This is the End?

Life is always about choices. Ask Neo - red pill, blue pill.

Am I, or we, in the Matrix? Well I don't think so, but you never know...and in a few years once AI has taken over, well that's another story. 😂

Eh, are you...ok?

I'm all good thanks. 🙏

You might recall from my last post in July, about the Reset Connect event, that I did manage to fracture my ankle, and tear my ligaments. But fortunately it hasn't affected my head, at least no more than usual - all good.

Some subscribers have been here since day 1, which was way back in November 2024, 😱 some of you just in the last couple of weeks. Thank you one and all.

All of you will have noticed a few of things:

• The original newsletter stopped, stuck on week 053, February ✋
• Posts are less frequent 🫩
• We still have Guest Articles coming through 😁
• Friend of the Show, Michael Sura, sharing articles and insights 👏

Why, and What, is Happening?

I have found myself with less time available for the site as my work in the sector has increased.

This is a good thing.

I started this endeavour to get me into the sector. As an outsider looking to work in climate and energy, I needed to find a way in. My version of that is this site - write about it, talk about it, interview some experts, post about it. Rinse & repeat.

Build knowledge, build the network. Eventually, make things happen if you join enough dots together.

This is the way.

How do I know this?

Because I've been in sales, marketing and commercial roles my whole career - 30 years man and boy 😂

Is this the End then?

Yes, and no. Allow me to elaborate.

This is a free content site - we have no sponsor, no subscription charge. There have been some nice and encouraging 'buy me a coffee' donations in support, which are very much appreciated.

But a man cannot live on coffee, or beer, alone. ☹️

But there comes a time in every newsletters life when it needs to stand up and be counted. That time is now.

We have built up a good resource on this site:

• The archive newsletters offer both short and longer analysis of startups, news, events
• Guest articles have been a joy to work on with people dedicating their time for free to support cross-sector learning, and share knowledge
• The interviews have been fun, and a steep learning curve across the end-end process.

On the interviews, there are still episodes 7,8,9,10 to publish - which will get done, I have made a commitment and owe that to those who kindly gave their time.

All this isn't going away. Talking Climate Tech content hub will be here for sometime yet.

I would like to think it has some value to people, and even if it doesn't, it still has some value to me - let's call it a CV of sorts.

OK, so instead?

The purpose of spending all this time learning, reading, talking and writing about lots of topics, was to find where I wanted to focus. In what sector or industry, and what type of way I could support and add value.

And you will see that from the outset, I thought that was startups and innovation. I was excited about climate tech innovation, new technologies, the development process to get through TRL to market.

I thought my experience could help there. Prior to starting this I spent a year developing a consulting proposition for this same purpose, which was called Woven. That ended - a winding tale of partnerships and investment, and a fatal end point, as with many startups!

For another day.

Over time I have become less interested in climate tech innovation and startups. So fickle. 😂

Don't get me wrong - I know a great many good technologies and people, and I still enjoy collaborating, supporting, advising and connecting startups and investors today.

We need innovation, we need startups, and I love and admire those that power on through. But that's not my main fit.

Over time I began to think about the urgency of our situation. Delivery now, not in 10 years. What impact I could make now, not maybe on something that could bear fruit if it scales.

We need large-scale emissions reduction, the evidence is clear. I also needed to dial in on what I enjoy, where I could find a metophorical home, and where I feel I could contribute to making an impact.

Go on then...

I have spent a lot of time speaking with, supporting and collaborating with people across geothermal energy, and heat networks.

They are natural bedfellows.

I've enjoyed dedicating some pro-bono support to Geothermal UK since its original inception, helping and watching it grow across the last couple of years. I believe in the mission and that the opportunity is very relevant, and very tangibly close, for the UK.

I am also a strong advocate for heat networks. Fortunately so is government. The target is for heat network derived heat to grow from 3% to 20% by 2050. That is a massive scale up.

But we aren't ready. I've been on the calls with clients, projects, local government, consultants, and seen, heard and learned that we lack the resource, skills, coordination, engagement, education, training and just about everything else to make it happen at scale.

No offence to anyone doing great work in those sectors - and there is great work happening as we speak. The policy ambition for growth is not matched by what's happening on the ground, yet.

What I see is need and opportunity, to focus on something where I believe I can help make a difference.

And that's already been happening. Working with a client across these sectors this last few months has only given me further encouragement that there is more I can do here.

And another thing!

What also annoys me, is policy is not reflecting our decarbonisation needs. Despite this great heat network ambition, it's not the whole answer, and is actually only a piece of the heat puzzle.

We continue to ignore Heat [and Cool] and focus on Power and Transport. Yes we need to work on all three, and we have, and are making great strides.

But Heat is playing second fiddle, in fact third fiddle. And thats wrong - because it's a massive challenge, but also it's the touchy-feely bit of the transition. People feel and need clean heat - it's the safety and sanctuary of home, or in fact not, if you are in fuel poverty.

And that's why we need to crack on - many people are being left behind in the transition already. The net zero media narrative continues to be a battle ground. We can shift that by getting everyday people on the bus - by helping people out of fuel poverty, off gas, and away from fossil energy shocks - of which there are undoubtedly more on the horizon.

Benefit people & place with positive change and outcomes, and the story takes care of itself.

And now we are all-in on cooling needs as well. 🥵

Geothermal and heat networks can help solve a lot of that.

There's always a 'but'...

Being a pragmatic realist, I know that I will continue to want, and need to work, with other clients from different sectors.

Some of you are subscribers here 😉

But setting out my ambitions in geothermal and heat networks gives me some personal focus and clarity, of where I should spend an increasing amount of my time.

And that comes in different forms. I have found myself running more events, convening events for clients, and now being asked to moderate industry events

This wasn't necessarily on my bingo card, but it's become 'a thing', and something I enjoy and want to do more of. If it puts me in the room with the right people and gets me more involved in the sector, then all good.

And then...?

Right now, today, no change here. The content remains as noted earlier. It might be shuffled about a bit and reorganised, but still available.

The Talking Climate Tech weekly newsletter is now officially retired. Farewell old friend.

🥺

In the meantime, I made a mini website about my services - if you are new here, you might be interested to read how I can support your business or organisation.

There will be some changes - remember, it's inevitable!

I hope you might stick it out with me, as I figure out what this site and newsletter looks like, and tag along as my journey moves forward.

At the same time, I appreciate that the new direction might not be where you want to go, or what you want to read about. That's ok, no hard feelings; if you want to unsubscribe, I won't be offended!

Thanks to you all for your ongoing support, it's been a blast 🙌

See you on the other side.

Kane // Konfab