Big solar deals keep rollin’ in

• Germany-based Odersun has raised a EUR 40mm Series B, led by Virgin Green Fund, and including participation by PCG Clean Energy & Technology Fund, AGF Private Equity, as well as existing investors DHTV and Advanced Technology & Materials.  The company will use the funds, as well as other funds raised, to build a second manufacturing plant for their thin-film solar, currently being integrated into accessories like messenger bags, but with additional potential for building-integrated PV.

• Thinner-silicon solar cell developer Suniva raised a $50mm Series B for commercialization of their technology, which they say will be as cheap as conventional electricity.  NEA and Advanced Equities co-led the round, which also included participation by Goldman Sachs, Quercus Investments, and existing investors HIG Investments.  According to VWire, NEA will hold 3 board seats.

I’m looking forward to discussing all the doings in solar financing at the upcoming Solar Market Outlook day in NYC, later this month.

Cleantech investors in the news:

• Venture Wire is reporting that DFJ Element is raising their second fund, targeted at $400mm.  The firm closed their first fund in 2006, at $284mm.  They’re re-branding as Element Partners.

• Advanced Technology Ventures has closed their eighth fund at $303mm—the firm invests across several sectors, including cleantech.

• Chrysalix’s Wal van Lierop on the emergence of nuclear fusion options.

Other news and notes:

One of the major news items on the week were some studies pointing to the potential downsides of biofuels, particularly when forestland and other land conversion is part of the process.  Nathanael has some good thoughts on the issue here and here.  Clearly, the devil is in the details when it comes to the environmental impacts of biofuels.  One can envision a day when biofuels are being certified as being waste-derived, etc., similar to how forest products have seen certification efforts like the Forest Stewardship Council.  But while the debate rages on, cellulosic ethanol is coming to market soon, but it’s unclear if people will buy it—one big problem is the lack of good retail purchasing options for those drivers and fleet owners who might be interested.

Meanwhile, in other news...   An Evergreen Solar board director is the latest solar exec to leave, but it’s tough to see what trends are underlying this, if any…  Arno Harris has some interesting thoughts on green building trends...  Tyler has a cautionary tale about exactly why it can be so hard for clean technologies to get initial market traction…  (Sigh)...

Finally, CERA has some bad news for incumbent energy companies—clean energy options are coming, thanks to an anticipated $7 trillion in investments in the sector by 2030, and when they do the effects will be “disruptive” and not “incremental”...  But of that $7 trillion, this article suggests not much of it will go to privately-held companies…  Richard Stuebi argues that we need to gear up for a more substantial effort to make some dramatic changes happen—and yet, the DOE EERE budget is lower than last year’s appropriations and other similar cuts are proposed.  Hard to see how all of the above adds up.