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July 22, 2009

Renewable Energy: A Weapon of Mass Reconstruction

by Stephen Lacey, Podcast Editor
New York, United States [RenewableEnergyWorld.com]

The renewable energy industry has suffered over the last year much worse than previously thought possible. But now the pieces are coming together to make clean energy the centerpiece of an economic recovery. That makes the moment perfect for bootstrapping entrepreneurs and early-stage businesses around the world to seize the opportunity when the financial markets get back to full health.

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In this podcast, we'll look at what entrepreneurs should be doing now to prepare for the surge in renewable energy deployment in the coming years.

Author and Entrepreneurial Consultant Sramana Mitra tells us why early stage companies shouldn't necessarily be looking to venture capital firms for financing. She'll also give us her thoughts on some alternative financing options available.

Serial Entrepreneur and SolarCity CEO Lyndon Rive describes why he has had so much success in both the software and energy spaces. It's all about finding and addressing the market “pain points,” he says.

Finally, Dan Reicher of Google.org talks about how his company is working to take technologies out of the “valley of death” and help early-stage companies find investors.

Inside Renewable Energy is a weekly audio news program featuring stories and interviews on all the latest developments in the renewable energy industries.

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Reader Comments (6)
 
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Anonymous
July 24, 2009
This article and pod cast was right on for the corporation I was just laid off from. It is a Waste to Energy/gasification renewable energy corporation with 100% of the waste being melted and turned into gas for clean jet fuel, electricity, aggregate in the form of alloy metal and plastics which can all be resold and reused. No emissions and no ash makes this technology a no brainer. This avoids the need to landfill and at the same time reuses the material.

Past early stage development, as mentioned in your interview with Sramana Mitra, for this company has already led to it being chosen and selected for the short list in LA County, and has a Power Purchase Agreement in Puerto Rico. Delegations from each have seen the plant demonstrations and the proven technology has made this project one on the short wish list of these government entities.

A privately funded project, with proceeds going back to the entities and investors, the effort to unleaf investors has proven quite a challenge. Tapping into the Stimulus monies could help, IF, they can get large capital investors to continue the project by the Stimulus deadline requirements of Oct. 2010. In other words, the shovel needs to be in the ground for building the project in order to qualify for the Stimulus funds. This deadline, along with the lack of large scale investors, makes the viability of the project very questionable unless project development funding becomes available.
Comment 1 of 6
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July 24, 2009
The company you mention sounds like a very promising business. what is the name of the company?
If they have a PPA why cant they get a bank to fund?
What is the waste stream that they use?
Comment 2 of 6
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Anonymous
July 24, 2009
The waste stream is municipal solid waste. Alone 1-3 tpd of this post recycling and perpetually available feedstock will provide large amounts reusable material. Ex: LA County recycles 50% of their waste and have been for over 10 years. In the meantime, their landfills and tripled in size. This is just an example of how much waste there is. Landfill gas is helpful for those landfills which already exist. However, this gasification technology I speak of avoids land filling altogether.

The development company here in the U.S. is Interstate Waste Technologies. http://www.iwtonline.com/

Funding was delayed originally due to the legislation first needed to be changed from mistakenly designating this technology as a burn facility instead of a reuse facility. Once that was accomplished, and they were ready to take funding needs to investors, GE was going under, Stanley Martin, and CityGroup too. Private funding helps to complete RFP's in LA and travel to Puerto to reach contractual PPA with PREPA. Finally, they established backing in Puerto Rico, however this preeminent private investor in Puerto unfortunately passed away. Funds are needed to
proceed to ground breaking again a deadline of Oct. 2010 qualification to receive stimulus money. The Cap and Trade program is also considered into the calculations.
Comment 3 of 6
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July 24, 2009
Converting the waste stream we generate into synthetic gas and usable products is a technology that arrived nearly ten years ago. Infusion of Federal Funds to permit some companies like Startech to get over the "hump" and apply the technology en-mass, is clearly needed. The market is also hampered by local governments and industries that have not matured sufficiently to recognize the technology and benefits. Possibly subsidizing the procurement of devices like Plasma Waste Converters. Or offering tax credits will accelerate the progress that will eventually meet the ever growing needs for such innovative technology.
We run a very real risk of innovation going overseas for production and sales only to end up back on our shores as imports.
Comment 4 of 6
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Anonymous
July 24, 2009
Yes, small and large scale gasification renewable technology is utilized in Europe and Asia. These countries are utilizing various renewable technologies that the U.S. is still hesitating about. This renewable technologies can work in conjunction with other renewable energy technologies to make a difference and a profit. Municipalities need to own the transfer process, private haulers won't work, it needs to be municipally run haulers to keep the tipping fees down and the private investors as well as tax credit involvement can make this a win win. Saving the governments huge money on waste transfer and storage, and instead making money on what used to be something that used up a large portion of their revenue.
Comment 5 of 6
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Anonymous
August 3, 2009
Your comment limitation (2000 characters) is not an acceptable limit for those of us who know how to explain how the world or "X" really works. You have not invited any of us who write longer articles to submit our articles for publication. If your goal is to limit discussion, you have succeeded.

Jim Miller
jimmiller5417@yahoo.com
Comment 6 of 6
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