Talking Climate Tech 047
🔋 Startup Fully Charged | 🌞 xAI Solar Makeweight | ⛏️ China v EU Minerals| ⚡ToU Gap | ⚫ Coal Innovation | ✅ Event 03 | 🫖 Tea Crisis
This week I have mainly been sorting out an event. Which seems to take a huge amount of time, considering it's all done and dusted in 3 hours!
More on that below ⬇️
We haven't had any 💸 Startup News for a while. Not that there isn't anything happening out there in Startup Land, just that I have personally found more of the wider climate and decarbonisation news stories more interesting and relevant.
This is partly because we already have all the tools we need to decarbonise our economies and reduce emissions. However, not to crush innovation - there are many great and fascinating developments happening out there.
Equally, there are huge amounts of waste, delay and distraction [you know who you are, DAC, CCS, H2 transport etc.] out there, wasting good public money that could be better spent elsewhere, with real impact.
Just to say that I've become more dialled in on the 'impact now', rather than the 'potential impact' in the future.
Here is an example of that, a headline from Hydrogen Insight.
Why!? Yes always good to reduce manufacturing costs, although it's not like BMW can't afford to invest this money themselves. But thats not the key issue. The H2 fuel cell generates electricity to power motors and battery systems. 🤔
Of course, there is no H2 refuelling infrastructure; it's woefully inefficient, expensive, and BEVs are already taking market share. This is due online by 2028, by which time BEV will be out of sight....this would give them x5 drive options - just stop and focus on the best techno-economic solution. 😮💨
I hope you enjoy reading this week's post! Talking Climate Tech is a free newsletter - you can always become a supporter by popping something in the tip jar and keeping the coffee machine stoked!
💸 Startup News
Fully Charged 🔋
It's been great to watch the rise of the young bucks at Modo Energy, of BESS and electrotech big data analysis and trading insights, over the last couple of years. From small and humble beginnings, like all the best startup stories, they have now secured their Series B funding of $30m, led by Molten Ventures, along with ETF Partners, MMC Ventures, and Fred Olsen Limited.
Fascinating to watch the early podcast interviews of Founder Quentin Scrimshire, I think they are now offline on YouTube - superseded by multiple new series of content [220+ episodes!] - something of an inspiration for the type of conversations I wanted to have with founders and technology developers.
More on the scope of their investment plans here, scaling them from 5 to 20 markets globally. With Trillions $$ in electrification assets to manage and value, there looks to be no stopping them. Great to see a UK startup in such a key market.
The other interesting point to note; they see the value in content and media as a key enabler. They run an in-depth content engine to drive and own the narrative around markets, technologies and valuations, everything from foundational learning via Energy Academy, to the Podcast, Research and Benchmark Data.
Even if you don't want to utilise the full Terminal toolkit and subscription, they will retain and drive your engagement through media at no cost, becoming your default resource and positioning for when you do. Great approach. Modo Media here.
🔎 Deeper Dive
xAI Solar Makeweight 🌞
You might recall a few weeks back, I was writing about the horror show that is Elon's Data Centre in Memphis. You know the one, where he threw a load of gas turbines at [about 35], beyond his permit [15], to ramp it up. More on those in 043 here, including a video of the emissions pouring out into the local atmosphere.
Update for you - due to the backlash, he has decided to throw some token Solar PV at it, about 30MW by estimated area, enough for 10% generation contribution.
Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC):
xAI has operated at least 35 turbines capable of emitting more than 2,000 tons of NOX pollution — nitrogen oxide emissions that contribute to smog and respiratory problems — annually.
If only the EPA hadn't been defanged and regulations watered down, and if the WH had a backbone and wasn't actively encouraging FF energy and AI growth through any means necessary. 🙄
More here TechCrunch.
Strategic Minerals Refresher 🇨🇳
Nice chart and reminder from the IEA on why China holds all the cards when ity comes to strategic minerals related to the energy transition.
China dominates the refining of 19 out of 20 energy-related strategic minerals, holding an average market share of about 70%.
These minerals are essential for power grids, batteries, and electric vehicles, as well as for AI chips, jet engines, defence systems, and other strategic sectors.
EU Minerals Plan ⛏️
In counterbalance to the overwhelming dominance of China, the EU has made a plan, always with the catchy titles - the RESourceEU Plan to secure critical minerals sovereignty.
...mobilising close to €3 billion ($3.5 billion) in EU financing over the next 12 months for CRM projects. Also, by removing regulatory bottlenecks, the EU is aiming to reduce dependencies by up to 50% by 2029.
More on a couple of the nominated projects here, including the Vulcan Energy phase one Lionheart Project in Germany’s Upper Rhine Valley, which we have written about before - Lithium from geothermal brine, dual scope project. ♨️
ToU Missing Link? 💡
Time of Use tariffs for consumers [and industry] are a key tool in the digitised electricity generation toolbox - help grids time shift demand and balance load.
Great deep dive from Rob West at Thunder Said Energy, as always. Based on these 20 consumer studies - summary ⬇️
📉 Cut peak power demand by 10% average, or 20-50% for those with HP/EV
🌐 Deployment of ToU is 9% globally, 35% in developed world
🇺🇸 USA is the laggard, 11% consumers have ToU, <1% have real-time pricing
🇳🇴 Norway leads with 70-90% real-time
🇪🇸 In Spain, comms is an issue - 77% consumers unaware they had ToU available
Huge opportunity here based on more smart meters, digitisation and automation tools for consumers to navigate this. Big impact - an obvious pathway to cutting energy consumption and balancing grids.
💥 Trump Watch
A pretend war, pardoning drug kingpins, blowing up boats and shooting survivors, coaching Russians in deals, more Epstein files, sleeping in meetings, a potential stroke, dementia, the ballroom, and everything else.
Sounds like a movie, just a week in the life of Don 🍊. What else is going on...
New Coal Innovation 🤯
Exciting news from Wyoming, with $4m state funding matched, they are on with a new coal plant study! What a breakthrough! 🚀
Check out Governor Mark Gordon:
This is clear proof that coal is not dead and a reminder that Wyoming’s strength has always come from our ability to innovate without abandoning our values
Could be the first new coal plant in the USA since 2013, real progress, keep winding back the clock...heading all the way back to the Great Depression.
Back to Black ⚫
More Trump on his favourite colour - they have granted polluters waivers from Clean Air Act rules. 12 x coke manufacturing plants received a two-year extension on fully meeting hazardous air pollutant rules for legacy steel supply chain.
Coke manufacturing plants release a host of toxic pollutants that may include benzene, a carcinogen tied to leukaemia and other blood disorders
More from E&E here.
California Dreaming 😎
Meanwhile, over in Cali. utility solar reinforced by BESS is gradually pushing gas out the system.
🏡 Konfab News
Climate Tech Impact_South Event 03 ✅
The event went off with great success on Wednesday, 3rd. Our two presenters delivered some great insights, and our audience participation was strong as always.
The theme - People. Thanks to our partners on the AI event intelligence pilot, we will be delivering Event Report 03 summary, where both speakers and audience contributed to the event's key questions.
What’s the most underrated human skill we need to accelerate the transition❓
How are you finding the current global political climate affecting perception of your business or the climate sector❓
Amrit Chandan took us on a very honest and open journey through some of his experiences as a founder of a battery startup, and into his new AI operational and event intelligence venture, Lorefully.
More tools and usable frameworks from Amrit here.
▶️ Founder and CEO
▶️ Raising investment
▶️ Change management and personal impacts
▶️ Managing your self and your mental health
Rob Bootle then delved into the human psyche - you are being judged! 😱
How we respond to that, both consciously and subconsciously, shapes outcomes:
▶️ Positioning our personal brand
▶️ Positioning our business
▶️ Winning trust and belief
▶️ Delivering visibility and credibility
Ultimately, all geared to achieving our goals and business/investment/project/policy outcomes. Some great tools to play with via Bootle Design.
The Survey 01 👂
It's still open, closing on 12th December, have your say!!
Kane Watkinson
🌍 Climate Watch
Cuppa Crisis!? 🫖
If there is one thing that could tip the balance on world order, it's the risk of millions of people not getting a good cup of tea.
Behind that, back up the supply chain, is the economic risk and everyday survival challenge of being a farmer in such climates.
Interesting from Semafor. Remember India is the most populous country in the world with just shy of 1.5billion people, 17.8% of the global population.
Rising temperatures have severely impacted two of India’s key crops. Cardamom cultivation has suffered significantly, with last year's poor harvest causing prices to soar by 70%. Additionally, tea production fell nearly 6% this year as temperatures exceeded 35°C (95°F), leading to a shutdown of the bushes in response.
Farmers are finding support through an app that diagnoses soil health and offers timely recommendations. There is an app for that. More BBC here.
Good COP, Bad COP ⚖️
A footnote, because well, it just winds me up!
Generally, bad COP, as expected. NY Times and Mongabay, respectively:
...a victory for oil producers like Saudi Arabia and Russia
...the absence of mention of critical minerals and fossil-fuel phaseout in the final texts
The time for action is well beyond now.
Thanks for your time, interest and support as always, let's keep pushing forward - remember, the momentum is unstoppable despite everything you might see and hear! 🌍
Kane
