by Susan DeFreitas, December 3rd, 2011
What?s the forecast for cleantech investing in 2012? Cloudy with a chance of decline, according a new set of predictions?from Kachan & Co., a cleantech analysis and consulting firm, though predictions for the coming year do?include some bright spots as well, particularly in the realms of wave power and industrial wastewater.
First, the bad news: the amount of venture capital entering clean technology companies?is expected to decline in 2012 for the first time since the global economic downturn?of 2008. After three successive years of growth, the market for cleantech investing is now likely to?flag due to increased difficulties in fundraising?for investors themselves, waning policy support in the developed world and negative sentiment from the past two quarters (including?the general fall-out from the high-profile bankruptcy of Solyndra).
image via Kachan & Co.
However,?other factors are expected to help mitigate?this decline, including?China?s desire to?manage its economic turbulence, a forecasted rise in oil prices and global corporations??strengthened role in cleantech, as well as continued solar innovation and persistence of the fundamental drivers of cleantech.
Other bright spots for cleantech investing?in the coming year?include a rising interest in marine power, i.e., wave, tidal and ocean thermal energy. While??2012 will not be the year that marine power?becomes cost-competitive with coal, or even nearly, we can expect to see increased private and corporate funding.? (This prediction is based on increased numbers of marine power trials around the world, as well as?recent strategic investments by large companies like Siemens.)
We can also expect to see increased water and agricultural sector activity as industrial wastewater?drives water investments, based on a growing understanding of the potential for produced water from the oil and gas industry to?be put to work in growing crops.
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Posted in Biofuels, Geothermal Power, Hydrogen Fuel Cells, Marine Power, Renewable Energy, Solar Power, Wind Power
Source: http://www.earthtechling.com/2011/12/2012-cleantech-investing-forecast-cloudy/
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