The once obscure, derided financial product that just might transform deep tech venture capital
Many of my VC compatriots in Silicon Valley still sneer at the SPAC, and several I know actively encourage their portfolio companies to avoid SPAC sponsors.
“A product for also-rans who can’t go public the normal route.”
“Frankenstein financial engineering for speculators and amateurs.”
To which I say, BALDERDASH!
Morning Brief: Ambri deploying its calcium-antimony battery? China could install 75 GW of solar next year
Also: Despite a rosy forecast, creating energy storage projects with competitive economics has been an elusive endeavor. Plus, rate design innovations are boosting the energy transition and Plug Power raises $1 billion for U.S. green hydrogen infrastructure build-out.
How does the US retire 236 GW of coal and 1,000 gas peaker plants?
Victory in the economic realm (increasingly the case with solar, solar-plus-storage and wind) is no guarantee of market victory if the regulations are stacked against renewables.
Energy Transition Jobs: New CMO at QuantumScape, new CEO at PG&E, plus Perea at SunPower, Arevon, The Engine
Executive jobs and job moves in solar, storage, cleantech, utilities and energy transition finance.
Monday Brief: Knoxville utility to go 20% solar by 2023, Sunrun and SoCal Edison agree to virtual power plant
Also in the brief: Hawaiian Electric Company proposes 20 MW of new projects, EDP Renewables has secured 86% of the company’s targeted capacity additions for 2019-2022 and more.
Bifacial solar panels are no longer exempt from US Section 201 import tariffs
As of today, the dumb world of solar module tariffs is currently subjecting imported bifacial modules to a 20% penalty, the same tariff as almost all other crystalline silicon solar modules.
Morning Brief: MISO preps for FERC Order 2222, zinc battery startup Eos now public via SPAC
Also in the brief: SolaREIT is focused on acquiring the land underpinning solar assets, plus, engineering services company Solar Support has unveiled a tiered customer-service solution for inverter and power electronic manufacturers.
The misunderstood power of lithium-ion
As the world continues shifting towards lithium-ion as an advanced energy solution for all power applications, ongoing education on the technology’s chemistry, uses and limitations are essential.
Morning Brief: sPower merging with AES’ clean energy development business in US, Evergy makes it difficult for Kansas solar
Also in the brief: Utah lawmakers push to block cities from banning natural gas. Climate risks are accelerating. Here’s what Duke, PG&E and 16 other utilities expect to pay, plus Invenergy signs up customers for $1.6 billion, 1,310-megawatt Samson solar energy generation facility.
5 pro-renewable energy actions to expect from President-Elect Joe Biden
As the U.S. economy continues to recover from its Covid-19-induced recession, it’s likely that Congress and the president will put together a multi-trillion dollar relief package, similar to the one that lifted the economy out of its doldrums following the 2008 economic crisis.
