Welcome back to The Energy Brief. In this bi-weekly series, I explore the latest funding, collaborations, product updates, and funding news from cutting-edge smart building, energy, and cleantech companies in the US, Europe, and APAC.

 

 

Company spotlight: Common Energy

Every week I spotlight a company doing great things in the industry, whether it be funding, technology or standing out amongst their competitors for their team and strategy. This week, I want to spotlight Common Energy.

Common Energy works with developers across the country to activate their clean energy projects and maximise ROI. The company’s platform enables homeowners and businesses to connect new clean energy projects to the grid, reduce their carbon footprint and lower their electricity cost in minutes.

What makes them stand out?

Common Energy’s business is energy. The team live it, breathe it, and dream it. From 10 billion kWh load analyses to PPAs and community solar, the company aims to help you achieve your renewable energy goals. The team has a track record of helping some of the country’s most successful businesses save millions of dollars through innovative energy and ESG programs.

 

Latest industry news:

Emulate Energy has raised €5,000,000 in a Series A funding round from Course Corrected and other investors.

Jizhi Laser raised an undisclosed amount of Series A from Zhuhai Gree Financial Investment Management and Zhuhai Zhengling Holdings.

Texas energy company with Dell ties snags $200M to power more homes.

Australian cleantech startup RayGen bags $79.8m series D funding.

Nigerian Solar Firm Arnergy secured $18 Million in Series B funding.

Hexium Inc raised $1,555,000 in Seed & $2,500,000 in Debt Financing.

Asusola raised ¥630,000,000 Series A from ANRI and 2 other investors.

SALZSTROM raised $1,000,000Pre-Seed from Erste Bank.

GREENDA raised an undisclosed amount Series A from AI Angel Club and others.

Knorr-Bremse AG has secured a five-year extension to its contract with Chiltern Railways to maintain the HVAC systems on its rolling stock.

LG Electronics has decided to exit the electric vehicle charger market, a move that comes just three years after entering the sector. This withdrawal, announced on April 22, is attributed to worsening profitability and temporary demand stagnation in the EV market, often referred to as the “electric vehicle chasm.”

Mitsubishi Electric Trane US HVAC US LLC (METUS), a leading supplier of all-electric, all-climate Ductless and Ducted Mini-split and Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) heat pump and air-conditioning systems, has launched its new, innovative line of products equipped with a low global warming potential (GWP) refrigerant. The high-performing all-climate heat pump product suite includes new indoor and outdoor residential units in popular series such as FX, GX, and others from Mitsubishi Electric, along with new SMART MULTI units for larger residential, multi-zone, and light commercial applications.

Custom Air Handling Solutions is purchasing a 50,000 square foot facility in Burton, so Fluid Cooling Systems will expand and update its Burton facility, creating 150 new jobs.

Hanseatic Energy Hub (HEH) has strengthened its management team to support steady progress in the construction and commissioning of Germany’s first land-based terminal for liquefied gases in Stade, while simultaneously preparing the energy hub for the LNG spot market and accelerating the transformation into a platform for future hydrogen-based energy solutions. Arjen Schampers has been appointed CEO to oversee construction, while Jan Themlitz transitions to the role of CCO to lead the hub’s strategic development.

Caban has raised an impressive $50 million in new equity funding led by its existing investors. This capital injection will fuel the company’s ambitious expansion plans and accelerate the deployment of its fully financed Energy-as-a-Service (Eaas) projects under long-term contracts.

EquiWatt, a Gateshead company whose energy management app rewards consumers for switching off appliances at peak times, has raised a further £700,000 from the North East Venture Fund, supported by the European Regional Development Fund and managed by Mercia Ventures, and private investors.

 

clean energy cleantech

 

Interview with Malta Inc.

In an industry where women hold just 14% of leadership roles, it’s clear we need to do more to highlight the incredible women already leading, innovating, and driving change. Through Current Women, we aim to share interviews and features with female leaders, explore gender diversity in Clean Energy and create a space for peer nominations and recognition. In this episode, Jasmine Crane interviews Ramya Swaminathan, Board Member, Senior Advisor at Malta Inc.

Malta Inc is transforming the future of energy storage. The team has developed an innovative, utility-scale long-duration energy storage solution powered by steam-based heat pump technology. Using proven subsystems, a locally sourced supply chain, and abundantly available materials like salt, the system delivers economical, clean energy with a flexible power and heat delivery mix—available around the clock and without geological constraints.

 

What inspired you to transition from finance and investment banking into clean energy?

I grew up in India and the Philippines, where reliable access to electricity and clean water wasn’t always a given. Those formative years planted a seed: from early on in my career, I’ve been passionate about the reliable and affordable delivery of critical infrastructure services. My career began in finance, working on infrastructure financings across energy, transportation, and water. As the financial crisis of 2008 unfolded, I wanted to move beyond financing into building. That led me to co-found a hydropower development company and eventually to Malta, where I could bring transformational technology to market.”

Read the full interview here. 

 

 

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