Cleantech Enabling growth in technologies for responding to climate change - Ernst & Young - Australia

The cleantech industry is part of the ongoing innovation in our economic system. In the same way as the transport and energy industries have evolved through economic and regulatory influence, so will the transition to a low carbon economy deliver innovation and new technologies.

Cleantech therefore represents an important source of future growth and employment. It supports Australia’s energy self-sufficiency, extends our metals and energy-based exports, reduces the emissions intensity of our primary industries, and further protects scarce and natural resources such as water and agricultural land.

The Australian government has introduced substantial grants to provide capital investment in cleantech.  However, private capital is pivotal in the development and commercial application of the industry. With tough competition for funding, Australia’s cleantech businesses need to “stand out above the crowd”.

While Australia has an abundance of high quality resources for clean energy from solar, geothermal, wave, wind and others, this is not enough to attract the large-scale investment needed to deliver a portfolio of technologies for a low carbon economy.

Getting technologies to a stage of maturity where main stream debt can support some of the project risk is crucial. Likewise, securing strategic corporate partners and various forms of equity at key stages of growth is paramount.

At Ernst & Young we provide cleantech specific services for businesses and investors looking at new technologies in the energy, property, transport, water, waste, resources and agriculture sectors. We also provide a range of quarterly and annual reviews  to assist you better understand the cleantech landscape and the opportunities that it brings. 

Navigating the valley of death – Exploring mechanisms to finance emerging clean technologies in Australia
Our report, Navigating the valley of death (pdf, 1.8mb), has been produced in response to questions raised by the Clean Energy Council (CEC) to explore mechanisms to finance emerging cleantechs in Australia. The CEC required an assessment of the economic opportunities as perceived by investors and cleantechs. This report also looks at the role of Government, and the actions required responding to society’s changing expectations to maintain prosperity and to deliver future economic growth.

Renewable energy country attractiveness indices – Issue 25
The country attractiveness indices provide scores for national renewable energy markets, renewable energy infrastructures and their suitability for individual technologies (pdf, 1.1mb). Our report is published quarterly and ranks 27 countries in terms of their investment attractiveness for key technologies over the near and long-term. This includes onshore wind, offshore wind, solar PV, solar CSP, biomass and geothermal.

Financial reporting implications for cleantechs
The cleantech industry faces specific challenges concerning financial reporting (pdf, 2.3mb), mainly caused by the embryonic nature of the technologies, the intangible value trapped within an emerging business, and the nature and timing of regulatory reforms. This publication provides a succinct guide to the business issues and their associated financial reporting implications.

The rising influence of corporations on cleantech growth
Ernst & Young’s third annual Global cleantech insights and trends report 2009 - 2010 (pdf, 5.1mb) considers the rising influence of corporations on cleantech growth.  Produced in association with Forbes, the report provides perspectives from the world’s top industry leaders, as well as analysis of current trends in cleantech adoption, partnerships with cleantech companies and acquisitions of cleantech companies.

Innovation beyond technology: the next stage of cleantech
This is the fourth year that Ernst & Young has held its cleantech ignition roundtable discussions around the globe. The sessions this year were held in Munich and San Francisco and brought together nearly 90 top executives, entrepreneurs, investors, advisors and regulators to discuss the current cleantech innovation, financing and regulatory landscape (pdf, 7.9mb). 

Future tax measures to accelerate the cleantech industry
Accelerating cleantech examines the use of tax incentives as a mechanism for stimulating investment in clean technologies (pdf, 238.5kb).  To date, Federal Government support for the cleantech industry has been in the form of grants. This report, prepared for the Clean Energy Council, proposes changes to the tax system which would make investment in clean technologies more attractive to private investors.

Australia’s 20% renewable energy target – investment challenges and opportunities
The Australian renewable energy index examines the investment challenges and opportunities arising from Australia’s 20% renewable energy target for each state (pdf, 575.7kb). Our research is based on learnings we have developed in supporting renewable energy projects in Australia and experience gained from assessing the investment attractiveness of various countries.

Australian cleantech industry
In association with the Australia-Israel Chamber of Commerce, Export Finance and Insurance Corporation (EFIC) and Austrade, Ernst & Young has developed the 2009 Australian cleantech industry portal. The portal profiles 420 companies across the sectors of Waste, Land & Water, Industry & Transport and Power and provides a unique view of the scope of cleantech in Australia.

Cleantech sector trends
Cleantech Insights is a review of the megatrends in cleantech and its investment, that forms part of a quarterly mailing. The publication focuses on a number of emerging technologies including electrification of vehicles, smart grid, water treatment, biofuels, green buildings and solar. Click here to request your copy.

Cleantech investment trends
Venture Insights is a review of the cleantech investment trends in the United States, Europe, China and Israel, and is also shared as part of a quarterly mailing. It considers development, total capital invested, pre-money valuations and number of unique investors, and includes sector-specific analysis in solar, biofuels, efficiency and storage. Click here to request your copy.