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Recent weeks have been indicative of this trend. Early May saw environmental advisory group The Sustainable Consumption Roundtable urge the Government to take a more proactive approach to promoting green lifestyles. Just a few days later this call gained added resonance with the news that even oil giant Shell is unsure whether or not it will be able to meet its oil reserve targets over the coming years.

As a result terms like ‘renewable energy’ and ‘emissions reduction’ are becoming ever-more mainstream. In fact, little by little, the companies using them are even becoming attractive to those very same City types who would have dismissed them as being a touch woolly in days gone by.

Camco secures £25m

Carbon credits business Camco International is a good example. Late April saw the company, which has yet to generate any significant levels of revenue, list on AIM after tapping the market for a heady £24.9 million with the aid of broker KBC Peel Hunt.

Under the stewardship of chief executive Tristan Fischer, Camco’s plan is to invest in a range of environmental projects (principally in China and Eastern Europe) in order to generate a store of carbon credits. These credits are built up when projects in developing nations are introduced to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in those territories. Technologies including wind power and hydroelectricity are utilised and the resulting credits can then be traded on international markets.

To date, Camco has interests in some 36 projects, which equates to roughly 71.5 million credits – with each credit equating to one tonne of greenhouse gas saved. A further 15 initiatives are under-negotiation, with one recent scheme seeing the group assist in the installation of a ‘biomass boiler’ at a Bulgarian paper factory.

Given the substantial cash pile built up and the number of projects already lined-up, Camco looks an intriguing gamble, although the £100 million market cap is a little rich.

Oxford’s triple play

Another firm raising a significant sum of cash (£15 million) with the aid of KBC in recent days was Oxford Catalysts, whose innovative catalysts can be used to remove sulphur from hydrocarbon fuels, produce hydrogen on demand and convert natural gas into liquid fuels.

Demand for the shares was high – existing backer IP2IPO pocketed £2 million for a share of its interest too – and, given the nature of the company’s products, it is easy to see why many have high hopes for the business. The concept of producing hydrogen instantaneously at room temperature to power fuel cells alone has phenomenal potential.

The cash raised will be used to fund further development and commercialisation of catalysts, recruit up to 25 new employees and invest in new equipment. However, investors should remember that the group remains at a pre-revenue stage and represents a high-risk punt for the time being.

Bioganix’s agribusiness allure

Last, but by no means least, organic waste material processing business Bioganix has managed to woo a series of high-profile backers to its cause – including the likes of Framlington, Rathbone and Octopus Asset Management – via its £3 million fundraising at 120p.

Based in Hertfordshire, Bioganix specialises in treating animal- and fish- containing waste, reducing these compounds into a nutrient-rich compost that can then be used as a replacement for agricultural fertilizers. As environmental regulations tighten, the company expects to generate increasing levels of business from those in the food and agricultural products industries.

The company, which produced a £7,000 profit from £690,000 of revenue last year, will use the cash raised on flotation to expand its processing capacity.