13 February '10
2:19 PM EST
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  Funding
  Policy
  Solar
  Wind

This Week In Green Energy: When Solar and Nuclear Meet

In a cash-constrained world, this week’s acquisition of solar developer Ausra by Areva (the French government-backed maker of nuclear reactors) makes sense.  We could see similar deals as small clean energy companies with big ideas and small balance sheets turn to large companies with stronger balance sheets.

Over the past decade, Areva, led by CEO Anne Lauvergeon, evolved from a secretive, tightly controlled government agency to a corporate-like entity. Areva’s alternative energy unit already manufactures wind turbines and is also involved in biomass generation, but the Ausra acquisition marks the company’s first solar investment. Read More »

8 February '10
3:44 PM EST
No Comments
  Funding
  Solar

Petra Solar Raises $40 Million for Expansion

Petra Solar announced today that it raised $40 million to expand its utility pole mounted-smart grid and solar systems business from new and existing investors.

New investors Craton Equity Partners and Espirito Santo Ventures pitched in, as did existing investors Element Partners, Blue Run Ventures, OnPoint Technologies and Kuwait’s National Technology Enterprises Company (NTEC).

Petra Solar, based in South Plainfield, N.J., will use the new round of financing to hire another 30 executive and professional employees. By 2010, they will have 165 staffers.