Survey says one year or less until cleantech is back on track

A recent online survey of more than 100 cleantech executives and investors indicates 90 percent are predicting the cleantech sector's growth to resume in one year or less, despite a drop-off in private funding in the first quarter of 2009 (see Cleantech investment drops but stimulus funds soar in 1Q09 and More deals, fewer dollars for cleantech in '09?).

Nearly one third of those surveyed thought growth had already resumed, as evidenced by the second quarter upswing (see Cleantech may have seen the worst, rebounding to $1.2B in 2Q09).

Additionally, 75 percent of those surveyed think the cleantech industry is likely to be the key engine of economic growth over the next decade. Those surveyed came from a variety of industries including: solar, biofuels, smart grid/energy automation, geothermal, green chemistry, lighting, materials, and green transportation.

To view the survey's full results, click here.

The executives, while optimistic about the cleantech sector's growth, indicated through their responses the challenges they are facing in terms of obtaining private capital (see Cleantech: Where to invest and why). When asked to pick which areas were most challenging to the success of their business and its interests, 56 percent selected fundraising, 19 percent picked establishing partnerships and 18 percent decided on government affairs/navigating legislation.

Those surveyed were asked to rank major variables impacting the cleantech sector’s growth, with 56 percent citing the flow of private capital as being “most impactful,” followed by the general state of the economy taking 47 percent, the price of oil and other commodities being 33 percent and uncertainty about how to access federal stimulus funds at 11 percent.

The cleantech sector showed geographical promise to grow, with 33 percent of executives betting on the U.S. West Coast and Silicon Valley, 18 percent indicating the Northeast and 15 percent selecting the Southwest.

The survey was conducted by Framingham, Mass.-based Polachi, which provides executive search services to the technology, cleantech, private equity and venture capital markets.

Cleantech developments making news in the past 24 hours

• Metabolix, ADM to open new bioplastics factory
• Rockwool nears construction on Indian insulation factory
• Two Israeli wastewater firms to locate in Michigan
• Al Gore: Super grid is critical to combating the climate crisis
• A quest for CO2 and O2 optimal management with biofuel from algae

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