Cleantech investments up in 2006

A study released today from the Cleantech Network found that investments in cleantech increased by 70 percent in 2006 for North America, Europe and Israel.

Investments rose to $3.9 billion last year, according to the study, with energy related investing accounting for more than $3 billion of the total.

In 2005, investors poured $2.3 billion into cleantech in the three regions.

The study said that energy generation accounted for $2.1 billion of investments in 2006, with solar companies remaining strong with $452 million, and biofuels companies attracting $840 million.

In North America, cleantech received 11 percent of the overall venture capital. Cleantech grabbed 17 percent of the VC cash in Europe and Israel combined.

In Europe, Western Europe dominated cleantech investment, with the West Coast topping the list in North America.

The United Kingdom and California are both hubs for cleantech.

Follow-on investments received 84 percent of all cleantech cash last year, accounting for 60 percent of the 326 deals in 2006.

Seven of those deals pulled in more than $100 million, with Dublin wind farm company Airtricity leading the pack with $290 million.

Hitting the public markets were 53 initial public offerings from cleantech companies in 2006.

London's Alternative Investment Market led the exchanges with 21 offerings. Nasdaq floated 10 IPOs and Frankfurt eight.

The Cleantech Network is the new owner of the Cleantech Group (see the Cleantech Group acquired).

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