Welcome to Climate Tech Pulse, your daily dose of market intelligence helping fuel the fight against climate change. From groundbreaking investments to cutting-edge research, we’re bringing you the latest in climate tech that’s shaping our future.
Don’t miss out on tomorrow’s climate solutions – subscribe now to stay ahead of the curve! https://lnkd.in/dwr7B9XJ
Today’s newsletter:
🔝Today’s Top Story: DCVC has secured over $700 million across two new funds, pushing its total funding to over $1.6 billion in the last two-and-a-half years.
📊 Today’s Data Point: Next round of Nationally Determined Contributions presents a significant opportunity for countries to enhance methane commitments.
🌳 Climate Insider Intelligence: Larry Ellison’s $100 Billion Bet on Nuclear Power to Drive Oracle’s AI Revolution.
DCVC Secures $700M to Drive Deep Tech Innovation in Climate, Bio, and Beyond: A New Era of Venture Capital for Global Impact
Image Credit: DCVC
DCVC Raises $700 Million for Deep Tech Expansion
DCVC has secured over $700 million across two new funds, pushing its total funding to over $1.6 billion in the last two-and-a-half years. This capital will further strengthen DCVC’s focus on deep tech innovation aimed at solving trillion-dollar challenges. With a mission to drive both financial and societal outcomes, DCVC continues to back companies transforming industries like energy, medicine, and agriculture.
DCVC Climate Fund: Tackling the World’s Toughest Climate Challenges
DCVC’s newly established Climate Fund will target breakthroughs in climate technology, focusing on decarbonization, energy transition, and climate resilience. Recent investments like Fervo Energy and Twelve, which are leading projects in geothermal energy and sustainable aviation fuel, reflect the fund’s commitment to advancing commercially viable solutions with massive environmental impact.
DCVC Bio III: Revolutionizing Medicine and Biotechnology
Building on its success, DCVC Bio III,Co-founded by DCVC founders Matt Ocko and Zachary Bogue, along with Dr. John Hamer and Dr. Kiersten Stead, aims to harness AI and data-driven biology to unlock new medical, agricultural, and material innovations. Early investments include Radionetics Oncology, which received $140 million from Lilly, and Latus Bio, developing gene therapies for central nervous system disorders, setting the stage for transformative advancements in healthcare. Read More
Market Movers
- The AIIB’s $100 million commitment to the Actis Asia Climate Transition Fund and co-investment reflects its dedication to fostering sustainable infrastructure and low-carbon solutions across Asia-Pacific, advancing climate transition efforts in countries like India, China, and the Philippines, while reinforcing regional partnerships for key infrastructure projects. Read More
- Climate Coalition, part of the U.S.’s $14 billion National Clean Investment Fund, has made its first investment of $31.8 million to support Scenic Hill Solar in building 18 solar power plants across Arkansas, aiming to generate over 4 billion kWh of clean electricity and advance clean energy adoption in the state. Read More
- London-based Notpla, a developer of sustainable packaging materials from seaweed and plants, has secured £20 million in Series A funding to expand into the North American market, scale up manufacturing, and broaden its product range, reflecting growing investment in innovative eco-friendly packaging solutions. Read More
Tech Spotlight
Sustainable Synthesis of Covalent Organic Frameworks for CO2 Capture
Source: Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, University of Siegen, Nature Communications
An international research team, led by HHU Düsseldorf and the University of Siegen, has synthesized a novel class of covalent organic frameworks (COFs) based on polyphosphonates. These frameworks are stable, water-resistant, and can be employed for capturing carbon dioxide (CO2). The breakthrough synthesis method is solvent-free and scalable, offering a cost-effective approach to COF production.
Commercial Viability
Regulatory Challenges:
COFs synthesized using this method offer strong resistance to water and electrolytes, which opens possibilities for industrial applications in challenging environments such as waste gas cleaning. This may attract regulatory attention regarding safety and environmental impacts. However, the adoption of this technology will depend on the alignment with global carbon capture regulations and emission control standards.
Cost-Effectiveness:
The solvent-free, solid-state synthesis process significantly reduces costs, making it scalable from kilogrammes to tonnes. This affordability positions the new COFs as a competitive alternative to existing microporous materials used in industrial CO2 capture systems.
Technical Viability
Synthesis Innovation:
The research highlights the successful development of polyphosphonate COFs, which are joined via phosphorus-oxygen-phosphorus bonds. Synthesized at only 200°C, the frameworks offer excellent stability under mild conditions, making them suitable for water and electrolyte environments—an area where many other COFs fall short.
Crystallization and Structure:
Despite being amorphous and not crystallizing well, the team confirmed the bonding structure through nuclear magnetic resonance techniques. This is a critical milestone for understanding the properties and enhancing the material’s efficiency in gas capture applications.
Environmental Viability
Sustainability Alignment:
The framework’s ability to capture CO2 and release it upon a slight pressure change represents a sustainable solution for greenhouse gas mitigation. Additionally, the solvent-free synthesis method contributes to eco-friendly production, aligning with sustainability goals in manufacturing.
Climate Impact:
By offering a low-cost and scalable approach to CO2 capture, these COFs could play a significant role in reducing industrial emissions and advancing global decarbonization efforts.
Scaling Potential
Investment Strategies:
The solvent-free synthesis method paves the way for large-scale production, appealing to industries focused on decarbonization. Investment in these frameworks could drive advancements in sectors like waste gas cleaning and other greenhouse gas management technologies.
Future Opportunities:
The robustness of these COFs in water-rich environments opens up new opportunities for their use in sectors that were previously unable to utilize COF-based technology. Their adaptability to industrial processes for CO2 capture could lead to widespread adoption in carbon management systems.
Long-Term Implications
Transformative Impact on Carbon Capture Technologies:
The successful implementation of this class of COFs could transform CO2 capture technology, making it more accessible and cost-effective for industries aiming to reduce emissions. The scalability of the process ensures long-term impact on climate solutions.
Strategic Planning for the Future:
This innovation supports long-term decarbonization strategies, offering a practical solution to capture and recycle greenhouse gases. As global regulations tighten around carbon emissions, these COFs could be a vital component of industrial strategies for sustainable growth. Read More
Policy Pulse
This section includes global updates on climate change policy, governance and regulation.
Saudi Arabia, Colombia, and Azerbaijan call for integrated response to climate change, biodiversity, and land degradation at the UN.
The “Rio Trio Initiative” marks a pivotal collaboration between the incoming presidents of the UN’s three Rio Conventions—Saudi Arabia, Colombia, and Azerbaijan—to address climate change, biodiversity loss, and land degradation, signaling a unified, integrated global effort to tackle these interrelated environmental crises ahead of key 2024 conventions.
Why it Matters: The Rio Trio Initiative is significant because it unites key global environmental conventions, fostering coordinated international action to address the interconnected crises of climate change, biodiversity loss, and land degradation, which are critical to achieving sustainable solutions. Read More
Today’s Climate Data Point
Next round of Nationally Determined Contributions presents a significant opportunity for countries to enhance methane commitments.
Source: International Energy Agency (IEA) report on Nationally Determined Contributions and methane emissions.
A significant number of countries have committed to the Global Methane Pledge, aiming to collectively reduce methane emissions by at least 30% from 2020 levels by 2030. However, many nations still lack detailed policies to actualize these commitments. The upcoming updates to Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement offer a critical chance to transition from pledges to actionable policies.
Key Findings:
Opportunity for Emission Reductions:
The IEA has identified over 60 countries that could collectively decrease greenhouse gas emissions by an additional 1.2 gigatonnes (Gt) of CO₂-equivalent by 2030 through methane pledges included in their NDC updates, due by February 2025. This reduction would be comparable to eliminating all emissions from international aviation and shipping.
Potential for Significant Methane Cuts:
Fossil fuel activities contributed approximately 120 million tonnes (Mt) of methane emissions in 2023, which constitutes over one-third of total methane emissions from human activities. The IEA emphasizes that a 75% reduction in these emissions by 2030 is crucial to limit global warming to 1.5 °C, in line with Paris Agreement objectives.
Current NDC Limitations:
While methane is included in the scope of nearly all active NDCs, only about 30 mention specific measures to reduce emissions from fossil fuel operations, and a mere nine establish quantitative targets. The current NDCs and methane pledges primarily cover the period until 2030, while the next NDCs will extend this horizon to 2035.
Implications:
Boosting Ambition:
Translating existing methane pledges into actionable NDCs could significantly enhance emission reductions in more than 60 countries. For instance, if these countries implement a 30% reduction in domestic methane emissions, their overall greenhouse gas emissions could decrease by 10% from 2020 to 2030, rather than rising by over 10% as currently projected.
Policy Recommendations:
To effectively integrate methane mitigation into NDCs, countries are encouraged to:
- Enhance Measurement and Reporting: Strengthen monitoring and verification of methane emissions to identify high-emission sources and track progress toward reduction targets.
- Implement Proven Policies: Introduce established policies such as leak detection and repair, equipment mandates, and restrictions on flaring and venting, which can be enacted before baseline emissions are established.
- Target Super Emitters: Employ technologies like optical gas imaging and satellite monitoring to detect and respond to large leaks, as demonstrated by the United States’ new regulations.
- Develop Sectoral Reduction Strategies: Establish specific measures tailored to different sectors, which can guide companies and consumers in anticipating and planning for requirements.
Conclusion:
The next updates to Nationally Determined Contributions are pivotal for integrating methane reduction commitments into national policies. With robust actions, countries can capitalize on existing pledges, enhance their ambitions, and contribute significantly to global climate goals, all while ensuring that communities reliant on fossil fuels are supported during the transition. Read More
Climate Insider Intelligence: Larry Ellison’s $100 Billion Bet on Nuclear Power to Drive Oracle’s AI Revolution
Image Credit: Oracle
In a notable announcement, Oracle’s co-founder Larry Ellison reveals a bold strategy to harness nuclear power for the next wave of artificial intelligence innovation. This move, discussed during the Oracle Financial Analyst Meeting 2024, highlights the escalating energy demands of frontier AI and the fierce competition among tech giants to secure their foothold in this evolving landscape. With a staggering projected investment of $100 billion over the next few years, Oracle’s commitment to nuclear energy not only showcases its determination to lead in AI but also signals a transformative shift in the tech industry’s approach to sustainable energy solutions. Dive into our in-depth analysis of how this audacious plan could reshape the future of both AI and the energy sector. Read More
