EcoSeed

Energy storage led clean technology investments during the past three months, raising the total amount of venture capital pouring into the United States close to a quarter compared to the same period a year earlier, a report from Ernst & Young LLP published yesterday revealed.

There were 76 companies developing renewable power and energy-efficiency technologies that received $1.1 billion funding recorded in the quarter, more than double the 36 investments last year, the New York-based accounting firm said.

Energy storage companies were the top recipients, receiving $421 million worth of the total, 1,932 percent increase during the same period last year. The segment raised a total of $865.2 million in the past nine months of this year alone

Companies developing fuel cells received $225.5 million, led by $150 million in funding for Bloom Energy Corporation. Fuel cell companies represented nearly 54 percent of the overall investment in the energy storage market for the quarter.

"Confidence in cleantech investing continues despite the challenging investment market. We saw significant commitments in energy storage, which reflects a growing corporate focus on proactively managing their energy mix," said Jay Spencer, Ernst & Young Americas Cleantech director.

VC interest in the power generation market fell behind slightly this quarter with $255.1 million, a 2 percent decrease from last year. Around 77 percent of the investments went to solar energy companies

Investments in energy efficiency totalled $245.1 million. The largest was a $60 million funding round for the California-based light-emitting diode maker Bridgelux Inc.

Companies in the Industry products and services segment, which include biofuels and chemicals, did not fare well with investors compared with other market segments last quarter. Investments dived 22 percent to just $132.0 million. HCL CleanTech Ltd., a North Carolina-based company that converts cellulosic biomass into fermentable sugars, secured the top biofuel deal for the period with $23.5 million

Revenue generating companies led both in number deals and investments in the third quarter with 49 deals and VC investment valued $921.0 million, a 203 percent increase from the comparable period last year.

Ernst & Young said there were no initial public offerings conducted this quarter. However, companies like California-based Intermolecular Inc., Silver Spring Networks and Genomatica, Renewable Energy Group from Iowa and Mascoma Corporation from New Hampshire have already filed plans to go public with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

Capital market activity in the industry for the quarter was active with 11 mergers and acquisitions valued $222.0 million according to IHS Herold, as cited by the accounting firm.

The largest was the $131.0 million acquisition by MEMC Electronic Materials, Inc. and its subsidiary SunEdison of the United States unit of Fotowatio Renewable Ventures, a privately-held Spanish solar photovoltaic power developer, last August. – Oliver M. Bayani