 If you’re interested in investing in green companies that make great eco-friendly products or technologies, here are some of the newest green companies making a difference in the energy sector.
Ausra designs, manufactures, installs and operates solar thermal energy systems. Ausra’s technology basically involves using the sun to boil water, which can then power anything that can run off of steam. (Pretty much everything can, with a few adjustments or modifications.) The technology emits no pollution, is sustainable, and, in their words, “provides reliable, scalable, and cost-competitive renewable energy solutions.” In the coming years, Ausra is likely to be a mainstream player.
Another up and coming solar energy company is SolFocus whose main focus, as you can probably guess, is photovoltaic (CPV) technology with high-efficiency solar cells. The important innovative idea here is that SolFocus is currently producing solar panels that reach up to a 40% efficiency level. Most solar panels in use today are between 12% and 18% efficient. So, this means you can buy fewer solar panels that provide more energy. SolFocus’ goal is to provide “solar energy solutions which are scalable, dependable and capable of delivering on the promise of clean, low-cost, renewable energy.”
The interesting thing about Ausra and SolFocus is they are both innovating new technology to harness solar energy, but in completely different ways. They do, in some ways, compete, but not directly. Both companies will definitely play a role in our sustainable energy future. Most likely, Ausra will focus on an industrial scale and SolFocus will take over the household market, that is, if First Solar doesn’t get there first.
First Solar is the epitome of a green company. They make technology to harness solar energy, but they do so in a green way. They utilize sustainable, renewable energy sources in the production of solar cells and panels, conserve natural resources, and, in their words, “manage the life cycle of [their] modules in a perpetual cycle – from raw material sourcing through end-of-life collection and recycling.” This is a green company all the way around. Their state-of-the-art technology involves an advanced thin film semiconductor process. That basically means they are making solar energy technology better, more efficient, and cheaper. They are at the top of the competitive market for thin-film solar companies and are racing against other similar companies, like Heliovolt, Nanosolar, and Global Solar Energy.
The final solar company to look out for is Cool Earth Solar. They are innovating solar technology in a very different way than other companies. Cool Earth Solar is trying to sell the market on reflective balloons that can float in open fields. The balloons are made of plastic and are about eight-feet in diameter. Cool Earth Solar claims these balloons are going to compete head-to-head with traditional electric plants powered by coal and fossil fuels.
In the realm of wind power, Southwest Windpower is cutting-edge. They are the world’s leading producer of small wind turbines and specialize in wind technology for you – the consumer, the homeowner. Aerovironment, another wind company, will likely lead in the market for industrial wind power, whereas Southwest Windpower is focusing its energy directly to consumers.
Investing in any of these companies makes sound financial sense. They are taking the sustainable energy future that we all look toward and bringing it to us today.
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