Cleantech Corner

Solyndra, Inc., a manufacturer of cylindrical photovoltaic (PV) systems for commercial rooftops, has filed for an IPO that could be worth $300 million.

Venture capitalists surveyed by the National Venture Capital Association (NVCA) believe cleantech is the sector most likely to show growth in 2010.

The NVCA questioned over 325 venture capitalists across the United States from 30 November to 8 December 2009. Of those surveyed, 54% believe VC investment in the cleantech sector would rise in 2010.

France’s Soitec Group, a leading supplier of engineered substrates for the microelectronics industry, will acquire the German concentrated photovoltaic (CPV) solar systems maker Concentrix Solar GmbH.

U.S.-based Danotek Motion Technologies has received a combined $13.2 million from four of the world’s leading renewable energy venture capital firms – GE Energy Financial Services, CMEA Capital, Khosla Ventures and Energy Capital Management.

The French financial management firm Demeter Partners has closed the cleantech-focused Demeter 2 fund at EUR 203 million ($292 million).

SJF Ventures, a VC firm focusing on the cleantech and IT sectors, has led a $2.75 million Series A financing in FieldView Solutions, a provider software that improves data center energy efficiency. 

Arizona-based TPI Composites, Inc., a leading supplier of wind turbine blades, has completed a Series B-1 funding transaction that raised $26 million in growth capital.

Large-format lithium-ion battery maker Ener1, Inc. has received $20 million in fresh investment capital from ITOCHU Corporation, a Japanese commercial trading giant with deep ties in the automotive, utility and renewable energy industries.

GE Energy Financial Services and Vancouver-based Plutonic Power Corporation have paid CAD $52.2 million ($48.9 million) to the financially troubled EarthFirst Canada Inc for the 300-megawatt Dokie Wind Project in British Columbia.

United Technologies Corp. (UTC) has agreed to acquire a 49.5% stake in Clipper Windpower Plc, a California-based wind turbine manufacturer that trades on the AIM London Stock Exchange.