Wednesday, October 31, 2007

Ultralife to Acquire Two Firms

NEWARK, N.Y., -- Ultralife Batteries, Inc. (NASDAQ: ULBI) has entered into definitive agreements to acquire all of the outstanding shares of two affiliated companies headquartered in Clearwater, Florida: Stationary Power Services, Inc., an infrastructure power management services company, and Reserve Power Systems, Inc., a provider of lead-acid batteries for standby power systems. The purchase price for both companies, excluding the payment of any contingent purchase price, is anticipated to be approximately $11.3 million. The acquisitions, subject to customary closing conditions, are expected to close by the end of the fourth quarter. Ultralife anticipates that these acquisitions will be accretive in the first quarter of 2008. Link. Chart.

Atraverda Closes £10.4m (US $21.4m) Series B Financing Round

Atraverda, an Advanced Materials Company, based in South Wales, UK, announced it has closed its Series B financing round with a total of £10.4m (US $21.4m). The round sees new investors BankInvest New Energy Solutions from Denmark and Espírito Santo Ventures of Portugal lead the financing round, while existing investors UK-based Scottish Equity Partners, Chord Capital and Finance Wales and US-based EnerTech Capital and OnPoint Technologies continue to contribute. The investment will be used to accelerate Atraverda’s growth, enhance product development and develop further commercial opportunities. Link.

Tuesday, October 30, 2007

Battelle Ventures Leads $4.5-Million Funding for ImageTree Corp

PRINCETON, N.J., — Battelle Ventures, LP, has closed its first deal in the environment sector, having led the $4.5-million oversubscribed Series B round of funding for precision forestry company ImageTree Corp. With last week’s announcement of three deals in energy-related start-ups, this brings to six the number of companies in the fund's expanding energy & environment portfolio. Link.

GreenVolts Secures $10 Million Series A Financing

San Francisco, Calif. – GreenVolts (www.greenvolts.com), a leader in high concentrating photovoltaic technology and wholesale distributed energy, today announced that it has secured $10 million in Series A funding. The company also announced that its CarouSol™ tracking system has begun producing energy at Avista’s Clean Energy Test Site, and that it is on track for deployment of its GV1 plant in late 2008. Link.

Optimal Technologies International Scores a $25 Million Commitment from Goldman Sachs

LONDON and SAN FRANCISCO – Optimal Technologies International Inc. announced that it has secured $25 million in financing from Goldman Sachs International to accelerate its growth and expand its market presence. The investment will allow Optimal to continue building out its product offering for energy utilities, businesses and consumers. Specifically, Optimal will complete the development of its technology that optimizes electric power systems from origin to end-user. The investment includes an immediate payment of $13 million to be followed by milestone payments over the next 12 months. Link.

Monday, October 29, 2007

EnerNOC Files for Public Offering

BOSTON, MA, – EnerNOC, Inc. (NASDAQ: ENOC) announced today that it has filed a registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission relating to a proposed offering of 4,000,000 shares of its common stock. It is expected that 800,000 of the shares will be offered by EnerNOC and 3,200,000 shares will be offered by certain selling stockholders. The selling stockholders expect to grant the underwriters an over-allotment option to purchase up to 600,000 additional shares. Link.

TeleSoft Partners Acquires a Majority Interest in Energy Software & Consulting

SAN FRANCISCO--TeleSoft Partners, a Silicon Valley venture capital firm, announced it has acquired a majority interest in Energy Software & Consulting I and II which, on a combined basis, is the largest preferred shareholder in Nexant, Inc., an energy sector software, engineering, and consulting firm. Link.

Solazyme Announces New Chief Financial Officer

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif.--Solazyme, a bioscience company pioneering biofuels and health/wellness products from microalgae, has named Tyler W. Painter as chief financial officer. As CFO, Painter will be responsible for providing Solazyme with the strong controls and intense fiscal discipline needed to support the company’s growth plans. In this role, Painter also will oversee human resources. Link.

Friday, October 26, 2007

Beacon Power Announces $25 Million Investment Commitment

WILMINGTON, Mass.--Beacon Power Corporation (NASDAQ: BCON) today announced that it has received a commitment for $25 million of new investment in the Company. The capital will be used to fund ongoing operations, including the manufacturing and deployment of Smart Energy 25 flywheels and the construction of the Company's frequency regulation plant that is expected to have 10 to 20 MW of service capability by the end of 2008. The transaction is expected to close on October 31, 2007. Link. Chart.

Oceanlinx Announces Its Intention to Raise Capital on London's AIM.

Oceanlinx Limited (“Oceanlinx” or “the Company”), a leading international wave energy company, is to seek a listing on London’s AIM market. Libertas Capital is acting as nominated advisor and broker to Oceanlinx. Link.

Ormat Technologies, Inc. Announces Closing of Sale of 3 Million Shares of Common Stock

RENO, Nev., -- Ormat Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: ORA) (the "Company") today announced the closing of the sale of 3,000,000 shares of common stock in a public offering. Lehman Brothers Inc.
acted as underwriter for the public offering. Link.

Thursday, October 25, 2007

Partners in EverQ approve significant capacity expansion - company prepares for IPO

Bitterfeld-Wolfen, Q-Cells AG (QCE; ISIN DE0005558662) and its partners in the Joint Venture EverQ GmbH - Evergreen Solar, Inc. and REC Renewable Energy Corporation ASA - have approved significant expansion plans for EverQ. The company will build a third integrated wafer, cell and module production facility at its company site in Bitterfeld-Wolfen (Germany). The new EverQ facility will increase EverQ’s production capacity from 100 MWp to 180 MWp. The partners will invest nearly EUR 150 million in the new EverQ III facility, which is expected to start production in the first quarter of 2009. The new EverQ facility will use Evergreen Solar’s Quad furnace technology. Link.

Renewable Energy Plans New Large Scale Manufacturing Complex

Høvik, Norway, REC has decided to establish a new worldscale solar manufacturing complex in Singapore and has simultaneously signed an agreement with the Singaporean government agency Economic Development Board (EDB). The agreement outlines both the terms and conditions related to the development of a new production site, the process of establishing a manufacturing complex, as well as operational and commercial conditions. The manufacturing complex will be developed in stages. It will incorporate wafer, cell and module production facilities and will have the potential of becoming the world's largest complex of its kind. Fully developed, the manufacturing complex could hold a production capacity of up to 1.5 GW. Link.

Tuesday, October 23, 2007

Roger Saillant, Plug Power CEO, to Retire

Latham NY – Plug Power Inc. (NASDAQ: PLUG), today announced that Roger Saillant, president, chief executive officer and member of the board of directors, plans to retire effective April 7, 2008, at which time he will turn 65 years old. Mr. Saillant informed the Plug Power board of directors of his decision during a regularly scheduled meeting of the board held on Oct. 18. He has been the chief executive officer of the company for the past seven years. Link.

A123Systems™ Receives $30 Million Investment to Support Scale Up

A123Systems™ Receives $30 Million Investment to Support Scale Up and Recent Contract Awards in the Automotive and Powertool market. Opens new Manufacturing Sites to Support High Volume Entry into the Automotive Markets and Expansion of Powertool Business. A123Systems will use these funds to increase production capacity for new contract awards for hybrid electric, plug-in hybrid electric and extended range electric vehicle design wins with major automakers including a contract to co-develop proprietary cells for the GM E-FLEX program. A123Systems continues to expand its fast growing power tool battery business with Black & Decker Corporation, the world’s largest manufacturer of cordless tools, where the company is helping drive the transition from nickel technology to doped nanophosphate lithium-ion technology. Link.

Monday, October 22, 2007

Comverge Announces Filing of Registration Statement

EAST HANOVER, N.J.,-- Comverge, Inc. (Nasdaq: COMV), a leading clean energy company providing capacity through demand response and energy efficiency, announced today the filing of a registration statement on Form S-1 with the Securities and Exchange Commission for an offering of shares of its common stock. The offered shares will be sold by Comverge and certain selling stockholders. As set forth in the registration statement, we anticipate that the underwriters will be granted an over-allotment option to purchase additional shares. We plan to use the net proceeds from the offering to finance current and future capital requirements of our Virtual Peaking Capacity(TM) (VPC(TM)) contracts, to finance research and development, to fund any cash consideration for future acquisitions and for other general corporate purposes. We will not receive any proceeds from the sale of shares by selling stockholders. Link. Chart.

Octillion Appoints Barry Honig to Advisory Board

Auburn Hills, MI – Octillion Corp. (Symbol: OCTL), an alternative energy technology incubator, is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Barry Honig to its newly established Advisory Board, which will be comprised of respected experts in solar energy and solar related technologies, mergers and acquisitions and corporate finance. Link. Chart.

HelioVolt Closes Second Traunche, Brings Series B Funding Total to $101M

Austin, Texas – HelioVolt Corporation, a producer of highly-efficient thin film solar products, today announced the final closing of its Series B funding round for a total of $101 million, with investments from Sequel Venture Partners, Noventi Ventures, and Passport Capital. The additional funding will be used to accelerate scale-up and global deployment of HelioVolt’s proprietary manufacturing process for Copper Indium Gallium Selenide (CIGS) building-integrated solar products. Link.

Friday, October 19, 2007

LM Glasfiber Breaks Ground on New Blade Plant in Little Rock, Arkansas

LM Glasfiber continues to expand its global blade manufacturing capacity in key markets. Today it officially celebrated the ground breaking of its new wind turbine blade factory in Little Rock, Arkansas. It is LM Glasfiber’s third blade manufacturing facility in North America and the 11th worldwide. Link.

Thursday, October 18, 2007

Parviz Adib and Jim Krajecki join APX

Santa Clara, CA - APX, Inc., the leading infrastructure provider for North American environmental and energy markets, is pleased to announce that Dr. Parviz Adib and Mr. Jim Krajecki have joined APX's Power Markets Business Unit. Dr. Adib and Mr. Krajecki are both nationally recognized subject matter experts in the US power markets and represent decades of experience and commitment to the field. Both are located in Austin, Texas. Link.

Wednesday, October 17, 2007

GridPoint Raises $48.5 Million in Series D Financing

WASHINGTON − GridPoint, Inc., a leading clean tech company whose smart grid platform benefits electric utilities, consumers and the environment, announced that it has recently closed a $48.5 million Series D financing led by Goldman Sachs Group (NYSE: GS) and Susquehanna Private Equity Investments, an affiliate of Susquehanna International Group (SIG), as well as the appointment of new members to its board of directors, including the CTO of Duke Energy and the CEO of US Power Generating Company. Link.

Altela, Inc. Receives $7.1 million in Series A Investment

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- Altela, Inc., a leading desalination technology and service company, recently completed the closing of its Series A investment raising $7.1 million. The investment will be used to expand the company's manufacturing plant and accelerate the introduction of its water-remediation products into new markets. $5.2 million was invested by a Canadian environmental and energy services company, CCS Income Trust, and $1.9 million was invested by existing Altela shareholders. Altela's Board of Directors and management believe that CCS is a strong new strategic partner for Altela, and will provide deep domain experience and significant new markets for the company's AltelaRain(SM) products. The $7.1 million investment values the two-and-a-half-year-old Albuquerque company at a post-close valuation of over $25 million. Link.

Thursday, October 11, 2007

APX Names Joseph Kerecman Managing Director

Santa Clara, CA - APX, Inc., the leading infrastructure provider for North American environmental and energy markets, announced that Joseph Kerecman has been appointed Managing Director. Kerecman brings more than 20 years of experience in the energy and environmental markets to APX and will be focused on the growth of the APX environmental services business in the renewable energy and emerging GHG markets including government relations at both the state and federal levels. Link.

Mascoma Names George Schaefer as CFO

CAMBRIDGE, MA, – Mascoma Corporation, a leader in advanced low-carbon energy biotechnology, announced that George Schaefer has joined the company in a new position as its Chief Financial Officer. He will report to Bruce Jamerson, Mascoma’s Chief Executive Officer. Link.

Innovalight Raises $28 Million for Solar Product Development

SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Innovalight, Inc., a privately-held firm developing silicon ink-based printed solar cells, today announced that the company has raised $28 million in new capital. With new financing in hand, the Company is relocating to a new 30,000 square foot manufacturing facility in Sunnyvale, California. Link.

Wednesday, October 10, 2007

Maxwell Technologies Announces $13.6 Million Stock Financing

San Diego, CA — Maxwell Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq: MXWL) announced today that it has priced the sale of 1.3 million shares of its common stock in a public offering underwritten by UBS Securities LLC, resulting in gross proceeds to the company of approximately $13.6 million. All of the stock is being offered by the company, and the transaction is expected to close on October 15, 2007, subject to customary closing conditions. The company plans to use the proceeds for working capital, debt repayment and general corporate purposes. In addition, the company has granted UBS Securities LLC an over allotment option to purchase up to 195,000 additional shares. Link.

EVP Solar Adds to Its Senior Management Team

Robbinsville, NJ: Energy Photovoltaics, Inc. (EPV), a thin-film photovoltaic module manufacturer with headquarters in New Jersey, USA, announced today a series of organizational and senior staff changes that reflect the new direction of the company. Approved by its Board of Directors and shareholders, Energy Photovoltaics, Inc., will now operate as EPV SOLAR, Inc., effective immediately. Link.

Tuesday, October 9, 2007

Solarfun Appoints Ms Amy Liu CFO

SHANGHAI -- Solarfun Power Holdings Co., Ltd. ( "Solarfun" ) (NASDAQ: SOLF ), an established manufacturer of both photovoltaic (PV) cells and modules in China, today announced that Ms. Amy Liu will assume the role of Chief Financial Officer on October 31, 2007, replacing the outgoing Kevin Wei, whose employment contract expires on the same date. She joins Solarfun from Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc., a New York Stock Exchange-listed scientific instrument maker, where she was VP - Director of Finance - China and Hong Kong. Ms. Liu will join Solarfun on October 18, 2007 in order to coordinate with Mr. Wei and ensure a smooth transition to her new position. Link. Chart.

Monday, October 8, 2007

Solazyme announces new Senior Vice President of Business Development

South San Francisco, CA, based Solazyme, a bioscience company pioneering biofuels and health/wellness products from microalgae, has named Troy J. Campione, Ph.D., to the position of senior vice president of business development. Campione will lead the development, negotiation, and finalization of partnership agreements and contracts with major companies. These deals will help fund research and development programs leveraging Solazyme’s work on biofuels and industrial chemicals. Campione has extensive experience monetizing technology across diverse industries and geographies. Most recently he was general manager and vice president of Symyx Technologies, Inc., a company providing high throughput research and informatics technologies globally to the chemical, energy, polymer, pharmaceutical, and electronics industries. Campione earned his Ph.D. in chemical engineering from the University of Texas at Austin and also holds M.E. and B.S degrees in Chemical Engineering from Tulane University. www.solazyme.com.

Renaissance Lighting, Inc. Closes $10 Million Financing Round

Herndon, VA, based Renaissance Lighting, Inc. has completed a $10 million round of financing led by the Altira Group, a venture capital firm based in Denver , CO . The funding will be used to grow RL’s portfolio of solid-state products and expand sales, marketing and operations. RL was founded in 2005 to develop and market its patented Constructive Occlusion® optics to deliver the advantages of LED light sources to the architectural lighting market. www.rllight.com
www.altiragroup.com

Conergy Strengthens Management Team

Dr. Jörg Spiekerkötter replaces Heiko Piossek as CFO. Philip von Schmeling appointed deputy member of the Management Board. Conergy AG announces that Dr. Jörg Spiekerkötter (49) will be the new CFO as of November 1st 2007. With Jörg Spiekerkötter, Conergy AG, a TecDax listed company, gains a renowned manager with over seven years experience in management as CFO of a globally active DAX-listed company. A qualified lawyer, he was member of the Board with responsibility for finance as well as IT, legal affairs and human resources at Schering AG. From November 1st he will also be responsible for these areas at Conergy AG in Hamburg. Most recently Spiekerkötter was the CFO of a Dutch company, ORGANON BioSciences. Link.

Friday, October 5, 2007

International Rectifier Announces Executive Management Promotion

EL SEGUNDO, Calif.--Oct. 5, 2007--International Rectifier Corporation ("IR") (NYSE:IRF) today announced a new organizational appointment to the company's leadership team. Dr. Michael A. Briere, 45, previously Executive Vice President, Research & Development for the company, has been appointed to the role of Executive Vice President, Research & Development and Chief Technology Officer. In his new role, Dr. Briere will be responsible for the company's technology and product development strategies. Link.

Wednesday, October 3, 2007

Rentech Proceeds with Purchase of Site for Commercial Scale Synthetic Fuels Facility

Los Angeles, CA, based Rentech, Inc. (AMEX:RTK) announced that it has received approval from the Adams County Board of Supervisors to proceed with the acquisition of approximately 450 acres in Adams County, Mississippi. Rentech intends to build its Natchez Strategic Fuels and Chemicals Center at the site. The facility will produce Rentech’s ultra-clean synthetic transportation fuels and specialty chemicals. D. Hunt Ramsbottom, Rentech’s President and Chief Executive Officer stated, “We are pleased to have located this site for our synthetic fuels and chemicals facility. The site is ideally located with access to multiple feedstocks (pet coke, coal and biomass), central to several product distribution channels including a CO2 pipeline that services enhanced oil recovery in the region and outside of the direct impact zone of Gulf Coast hurricanes.” Rentech, Inc. (www.rentechinc.com), incorporated in 1981, provides clean energy solutions. The Company has developed and patented the Rentech Process which transforms under-utilized domestic energy resources into valuable and clean alternative fuels and chemicals. These energy resources include coal, petroleum coke, biomass and municipal solid waste.

Tuesday, October 2, 2007

Trina Solar Announces Management Changes

CHANGZHOU, China, Trina Solar Limited (NYSE: TSL) ("Trina Solar" or the "Company"), a leading integrated manufacturer of solar photovoltaic products from the production of ingots, wafers and cells to the assembly of PV modules founded in 1997, announced today the following management changes at the Company: Mr. Anthony Chia has been appointed as Vice President of Quality. Mr. Chia has more than 21 years of experience in quality management, involving the introduction and implementation of numerous quality control systems, including 6-Sigma, TL9000, TS16949, ISO2000, ISO14000, UL and TUV RoHS. Mr. Chia reports to Sean Tzou, Trina Solar's Chief Operating Officer. Prior to joining Trina Solar, Mr. Chia served as Director of Service and Quality for SANMINA-SCI and as Senior Manager of Quality Assurance at Motorola Singapore and China. Mr. Chia holds an MBA from National University of Singapore. Mr. Dave Seburn has been appointed as Vice President, Polysilicon. Mr. Seburn is responsible for evaluating potential upstream investments in polysilicon production, including road map development for upstream investments and implementation oversight of related projects. Mr. Seburn reports directly to Jifan Gao, Trina Solar's Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Seburn comes to Trina Solar after ten years of experience at REC Silicon, where he last served as Vice President of Operations. During his tenure, Mr. Seburn lead oversight of both silane and polysilicon manufacturing plants and facilitated process and organizational changes that optimized productivity at both plants. Mr. Seburn holds an M.S. degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Houston. Link.

Tetra Tech Acquires Consulting Firm ARD, Inc. to Expand International Presence

PASADENA, Calif. Oct. 2, 2007--Tetra Tech, Inc. (NASDAQ:TTEK) announced today that it has completed the acquisition of ARD, Inc., of Burlington, Vermont. ARD provides consulting and technical services for international aid agencies and other governmental bodies. ARD has more than 25 offices and 760 employees worldwide. ARD had annual revenue of about $110 million and net revenue of about $65 million over the last 12 months. The terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. Link.

Ocean Power Technologies Receives Additional $1.9 Million Funding for US Navy Project

PENNINGTON, N.J. Oct. 2, 2007--Ocean Power Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq: OPTT and London Stock Exchange AIM: OPT) ("OPT" or the "Company") announced today that it has received additional funding of U.S. $1.9 million for its on-going contract with the U.S. Navy to install the Company's PowerBuoy(R) systems off the Hawaiian island of Oahu. Link.

EverPower Secures $55 Million in Financing Commitment From Good Energies

NEW YORK - EverPower Renewables Corp. ("EverPower"), a developer of utility-grade wind projects, today announced that it has closed a $55 million financing commitment from Good Energies, a leading investor in the renewable energy industry. The investment will
support the development of EverPower's existing portfolio of wind construction projects, help it expand its pipeline of new projects and maintain the company's strong growth momentum. Management will maintain a majority position in EverPower. Link.

Polyfuel Awarded $2 Million from NIS

MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA – PolyFuel Inc., a world leader in fuel cell technology, particularly engineered membranes that provide significantly improved performance in direct methanol fuel cells for portable electronic applications, announced today that the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has awarded PolyFuel $2 million over 2 years in support of the company’s work to develop a new, ultra-low crossover membrane for portable fuel cells. Link.

Monday, October 1, 2007

Goldman Sachs Makes Significant Investment in Nordic Windpower

San Rafael, CA, Quebec City and London, UK - Nordic Windpower Ltd., a leading manufacturer of two-bladed utility-scale wind turbines, announced today that Goldman Sachs, one of the world’s largest investment banks, has made a significant investment in the company. The investment marks a major new phase in Nordic’s growth as it prepares to start U.S. production of its innovative and field-proven turbines for utilities, and large and small developers. The new money enables Nordic to fulfill growing demand for low-cost, high-reliability wind turbines at a time when the industry faces persistent supply constraints. Link.

Catilin Appoints Wayne Turner Vice President of Operations and Engineering

Ames, IA. – Catilin, Inc., a biodiesel technology company, today announced that Wayne Turner has joined the company as Vice President of Operations and Engineering. Turner brings more than 30 years experience in the chemical manufacturing industry to Catilin and will be responsible for the daily operations of the testing and production of biodiesel on a world-wide basis. Link.

Comverge Buys Public Energy Solutions

EAST HANOVER, N.J. Comverge, Inc. (Nasdaq: COMV), the leading provider of clean energy solutions through demand response and energy efficiency, announced today it has acquired Public Energy Solutions, LLC (PES), further expanding its suite of clean energy capacity offerings by targeting base load capacity needs of electric utilities through energy efficiency. PES will provide Comverge's energy efficiency offerings and will become part of Comverge's Alternative Energy Resources Group for nationwide expansion. Link

BrightSource Energy Names SVP For Project Development Tom Doyle to Oversee Development of Solar Power Projects

OAKLAND, Calif. BrightSource Energy™, Inc., which develops and builds utility-scale solar power plants, announced today that Thomas P. Doyle has joined the company as Senior Vice President Project Development. BrightSource is currently focused on developing projects in the United States and EMEA, and recently submitted an Application for Construction (AFC) to the California Energy Commission (CEC) for a solar power plant to be built in the Mojave Desert of California. The AFC filed by BrightSource was the first to be filed in California in 17 years and is the first step of the required permitting process for the development of any new solar energy power plant in California. Link