Cleantech
China silicon supplier Lihao gets $305m Series B
Lihao Semiconductor, a China-based supplier of silicon materials used in solar panels, has raised CNY 2.2bn (USD 305m) in Series B funding from an investor group featuring Oceanpine Capital, V Fund, and Harvest Capital.
KKR leads $450m investment in India's Hero Future Energies
KKR has led a USD 450m investment in Indian renewable energy company Hero Future Energies (HFE), with parent company Hero Group also participating.
GrowX team seeks $100m for spinout India VC fund
The team behind Indian angel investor GrowX Ventures has launched a separate fund targeting USD 100m under the name Merak Ventures.
India seaweed biotech start-up raises $18.5m
India’s Sea6 Energy, a company that cultivates and processes seaweed to make a range of bio-engineered products, has completed a USD 18.5m Series B round featuring BASF Venture Capital.
Denham, Nexif sell Australia, SE Asia energy assets for $1b
Resources-focused GP Denham Capital and power infrastructure company Nexif have agreed to sell jointly held energy assets across Australia and Southeast Asia at an enterprise value of USD 1bn.
Mobility: Batteries and beyond
The electrification of transportation has created a wealth of opportunities in energy saving and storage. Investors across Asia – led by China – are looking at batteries and other technologies
Energy transition case study: Beyonics
Precision manufacturer Beyonics has cut back on truck journeys, switched to gas-fired power, and automated its factories – in the pursuit of efficiencies rather than as part of a specific energy agenda
Energy transition case study: Towngas Smart Energy
Towngas Smart Energy wants to offer solar and energy management solutions to its existing piped gas customers across China’s industrial parks. Affinity Equity Partners is supporting the rollout
Energy transition case study: GLP
GLP’s sprawling warehousing and transport interests offer a unique view of the myriad energy issues that permeate the logistics value chain. Tech and common sense are the primary maintenance tools
Alternative fuels: Burning questions
From the landfill to the inside of atoms, the alternative fuels angle on energy transition gives investors a range of risk profiles to consider. Developed economies are the primary playgrounds
Asia renewables: Building out
A surge in renewable energy development is expected in the wake of most Asian jurisdictions making net-zero commitments. Investors are bullish on the macro picture but cautious on the detail
Data centres: Seeking sustainability
With data driving increasing amounts of business activity, companies are paying more attention to energy sourcing and consumption at the facilities tasked with processing this information
Energy start-ups: Disencumbering incumbents
Digital start-ups play a crucial role in energy transition and therefore represent a significant investment opportunity. The best approaches consider human nature and social themes as well as widgets
Q&A: Brookfield Asset Management’s Daniel Cheng
Brookfield Asset Management recently raised USD 15bn for a fund dedicated to global energy transition. Daniel Cheng, a managing director with the firm in Shanghai, maps out likely deployment
Australia hydrogen player gets $29m Series A
Australia’s Virescent Ventures, a VC firm spun out earlier this year from Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC), has led a AUD 40m (USD 29m) Series A round for local hydrogen energy start-up Hysata.
Skip Capital, Stonepeak pursue Australia's Genex Power
Australia-listed renewable energy producer Genex Power has rejected an initial AUD 320m (USD 225m) buyout offer from Skip Capital and Stonepeak Partners, but it is open to further advances.
Third close brings Circulate's cleantech fund to $53m
Circulate Capital, a Singapore-based environmental technology impact investor, has reached a third close on its second fund with USD 53m in commitments to date.
Australian compostable cling film business gets $17m Series A
Great Wrap, an Australia-based start-up that manufacturers compostable cling film from food waste, has raised AUD 24m (USD 17m) in Series A funding.
Japanese autonomous driving player Tier IV raises $300m
Japanese autonomous driving technology developer Tier IV has raised a USD 87m Series B round from strategic investors and received a USD 183m government grant.
Deal focus: Dayone champions lithium-ion alternative
In throwing its support behind Enpower Greentech, Dayone Capital hopes the Chinese company can turn solid-state batteries into a commercially viable reality for electric vehicles
Deal focus: GPs go big on China biosynthesis
Advances in synthetic biology and China’s carbon-neutral ambitions have prompted investors to re-examine bio-manufacturing plays. Mojia Biotech is among the beneficiaries
Blackstone backs Australia, US clean commodities platform
The Blackstone Group has led a USD 400m investment in Xpansiv, an Australia and US-based marketplace for trading clean commodities such as carbon offsets, renewable energy credits (RECs), and low-carbon fuels.
PAG launches Asia renewables platform
PAG plans to commit more than USD 1bn to renewables over the next several years with the launch of a platform dedicated to the development, construction, and operation of projects in Asia.
Sequoia, Dayone back China solid state battery developer
China-based Enpower Greentech, which claims to be a pioneer in next-generation all-solid-state batteries (ASSBs), has raised more than USD 20m in an extended Series A round led by Sequoia Capital China and Dayone Capital.
