Sure, 2009 was a tough year for clean tech, with demand for solar panels sinking, venture money cut in half and corporate buyers turning into nervous Nellies.
Speculation that IPOs from Tesla Motors, Solyndra, Silver Springs and others could define 2010
True, the Obama Administration began stimulating the industry with billions in research and development funds. But even this was criticized by those who think the government should have no role in private industry. (Of course, these naysayers conveniently forget government money help create the Internet. But that is another topic.)
So why does one venture capitalists believe 2010 could be a breakout year for some categories of clean tech? On his blog, Green Gold, Access Venture Partners lead clean tech Partner David Gold says some green tech companies are showing success generating revenue and profits. At the same time, the IPO market is heating up. This year could see the first significant wave of clean tech public offerings, he predicts.
On the government front, cap and trade legislation in the U.S. could create a favorable backdrop by increasing the price of fossil fuel-based energy sources.
Gold singles out companies such as EnerNoc, Comverge and Cree as examples of green business with exciting revenue growth and improving profitability.
“I can say that our own LED lighting portfolio company, TerraLux, not only had exceptional revenue growth but also showed its first period of positive cash flow,” he wrote.
As the year unfolds, several high profile clean tech companies could launch IPOs, adds Gold, including Tesla Motors, Silver Springs Networks, Solyndra and Codexis, which makes biofuels.
Should a string of successful IPOs come about, other businesses would rush to catch the tail winds. And that would suddenly make clean energy more real for average Americans who continue to think going green doesn’t mean them.
