by Anne McIvor

First published in Cleantech magazine, May 2008. Copyright Cleantech Investor 2008

Biofuels have been blamed by many observers for recent rises in food prices. The truth is more complicated. We discuss the complex issues behind increasing agricultural commodity (and hence food) prices and assess how agriculture can meet the future challenges of feeding – and fuelling – the world.

We discuss some of the companies developing alternative 'green' solutions for improving plant yields. Companies in this feautre include: Plant Impact; Plant Health Care; Agrisoma Biosciences; Agraquest; Aquaspy Group; Eden Research; Exosect and Tyrotech.

  First published in Cleantech magazine, May 2008. Copyright Cleantech Investor 2008

Cleantech Investor has published Infocus: Jatropha, a special supplement, in conjunction with Cleantech magazine.

The supplement includes a Jatropha map, which is also available in interactive format. To view the interactive version of the map click here::

 by Felicia Jackson

Felicia Jackson is an associate at Carbon International: www.carboninternational.com

In early 2008, EU President José Barroso outlined the Climate Action and Renewables Package, the process by which the EU intends to limit the growth of carbon emissions. The core of the proposal comprised targets of a 20% cut in greenhouse gas emissions by 2020 and 20% of energy from renewables by 2020.  

These targets are the most stringent anywhere in the world, and some EU countries are already showing signs that they may fail to meet existing Kyoto commitments to 2012. Many question the extent to which such targets are achievable.  What will definitely be required are large amounts of investment, the right policy framework, innovation in technology development and implementation and a supportive long-term investment environment.

The 1.2MW SeaGen tidal energy system in Strangford Narrows in Northern Ireland

 This feature is an abridged and updated version of research, first published in December 2007, by Estelle Lloyd, CEO and Founder of Venture Business Research (VBR): www.vbrresearch.com

Companies using the motion of the ocean to generate electricity are attracting growing interest from investors and power utilities looking for the next long-term play in renewable energy.  The UK Government has forecast that wave power could generate 35TWh per year by 2025, approximately 20% of the UK’s electricity demand.  Wave and tidal stream resources are unlimited, predictable and reliable when compared to intermittent resources like wind and solar. From an implementation perspective, the marine power industry uses similar technologies to the oil and gas industry and has access to a large pool of engineers who can apply their skills to installing marine power generators. However, the sector faces significant obstacles, including establishing grid connections to relay offshore energy to large residential hubs where there is high energy consumption. To date technologies have been tested and produced encouraging results. Will these technologies move beyond the experimental stage and feed energy into the grid on a large scale?