Green Energy Financing

Green energy financing is crucial for innovative renewable energy projects, such as geothermal energy, biomass, waste-to-energy and others, are gaining interest and support as sustainable options that can provide the electricity the world needs, while cutting dependence on fossil fuels. Compared to carbon-producing sources of energy, green energy can improve the quality of air, water and soil and mitigate climate change. But these projects can’t begin to make the journey from imagination to commercialization without solid financial backing.

Investment in fossil fuels still grabs the lion’s share of energy financing, but change is in the air. Total funding for green energy investments has been growing, from $45 billion in 2004 to $270 billion in 2014, across the innovation spectrum, from research and development to asset finance for full-scale projects. The share of the world’s energy generated from renewable, zero-emission sources will likely more than triple over the next 30 years.

Green energy financing can take many forms, from public financing, such as local, state, regional and federal grants and loan guarantees, to private finding through angel investors, venture capital firms and stock offering. USDA grants, Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) funding, Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) loans and grants, and U.S. Department of Energy programs are among funding sources available.

Influencing all categories of investment are such factors as risk assessment, public policies that affect investment, and the thoroughness of business planning, from early research through proof-of-concept, pilot development, pre-commercial demonstration and full commercial deployment.

Large renewable energy and biochemical consulting firms certainly have experts in the more common areas like of bio and renewable fuels, biomaterials, biomass and biomass power, biomaterials, biochemicals and biotechnologies.  But they also have an expertise in a wide variety of specialty services like expert witness testimony, techno-economic analysis, due diligence, feasibility studies, budgeting, project management, technology assessment, insurance, due diligence, risk management, benchmarking, intellectual property, HAZOP, financial modeling, competitor analysis, and assistance with RIN and Low Carbon Fuel Standards (LCFS) matters.  These firms should also be able to assist with other things like Aspen plus, logistics, bioreactor design, municipal solid waste remediation, syngas and bio-based product development, carbon credits, climate change analysis, environmental permitting, equipment sales, experimental validations, grant writing, IP strategy, life cycle analysis (LCA), plant operations, plant sales and auctions, risk analysis and Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA).

With over 150 experts worldwide, Lee Enterprises Consulting has experts in many specific clean and renewable areas, including anaerobic digestion, fermentation, biomass, conversion technologies for things like tires and railroad ties, organic synthesis, fuel additives, ethanol gas, biodiesel fuel including algae biofuels, solid state and industrial fermentation, green energy grants, ag biotech, agricultural waste, alcohol fuels, alternative proteins and animal-free products, sustainable foods, beverage fermentation, biocatalysis, biodiesel conversion, biogas production, biomass power, carbon intensity, co2 utilization, combined heat & power, Fischer-Tropsch technology, food waste, hydrothermal carbonization, industrial enzymes, landfill management, microbial fermentation, organic synthesis, plastic pyrolysis, plastic recycling, plastic waste, pyrolysis oil, reactor design, renewable identification number, the Renewable Fuel Standard (rfs2), solid recovered fuels, torrefaction and torrefied biomass, waste to energy, and waste-to-hydrogen.   This is a multidisciplinary group of green energy consultants that is a virtual “one stop shop” for any client need and handles projects of all types and sizes.

Look at our experts and the services we provide.  Most of our experts are also available to advise and serve as expert witnesses in bioeconomy litigation matters.  For the larger projects, we specialize in putting together full service, interdisciplinary teams with one point of contact.  See video about LEC here.  Call us at 1+ (501) 833-8511 or email us for more information.