Rob Day | September 13, 2006 at 7:34 AM

Aquarius Technologies, new regional cleantech funds, and other news

• Aquarius Technologies, which is developing a “sludgeless” wastewater treatment solution, raised a $7.5mm Series A from L Capital Partners ($6.5mm) and private investors.  The technology was brought over to the U.S. and licensed from Elif Technology, an Israeli firm.

• There has been an increase in the number of regional cleantech funds lately, often sponsored or in some way supported by local governments who see the potential for attracting green jobs.  Two good examples announced recently:  Abu Dhabi’s $250mm Masdar Clean Tech Fund (launched in partnership with Credit Suisse and Consensus Business Group), and Pennsylvania’s $90mm Keystone Green Investment Strategy (which will be providing funds to local VCs with cleantech track records).

Other news and notes:  Solid-state lighting got a major validation recently with GE’s $100mm purchase of the remaining 49% of GELcore (a former JV with Emcore), and partnership with Nichia…  Here’s an interesting solar-related interview.