The unglamorous approach to impact investing in energy
In the fashionable world of “impact” investing, often the least sexy investment makes the most impact; nowhere is this truer than in the energy sector
Morning Brief: Energy transition SPAC spreadsheet, Ørsted goes big on solar, Tesla’s lack of diversity
Also in the brief: Tesla’s first-ever Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Impact report shows the Elon Musk-helmed EV pioneer’s U.S. leadership is 83% male, and 59% white. Joe Biden weighs the 25% China import tariff, Some Cadillac dealers choose not to invest in an EV future.
SPAC, the final frontier: QuantumScape raises $680M for advanced EV batteries, TJ Rodgers raises $200M in SPAC IPOs, plus EVs galore and Stem
Once sort of disreputable, the SPAC is now a “financial innovation” and a “funding mechanism for ambitious companies who are in the midst of a growth phase-change,” in the eyes of some investors. Here’s a roundup.
Morning Brief: Joe Biden weighs the 25% China import tariff, plus the chart of the day
Also in the brief: Loanpal closes largest residential solar securitization to date, and a model for solar-plus-storage assets.
Moody’s gives US utility issuers a transition risk wake-up call
The credit rating agency’s new CTA scores will inform Moody’s analysts, bankers and investors’ thinking about the risks and opportunities that will shape the revenues, costs and capital deployment in the U.S. power sector.
Venture capital funding in solar, storage and energy intelligence sees a year-end surge
At least a dozen energy transition startups are getting their start during the pandemic holiday season.
If I were Secretary of Energy
If you recognize that energy is most of the problem with climate change, you’d like the DOE not to be the bastard child of a weapons organization. (Warning/TLDR : You can’t fix the DOE in 1,000 words.)
Aurora Solar raises $50M for remote photovoltaic sales and design
This substantial investment signals software’s critical role in driving the mainstream adoption of solar.
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.
