June 25th, 2010

A Slight Miscalculation…No Solar in Abu Dhabi? Learnings from Being First Movers in Cleantech

BOSTON -

A funny thing was recently discovered in the middle east. The folks planning Masdar, the zero-carbon, zer0-waste and (supposedly) 100% renewable energy (proposed) city just outside Abu Dhabi did a little calculation on the solar resource they could expect in the area. All along they had figured to develop large solar arrays just outside the city to power everything. Wind was taken off the table earlier in the planning of the city as there really isn’t much of a wind resource in the area.

But solar. Now we KNOW there’s a great solar resource in the UAE, right? The country where nobody goes outside because it’s too hot, where people leave their AC and cold water running while they’re gone on vacation so the house is livable when they return, and the country that doesn’t really even HAVE sidewalks because, well, it’s too damn hot to walk anywhere.

Their calculations regarding the solar resource in the area apparently didn’t even happen because it was so obvious. They must have just estimated… Because, now, a few years into the plan? It appears  the initial ‘calculation’ was off by, oh, about double. That’s right. Apparently there are sandstorms (shocker) and a consistent haze from the UAE’s proximity to the Persian Gulf. These two factors dramatically cut the available solar resource in the UAE to about half of what could be expected in other similar latitudes.

Why does this matter. Well, for one it puts a damper on the solar dreams of Masdar. But, if we take a step back, it dramatically illustrates a common problem in the renewable energy industry. So many projects throw money around, make plans, and shoot for the stars without ever really doing their due diligence.

Here’s a comparison. Cape Wind was doing something no one had ever done in the USA. They had to forge ahead blind in some regards because the permitting structure and financing partners didn’t exist when they started the project back in 2001. Now they’ve spent 40+ million dollars and it’s still not done. While I don’t necessarily agree with the public outreach and incorporation methods of the Cape Wind project, its an example of a project that was in a position to fly blind and not feel dumb if something came out of left field (like Indian burial grounds 5 miles out to sea) because it was, for many intensive purposes, a first.

Now let’s take Masdar. There’s an iphone app for sun-eye for crying out loud!  Not to say that’s the technology to use in this case, but solar resource is NOT a hard thing to quantify. Had no one built a solar project (even on a house) in the UAE that could have spoken up and said, “Gee, this is producing a lot less energy than I thought it would…?”

Simple. That’s what a lot of this industry is. And yet we see time and time again people missing the trees for the forest.

Tagged first wind, haze solar, Masdar, Miscalculation, pv, Sandstorm solar, solar, Solar Power, UAE |

May 14th, 2010

Top 10 Boston Clean Tech Companies Killing It on Twitter

BOSTON -

Recently, I’ve been getting asked more and more who and what companies to follow on twitter. So, I’ve decided to put together some lists.

BEWARE, if you’re not familiar with twitter you may have no idea what I’m talking about.

Today, I did my first #FollowFriday for my favorite green people around Boston. It went something like this:

@GreenLDistrikt: My first #FF for #Boston’s #green scene @hollyfowler @asheen @morganmm @CleanPursuits @goodnaturegirl @mangojess @renewacycle

Those focused on my favorite people but these are the companies that are using twitter the best in and around Boston, and sometimes New England area in no particular order.

@firstwind – Although First Wind does HUGE wind development and thus their customers probably are not on twitter, they provide great news, information and resources to the twitter community interested in wind.

@millvillegreen + @millvillegreen2 : Laura and Helen are doing some great work with green strategic marketing and program implementation and are great at using their twitter feeds to communicate what’s happening in the are and nation.

@greencollarguy – Kevin Gulley has created the largest B2b Green Directory on the web, an impressive feet. The directory will allow companies to research and find the most profitable ways to become green.

@newgenenergy – New Generation Energy kicks butt in the twitterverse, always providing great information. They provide innovative financial tools that help people invest in greening their communities. Keep an eye on these guys, I think they’ll be national one day.

@HarvestPower – Harvest Power’s customers are not twitter per se, but I feel like their presence on twitter is in large demand. Organics recycling is something most Americans don’t have a clue about so any and all education on the subject is much appreciated.

@energycircle – Peter Troast is the energy efficiency man as far as I’m concerned. I’ve never seen a better site that educates homeowners better on energy efficiency, hands down. Also see @energycrclgoods for some deals on good stuff

@Jeff_groSolar – Jeff the CEO of groSolar has had a twitter feed for sometime now. It’s amazing to me that more solar CEOs don’t have twitter accounts especially if they’re selling to residential because homeowners are on twitter. I like hearing Jeff’s tweets, they’re a good mix of business, pleasure, news and life.

@emergentenergy – Emergent Energy Group doesn’t have the most active twitter account at the moment, but usually have some good info on on renewables and community development.

@evcast – Hands down the BEST resource, podcast, blog, news whatever you want for information about electric vehicles. I’d say they’re the Energy Circle of Electric Vehicles, or maybe it’s the other way around? Regardless, if you want to keep up to date on what’s happening with electric vehicles (my vote if on Better Place) follow these guys

@reworld – Like @evcast and @energycirlce, Renewable Energy World, in my opinion, is hands down the best renewable energy news resources that exists on the planet and they are located close by in New Hampshire.

Well, that’s my list. I agree, whether twitter is actually a useful tool or not is arguable and it depends on an organizations business model and who their customers are. I can say without a doubt that twitter has changed my life for the better and I’ve met some amazing people through it.

For those green, renewable energy, clean tech folks. Do you use twitter? Why?

If yes, how do you think we can use twitter to drive the movement forward?

Tagged clean tech, energy circle, ev cast, first wind, green collar economy, GroSolar, harvest power, new generation energy, Renewable Energy World, twitter |

February 10th, 2010

The Winners! Boston’s Top 10 Clean Tech Companies

BOSTON -

The results are in! Here is the list, according to you, the community, of your top 10 favorite Boston clean tech companies.

For 2010, I decided I wanted to profile some awesome clean tech companies in Boston. As I started to make my list of favorite companies it became really large, 26 to be exact. Also, I realized I knew what companies I loved but I wanted to know what companies you LOVED. The obvious decision was to create a competition. Thus, Boston’s top 26 clean tech company competition was born. We received over 200 votes and I’ve been in contact with many of the companies already.

In 2010 I will be contacting and profiling one company per month. We received tons of votes but not many questions to ask these companies.

So, I still need your help! If you have time, leave a comment answering the question:

What is one thing you want to learn about these companies or ask their CEOs?

Stay tuned as a profile these companies in 2010. It’s going to be really fun.

Without further ado, voted by you here is the top 10 company and the 5 runner ups.

Continue Reading >

Tagged A123, alt e, alteris, BigBelly, blu homes, clean tech, Emergent Energy Group, EnerNOC, first wind, green tech media, GroSolar, harvest power, vegawatt, Wakonda Technologies, zip car |

January 11th, 2010

Top 26 Boston Clean Tech Companies – VOTE: Who’s your favorite?

BOSTON -

Who is your favorite clean tech, green tech company in the Boston (or New England) area? I’ve listed the TOP 26 below and we want your feedback. The TOP 10 companies that receive the most votes will be profiled each month in 2010. Voting ends on February 1st, please see the list and survey below.

It’s 2010! The breakout year for The Green Light Distrikt. In 2009, I completed my first interview with Massachusetts based Nexamp and have just compiled all clean tech industry events in Boston. Now, we want to hear from you.

There are tons of companies to choose from. Recently, Boston has been rated the number one US city for innovation.With the close proximity to universities and financial markets its no wonder. Life Sciences, hi tech, and now clean tech entrepreneurs and innovators are driving the movement and putting Boston on the map.

I have chosen 26 of my favorite organizations below that are based in the Boston area (and two from New England) that are true innovators in the clean tech space. They range in industries from trash, to renewables, to green building and media with both for and non-profit, public and private companies.

I need your help, please fill out the survey below to let me know:

1. What 3 companies do you think are the coolest and want to learn about?
2. If you have time, leave a comment answering the question: what is one question you would ask their CEOs?

26 of Boston’s Best Clean Tech Companies

BigBelly Solar – Needham, MA

Makers of the worlds only solar powered trash compactor

Zip Car - Cambridge, MA

The worlds largest network of rent by the hour, car sharing network.

A123 – Watertown, MA

Designs and manufactures advanced batteries for electricity storage

EnerNOC – Boston, MA

Worlds leading provider of demand response energy solutions

Emergent Energy Group – Boston, MA

Develops community-based alternative energy. Winner of Business Week’s Top 25 under 25 competition

Alteris Inc – Boston, MA

New England’s largest solar installers

NEXUS Green Building Resource Center – Boston, MA

Boston’s Full-Immersion Green Building Resource Center

Preserve – Waltham, MA

Design and produces kitchen ware, tableware and personal products made from 100% recycled plastic.

HeatSpring Learning Institute - Cambridge, MA

Leading provider of Geothermal Heat Pump training to US building professionals

Little Foot Energy – Somerville, MA

Turnkey renewable energy provider

URGENT VC - Boston, MA

Building green companies for green cities

Vegawatt – Boylston, MA

The worlds only vegawatt. Turns waste oil into electricity and heat

Alt E – Hudson, MA

Do-It-Yourself Online Retailer of renewable energy products

Green Guild – Brookline, MA

Boston’s leading energy audit and weatherization contractor

Izzit Green – Waltham, MA

Your source for the good green stuff. Leading providers of green reviews on consumer products.

Greentech Media – Cambridge, MA

Provider of high quality content on the clean tech industry. Research, news, events.

Evergreen Solar – Marlboro, MA

Designs and Manufacturers solar modules.

Solectria – Lawrence, MA

Designs and manufactures solar inverters.

First Wind – Boston, MA

Develops, Owns, Operates Wind Farms in the Northeast, West, and Hawaii

Blu Homes -Waltham, MA

Makers of green prefab homes

Harvest Power – Waltham, MA

Innovated organic waste to power solutions for community.

Energy Circle – Freeport, ME (still in New England!)

Best source on the internet for information, how to guides, and home energy efficiency products

groSolar – Burlington, VT (even though they’re not from Boston, they were cool and local enough to make the list

Provides complete solar energy solutions for homes, businesses, and contractors in New England and California

New Generation Energy – Boston, MA

Offers community investment options in renewable energy and energy efficiency

Wakonda Technologies – Woburn, MA

Wakonda Technologies is developing proprietary solar electric technology that is more efficient than crystalline silicon and more cost effective than thin film alternatives.

American Superconductor – Devens, MA

American superconductor develops propriety technologies used in the generation, tranmission and end use of energy with a focus on alternative energy.

Remember, I need your help, please fill out the survey below to let me know:

1. What 3 companies do you think are the coolest and want to learn about?
2. If you have time, leave a comment answering the question: what is one question you would ask their CEOs?

I’m going to use this information to determine which companies to profile first and also what to ask them.

Tagged A123, alt e, alteris, american superconductor, big belly solar, blu homes, emergent, energy circle, EnerNOC, ever green solar, first wind, green guild, green tech media, harvest power, heatspring, izzit green, little foot, nexus, preserve, solectria, urgent vc, vegawatt, wakonda, zip car |