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Top Renewable Energy Author/ Consultant/Investor Evaluates Cleantech Business Concepts Free of Charge

craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Renewables - Business

business-resumeAs the old saying goes, “Businesses are like babies: fun to conceive, but hell to deliver.” And in cleantech, there’s an excellent reason this is true, according to best-selling author, business consultant, and investment coordinator, Santa Barbara, CA-based Craig Shields.  “Almost all business concepts in this space are deeply flawed, and for a single reason: they seek to offer something that sounds good…until you realize that it couldn’t possibly be offered at a competitive price, given the trends, some obvious, others hidden, that exist in the market today.”

Technology is steadily making our lives healthier and more convenient, and it holds the promise to help us deal with existential threats like climate change, ocean acidification, loss of biodiversity, and shortages of food and water.  But technology that isn’t affordable is of no value at all.

“Take renewable energy. If you don’t care what you pay for it, I’ll find you all the clean energy you want,” quips Shields.  “The problem, of course, is that we care very deeply about what we pay for it. What this means is that technologies like run-of-river, tidal, wave, and ocean current hydrokinetics, biomass, and geothermal are now relegated to niche applications, where solar and wind are constantly expanding at utility-scale.”

When asked for a specific example of the so-called “cost-barrier,” Shields points to biofuels. “First of all, let’s throw out everything but algae, since even the best terrestrial plant carries 30 – 50 times less energy density than algae, and it can be grown in non-arable land with non-potable water.  But then look at the core challenges: moving water to the desert, the technical challenges of filtration, of contamination with other species, and the balancing of sunlight.  OK, so how serious are these issues? Well no one has gotten photosynthetic algae-oil for less than ~$5000/gallon.  Do you know anyone who gets excited about fuel at $5000/gallon?  Even if this changes, which I can’t really imagine, electric transportation will soon be extremely inexpensive and user-friendly. If there ever was a window for algal biofuels, it’s most certainly shut at this point.”

 

Cherry-Picking the Best Cleantech Business Plans, By Evaluating Them Free of Charge

It’s logic like this that makes Shields’ job relatively easy. “I’ve received over 2000 business plans since my website, 2GreenEnergy.com, opened in 2009, largely because I’ve offered to review them at no charge.  I make the offer as a way to stay connected to the widest possible range of thinking in clean energy, efficiency, storage, smart grid, electric transportation—and everything else that comes under the banner of cleantech: sustainable ag, and the water-energy nexus.  This enables me to cherry-pick the few really good ideas that come into my inbox as targets for investment.”

Shields continues, “If I had no understanding of the ever-changing market trends that affect the potential for success in each of the hundreds of sub-disciplines that comprise cleantech, I couldn’t possibly process this volume of information, or, even if I could push myself, I’d probably start making mistakes.  As it is, I have plenty of time left over for writing, helping my clients, and working to find investment capital from angels, VCs, private equity firms and family offices for the very best cleantech business plans.”

Craig is the editor of the popular blog-site 2GreenEnergy.com, and the author of four books on clean energy: Renewable Energy – Facts and Fantasies (2010), Is Renewable Really Doable? (2012), Renewable Energy – Following the Money(2013), and Bullish On Renewable Energy: Fourteen Reasons that Clean Energy Investors Can’t Lose (2015).

Shields majored in physics as an undergraduate, and, after graduate school, went on to a career that spanned 35 years in delivering marketing consulting services to a client base that included most of the Fortune 500 tech companies, including IBM, AT&T, H-P, Microsoft, FedEx, ABB, Sony, Panasonic, Mitsubishi, Magnavox, Penske Logistics, Deloitte Consulting, Unisys, Oracle, Philips Electronics, 3Com, CSC, National Semiconductor, and Fujitsu, as well as dozens of lesser known enterprises.

Now, he stands ready to help the cleantech business community save enormous amounts of time and money, avoiding fruitless investments and concentrating in areas that hold the most promise.

“The word ‘sustainable’ implies ‘profitable,” Shields reminds us. “There is no such thing as a good idea in sustainability if it doesn’t enable somebody somewhere to generate a profit. That’s the reality in which we live, and unraveling the implications of that reality is the precise value I bring to the table.”

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17 comments on “Top Renewable Energy Author/ Consultant/Investor Evaluates Cleantech Business Concepts Free of Charge”
  1. keith brunson says:
    January 19, 2018 at 10:36 pm

    Dear Mr.Shields, Thank you for this information; you know renewable energy’s time has come, and this is the future.

  2. Llord Aidoo says:
    January 19, 2018 at 11:36 pm

    Great, CS, sure been a while. (Or, have I been swaying off to some desert resort without ample network connectivity lately?) But I’m sure a “Happy New Year!” should be in order here, won’t it?

    Yea, $5000/gallon sounds much like mixing physics with superstition to the guy or community on the hunt to sacrifice time, efforts and vision for the profit margin. The way I gauge it I’ll bet it’s all about the next big thing in the sustainable universe. It simply isn’t okay if folks are satisfied with merely thinking outside the proverbial box.

    I say this because in much of the world assessing clean electricity isn’t finally about illumination from a lamp anymore. A entire way of life very much depends on full and comprehensive generation and distribution indeed…and any power paradigm operating to the contrary is akin to kicking the can down the road yet again. GHG pollution, climate change and the rest of those nasties have made the stakes too high for those with humble geniuses to retreat to the mediocre.

    Not to waste your time: remember I once informed you about working on a new utility-scale clean power generation invention that’ll need patenting services, and your response was something like, if I’m recalling well, you didn’t deal with patenting issues? Well I’m about true with the idea and will soon be negotiating patent cover. I wanted to ask if we could arrange for you to look at it if it only had preliminary patent registration.

    Of course the other idea of formulating a business strategy around the invention should naturally flow from this virtual discussion about efficacy and what not, I thought if you were comfortable with seeing the drafts we might surely work something out from there.

    Hope to hear from you soon.

    Llord

    • craigshields says:
      January 20, 2018 at 1:12 am

      Yes, I’m sorry I haven’t stayed in touch too well lately.

      I’d love to speak with you about your enterprise. Please send me something to remind me of your idea, and let me know a good time to reach you.

      • C K SWAMY P J says:
        January 20, 2018 at 8:39 am

        Hi Craig Shield
        Greetings N happy 2018

        I know yr side of funny about ‘delivery’

        And equally I m aware @Davos what Mr Bill Gates visions

        Very very negative

        Now I know one UK firms News por TOI news

        It carried about fuel cell to fill A Minute N charging EV bikes or battery takes 6hrs

        And here Avon bicycle ventured into Evokes

        Whatever even Mr Elon masks Huge batteries a toxin v debated 2006 N following yrs about “Prius” now u know which

        I feel like jump N thought to the world v can do

        Not worked
        Now I have two options

        One check with India’s emerging FMCGs “Patanjali.org”

        Guru Ramdeve baba

        Hi is getting worried of their profits eating out by baba

        He seems to me honest N helping pollutions N employment in multiple ways

        I think y I should die a begger?

        Now I planned to meet him he N his venture capturing markets in style
        Whatever v may blame but it’s about every one works for his,her bread N butter

        You may reach(1 800 445 2866) dearavon@avon.com N by the way email me with N which I can reach u my updates
        Head office @ NY (10105)

        V have to challenge all or quit the place

        Avon is just to make u our principle of better world if u can engage them N we r for the game

        Otherwise “Patanjali” I will make my bread butter

        Thanks
        God bless all @ 2greenenergy N loyal contributors and followers

        Regards C K SWAMY P J
        My Twitter is hacked non reachable I seek yr advice
        Mobile.twitter.com inactive
        Otherwise cybercafe is working

        • C K SWAMY P J says:
          January 20, 2018 at 1:30 pm

          Craig Shield I just posted mail to Avon NY N UK

          Referring yr mail info

          What world is about N it’s utter failures what your concern N mine all advantages

          Please note to follow even if it is boring

          Thanks
          God Bless all n every on this only planet
          About Davos yr views

          Many more from @wef
          C K SWAMY P J

      • Llord Aidoo says:
        January 21, 2018 at 12:28 am

        Oh, wonderful indeed. Thanks for the quick response. We’ll soon be in touch.

  3. Alliance EJ Power Corporation says:
    January 19, 2018 at 11:56 pm

    The niche of renewable energy has come to the fore. From concept to implementation then the development. We need further study and invention. However, its too expensive. A third developing country cannot afford the cost much more the technology. There are numerous international bank financing the undertaking but not enough.
    Here in the Philippines for example the clock of renewable challenge has stop ticking.
    Yes sir, you are correct the business of renewable energy is fun to conceive but hell to deliver, like babies.
    This is a global undertaking, climate change is for real but less can be done about it. We need cooperation, finance is very hard to get especially by a group who are very serious doing it.
    Justice to environment. Our company Alliance EJ Power Corporation (EJ stands for Environmental Justice).

  4. Ajaye Jogoo says:
    January 20, 2018 at 5:58 am

    We noted that building regulations pertaining to green buildings are not here yet . We have focussed on wind , photovoltaic ect.

    Using recycled materials to reduce the effect of clinker , low thermal concrete , retrofiting ect are not exploited.

    Reducing NOX by using low thermal concrete in road development .

  5. C K SWAMY P J says:
    January 20, 2018 at 1:51 pm

    Hey Craig Shield

    Do you read tweets recently evworld editor now rechristened @ evissioner tweets about news of EVS

    Do you have touch with him
    C K SWAMY P J

  6. C K SWAMY P J says:
    January 20, 2018 at 2:08 pm

    Craig Shield it seem to me my time as come and this day is I am seeing because of Mr Bill Moore and latter your connections

    Indian chapter would be great you join and see how that flowers

    I got reply from UK N NY

    Just yr mail I forwarded for clarity of myself and your consultancy sought by me if required they do will N may have

    Thanks
    I wish yr direct email as I should be limiting my communications non will love you know till it makes sense

    C K SWAMY P J

  7. Russ says:
    January 20, 2018 at 4:09 pm

    I think Bill Gates is on to something with his desert community,to bad everyone else doesn’t seem to feel the same way. Any thoughts on that subject. It’s at its infancy.

  8. Silent Running says:
    January 21, 2018 at 7:55 pm

    Good to hear from you Craig. Enjoyed some of your members comments and their brief allusions to new technologies.
    You are On the Mark in addressing the cost of energy as a real real barrier to development.
    All economies can ‘t thrive nor survive unless the EROEI Energy return on energy Investment does not exceed a minimum of 5 . To have growth and re investment and replication much higher returns than 5 are needed. That density thing expressed in a different format.
    And this is not for profit alone this is for the affordability of Food and Water and all other services that need energy to perform. Many folks just dont get this fundamental root concept.
    The level of 5 is bare bones feasibility bar for minimal economic and social growth.
    As you said , many exotic forms of energy just are niche limited technologies as they cant exceed the EROEI bar let alone exceed it at scale thus returning more bounty to the users.
    The way it is. but thank God for serious minds and entrepreneurs out there who continue to pursue new concepts but for now; we have solar and wind and end use efficiency and some bio gas are all growing quite nicely now. And look at China’s huge EV goals by 2040. Game changers in decreasing oil use if it happens. India’s as well. Huge turn arounds …..in progress.

    keep us informed keep the information exchange going as we move Forward into a brighter future for all. let go of the toys though as you said.

    In the Spirit, thanks .

    • craigshields says:
      January 22, 2018 at 5:25 pm

      Hi! Good to hear from you.

      You write: “All economies can’t thrive nor survive unless the EROEI (energy return on energy investment) does not exceed a minimum of 5.”

      I think you mean the opposite:

      “No economies can thrive nor survive unless the EROEI (energy return on energy investment) exceeds 5.”