New Energy Pioneers Get Bloomberg Smooch

What do an online financier of solar energy systems, an electric vehicle technology maker and a smart meter company all have in common? They’re all 2012 New Energy Pioneers, in the estimation of Bloomberg New Energy Finance. The clean energy analyst and new source handed out the pioneer awards at the fifth annual Bloomberg New Energy Finance Summit in New York City.

This Bloomberg program honors companies from around the world that are working to change the energy landscape. A panel of experts from a wide range of industries choose honorees by assessing them on three key criteria: potential scale, innovation and momentum.

image via ECOtality

This year’s winners come from a wide range of industries including bioenergy, energy storage, electric vehicles, smart grid, solar and water. According to Bloomberg New Energy Finance, the New Energy Pioneers have “innovative, proven technologies, robust business models, the ability to demonstrate traction and momentum in their activities, and the potential for global scale.” The organization says by rewarding such innovators, it hopes to increase the speed at which cleantech advancements come onto the market.

“The quality and volume of applicants we received for the 2012 Pioneers program was higher than ever – a testimony to the strength of the forces driving the sector and to the sort of high-quality entrepreneurs which it has been attracting over the past few years,” Michael Liebreich, head of Bloomberg New Energy Finance, said in a statement. ”We congratulate this year’s winners and look forward to tracking their progress.”

Here is a quick look a few of the chosen companies:

• Clean Power Finance runs an online marketplace allowing investors and lenders to participate in residential solar system financing, and also has proprietary solar siting and design software.

• Ecotality is an electric vehicle charging technology developer and maker of the Blink Network of residential and commercial EV charge stations for safe, efficient charging at low utility rates.

• Tendril Networks is the developer of connected home platforms that enable smart home applications, such as customer engagement, energy monitoring and management, and demand response. The software platform interacts with hardware devices in the home, such as displays, smart thermostats, smart appliances and EV chargers.

Click here to see the full list of the 2012 New Energy Pioneers.