Boston Forum: That’s a wrap

It was a fast and furious three days of networking, dynamic speakers, investment opportunities and all things cleantech.

The Cleantech Group’s Cleantech Forum XXIII in Boston from Sept. 8-10 had a jam packed agenda hitting on everything from policy developments and where the stimulus funds are flowing to industrial energy efficiencies, biomass-to-power, the next generation of concentrated photovoltaic and hot new startups in the space (see VanDyne supercharges forward with John Deere, MaRS makes its first foray into the cleantech spotlight and Danish startup launching energy management device in North America).

The week kicked off with a swanky, evening welcome reception for the 600 entrepreneurs, investors, policy makers and service provider attendees to reconnect or forge new partnerships.

See participants at the welcome reception, (from left): Jon Trygve Berg, Sarsia Seed Management; Geir-Arne Mo, Straumekraft; Anne Cathrin Ostebo, Prekubator; and Simen Malmin from BTO. »

Additional participants at the reception included (from left): David Gold, Access Venture Partners; Myoung-Ok Kwon, Nextech Venture; Ricardo Hellmund, Insead MBA; and Camille Therre, Nextech Venture. »

Speakers included the Cleantech Group’s own Executive Chairman Nicholas Parker detailing attributes of new cleantech momentum building that he called Cleantech 3.0, as well as U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)’s Matt Rogers and Steve Spinner on the disbursement of U.S. Recovery Act funds (see Rogers calls private sector key to scaling cleantech and Next round of DOE loan guarantee companies look to follow Solyndra).

Rogers cautioned that “the Recovery Act is a down payment, and it’s only a down payment.” He said the DOE can make the initial down payment to help spur innovation, jumpstart the economy and create jobs, but then it’s up to the private sector to continue to carry the load and fund innovation from there.

Cleantech Group announced the launch of the first Global Cleantech 100, jointly released by the Guardian news and media group (see Surprises abound in first Global Cleantech 100 ranking). The peer-reviewed rating of private cleantech startups from around the globe was reduced from 3,500 to the top 100, which the two companies charaterized as a barometer of global innovation.

Gordon van Welie, CEO of ISO New England, spoke on the future of the smart grid, growing renewable energy requirements, and the effort underway in New England to make it all work, including integrating demand-response technologies. ISO New England is an independent system operator that oversees transmission grids in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont.

“The train is moving in New England, and clearly this is going to have implications for the cleantech sector,” he said.

He alluded to an analysis coming out next week about what it would take to get much of ISO’s renewable power from wind.

James Robb, senior vice president, enterprise planning and development for Northeast Utilities, New England's largest utility system, highlighted how the utilities are expected to play an increasingly important role in driving new technology to market.

“We’re moving from a world from where we have generally had enough renewable resources and are about to move into a world where we are really short. Utilities will have to pay alternative compliance payments; rates will be going up,” he said.

He suggested it’s not going to be all smooth sailing. His company has already experienced high failure rates with the installation of smart thermostats that can be remotely controlled. Educating consumers will also be a key component, he said.

“Like it or not energy is a low investment category for most retail customers,” he said. “They don’t spend a lot of time thinking about it.”

Mass.-based Babson College President Leonard Schlesinger had attendees occasionally rolling with laughter with a provocative talk that addressed the future of entrepreneurship.

He mused on the origins of last year's financial downturn. “Were we stupid or greedy?” he asked. “Well, why not both?”

After a day of voting for more than 20 pitches from emerging startups (and an attempt at “ballot stuffing” with one company selecting itself numerous times), the Cleantech Forum's Most Promising Technology Award went to Vancouver, Canada-based exro technologies.

The company is seeking $10 million to bring to market its patented Variable Input Electric Generator (VIEG), which the company says drives down the capital cost of renewable energy, while delivering double-digit improvement to energy output. The device has renewable energy applications in wind, tidal and wave, and the potential to increase fuel efficiency of portable generators and power plants.

A new award for this Cleantech Forum, a Cleantech Product Innovation Award, was presented to the joint venture between Johnson Controls and Saft of France, Johnson Controls-Saft Advanced Power Solutions, recognizing the two companies' progress in advanced automotive batteries.

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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