Developing energy alternatives an entrepreneurial opportunity, but financing remains elusive.

The need for more innovation in energy was one of the strongest points of agreement at the Paris talks. Some have suggested that the most important news to come out of the conference was not the final accord, signed with great fanfare by the governments of 195 countries, but the commitments made by governments and wealthy individuals to research and develop technologies that can help the climate.  Energy innovation is a concept that has become almost universally popular — among all from the most traditional of oil companies to the most radical of environmental groups.  For all the rising enthusiasm, though, investing in innovation remains a hazardous and uncertain business in energy, as in other industries.