining the top five worst things this climate denying duo are doing to fulfill their self serving agenda.

This video explores how the Koch brothers have gained political influence and undermined the American democracy. The Kochs accomplish their goals by funding a massive array of right wing front groups, think tanks and tea party efforts. They largely operate outside of the public eye, and target their funding to infiltrate public opinion, the media, judicial decisions and legislation. Over three dozen organizations are funded by the brothers, and they spend additional money lobbying and backing political candidates. Everything the Kochs do is to fight for a country free from protections and any degree of a social safety net for working Americans.

© 2012, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

Related Posts
Video: What do the Koch Brothers talk about at their Secret Right Wing Retreats?
The Koch Brother’s Ties to GOP Presidential Candidates
A Reintroduction to the Climate Denying Duo Known as the Koch Brothers
Koch Industries Financing Climate Denial
Koch Industries' Environmental Crimes
Koch Industries Destroys the Environment and Funds Climate Denial
The Anti-Environment Crusades of ExxonMobil and Koch Industries
Reigning in Irresponsible Oil Giants Chevron and Exxon Mobil
The Kochs' Tea Party Republicans
The Kochs' Cato Institute's Climate Denial
Koch Industries War with the EPA
Supreme Court and the Koch Brothers Clandestine War
The Koch Brothers' No Climate Tax Pledge
The Kochs' Spending on Political Influence
Koch Industries and the Tea Party's Corporate "Grassroots"
Koch Industries' Environmental Crimes
The Kochs' Mercatus Center
Koch Industries Financing Climate Denial
The Kochs' War Against Obama and the Democrats
The Kochs' Americans for Prosperity Undermines Cap-and-Trade
The Kochs' Citizens for a Sound Economy Feigned Grassroots
The Kochs' Climate Science Denial
Koch Industries War on Industry Oversight and Environmental Regulation
Video Linking the Kochs' and the Tea Party
Video: Koch Brothers Climate Denial Machine

Video: What do the Koch Brothers talk about at thier Secret Right Wing Retreats?

2012-02-04T08:27:00.002-05:00

The Koch brothers are right-wing, climate change denying, oil billionaires. They hold secret retreats for rich conservatives. During one of these retreats Charles Koch was caught comparing president Obama to killed 9/11 mastermind Osama Bin Laden. In this video, the Young Turks host Cenk Uygur shares more details.

© 2012, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

Related Posts
Video: The Koch Brothers are Oil Billionaires on a Maniacal Mission
The Koch Brother’s Ties to GOP Presidential Candidates
A Reintroduction to the Climate Denying Duo Known as the Koch Brothers
Koch Industries Financing Climate Denial
Koch Industries' Environmental Crimes
Koch Industries Destroys the Environment and Funds Climate Denial
The Anti-Environment Crusades of ExxonMobil and Koch Industries
Reigning in Irresponsible Oil Giants Chevron and Exxon Mobil
The Kochs' Tea Party Republicans
The Kochs' Cato Institute's Climate Denial
Koch Industries War with the EPA
Supreme Court and the Koch Brothers Clandestine War
The Koch Brothers' No Climate Tax Pledge
The Kochs' Spending on Political Influence
Koch Industries and the Tea Party's Corporate "Grassroots"
Koch Industries' Environmental Crimes
The Kochs' Mercatus Center
Koch Industries Financing Climate Denial
The Kochs' War Against Obama and the Democrats
The Kochs' Americans for Prosperity Undermines Cap-and-Trade
The Kochs' Citizens for a Sound Economy Feigned Grassroots
The Kochs' Climate Science Denial
Koch Industries War on Industry Oversight and Environmental Regulation
Video Linking the Kochs' and the Tea Party
Video: Koch Brothers Climate Denial Machine

Greener Vehicles Growing Cleantech and Providing Green Jobs

2012-02-03T14:08:00.001-05:00

In 2011 greener vehicles were one of the driving forces behind the growth of US cleantech. We expect to see the habitual greentech drivers like solar and wind, but in 2011 we also saw tremendous growth in EVs and hybrid cars in the US.

Green vehicles are one of the more popular green technologies. In 2011 Chevrolet released the Volt and this was one of the vehicles that helped General Motors (GM) regain its position as the world's largest automaker. The renewed success of GM is providing jobs for Americans.

These greener vehicles are having significant impacts outside of the automaking industry. New partnerships and collaborations are being formed to do things like provide refueling services for this new generation of vehicles.

In 2011 cleantech companies opened new facilities and provided hundreds and thousands of new green jobs. This is particularly important given the fact that the effects of the recession are still being felt in the US.

As these new jobs came online they helped to contribute to declining unemployment numbers. The unemployment rate remained around 9 percent in the US throughout much of 2011, it has now fallen to just over 8 percent and greener vehicles are an important part of that improving employment picture.

© 2012, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

Related Posts
Cleantech Partnerships and Collaborations
California and Other US Leaders in Cleantech Investments
Leading US Cleantech Investment Sectors in 2011 Q3 and Q4
VC Investment in US Cleantech in 2011
2012 to be the Best Year Ever For Clean-Tech Investment?
US Regains Lead from China as Clean Energy Leader
China is Leading in terms of Renewable Energy Attractiveness

Cleantech Partnerships and Collaborations

2012-02-03T07:38:00.004-05:00

In cleantech as with most sectors, partnerships and collaborations are vital to drive innovation and move forward. This is particularly true during difficult economic times. This was certainly the case in 2011 and all indications are that it will be even more of an important trend in 2012.

As reported by Ernst & Young, key players in the electric vehicles (EV) space are collaborating to expand the accessibility and capabilities of EVs. Coulomb Technologies is allowing Dutch navigation systems firm TomTom to access their ChargePoint Network API to enable drivers to find the nearest available charging station and reserve it in advance. CODA Automotive is teaming up with Great Wall Motor Company to develop EVs, a collaboration that will involve integrating the Californian firm’s EV propulsion system with the vehicle platforms of Great Wall. In addition, Ford Motor and Toyota Motor are working jointly to develop a new hybrid drive-train system for light trucks and SUVs.

Here are some other collaborations in the EV sector:

The Crucial Role of Public Private Partnerships in US Battery Technology
Ford Collaboration with Zipcar
Ford and Toyota Collaborating on Hybrid Technology and Telematics
GM Collaborating with LG to Develop EVs
Fisker Buying Engines from BMW for New Cars
GM and BMW are Collaborating on Hydrogen Fuel Cell Development

Companies in the biofuels sector are also forming a series of important alliances to help advance the field. Dow Chemical and Mitsui & Company are creating a joint venture to produce ethanol and biopolymers in Brazil. ZeaChem and US carmaker Chrysler are combining efforts to accelerate the development and adoption of cellulosic ethanol. General Electric (GE) is teaming up with Virgin Australia, Renewable Oils Corporation, Future Farm Industries CRC and Canadian biofuels firm Dynamotive Energy Systems to develop commercial biofuel for the aviation industry.

© 2012, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

Related Posts
Greener Vehicles Growing Cleantech and Providing Green Jobs
California and Other US Leaders in Cleantech Investments
Leading US Cleantech Investment Sectors in 2011 Q3 and Q4
VC Investment in US Cleantech in 2011
2012 to be the Best Year Ever For Clean-Tech Investment?
US Regains Lead from China as Clean Energy Leader
China is Leading in terms of Renewable Energy Attractiveness

California and Other US Leaders in Cleantech Investments

2012-02-02T18:25:00.005-05:00

California is well known for its green orientation and this is borne out in the data for 2011. As the world's eighth-largest economy California has unmatched potential. More than any other state, in California the economy and the environment go hand in hand. Despite challenges, California continues to set the pace for policy, practice and green economic opportunity. A green revolution is unfolding, and California has the public support, technology innovation and history of commitment to sustainability to remain at the leading edge of this revolution. Here is a breakdown of the numbers for the US states leading cleantech investment.

According to Ernst & Young, California continued to lead national cleantech investment in 2011 with the state raising US$2.8bn. In Q3 2011 alone, California garnered 52 percent of all dollars with $583.0 million, a 74 percent increase from Q3 2010.

Massachusetts raised the second-highest level of annual investments with US$465.1m. This was a 63 percent increase from last year, said Spencer. Colorado came third in 2011, with investments in the state reaching US$363.3m.

In Q3 both Pennsylvania and Oregon had investments more than triple since Q3 2010, bringing their Q3 2011 investment levels to $85.4 million and $73.5 million respectively.

© 2012, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

Related Posts
Greener Vehicles Growing Cleantech and Providing Green Jobs
Cleantech Partnerships and Collaborations
Leading US Cleantech Investment Sectors in 2011 Q3 and Q4
VC Investment in US Cleantech in 2011
2012 to be the Best Year Ever For Clean-Tech Investment?
US Regains Lead from China as Clean Energy Leader
China is Leading in terms of Renewable Energy Attractiveness

Leading US Cleantech Investment Sectors in 2011 Q3 and Q4

2012-02-02T08:02:00.004-05:00

Overall 2011 was a good year for cleantech investments but some sectors fared better than others. According to Ernst & Young in 2011 the Energy Storage segment led cleantech investment in Q3, while the solar sub-segment led in Q4.

The energy storage segment raised $421.0 million during Q3 2011, representing a 1,932 percent increase during the same period last year and has raised a total of $865.2 million throughout 2011. Fuel cells led this segment with $225.5 million, representing nearly 54 percent of the overall investment in the Energy Storage segment in Q3 2011. The Energy Storage segment had the top three transactions of the quarter, the largest of which was the $150.0 million raised by Bloom Energy.

Cleantech companies in the Energy/Electricity Generation segment raised the second largest amount in Q3 2011 with $255.1 million, a 2 percent decrease from Q3 2010. The Solar sub-segment led investments with $195.8 million, accounting for 77 percent of the sector’s total investment.

In Q3 2011, the Energy Efficiency segment ranked third with respect to total amount invested, with $245.1 million, a 23 percent increase from Q3 2010. The segment, however, led the quarter in rounds of financing with 21 deals, a 31 percent increase from 16 deals in Q3 2010. The largest transaction in this segment was completed by Bridgelux, a provider of light-emitting diode (LED) solutions, which raised $60.0 million.

Companies in the Industry Products and Services segment attracted $132.0 million, a 22 percent decrease from Q3 2010. The segment ranked third in the number of deals with 15 rounds of financing this quarter compared to 13 in Q3 2010. Additionally, biofuel deals continue to lead the Alternative Fuels segment. With $23.5 million raised, HCL CleanTech Ltd., a North Carolina-based company that converts cellulosic biomass into fermentable sugars, secured the top biofuel deal for Q3 2011.

The solar sub-segment received the largest share of cleantech capital in Q4 2011 with US$284.5m. This figure accounted for 91 percent of the sector's total investment of US$312.9m.

The industry products and services segment raised the second-largest amount in 2011, at $1.0bn, down 34 percent from 2010. In Q4 2011, the segment raised $256.2m. The largest deal was for the quarter was completed by Better Place, a Palo Alto, California-based provider of electric car networks, which raised US$201m.

The energy storage segment ranked third in terms of total amount invested in 2011, with US$932.6m invested. The batteries sub-segment led the sector in Q4. Companies in the energy-efficiency segment attracted $646.9m in 2011, a 29 percent decrease from 2010.

© 2012, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

Related Posts
Greener Vehicles Growing Cleantech and Providing Green Jobs
Cleantech Partnerships and Collaborations
California and Other US Leaders in Cleantech Investments
VC Investment in US Cleantech in 2011
2012 to be the Best Year Ever For Clean-Tech Investment?
US Regains Lead from China as Clean Energy Leader
China is Leading in terms of Renewable Energy Attractiveness

VC Investment in US Cleantech in 2011

2012-02-01T12:53:00.004-05:00

Overall 2011 was a good year for cleantech in the US but the numbers indicate that there may be a cooling trend in investments for 2012. In 2011 we saw increased investment in green technology compared to 2010, but investment slowed in the fourth quarter.

Ernst & Young reports that US venture capital (VC) investment in cleantech companies increased by 73 percent to $1.1 billion in Q3 2011 compared to Q3 2010, while deals also increased by 36 percent to 76, according to an Ernst & Young LLP analysis based on data from Dow Jones VentureSource. On a consecutive quarter basis, dollars invested in Q3 2011 is 4 percent above the amount in Q2 2011.

These numbers led Jay Spencer, Ernst & Young LLP’s Americas Cleantech Director to say, “Confidence in cleantech investing continues despite the challenging investment market. We saw significant commitments in energy storage, which reflects a growing corporate focus on proactively managing their energy mix.”

However, Spencer said the 2011 VC investment represented a 29 percent increase from the US$3.8bn raised in 2009. But in Q4 2011, VC investment in clean tech reached US$940.5m with 70 rounds of financing, said Spencer. This was a decrease of 41pc compared to the US$1.6bn raised in Q4 2010.

"Clean tech is still in the early stages of a long-term journey," said Spencer. "We've reached a point where new products and services are ready to be launched, and as these products come to market, we're seeing renewed interest, innovation and opportunity in clean tech."

© 2012, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

Retail Sustainability Leadership Report

2012-02-01T08:28:00.001-05:00

The Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) has released the first ever industry-wide Retail Sustainability Report. It explores retail’s sustainability successes, challenges and vision for the future. The 2012 report highlights sustainability leadership in the retail industry and discusses retail’s environmental, social, and community impacts. It also addresses the physical establishment of retail outlets and the products they sell.

“As one of the leading industries to embrace sustainability, it is becoming a core consideration for the retail industry,” said Adam Siegel, RILA vice president of sustainability and retail operations. “Retailers are working to incorporate sustainability into their strategy, operations, workforce engagement, and connection to consumers and communities."

“RILA’s first sustainability report is an important step forward for the retail industry. Our hope is that RILA’s efforts will inspire retailers around the globe to take action and engage in sustainability more deeply and strategically – to ensure a healthier bottom line as well as a healthier planet. BSR looks forward to collaborating with industry leaders to ensure that sustainability stays top of mind in the years to come,” said Ted Howes, director of advisory services for Business for Social Responsibility (BSR).

“This report is a first look at the broader industry’s accomplishments, challenges, and future directions. It lays a foundation to determine where we can go from here,” said Siegel.

For the past several years RILA has provided resources to empower, enhance, and accelerate sustainability activities in the retail industry, and this report is the first comprehensive look at the sustainability landscape. The report seeks to highlight sustainability trends in the retail industry, shedding light on retails’ evolving business practices, and the challenges still facing the industry. The broader objective is to provide the retail industry and those it serves with a way to act on and engage in sustainability through: framing the critical issues, anticipating future trends, recognizing challenges, and sharing examples of how retailers are responding.

Data for the report was collected from the 2011 sustainability reports of thirty RILA member companies, which are representative of the industry’s diversity, from food to general merchandise to specialty story, and from large to small format. Information was also compiled through multiple industry surveys, industry meetings, and company interviews, across all segments of retail. Business for Social Responsibility (BSR) was a key partner in the development of the report.

The report highlights examples to highlight the innovative work of the industry and illustrate what we can anticipate over the coming years. The report also emphasized the important role of other stakeholders – be it landlords, municipalities, product manufacturers, transportation providers, or customers – in the sustainability journey and how various groups can work together to achieve common goals.

Key retail sustainability trends identified in the report include: working across sectors to achieve sustainability goals, turning from sustainability as a cost and risk reduction measure to an opportunity for business growth, developing systems for continuous improvement, and fostering transparency in operations and in the supply chain.

“I think one of the biggest takeaways from the report is that creating lasting change in retail sustainability is not something the industry can do alone,” continued Siegel. “Retailers are reaching out to nonprofits, academics, and governments as well as to their suppliers, consumers, investors, and communities to provide their diverse perspectives and partnerships and help accelerate sustainable innovation for all,” Siegel concluded.

To see the report click here.

© 2012, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

GHG Protocol and Scope 3 Accounting and Reporting Standard

2012-01-31T13:03:00.002-05:00

The Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHG Protocol) is the most widely used international accounting tool for government and business leaders to understand, quantify, and manage greenhouse gas emissions. A decade-long partnership between the World Resources Institute (WRI) and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), the GHG Protocol is working with businesses, governments, and environmental groups around the world to build a new generation of credible and effective programs for tackling climate change. It serves as the foundation for nearly every GHG standard and program in the world - from the International Standards Organization to The Climate Registry - as well as hundreds of GHG inventories prepared by individual companies.

The GHG Protocol also offers developing countries an internationally accepted management tool to help their businesses to compete in the global marketplace and their governments to make informed decisions about climate change.

The Corporate Value Chain (Scope 3) Standard allows companies to assess their entire value chain emissions impact and identify the most effective ways to reduce emissions. Often, the majority of total corporate emissions come from scope 3 sources, which means many companies have been missing out on significant opportunities for improvement.

“The new Corporate Value Chain Standard provides a much needed harmonized global methodology for businesses to measure value chain greenhouse gas emissions. Our road test of the new Scope 3 standard provides us with key data to drive our strategic business decisions regarding greenhouse gas reductions. We encourage other businesses to similarly employ this effective method to measure, and subsequently address, greenhouse gas emissions from the entire value chain."

- Kelly Semrau, Senior Vice President of Global Corporate Affairs, Communication and Sustainability, S.C. Johnson

“Our work with the GHG Protocol was instrumental in guiding our first efforts towards environmental footprinting. In 2010 Kraft Foods participated in the GHG Protocol Corporate Value Chain (Scope 3) Standard ‘road test’. Our Scope 3 inventory results are the backbone that informed our future footprint work. For GHG Protocol, the feedback from Kraft Foods informed the final Scope 3 standard WRI will be launching around the world this October.”

- Dan Pettit, Associate Director of Sustainability for Research Development & Quality at Kraft Foods

Users of the new standard can now account for emissions from 15 categories of scope 3 activities, both upstream and downstream of their operations. The scope 3 framework also supports strategies to partner with suppliers and customers to address climate impacts throughout the value chain.

The Corporate Value Chain Standard has been created through a broad, inclusive, multi-stakeholder process. Over a three year period 2,300 participants were involved from 55 countries; 96 members participated in technical working groups to draft the standard, and 34 companies from various industries road tested the standard in 2010.

The new standards provide a methodology that can be used to account for and report emissions from companies of all sectors, globally. They are accompanied by user-friendly guidance and tools developed by the GHG Protocol.

“We believe that by adopting the same standards, we can move ahead faster with confidence to tackle product emissions. CGF represents more than 400 members in the Consumer Goods Sector with annual sales of more than $3 trillion.”

- Jeff Rice, Director Sustainability Walmart, Co-leading the Consumer Goods Forum work

Click here to download GHG Protocol (Print Version (PDF), 149 pages, 7.3 Mb)

Click here to download (E-Reader Version (PDF), 154 pages, 7.0 Mb)

© 2012, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

Related Post
PUMA's Comprehensive Sustainable Strategy Now Includes Environmental Accounting

The Success of RGGI Carbon Trading Shows Cap-and-Trade Works

2012-01-31T08:13:00.003-05:00

Despite opposition from Republicans, the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) has been shown to be very successful. A January 28th New York Times article reviewed RGGI a carbon trading initiative launched by ten northeastern states in January 2009. According to independent reports the emissions reductions have been greater and cheaper than expected, and have produced substantial fringe benefits in terms of lower overall electricity costs, more jobs, and greater regional independence of fossil fuel imports.

The RGGI cap-and-trade carbon trading scheme was based on the successful initiative to reduce emissions of acid rain precursor aerosols which in the 1980s and 1990s achieved significant reductions in SO2 and NOx emissions.

Republicans who once supported cap-and-trade decided to make the issue a political football and as part of their obstructionist approach they now rail against it. Although New Jersey Governor Chris Christie withdrew from RGGI, independent studies confirm it is clearly working well.

Since its inception in 2009, Northeastern greenhouse gas emissions have been reduced by 30 percent. This is largely due to switching from coal to natural gas reduced demand brought on by the recession. On its own the RGGI trading system accounts for 6 percent of these emissions reductions.

An independent assessment by the Analysis Group further indicated that RGGI has saved customers money and created jobs. Participating states have used proceeds from the auctions to promote energy efficiency and electricity generation from renewables. The study, commissioned by four nonprofit foundations and conducted by the Boston consulting firm Analysis Group.

These findings demonstrate that carbon trading under a cap-and-trade system is the best way to use the free market to reduce emissions in a way that minimizes harm to the economy. When the review period comes to an end in the summer 2012 it will likely be declared a success and be subject to more stringent cuts and more widespread adoption. This is great news for the environment and the economy.

Research shows that Republicans are on the wrong side of this issue as the RGGI program illustrates that the benefits of carbon trading far outweigh the costs.

© 2012, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

Related Posts
Republican Gubernatorial Gains and US Carbon Trading Programs
California is Leading the US with a Cap-and-Trade System
Cap-and-Trade Legislation Faces Opposition
US Cap-and-Trade: What and Why
US Cap-and-Trade:
Business
US Cap-and-Trade: Solutions
US Cap-and-Trade: Positioning Your Business
US Cap-and-Trade Implications for Business
Small Business Can Save Cap-and-Trade
Small Business' Silence on US Cap-and-trade Legislation
Helping Small Business Accept US Cap-and-Trade
Cap-and-trade in Ontario and Quebec

What can be Done to Manage the Green Business Slowdown in 2012?

2012-01-30T13:05:00.002-05:00

The 2012 State of Green Business Report anticipates a slowdown in 2012, but there are strategies to best manage the hard times ahead. Innovation is the key and this can be achieved through collaboration and cross-fertilization. Collaboration within industries and between industries is crucial to unlock the real potential of sustainable innovation. Cross-fertilization requires more synchronization of activity and adaptation planning, and a common paradigm to work towards.

According to Joel Makower and Ralph Thurm there are some things that can be done to deal with the slowdown in business anticipated. They believe that the answer lies with paradigm-oriented, outcome-oriented and multi-industry based (open innovation) platforms.

Makower is chairman and executive editor of GreenBiz Group Inc., producer of GreenBiz.com. He is also lead author of the annual State of Green Business report and hosts the State of Green Business Forum, the GreenBiz Innovation Forum, and other events.

Makower serves as a senior strategist for GreenOrder, a sustainability management consultancy, and is co-founder of Clean Edge, a cleantech research firm. He is author of more than a dozen books, including Strategies for the Green Economy. He also writes “Two Steps Forward” (www.readjoel.com), a popular blog on green business, clean technology, and green marketing. The Associated Press has called him “The guru of green business practices.”

For Makower the answer to the slowdown is VERGE, a platform to get sustainable innovation further aligned, with dots connected and the real needs discussed.

Thurm is a leading professional in sustainability strategies, operational sustainability and sustainability reporting with more than 20 years experience working for major corporates, industry federations, governments, NGOs and non-for-profit organizations.

Thurm and John Elkington are advocates of Zero Impact Growth. They believe that the Deloitte/Volans ZERO HUB is an open innovation platform that can help achieve this goal.

© 2012, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.