Going Green.

The recent oil spill off the coast of Louisiana has brought the topic of green energy rushing back into current debate. The need to develop forms of lasting, renewable energy is paramount and it is an exciting and rapidly-growing sector. The scope of investment opportunities is wide and there are a plethora of companies keen to create cleaner, more environmentally-friendly technologies.

So could this be a good time to jump on the green bandwagon and invest?

It was reported last year that clean technologies outperformed fossil fuels in attracting investment for the manufacture of power. This trend seems to continue. Internet giant Google has just invested nearly forty million dollars into two North Dakota wind farms. British families are apparently eager to install solar panels as Npower has recently reported an eighty percent rise in inquiries since the introduction of the solar feed in tariff. So it would seem that we are all waking up to the climate crisis and looking to forge a way through it.

So where to invest? The wonderful thing about renewable energy is the sheer number of ways you can invest in it – from the serious to the silly to the selfless. I’ve outlined a few of these below. The most important thing is research, research, research, talk to a professional financial advisor and always act with caution. Here are just a few of the markets:

1. Solar energy – solar panels etc, take the energy from sunlight and convert it into heat and electricity. It is an abundant, inexhaustible (until about 5 billion years from now) and pollution-free form of energy. Interesting fact: the world receives enough energy from the Sun in an hour to fuel it for a year. It is one of the most attractive forms of investment within the renewable energy field due to its high rate of growth and diverse range of ventures, for example the recent maiden flight of the world’s first solar powered plane .
2. Wind Power – mostly used to generate electricity. During the period 2000-2006 the use of wind power across the world quadrupled and experts seem to be predicting a continued growth in the sector. However, the capital can be expensive and it has sometimes been seen as an unreliable source of energy.
3. Biofuels – These are derived from any form of biomass. Bioethanol is made by the fermentation of the sugar components of plants. Biodiesel is manufactured from vegetable oils, animal fats and recycled greases. The important thing to remember with Biofuels and, indeed, most alternative energy, is that the price of oil will have a massive effect on profitability. There can also be costs associated with raising the livestock necessary for their production which some have seen as a problem.
4. Geothermal Energy – Uses the Earth’s heat to create energy. It has been used in one form or another for thousands of years. More recently, it’s been used to generate electricity. It is a clean and cost-effective technology but, right now, it only accommodates a tiny portion of the Earth’s energy needs. A lot of its future depends on major technological advances. If it could be properly harnessed, geothermal energy could more than adequately meet the World’s energy needs.
5. Tidal power – Utilizing the force that the moon constantly exerts on the earth. It has been suggested that tidal power could supply a significant portion of Britain’s energy needs. Barrages or dams are built in an area with requisite tidal range and turbines are used to capture the energy in the ebb and flow. It seems the best way to invest is to research the market and look at the companies involved in the development of tidal tech.

Centre for Alternative Technology: http://www.cat.org.uk/index.tmpl?refer=index&init=1

Gold

The name itself conjures up images of vast vaults full of brightly glittering bullion. Gold is one of the oldest forms of investment and its popularity as a secure asset has soared in the past decade. So is it still worth it?

Gold has been one of the best-performing assets since the start of the Twenty-First Century. It has been reported that George Soros had increased his investment in gold, despite his own quiet rumblings about the uncertainty of the commodity’s future.

Many believe that gold is one of the most reliable investments and is a stable hedge against currency oscillations and the negative consequences of inflation. It can bring diversity to an investment portfolio and can also be a long-term investment that is passed down through the generations. Gold is a rare commodity and is therefore regarded as a safe investment because demand will always outweigh supply.

However, it is not without its possible complications. Can the current growth rate carry on? It has been argued that there is the constant threat of a parabolic move. There are various speculations on when the gold bubble will burst. Opinions on the longevity of the ‘commodity bull market’ vary.

Many believe that gold is exempt from financial fluctuations due to an inherent value and a seemingly never-ending demand. But with an array of gold investment areas, how do we make our way along this seemingly confusing yellow-brick road?

Obviously the best way is to speak with a professional financial advisor as they will be able to take your personal circumstances into consideration. But here’s a list of some common ways to invest in gold:

1. Gold Bullion – a classic. It is seen as a way to protect wealth in an uncertain financial world. Is stored in bars which can be unwieldy and unsafe to keep in private possession so many choose to keep them in a bank vault.

2. Coins – an alternative to heavy bars. Many small investors opt to own coins as they offer greater divisibility and convenience.

3. Gold Certificates – an alternative to storing physical gold.

4. Exchange Traded Funds – traded through stockbrokers and track the price of gold. Popular with those looking for a short-term investment as there is an annual administration charge.

5. Mining – many choose to invest in a gold mine itself. It can be more risky than investing in gold itself.

6. Other ways include: Gold futures, gold futures options, spread betting

So there are advantages and disadvantages to this particular route. As with everything, there is always a certain amount of risk involved. Gold is a fascinating, attractive commodity that holds our interest and can be a good investment.

World Gold Investment Congress – http://www.terrapinn.com/2010/gold/

The Future of Money

Future of Money & Technology Summit

26 April 2010:  at Hotel Kabuki, San Francisco, CA, USA.  Visionaries, entrepreneurial business people, developers, press, investors, authors, and more…

The Future of Money and Technology.

New and advancing technologies mean that we all need to adapt. We are stepping (however unwittingly) into an entirely new, global culture that is sometimes frightening and almost always bewildering.

The complete monopoly of the web has seeped into virtually every corner of our lives. New technologies are being developed every day and with them a whole cultural movement. We are increasingly looking for a bright light to steer us through this thick cyber-fog.

Luckily, these lights do exist and Brian Zisk is one such shining beacon. His seemingly-endless list of accomplishments and organizations is impressive. Among other things, he is a co-founder and the technologies director of the Future of Music Coalition, a non-for-profit organization that promotes a fair atmosphere within the music community of the twenty-first century. So Zisk was the perfect candidate to put together the Future of Money and Technology Conference in San Francisco on the 26^th April.

An intriguing headline. Especially in these uncertain times because we are all interested in what the future holds for cash, currency and commerce. We should all be aware of the ways in which technology is changing the way we see money.

Recent years have brought with them a steady decline in the use of cash and an increasing use of other resources such as cards, mobile payments and Paypal. Various other online currencies such as Second Life’s  ‘Linden Dollars’ are also shifting our relationship with money. And there are more developments ahead. What are we to make of it all?

The Future of Money and Technology was a full-day conference with a wide variety of speakers. It was attended by the best and the brightest, all eager to look at this financial evolution.

Phil Rosedale, creator of Second Life, made some interesting points on Linden Dollars and their value and the possible future importance of a virtual currency. He also mentioned a new, egalitarian project called LoveMachine, which seeks to innovate and construct new technologies.

There was a nice sound bite from Bill Tai, partner at Charles River Ventures: ‘You don’t want to be the poker chip without a casino.’ He spoke about the need for virtual currencies to have some intrinsic, real-world value but seemed positive about the future of these new forms of money.

Travis Kalanick, an Angel Investor, spoke about the merits of ‘crowdfunding’ but the difficulties that have come about due to new legislation in the US.

Overall, the speakers were positive about the future and offered up a variety of perspectives. New technologies should not cause us to retreat, rather they should spark more creativity and advancement and benevolence.

For more information on the Future of Money Conference: http://futureofmoney.com/moneyconference/

Twitter: @futureofmoney

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