IKEA says it will only sell LED lighting by 2016, and will give up all other less efficient forms of lighting. The news follows IKEA phasing out incandescent lighting, getting rid of plastic bags, and putting solar panels on its rooftops. Read more »
After raising $230 million in venture capital and developing LED lighting components for a decade, Bridgelux in Livermore, Calif., is making a technology transition to drive down costs. The company is now counting on its partnership with Toshiba to make this transition a success. Read more »
Light is the fastest known phenomenon in the universe, capable of traveling at 186,282 miles per second. The lighting business, by contrast, is one of the slowest industries in the world. Read more »
Chinese investors and the Chinese government are starting to aggressively fund U.S.-based cleantech startups. There’s been a half dozen of these deals in recent weeks and months, so I thought I’d put together this list to point out the 10 big ones I’ve been watching: Read more »
Cleantech venture investments dropped by a third in the second quarter of this year compared to the same quarter last year, according to the Cleantech Group. However, energy efficiency technologies such as LED lighting and energy management software are still getting some love from private investors. Read more »
Is the greentech industry headed for a breakout year or is it retrenching for hard times to come? The first three months of 2011 provided evidence that could support both assertions, with a big rise in venture capital investment and a big drop-off in global energy financing. Solar power remained the largest green technology sector in terms of venture capital investment, while in the world of electric vehicles, GM’s Chevy Volt hybrid and Nissan’s all-electric Leaf — the first two mainstream plug-in vehicles — hit the showroom floors in significant numbers. Meanwhile the smart grid sector’s relative dearth of VC investment was more than made up for by the massive round of acquisitions. Companies mentioned in this report include NRG Energy, Microsoft, Silver Spring Networks, Tesla and BrightSource Energy. For a full list of companies, and to read the full report, sign up for a free trial. Read more at GigaOM Pro »
LED lighting has been moving gradually from niche markets. Now it’s set to gain a brighter profile among investors as well with the planned Nasdaq debut of Lighting Science Group, which plans to sell shares to raise up to $150 million. Read more »
LED chip and array maker Bridgelux raised close to $50 million just a year ago, but is raising even more money, according to a filing. The nine-year-old venture-backed startup has raised another $20.74 million of a planned $21 million round. Read more »
Google’s launch into the living room could threaten Boxee, Roku and other broadband-connected set-top makers. But Boxee CEO Avner Ronen said that the launch of Google TV could also present an opportunity for the startup, giving it an easier way to connect to consumers. Read more »
It’s fitting to have the world’s largest lighting convention in the city that’s so covered in lights you can see it from space. This week Lightfair kicks off and companies from the world largest to the small innovative startups, are unveiling their world-domination lighting plans. Read more »
There’s already 19 green IPOs on deck this year. Still more greentech firms have been rumored to be eying the public markets for some time. Here’s our 10 picks for which greentech startups could be next to file this year in the U.S.: Read more »
Lighting will be the greentech market that will provide “instant gratification” for greentech investors and entrepreneurs, according to VantagePoint Venture Partners co-founder Alan Salzman, and the $100 billion spent annually on lighting will shift to LEDs shortly because it makes economic sense. Read more »
Can a venture-backed startup do for lighting what Silicon Valley has done for communications and entertainment: Make it digital? That’s the aim of LED chip and array maker Bridgelux. This evening the startup announced that it’s raised $50 million and brought on former Seagate CEO Bill […] Read more »
While light-emitting diodes, or LEDs, have long played a role in consumer electronics and displays, solid-state lighting (SSL) is now emerging as a potential technology for everyday commercial and residential lighting applications. As incandescent light bulbs are phased out because they use too much energy, and concerns over mercury affect sales of compact fluorescent bulbs, SSL is receiving increasing attention from consumers and governments seeking to reduce energy costs and lower their carbon footprint. Once LED costs come down, SSL will have a major impact on the global lighting market. While LEDs themselves are not made with silicon, silicon chips are an integral component of SSL fixtures. Thus, the sector represents a significant market opportunity for chip makers. Read more at GigaOM Pro »
