Clean Edge Report Forecasts Solar Photovoltaics, Wind Energy, and Fuel Cells to Exceed $100 Billion

The free report, entitled "Clean Energy Trends 2005," examines factors that are influencing clean-energy markets and tracks five key trends. The report can be downloaded at www.cleanedge.com.

San Francisco, Calif.—March 22, 2005—Markets for solar energy, wind energy, and fuel cells are poised to grow from $16 billion in global revenues in 2004 to more than $100 billion by 2014, according to a report released today by Clean Edge, Inc., an energy research and publishing firm. Clean Edge projects that markets for solar photovoltaics (modules, system components, and installations) will grow from $7.2 billion in 2004 to $39.2 billion by 2014; wind power installations will expand from $8 billion last year to $48.1 billion in 2014; and fuel cells and distributed hydrogen will grow from $900 million to $15.1 billion over the next decade.


The free report, entitled "Clean Energy Trends 2005," examines factors that are influencing clean-energy markets and tracks five key trends, including: how biomass is becoming a significant fuel source being used by such customers as the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines; how centralized solar farms located in sun-rich areas could power entire cities; and how the boom in green buildings is spurring development of technologies that are energy efficient, less toxic, and made from recycled and renewable materials. The report can be downloaded at www.cleanedge.com.

Clean Edge, in collaboration with Nth Power, a leading energy-tech venture firm, also released Nth Power's annual energy-tech venture data. This year's findings, contained in "Clean Energy Trends 2005," show that venture capital (VC) investments in U.S.-based energy-tech companies increased from $509 million in 2003 to $520 million in 2004. These investments, primarily in distributed energy sources, energy intelligence, power reliability, and related services, represented nearly 3% of total VC investments in the U.S. in 2004.

"Nth Power has been tracking energy-tech investments for more than ten years," explains Rodrigo Prudencio, principal, Nth Power. "This year our research shows that energy tech continues to be a major asset class within venture capital, and that investors showed growing interest in solar, fuel cell, and battery deals."

Among the key "Trends to Watch" cited by Clean Edge:
∑ Fuels from Biomass Growing Like A Weed
∑ Energy Efficiency Becomes Big Business
∑ Concentrating Solar Power Heats Up
∑ The Hydrogen Infrastructure Begins to Emerge
∑ Green Building Constructs a Solid Foundation

"This year's report demonstrates once again that a range of innovative companies, governments, and investors are playing a central role in driving clean-energy growth," explains Clean Edge co-founder Ron Pernick. "Our annual report highlights how mainstream many clean-energy technologies have become and the role that they can play in creating new business and investment opportunities."

To download Clean Edge's "Clean Energy Trends 2005," please visit www.cleanedge.com.

About Clean Energy Trends 2005
Clean Edge issues its annual Clean Energy Trends to track key developments in clean-energy markets. Past reports have been downloaded by tens of thousands of individuals in government, finance, industry, and the media. "Clean Energy Trends 2005" is made possible by the support of its sponsors, including lead sponsor Nth Power (www.nthpower.com) and major sponsors Antenna Group Public Relations (www.antennagroup.com), Environmental Entrepreneurs (www.e2.org), Heller Ehrman (www.hewm.com), and Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati (www.wsgr.com).

About Clean Edge, Inc.
Clean Edge, Inc. is a leading research and publishing firm that helps companies, investors, and policymakers understand and profit from clean-energy technologies. Through its research and reports, strategic marketing services, online publications, and co-sponsored conferences and events, the company is devoted to tracking and analyzing clean-tech market trends and opportunities. Founded in 2000 by environmental and high-tech business pioneers Ron Pernick and Joel Makower, Clean Edge and its network of partners and affiliates offer unparalleled insight and intelligence for a range of clean-tech stakeholders.

Contact:
Ron Pernick, Clean Edge, Inc.
415-336-8681, pernick@cleanedge.com

Caroline Venza, Antenna Group Public Relations for Clean Edge
415-977-1939, caroline@antennagroup.com

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