H1 raised US$2.3 billion in global battery storage, smart network and energy efficiency companies

According to a recent report released by clean energy agency Mercom Capital Group, the financing scale of global battery storage, smart grid and energy efficiency companies reached US$2.
3 billion in the first half of 2019, compared with US$2.
4 billion in the same period last year, including venture capital, public market and debt financing, a year-on-year decrease of 4%.

According to the report, the decrease in funding in the first half of 2019 was due to reduced financing activity for smart grid companies, while increased financing for battery storage and energy efficiency companies
.

Specifically, global venture capital investment (venture capital, private equity, and corporate ventures) in battery storage, smart grid, and energy efficiency grew 102% to $1.
7 billion in the first half of the year, compared to $843 million
in the first half of 2018.

In the second quarter, venture capital funding for battery storage, smart grid, and energy efficiency companies jumped to $1.
5 billion in 20 deals, compared to just $210 million
in 23 deals in the first quarter of 2019.

Battery storage

Venture capital funding for battery storage companies increased 139% in the first half of 2019 to 17 deals worth $1.
4 billion, compared to 30 deals worth $543 million
in the first half of 2018.
The increase was attributed to Northvolt's $1 billion financing
.

The top five venture capital financing deals in the first half of 2019 were as follows: Northvolt raised $1 billion, Sila Nanotechnologies raised $170 million, Romeo Power raised $88.
6 million, Zenobe Energy raised $32.
3 million, and LivGuard Energy Technologies raised approximately $32 million
.
In the first half of 2019, a total of 41 venture investors participated in battery storage financing
.

Debt and public market financing activity announced in the first half of 2019 totaled five transactions with a deal size of $547 million, 275% higher than in the first half of 2018, when $146 million was raised in six transactions
.
In the first half of 2019, there were four disclosed financing transactions for battery storage projects totaling $499 million
.

Smart grid

Venture capital funding for smart grid companies fell 11% to $120 million in the first half of 2019, compared to $135 million
in the first half of 2018.

In the second quarter, smart grid companies' venture capital funding more than doubled in six deals to $88 million, compared to $32 million in 15 deals in the first quarter of 2019
.
Raised 47%
year-over-year compared to $60 million raised in four transactions in the second quarter of 2018.

The top five financing deals for venture capital in the first half of 2019 were: SmartRent raised $32 million, CleanSpark raised $20 million, Innowatts raised $18.
2 million, Wirepas raised $16.
2 million, and Driivz raised $12 million
.
In the first half of 2019, a total of 48 venture capital investors participated in the financing
of smart grids.

Smart grid company debt and public market financing announced in the first half of 2019 amounted to just $1 million, compared to $1.
3 billion
in two transactions in the first half of 2018.

energy efficiency

Venture capital funding for energy efficiency companies increased 25% to $207 million in the first half of 2019, compared to $165 million
in the first half of 2018.

In the second quarter, venture capital funding for energy efficiency companies raised $107 million in four deals, compared to $100 million in the first quarter, up 60%
from $67 million in the same period last year.

The top five financing deals for energy efficiency corporate ventures in the first half of 2019 were as follows: Kinestral Technologies raised $100 million, Budderfly raised $55 million, Carbon Lighthouse raised $32.
6 million, and Metro received $11.
3 million.

In the first half of 2019, a total of 18 venture capital investors participated in energy efficiency financing
.

Debt and public market financing activity announced in the first half of 2019 (two transactions raising $56 million) decreased 74% from the first half of 2018, when two transactions raised $212 million
.