Konarka Technologies

Investment in renewable energy surged again in 2011, according to two new reports issued by United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Renewable Energy Policy Network for the 21st Century (REN21).

Konarka Technologies, a developer of thin-film solar panels, has filed for bankruptcy and will begin to liquidate its assets immediately.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), under Energy Secretary Steven Chu, recently announced the awarding of more than $145 million to 69 projects in 49 states aimed at increasing efficiency, bringing down costs and shaping the future of solar energy technologies. This is in addition to the $170 million awarded in April.

What do the following investors have in common:  John Hill, Doug Schatz, Invus Group, DCM, Bohemian Compa

This is the first of my three part interview with John Benner, the Managing Director of the Center for Revolutionary Solar Photoconversion (CRSP) at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL).

Here is Part I:  “Introduction to CRSP.”