Energy Sector Roundup: Iraq Drives Oil

Ascent plans to integrate its solar modules into Norsk's aluminum-based building products; including sun-shading systems, wall systems and facades.

Credit Suisse to Invest in Renewables

Credit Suisse will invest at least $300 million in the renewable energy sector through private equity firm Hudson Clean Energy Partners. John Cavalier, head of Credit Suisse's Renewable Energy investment banking practice, will become a Hudson partner.

Cavalier joins Neil Auerbach, Hudson's founder, as co-Managing Partner of the investment platform. Cavalier was formerly chairman of the Energy Group and vice chairman of Investment Banking Department Americas in Credit Suisse's investment banking division.

Before starting Hudson, Auerbach was a partner at Goldman Sachs, where he created and led Goldman's U.S. Alternative Energy investment business and managed over $3 billion in assets for the firm. Auerbach launched Hudson with Daniel Gross and Joseph Slamm, former Goldman colleagues from the U.S. Alternative Energy investment business who are also partners at Hudson.

Hudson focuses on high-growth, asset-based, capital-intensive segments in the clean energy sector using commercialized technologies to produce energy from wind, solar, geothermal, biomass and other renewable sources.

NRG Starts Texas Wind Farm Construction

NRG Energy, Inc. subsidiary Padoma Wind Power LLC started building the Elbow Creek Wind Project, a 122 megawatt (MW) wind farm near Big Spring, Texas.

Construction is expected to take nine months with commercial operation by the end of the year. NRG said the project will use 53 Siemens 2.3 MW wind turbine generators enough to supply power to nearly 100,000 homes.

In February NRG announced a 50 percent partnership with BP Alternative Energy North America Inc. to build the first phase of the Sherbino Wind Farm, a 150 MW wind project in Pecos County, Texas.