Digital Power

Technology is addressing new opportunities in energy, water and materials. It's not just about peak oil. Areas like LED lighting, energy efficiency, solar energy applications are about basic innovation and offer fundamental advantages.

Improved economic returns are available now from from using technology for alternative forms of energy generation or measures to reduce demand. On the generation side demand is increasing in demand for solar, geothermal, nuclear, wind, kinetic, biomass and tidal energy generation.

The highest near-term returns probably come from demand-managment and conservation. Metering and storage are helping large businesses reduce energy costs and new technologies like LED lighting are poised to dramatically lower energy consumption and the maintenance costs associated with the century-old incandescent light bulb.

Beyond energy markets there are resources including drinking water, land and wood that are increasingly scarce which creates opportunities for technology, innovation and new materials science.

Some of the companies in this area include: First Solar, MEMC, Cree, Rubicon, Itron, Clean Harbors, Energy Conversion Devices.  The full ecosystem is available in the members section.