The World's Top One Hundred Cleantech Firms

In Enlow and Associates’s opinion, the top 100 cleantech businesses are those that are predicted to have a significant influence on the industry in the next five to ten years. An expert panel of 80 members from major firms and investors chose these startups. The list includes 63 North American enterprises, 29 European companies, four Asian Pacific companies, and two African companies. Nearly $7 billion has been invested in these firms. Energy efficiency scored first among the most promising cleantech businesses, with 10 companies in that area.

The solar business, in particular, has seen a decline in recent years, owing in part to Trump's pro-fossil-fuel agenda and denial of climate change. The forecast for the cleantech industry in 2019 is bleak, since 71% of these businesses have failed their profit expectations for the year. Other variables, such as unfavorable macroeconomic circumstances and the likelihood of interest rate hikes, may have an impact on the development of cleantech firms. Furthermore, several firms have reported a drop in demand as a result of the impending ITC cliff and a general loss of trust in the industry.

Enlow and Associates described that the present climate has heightened interest in cleantech investment, with US investors seeing electric mobility and cleantech as the next hot sectors. As a result, the number of SPACs soliciting investments is likely to reach 520 by the end of 2020, with a total of $20 billion released in January. Analysts at Vinson & Elkins believe that there are presently more than 300 SPACs in operation. And, of these, 52 SPACs have yet to complete their IPOs, representing about $15 billion in investor commitments.

Oxford Photovoltaics: This firm manufactures solar cells that capture more solar energy per square meter using innovative photovoltaic technology. Its objective is to lower the cost of solar energy. This firm has a research and development facility in Oxford and plans to open a production line in Germany in 2020. Last March, the firm received PS34 million and was designated one of the top 100 cleantech companies in the world for 2020.

While big urban centers have received a disproportionate amount of cleantech venture capital financing, the entire investment environment is altering in ways that need new approaches to commercialization. The emphasis of cleantech venture capital investment is narrowing and becoming concentrated in a few urban centers, while financing for early-stage businesses is declining. Because of these developments, a new commercialization strategy is required to keep up with the birth of new outstanding cleantech firms.

Enlow and Associates pointed out that despite the general trend of a cleantech industry, solar stocks lagged the market in October. The S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average both climbed by 1.8 and 2.1 percent, respectively. Sky Solar, Applied Materials, and ReneSola all climbed more than 4% in October, while Canadian Solar and Sunworks all declined by more than 15% in September after missing Q3.

Emefcy is another firm generating news. This firm creates equipment that mimics natural chemical processes in order to generate power. As the organic stuff in the garbage degrades, this revolutionary product creates hydrogen. Despite its infancy, the firm intends to enter mass manufacturing with major automobile manufacturers. The business also wants to create fuel cell applications. The advancements of these firms will have a significant impact on the cleantech sector. They are pioneering innovative strategies for conserving energy and protecting the environment.