It’s good see Ausra securing another round. More smart money following the lead investors Khosla and KPCB. Solar thermal looks very promising — I think the normal engineering improvement cycle will achieve competitive electric generation pricing (i.e., no breakthroughs required as in the case of conventional PV solar):
Palo Alto, CA—October 01, 2008—Ausra, Inc., the provider of large-scale solar thermal energy systems for industrial processes and utility electricity generation, has secured $60.6 million in its latest preferred equity financing. Investors in this closing were led by KERN Partners of Calgary, Alberta, Canada; and also included Generation Investment Management, based in London, England; Starfish Ventures of Melbourne, Australia; and Ausra’s founding investors Khosla Ventures and Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers. The investor group committed these funds in support of Ausra’s reliable, cost-competitive technology, seasoned management team and global expansion.
I would be surprised if solar thermal is competitive with where nuclear power is likely to be in ten years, but every no-carbon energy source helps. Of course nuclear power might turn out not to be competitive with nanotech solar. So let’s avoid letting bureaucrats pick the winners.
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