Sienna Cathedral Leverages Four Pillar Framework The Cleantech Pillars framework is a new assessment tool for Cleantech ventures.  The four Pillars represent the generic contextual hurdles within Cleantech. These are the factors that differentiate Cleantech opportunities from more conventional technology ventures. The four Cleantech Pillars are Plant, Process, Phase and Policy. Plant and Process cycle are internally oriented business...

The controversial Domestic Content Requirements provisions in Ontario’s Feed-In-Tariff (FIT) generated more Solar PV industry activity and intrigue this past week. New announcements from a variety of industry players have added to the controversy generated by the Japanese Government’s recent unfair trade practices complaint to the WTO.   Two separate press releases provided further illumination on a spectrum of issues related to...

Stuck in Transmission The Ontario Power Authority (OPA) has had a pattern of disseminating news for the Feed-in-Tariff (FIT) late on Friday evenings.  This week was different.  With an announcement distributed just before dusk this past Monday, things are definitely looking up. The news was positive even if it came later than expected. We can expect that some additional large PV projects (above 500 kW) will proceed to the contracting...

We received our first glimpse last week on the impact of the 20% rate reduction in Ontario’s Solar PV microFIT (<10 kW) program. The speakers at last week’s Ontario Feed-In-Tariff (FIT) Supply Chain Forum provided extensive new information on the FIT program status. Among other insights, Jim MacDougall from the Ontario Power Authority (OPA) presented a chart that provided a month-by-month tally of incoming applications for the...

Cleantech is widely anticipated to be the next big wealth creation opportunity.      Oddly, however, success in Cleantech business investments has been somewhat elusive especially in the venture capital (VC) community. This paradox is true even though Cleantech has had the strong support of a mature VC industry along with motivated equity markets – albeit impacted by the Financial Crisis and global recession.    Cleantech Pillars...

World Powers Pressure Ontario Agenda Last week the US and the EU both took formal action against Ontario’s Feed-in-Tariff Domestic Content Provisions. In the case of solar projects, these Domestic Content requirements are set to increase to 60% in 2011. Last week’s news foreshadows this week’s sold out Ontario Feed-In-Tariff (FIT) Supply Chain Forum being held in Toronto October 5th and 6th at the Allstream Centre....

Two weeks ago, Fred Wilson of Union Square Ventures proposed that There are Two Venture Capital Industries – one that funds Software and one that funds Cleantech and Biotech. Fred’s observations have already provoked a number of interesting responses from Rob Day, Erick Schonfeld, Paul Kedrosky, Jeff Busgang, Duncan Davidson and CB Insights among others.  This divergence is underscored by trends on venture capital deal size...