Should a venture capital firm invest in a new solar panel-augmenting technology and if so, what is the impact from both commercial and sustainability standpoints?
Should a venture capital firm invest in a new solar panel-augmenting technology and if so, what is the impact from both commercial and sustainability standpoints?
In 2014, Nextracker was the new most promising investment opportunity for venture capital firm SJF Venture. The Fremont, CA-based technology company, seeking series B funding, created a single-axis sunlight tracker to augment the energy produced by traditional PV solar panel. As the market for clean energy production expands, SJF must consider whether this is the ideal investment opportunity, considering a number of potential high-return factors as well as known and unknown risks. In this case, students will learn about the development of the clean energy industry, new technologies to address energy inefficiencies, and the role of venture capital investors and their investment criteria. In addition, students will be asked to assess both the commercial opportunity of a product as well as the global effect it could have on climate change mitigation.
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