Mining is one of the dirtiest industries in the world. What could possibly be clean about it? There’s more happening than it might seem, writes Kachan Managing Partner Dallas Kachan.

As 2011 winds up, the analysts at Kachan & Co. forecast downward movement in certain important indicators for the cleantech sector in 2012 worldwide.

Has a small Australian company unlocked the secrets to fusion power that still eludes thousands of scientists at well-funded organizations around the world? Latest scuttlebutt from the world of nuclear fusion has all the ingredients of a Hollywood thriller screenplay.

It’s a $160 billion a year market you’ve probably never heard of.

With the emergence of China as the globe’s cleantech powerhouse (see Why China has already overtaken the U.S. in cleantech), it’s become fashionable for cleantech companies with products to sell to target China seeking large purchase orders.

What’s not been so popular is to go to China seeking investment capital.

If there’s really a significant gulf, as onetime marketer Geoffrey Moore put it, between selling to early adopters and the majority of technology buyers, what does this mean for companies in cleantech?

At the bustling intersection of renewable energy mandates, carbon emissions regulation, economic growth and legacy infrastructure lies untapped potential for producers of bio natural gas (BNG).

It’s new. It’s important. It’s certainly not to be confused with plain biogas. And particularly if you work or have invested in solar, wind or energy storage, you need to know about it.

Companies from the Vancouver area seeking capital presented to investors last week in Palo Alto. And they surprised more than a few people.

Here's what the analysts at Kachan & Co. believe we can expect for the new year in cleantech worldwide... and the outlook is positive, if that darn economy thing doesn't get in the way.

A $75 million IPO filing by Zipcar raises the question: Can car-sharing turn a profit? Especially in the face of new P2P car sharing startups?