Click here to download our Q1 2021 Funding and M&A Executive Summary on Battery Storage, Smart Grid, and Efficiency.

Mercom found that in Q1 2021, a combined $1.3 billion was raised in VC funding by Battery Storage, Smart Grid, and Energy Efficiency companies, a 410% increase from the $252 million raised in Q1 2020.

Battery Storage

Venture capital (VC) funding (including private equity and corporate venture capital) raised by Battery Storage companies in Q1 2021 came to $994 million in 13 deals compared to $164 million in six deals in Q1 2020. Quarter-over-quarter funding was 183% higher compared to $351 million in 11 deals in Q4 2020.

Thirty-three VC investors participated in Battery Storage funding this quarter.

There were four M&A transactions involving Battery Storage companies in Q1 2021, of which none disclosed transaction amounts. In Q4 2020, there were eight M&A transactions (one disclosed). There were four Battery Storage M&A transactions in Q1 2020, of which none disclosed transaction amounts.

Smart Grid

VC funding for Smart Grid companies increased 254% in Q1 2021 with $287 million in 10 deals compared to $81 million in seven deals in Q1 2020.

Twenty-eight investors participated in Smart Grid VC funding rounds this quarter, with a Smart Charging company raising the most.

In Q1 2021, there were six M&A transactions compared to three in Q4 2020 five deals in Q1 2020.

Efficiency

VC funding raised by Energy Efficiency companies in Q1 2021 came to $5 million in one deal compared to $196 million in five deals in Q4 2020. In a YoY comparison, $7 million was raised in three deals in Q1 2020.

One investor participated in VC funding this quarter.

There were no M&A transactions in Q1 2021 and Q4 2020. In Q1 2020, there was one M&A transaction for $1.4 billion.

Mercom Capital Group’s Battery Storage, Smart Grid, and Efficiency Funding and M&A Reports are comprehensive high-quality reports delivering superior insight, market trends and analysis. These reports help bring clarity to professionals in the current financial landscape of the smart grid industry.

The Quarterly Funding and M&A Reports contain quarter-over-quarter (QoQ) information on market activity displayed in easy-to-digest charts, graphs and tables, as well as data-driven analysis covering:

• Venture capital funding deals including top investors, QoQ trends, and a breakdown of charts and graphs by stage;
• VC funding by technology;
• Debt and other funding deals;
• Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) including QoQ trends, with charts and graphs by technologies;
• Battery and storage funding deals;
• Smart Grid funding deals;
• Energy Efficiency funding deals;
• New cleantech funds;

This report also contains comprehensive lists of all announced deals and transactions during the quarter, including:

• VC deals and investors;
• M&A transactions and acquirers;
• New cleantech funds.

There were 87 companies and investors covered in this report. The report is 80 pages in length and contains 75 charts, graphs and tables.