Smart Grid has for many years been the rather unattractive dull member of the Clean Tech family. In the last year more investors have given it a second look and many are now of the belief that it is a more attractive business proposition than many of its family members. So why have they changed their mind? One reason could be that the Renewable Energy business is taking longer to deliver against its promises and needs more funds before it will generate profit. Most systems are capital intensive and rely on “old technology” that has a strong element of empirical science which does not always scale up too well. But the vast majority require large subsidies to compete against traditional energy sources. Whilst it is a given that these subsidies are necessary and will stay in place for some years, it is the fact that they are dependent upon them that in the present economic […]