Talking Climate Tech 034
🧠 AI Knowledge | ⚡️ Electric Ages | ⚖️ ICJ Kids | 🧨 Trump v Trump | 🤡 LNG Joker |⚡ Pylon of the Month
A variation on our usual 🔦 Startup Spotlight feature this week - we are taking a sneak peek into an AI beta test activity as part of London Climate Action Week. 👀
🔦 Startup Spotlight
You may recall the guest on Podcast 01 was Amrit Chandan, and way back in December, when we had that chat, he was in the early stages of launching a new AI-based startup, Lorefully.
Time moves on in the startup world, and now it's a fully fledged living and breathing entity, raising funds, and with a growing team connecting the dots between the past, present and future.
What is it exactly?
Lorefully gives organisations a way to capture and redistribute irreplaceable worker knowledge.
Sounds very simple, in principle, but it's full of complexity and depth. It utilises AI to consume and interpret knowledge, via vast quantities of human data inputs, in turn sharing the 'lore' with others.
What's a practical working example? 🤔
Think of the use case for in-field installers across the renewable energy spectrum; from solar to heat pump engineers, offshore wind operations teams and beyond.
...capture, structure, and share operational know-how, particularly the kind of hard-earned, experience-based knowledge that often goes undocumented in organisations. Developed to address the growing challenge of knowledge loss in the energy and renewables sector.
Iterations of Minimum Viable Products [MVP] and finding new use cases through pilots and market feedback are a core part of developing any SaaS tool.
One such opporuntity has developed for Lorefully through natural fit and recognition of need - community insights and stakeholder collaboration, to accelerate climate action.
It can deliver for community, exhibitions and conferences, just as easily as a whole operations workforce. 💡
Two interesting test pilots for the MVP from Lorefully in recent weeks - the first a small webinar as part of London Climate Action Week. The second is a much larger-scale operation as part of the InstallerShow 2025.
We will be featuring a dedicated article on the InstallerShow analysis. Plus we will soon be recording a podcast session, bringing together Amrit with Heat Pump maestro Nathan Gambling, who partnered with Lorefully for the event to accelerate insights for the heat pump sector.
Nathan is the host of the excellent Beta Talk podcast, which is into its 160 + episodes now, running since 2019! 👏
Nathan is one of the UK's clean heat leaders, so I always watch him closely...
Chris Stark, CBE, Head of the UK’s Mission for Clean Power, DESNZ.
The invitational webinar session served as a sample group to test the live speech-to-text, free-field input, and data analysis capabilities. I enjoyed the session, and it was fascinating to be led through the core topics by Amrit, with general contributions from the group discussion, and see the data output of insights from across the climate tech spectrum.
Participants include those with corporate and grassroots experience, with strategic insight, technical expertise, and practical knowledge. From designing climate funding mechanisms to exploring how AI can capture know-how and improve training for a new generation of workers.
I have taken a sample of comments from across the topics here to give you some further context around the conversations - you can get a copy of the full report on request from Amrit at Lorefully via the website link above, or message me directly.
The memory is short - unless the mistakes are formalised, documented and connected, we forget. AI can hold the memory when people move on.
I believe that yesterday's learning methods are not meeting the needs of today's learners.
Tools that can actively reference every element of a project against what’s been done before.
In the race to innovate, we risk discarding foundational knowledge and lessons that still hold value.
Make content more human and relatable… telling stories and using narrative-led formats can make knowledge easier to absorb, remember, and reuse.
Hopefully, this micro sample gives you a flavour of the insights that can be derived from a group in free-form topical discussion.
Start to scale up those human inputs into the hundreds and thousands to derive themes, trends, and structured intelligence via context-aware searchable content - you create an engine room to drive business performance that goes beyond regular organisational and operational capabilities.
This is a human-led transition, and how we shape our use of technology, tools, learning, and people resources will be key to successful delivery.
Our workforce will be under huge pressure with shortfalls predicted across nearly all sectors. It's vital to understand where knowledge is being lost and how AI can help teams become more resilient and efficient, while delivering more.
🔎 Deeper Dive
The Long March of Electrification ⚡
It is upon us, and those clever people at Ember have been charting its path through the decades.
Electricity demand has doubled every couple of decades for over a century, expanding across sectors and regions in inexorable waves
Travel you way through the 1910s, 30s, 50s, 70s, 00s, 10s to the present day. There are some fascinating charts and commentary on key events through these periods.
The best is saved for last; the opportunity we now see before us that's within our grasp and technological capability.
We are on the cusp of another pivotal moment in electrification. Many energy services once thought impossible to electrify are now technically and commercially viable. As electricity is highly efficient, this shift will curb overall energy demand — even as electricity demand continues to grow — pushing fossil fuel demand into structural decline.
Tipping the Scales ⚖️
Could this be the break throught that finally helps tip the balance? The ICJ ruling is right on time in advance of COP30 in Brazil - via the newly carved rainforrest and fresh tarmac, BBC report here. 🙄
The highest court of the UN has issued a landmark “advisory opinion” stating that nations can be held legally accountable for their greenhouse-gas emissions.
OK sounds like progress; does it have any teeth to it? 😬
Recognising the “urgent and existential threat” facing the world, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) concluded that those harmed by human-caused climate change may be entitled to “reparations”.
Their opinion largely rests on the application of existing international law, clarifying that climate “harms” can be clearly linked to major emitters and fossil-fuel producers.
Deep dive into the whole scope from the excellent as always Carbon Brief here.
Two standouts for me in this - the fossil fuel section;
And just as exciting, the origin of the action - as quick version;
The case stems from a campaign led by 27 students from the University of the South Pacific in Fiji.....In 2019, they established a youth-led grassroots...engaged the 18 members of the Pacific Island Forum.......after three rounds of consultations....resolution was put before the UN general assembly with the backing of 105 sponsor countries.
Waiting for a Hydrogen Bus? 🚌
I wouldn't bother, it will never likely show. And if you hear that your local authority is considering procuring H2 buses, please raise the alarm and a freedom of information request - ask for the business case, CAPEX, OPEX and source of the 'green' hydrogen.
Just seen today, looks like Swansea are about to make the same blunder.
Surprisingly, they still keep blowing our public money and subsidies on them. Read on reader, if you were ever in doubt, more from Professor David Cebon here.
Across the country, not long after costing local authorities millions of pounds to purchase, hydrogen-fuelled buses are gathering dust in depots.
Hydrogen for transport really is a square wheel, as Michael Sura reminds us in his guest article a few months back.
Geothermal Radar 📶
The quick we locate, develop strategies and investment pathways, the quicker we deploy and deliver - for heating, cooling, power and even large scale thermal storage.
Good news then, 🇺🇸 Geothermal Radar has arrived with its SaaS end-to-end geothermal modelling platform, connecting subsurface and industry data with interactive modelling and simulation.
Enabling real-time simulation, prospecting, valuation, feasibility and reserves assessment - free of charge to non-profit, academic and selected public organisations, and there is a free version for everyone to have a play with. ♨️
💥 Trump Watch
I go away for a week, and when I come back, the whole Epstein thing will have blown over...cue dream seqeunce...💭 ....😱
Of course I didn't think that, but Don Orangina sure did - bailing out of the media maelstrom on taxpayers $$ to Scotland for some golf, wishing it would all just disappear.
Unfortunately for Don, the MAGA hoardes, and indeed most of the self-respecting free-world, are keen to keep pulling those threads to see what unravels.
In the meantime, he did attempt some 'work' between rounds...
Transatlantic LNG Dance 💃
Every world leader knows; give Don a headline moment, a soundbite of a deal thats been 'won', let him have his showtime in front of the camera, and then walk away. Nothing will likely ever come of it, and the adults can get on with their day-jobs.
So here we are again then with LNG, and Don's 'mega deal' in which the EU bowed to his incredible negotiating skills, accepting 15% tarrifs - which the US public must be thrilled about - and a notional $750bn procurement of fossil fuels. 🤔
Our man Seb Kennedy of Energy Flux has it dialled in on this one:
Anchored on fantastical LNG purchase commitments of $750 billion over three years, the deal is a shared delusion: an empty gesture signed by two parties that have no intention or ability to deliver what they’ve promised.
There are some links contained within that demonstrate what sham this deal is - summed up here:
The US Gulf Coast export infrastructure constraints alone are insurmountable, not to mention upstream shale depletion rates, financial bottlenecks, and the cannibalistic effect of falling market prices necessitating an even greater surge in output to offset the lower value of EU imports...Never mind the fact that market forces, not politicians, determine where US LNG flows. Or the inconvenience of classifying what an ‘EU company’ really is, when it operates a globally-traded portfolio that is constantly optimising across basins.
A stacked deck then - a final word on the matter:
For the EU, this is strategic capitulation. European officials know they can’t physically import the volumes they’ve pledged, and nor can they force EU companies to do so. But they’re playing along, desperate to mollify a volatile White House and avoid reigniting market-melting tariff threats on Truth Social.
Won't it be nice when we don't have dance around like political court jesters and appease 'the king'. 🤡
And Another Thing 🔎
Just like Columbo, there is another kink in the LNG fallacy we need to come back to. DeSmog takes us through this one:
...lobbyists for America’s biggest natural gas exporters are pushing to carve a major loophole in the EU’s methane rules, using ongoing trade and tariff disputes in a campaign to weaken Europe’s climate standards.
Lobbyists charge to the front line as expected - we dipped into this in more detail a few weeks back in 028.
...the Center for LNG, whose members include BP, Chevron, Shell and Total, says American gas exporters probably can’t meet Europe’s standards on methane pollution or even accurately measure the climate-altering pollution created by a given cargo of LNG.
No word on this yet as fallout from 'the deal'...hold the line. ⛔ 🇪🇺
Yes Files, No Files, Fake Files 📚
The story unravels on a day by day basis, I'm sure you have seen plenty on this already. Recap on the previous weeks action here in 033.
Having pushed back and tried to nullify, remarkably, it turns out it was entirely Obama's fault all the time! He just chose never to do anything with it - fight consipracy with conspiracy, and conspiracy, and some more conspiracy. 🙄
The pivots keep coming daily - the reshaping of the narrative is looking unhinged and very thin on credibility.
The WSJ went all in, with it's story on the 'birthday message and naked woman drawing'. Don's sign-off.
A pal is a wonderful thing. Happy birthday and may every day be another wonderful secret
I guess Murdoch fancied one last big punchup before he bows out - Don hit back with a $10bn lawsuit. 🥊
Recap on the full timeline from SKY News here.
Just as it looked like a supoena to release the files would make its way through congress with bipartisan support, they decided to shut down early to delay the vote until September. That doesn't look to obvious now does it! 🤭
So to 🏴 Scotland for some respite ⛳ ....but of course he tossed his rambling word salad stream of consciousness into a few, in fact 9 interesting topics.
Wind is the the most expensive form of energy and it destroys the beauty of your fields and your plains...
Cue explainer of planes and plains, whales, birds and other dribble. Enjoy MSNBC summary of the X takedowns here.
How did they get from being 'best pals' for 15 years, to no longer on speaking terms [according to Don]. On the plane back, the plot thickened. It was all about poaching staff from Mar-a-largo. 🙄
Anyone in particular, any names of the Spa staff that went off to 'the island'.... one springs to mind, Virginia Gutherie. 🧨
Oh boy, this is going to run and run until the wheels fall off. 💥
Good news, we have some amusement to run in parralell. You couldn't have timed this any better! The new episode dropped from South Park 🤣
The great irony of South Parks new series featuring Trump; their parent company is Paramount. Yes that Paramount, who just coughed $16m apeasement to DJT, canned Stephen Colbert for his nightly Trump takedowns, in order to get Federal approval for their $8bn merger with Skydance.
My LinkedIn post on the Colbert saga here.
The silver lining - South Park just signed a deal apparently worth $1.5bn for 50 episodes, right before they released episode 01. 🚨 🙏 🤣
Golf Watch ⛳
Finally, to the course and sanctuary. Once he had turned up the music to full blast to drown out the press questions on Epstein, and the valiant protesters. 🤣
And of course, on the course, there was 'the drop' 😆
The trip allowed him to get his average back up again;
45 days / 193 days in office = 23.3% @ taxpayer cost $63 million
🏡 Konfab News
The wheels keep on turning at Konfab HQ; slow and steady wins the race 🐌
New guest article from Matt Bleasdale, in case you misssed it here:
Matt Bleasdale
Part 1 of 2
Part 2 is coming in a couple of weeks. Also another ‼️ new article heading your way bright and breezey on Monday morning, standby. 🎁
I was recently invited to the National Oceanography Centre Innovation Hub here in Southampton recently. A post to follow on the innovation session, in the meantime, you can check out the resident hero, Boaty McBoatface here. LinkedIn post.
In other local Solent related news from Maritime Solent. As part of the Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition (CMDC6), 27 Solent-based organisations, including a number of Maritime Solent Partners, have been awarded a £2.5m grant towards £17.5m worth of projects.
These projects will explore cutting-edge renewable energy technologies
and future fuels such as electric vessels, methanol, ammonia and hydrogen; optimisation of machine learning and AI to maximise efficiency, as well as the UK's first future fuels training framework.
This funding not only accelerates the UK’s journey to becoming a clean energy
superpower but also revitalises coastal communities by creating new economic
opportunities and supporting the development of future-ready skills. 🌊
⚡Pylon of the Month
Yes, noted, I bumped 😃 Good Stuff and/or 🌍 Climate Watch this week - it's quite a long one already!
Here we go with this weeks Tower of Power:
Unfortunately, no technicals or accompanying commentary on this weeks entry. I can tell you nothing of this mysterious beauty basking in the glow of a summer sunset.
Sometimes we don't need to know all the details...just enjoy one of life's moments, the beauty of the relaxing sunset on a Balaeric Island, cocktail in hand, the sand under your feet...🏖️
3,2,1 you're back in the room. Kids are on school holidays...another squabble, quick press send - errors and omissions excepted 😄
Thanks as always, let's keep pushing forward - remember, the momentum is unstoppable despite everything you might see and hear! 🌍
Kane
