These statistics demonstrate the U.S. continues to lead the world in clean energy venture capital and private equity investment, with Q1 and Q2 private market investment representing 60% and 89% of the global total, respectively. As with public market investment, there has been a trend toward investment in energy smart technologies, particularly electric vehicles, as well as continued interest in solar and wind companies.
Illustrative of investor interest in electric vehicles, hybrid sports car manufacturer Fisker Automotive raised $74 million in Q2 and Coda Automotive raised $58 million in May 2010. The vast majority of this type of investment is centered in California, particularly with regard to solar, as a result of the generous policy incentives in the state.
Investor exit strategies have also changed somewhat recently, given public market volatility and costs associated with a public offering. There's a shift toward strategic sales to corporations as opposed to IPOs, and there have been an increasing number of Asian companies actively seeking strategic acquisitions, which is a relatively new trend.
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Adapted and excerpted from the US- China Quarterly Market Review, which covers the clean energy market in the US and China, and ACORE'S work to make renewable energy more successful in the U.S. and in China.
