The Secret To Driving Decarbonization
Energy Terminal Weekly Newsletter
February 14th 2023 | Issue #39 | Subscribe here
Happy Valentine's Day ❤️!
Welcome back to ET weekly, Energy Terminal's weekly newsletter where we cover trends, opportunities, events and updates across the energy industry.
In this issue:
‼️ Decarbonization ‼️
👀 Our brand new referral program
🔋 Foldable, bendable batteries?!
📈 Minnesota's ambitions climate plans
⛔ The EU's 'crisis mode' electricity market plan
🚨 Top 3 Energy Jobs 🚨
1) G2 Venture Partners, Summer Investment Intern
• G2 Venture Partners invests in technology companies at their inflection points to build a sustainable future. As a summer investment intern, you’ll lead deep-dives and work on exciting new deals.
2) Vestas, Wind-Energy Development Analyst
• Vestas is one of the largest manufacturers of wind turbines in the world. As a wind energy development analyst, you’ll work to support implementation of renewable energy projects.
3) Raptor Maps, Product Intern
• Raptor Maps is a venture-backed startup providing software to support solar energy projects. As a product intern, you’ll engage with product development and identify new market opportunities.
🌟 Startup Spotlight: Sealed
Sealed is on a mission to stop home energy waste and electrify all homes. Check out their website for more!
📣 Episode 23
When you think about sustainability, you might not think about industries like chemicals, industrials, and oil & gas. But for sustainability-focused professionals, these sectors hold some of the biggest opportunities to make a massive impact.
On Episode 23, we’re joined by Brandon Spencer, President of ABB’s Energy Division. Leading more than 8500 employees across 43 countries, Brandon works with companies across hard-to-abate industries to reduce emissions along their value chains by combining technology solutions with industry best practices. In the episode, we talk about the future of emissions-intensive industries, why it’s important to work with them to drive decarbonization, how sustainability professionals can make an impact, and how to get involved.
📚 Reading List (2/13- 2/20)
Printable batteries?! 100% Clean Energy by 2024 😱 10 Billion for energy subsidies!! Check out this week’s handpicked reading list to learn more about these groundbreaking energy topics 🔥
🎙️Podcasts:
Oil and Gas Startups (Digital Wildcatters), Clean Energy Services
Ahmad Atwan, CEO and Founder of VC Fuel and Clean Energy Services, is a serial entrepreneur also with experience in private investments at Blackrock
Realizing a gap in the industry, Ahmad founded Clean Energy Services to be a holistic service provider to clean energy developers, much like oilfield services companies for the oil and gas industry
Ahmad predicts a boom in service-based companies for the energy transition
Volts, Decarbonizing US transportation with an eye toward global justice
The transportation sector is the highest carbon emitting sector in the US, and its emissions are actually rising
A commonly proposed solution is more electric vehicles, but this would dramatically raise demand for minerals like lithium that are often mined in ways which harm biodiversity and local populations
While there are less destructive ways to mine minerals like lithium, the transportation sector also has the potential to decarbonize in less car-intensive ways by focusing more on public transport and walking/cycling infrastructure
Zero, Everybody wants a better battery, Christine Ho is printing one
Christine Ho is the founder of Imprint Energy, a startup that is making foldable batteries that can be used as smart labels
This technology, that allows shipping labels to not only be tracked, but also report movement, temperature and the humidity packages are exposed to, is going to be a game changer for the agricultural industry
The idea for these smart labels came from Christine’s PhD, where she investigated IoT (the Internet of Things) and zinc batteries ( a safer, less flammable alternative to lithium ion batteries)
Imprint Energy is optimizing delivery, reducing both emissions and fuel costs
Their technology can cut back on delivery waste immensely
Imprint’s batteries start as raw materials (powders and solvents), they then mixes these powders into a white paste, and print this paste by squeezing it through a stencil
Their innovative procedure is compact, it consists of printing batteries, drying them and laminating them. All of this can be done in a space no larger than a classroom
📰️ Articles:
Canary Media, Minnesota’s new climate bill is ambitious: 100% clean energy by 2040
Minnesota’s new climate law outlines two mandates for electric utilities: a renewable electricity standard and a carbon free energy standard
The bill also has provisions to speed up permitting for new energy projects, set a minimum wage requirement for workers hired by the state’s utilities, and prevent power from waste incineration plants in low income communities from counting towards the 2040 target
Some oppose the legislation because they say it will make energy “unreliable, unsafe, and even dangerous”, while others argue that it will do the opposite and improve grid reliability and reduce costs for the public
Reuters, Countries warn EU against ‘crisis mode’ overhaul of energy market
The EU is planning on revamping electricity market rules
They want to better cushion consumers from fossil fuel price spikes
However, seven countries (Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Estonia, Finland, Luxembourg and Latvia) have written a letter warning against major changes
They believe only minor tweaks should be made to the electricity market
The letter said that the existing market has fostered a growth of renewables, years of low electricity prices and has ensured enough power has been produced to meet demand
Spain and France, on the other hand, want deeper reform
Spain proposed a longer term, fixed-price contract for power plants
Wall Street Journal, New $10 Billion Program for Energy Subsidies Set for Rollout
The excitement about the IRA is beginning to come to fruition with the rollout of billions in tax credits for renewables in low-income communities
The IRA’s groundbreaking $370 billion will be spread over the coming decade-ish through a variety of programs like this one
⏰ Missed Episode 23?
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