Insight From One of Cleantech's Most Successful Venture Capitalists

Energy Gang

Wood Mackenzie

Tech News, Environment, Sustainability, Innovation, Renewable Energy, Technology, Alternative Energy, Energy, News, Cleantech, Wind Energy, Business, Climate Change, Solar Energy

4.6 • 1.3K Ratings

🗓️ 19 March 2015

⏱️ 59 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Nancy Pfund, the founder of DBL Investors, has supported some of the most successful modern clean energy companies, including Tesla, SolarCity, Powerlight and BrightSource. And unlike many other venture capital firms, DBL isn’t backing down from some of the riskier, capital-intensive investments. Other portfolio investments include CIGS manufacturer Siva Power, and storage companies Primus Power and PowerGenix. The firm is now in the process of raising a third fund worth $300 million. In this podcast, we’ll talk with Pfund about what she looks for in company strategies, why Tesla and SolarCity have been so successful, and how she’s trying to bust political myths about cleantech. Later in the show, we’ll debate a controversial new working study from Georgetown University economist Arik Levinson that concludes California’s energy efficiency policies did little to lower the state’s energy use. We discuss that study and counter-arguments from efficiency advocates. Finally, we’ll look at what’s behind SunEdison’s acquisition of Solar Grid Storage. This podcast is sponsored by Kaco New Energy, a leading manufacturer of solar PV inverters for every size and module type. The Energy Gang is produced by Greentechmedia.com. The show features weekly discussions between energy futurist Jigar Shah, energy policy expert Katherine Hamilton and Greentech Media Editor Stephen Lacey. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Transcript

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0:00.0	This podcast is brought to you by Kako New Energy, one of the top manufacturers of solar inverters in the world.
0:07.0	With 850 employees and offices in 16 countries, the company offers products for every size array from the smallest
0:14.4	homes to the largest solar farms.
0:16.6	Kako has deployed nearly 7 gigawatts of inverters since 1999.
0:21.2	If you are interested in adding Kako inverters to your project, see more about options at Kaco-New Energy.com.
0:29.0	For the week of March 19th, 2015, this is the senior editor with Green Tech Media in Washington DC as always
0:49.2	back in the saddle after a two-week hiatus. This week we chat with Nancy Fund, a venture capitalist
0:55.7	with a very successful portfolio that includes Tesla, Solar City, Bright Source, and Revolution
1:01.1	Foods. Then, did California's building codes really work to lower energy use?
1:06.0	We'll look at a controversial working study that concludes they did not.
1:10.0	And finally, we'll take a peek at Sun Edison's Storage Strategy, which includes a recent acquisition of an up-and-coming developer, solar grid storage.
1:17.0	Catherine Hamilton and Jiggershaw are with me as always to discuss these topics.
1:21.0	Catherine's a partner with 38 North Solutions here in DC.
1:25.4	How are you, Catherine? Anything exciting happened in the city while I was gone?
1:28.6	I'm doing great, but I missed you guys so much over the last two weeks and then last week you put up a
1:34.4	podcast that on the gang page that wasn't of the gang but it was still great it was a
1:38.9	good podcast a policy discussion without you though is always incomplete. It was actually good to hear
1:44.1	somebody else talking about it for a change. Jigger Shaw is president of
1:49.9	Generate Capital and he's in San Francisco this week.
1:53.4	What about you, Jigger?
1:54.2	Anything thrilling happening with you?
1:57.0	A solar eclipse.
	...

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