SolarCity, Rabobank extend collaboration with $42.5 million for solar

SolarCity, which installs and maintains solar projects for residential, business and government customers, and financial services company Rabobank are providing a $42.5 million fund for solar projects in California. The two will fund over 30 commercial solar projects, the continuation of an earlier partnership that has seen solar projects installed to power electric vehicles in Los Angeles and San Francisco and at Rabobank branches in California.

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Global solar, wind and biofuel up 31% despite economic troubles

The global solar photovoltaics, wind power and biofuel sectors weathered the global economic turbulence to reach revenues of $246.1 billion in 2011, a 31 percent increase from $188.1 billion in 2010. Clean technology research and advisory firm Clean Edge, Inc.’s report “Clean Energy Trends 2012” indicates that the bulk of the increase came from double-digit growth rates in both wind and solar deployment. The global market for solar photovoltaics (including modules, system components, and installation) increased 29 percent, from $71.2 billion in 2010 to $91.6 billion in 2011.

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Gevo responds to Butamax’s patent infringement claims

Responding to the lawsuit filed by Butamax Biofuels claiming Gevo has infringed one of its patents, renewable chemicals and advanced biofuels company Gevo, Inc. denied the accusation. The case involves concerns U.S. Patent No. 8,129,162 covering commercially relevant recombinant KARI enzymes. The disputed patent is vital to the advancement of biofuels as it offers producers an efficient production pathway for the low-cost manufacture of biobutanol.

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MiaSolé secures $55 million in funding for its CIGS panels

Thin-film photovoltaic manufacturer MiaSolé secured $55 million in new funding. “This additional investment will allow us to take the company to the next level and we are focused on aggressively building the commercial side of our business with both our traditional glass-on-lass and flexible products,” said chief executive John Carrington in a statement. The company did not release details regarding funding source.

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Viridian Energy completes solar power projects in African villages

As part of their seven-year initiative “7 Continents in 7 Years,” Viridian Energy completed a renewable energy project in the Atiwa district of Ghana, West Africa, in the villages of Asonafo, Abrenya and Wepeti. Viridian energy is retail energy supplier that provides natural gas and green electricity. The company services commercial and residential electricity customers in Connecticut, Illinois, Maryland, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania.

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Borrego Solar now certified solar installation service provider for U.S. government

Borrego Solar Systems Inc, a leading designer, installer and financier of grid-tied solar photovoltaic systems, was awarded a contract by the General Services Administration to provide solar installation services to the United States government, both for civilian and military use. “Solar energy is a smart investment for the federal government,” said Borrego Solar chief executive officer Mike Hall. “We look forward to helping more agencies reduce their energy consumption and achieve energy independence through our financing, design and installation services.”

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Borrego Solar closes $47 million for California solar projects

Borrego Solar Systems, Inc. closed a $47 million fund with U.S. Bank and East West Bank to back solar energy projects for corporate, educational and municipal customers in California and Massachusetts. The fund will finance 6 megawatts’ worth of solar energy systems in California, which include 10 projects for three school districts. Borrego Solar will also use the fund for two solar power installations in Massachusetts, one of which will be one of the largest in the state with a 4.7-MW generation capacity.

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Joint U.S.-Israel R.E. and efficiency projects to have fund access

A joint United States-Israel organization is looking for potential renewable energy projects co-developed by companies from the two countries that could get as much as $1 million in technological funding. The call for proposal comes from BIRD Energy which was created by the Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Office, a U.S. Department of Energy agency, and the Israel Ministry of Energy and Water Resources.

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Enerkem prepares for U.S. initial public offering

Montreal-based waste-to-biofuel company Enerkem Inc. said it is preparing for an initial public offering of its common shares on the Nasdaq Global Market and the Toronto Stock Exchange. On Friday, Enerkem filed to register as a foreign issuer with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. The company also filed a preliminary prospectus with securities regulatory authorities in each of the provinces and territories of Canada.

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U.S. D.O.I. says mid-Atlantic wind leases environmentally safe

The United States Department of the Interior said opening up the mid-Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf area for renewable energy projects will not have significant negative impacts – a finding allowing the agency to move forward with issuing leases for the said resource-rich areas. Last week, the agency said a comprehensive environmental assessment of the resource found that there would be no significant environmental and socioeconomic impacts from issuing wind energy leases in designated areas off the mid-Atlantic coast.

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