US residential solar panel installer Astrum Solar raises fresh funding led by NewWorld Capital Group and including energy supplier Constellation.

EnTouch Controls, provider of energy management tools systems for restaurants and retail stores, raises $8.3m series B financing from investors including NRG Energy.

David Nason succeeds Alex Urquhart as president and CEO of GE Energy Financial Services.

Energy efficiency company Panoramic Power closes $8m series B financing led by Marker along with existing investors including Qualcomm.

Our monthly sector feature looks at the energy and natural resources sector.

Small scale biofuel refiner, Cool Planet Energy Systems from the US, is getting closer to its ultimate business plan to build biofuel refineries across the US and Asia following a funding tranche and a joint venture. The company has an enviable list of corporate venturing backers including Google Ventures and BP.