Amperesand’s technology replaces the iron cores that define old transformers with silicon carbide. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.
Category: Climate
Climate, data centers, Global IT News, Global Security News, Government & Policy, Trump Administration, Wind power
Trump moves to sink offshore wind
President Trump signed an executive order that halted federal leases for offshore wind development on the outer continental shelf. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.
Amazon, AWS, Climate, Enterprise, Global IT News, Global Security News, net zero, renewable energy, Solar Power, sustainability, Wind power
Amazon bought more renewable power last year than any other company
Amazon added around 100 new renewable projects last year. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.
Climate, Denmark, Donald Trump, Founders Fund, Global IT News, Global Security News, Government & Policy, greenland, Ken Howery, PayPal Mafia, Real estate, Venture
Ken Howery: the tech mogul at the center of Trump’s Greenland ambition
Surprise! Donald Trump’s big, audacious ambition to buy Greenland from Denmark has a tech angle. Ken Howery, named by U.S. President-elect Trump’s pick to be the next ambassador to the country (and thus chief broker of any deal), is one more part of the rich seam of tech people running through Trump’s upcoming administration. Part…
Climate, critical minerals, Global IT News, Global Security News, Government & Policy, mining, oceans, Policy
Trump administration might give a boost to deep-sea mining for critical minerals
A string of nominees all previously said that they support the practice A string of nominees all previously said that they support the controversial practice. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.
Climate, climate tech, Global IT News, Global Security News, Venture
Climate tech matured in 2024 as investors favored bigger rounds, later stages
Climate tech may have had a down year in 2024, but new data also shows a maturing sector with larger deal sizes. Venture investment in the climate tech sector was down 7% to $12.9 billion, $1 billion shy of 2023’s tally, according to data in a new PitchBook report. The report found that round size…
carbon credits, Climate, Exclusive, Global IT News, Global Security News, Google, Varaha
Google strikes world’s largest biochar carbon removal deal with Indian startup Varaha
Google has agreed to purchase 100,000 tons of carbon dioxide removal credits from Indian startup Varaha. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.
AI, Climate, data centers, Engie, Enterprise, Facebook, Global IT News, Global Security News, Meta, renewable energy, Solar Power
Meta adds 200 megawatts of solar to its 12 gigawatt renewable portfolio
The news comes as tech companies ramp up their AI ambitions, adding data centers at a breakneck pace and boosting demand for power. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.
Biotech & Health, Climate, Colossal Biosciences, CRISPR, de-extinction tech, Global IT News, Global Security News, Startups, synthetic biology
Colossal Biosciences raises $200M at $10.2B valuation to bring back woolly mammoths
Colossal Biosciences wants to bring back the woolly mammoth and has raised $200 million at a $10.2 billion valuation to do it. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.
Climate, Global IT News, Global Security News
Data center power demand will double over the next five years
Data centers are expected to continue growing at a breakneck pace, doubling their power demand by 2029, according to a new report from JLL. The industry’s expansion, fueled by the rapid growth of AI alongside the continued expansion of cloud-based services, is testing the limits of the energy sector. Some experts think that half of…
Climate, emergency alert, Global IT News, Global Security News, LA wildfire, privacy, push notifications
Every smartphone in LA accidentally received a wildfire evacuation alert
As wildfires rage for the third consecutive day through parts of Los Angeles, now including the Hollywood Hills, several neighborhoods have been forced to evacuate for safety purposes. But on Thursday afternoon, a wildfire evacuation alert was mistakenly sent to the smartphone of every resident in Los Angeles County, a region with more than 9…
Apps, Climate, consumer apps, Global IT News, Global Security News, top apps, wildfires
Watch Duty surpasses ChatGPT as top free app on App Store as California fires spread
Watch Duty, an app to track wildfires with live maps and alerts, has become the No. 1 free app in Apple’s App Store as of Wednesday morning. The fire-tracking app surpassed the ChatGPT app for the No. 1 spot as devastating fires continue to rage across Southern California. ChatGPT had been in the No. 1…
biomanufacturing, biosphere, Biotech & Health, biotechnology, Climate, electrification, Exclusive, Fundraising, Global IT News, Global Security News, Lowercarbon Capital, VXI Capital
Biosphere zaps germs with UV light to make biomanufacturing cheaper
Using LEDs has the potential to bring down the cost of biomanufacturing, allowing such processes to make materials that previously would have been too expensive. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.
Climate, Fundraising, Global IT News, Global Security News, robotics, Startups, Xocean
Xocean raises $119M to capture ocean data with uncrewed surface vessels
Xocean, an Irish marine robotics startup that provides ocean data to the energy and hydrography industries using uncrewed surface vessels (USVs), has raised €115 million ($119 million) as it looks to expand coverage to additional sectors. Founded in 2017, Xocean has built a fleet of remotely-controlled USVs that can remain offshore for long periods of…
Apps, Climate, consumer apps, Global IT News, Global Security News, top apps, wildfires
Watch Duty surpasses ChatGPT as top free app on App Store as California fires spread
Watch Duty, an app to track wildfires with live maps and alerts, has become the number one free app in Apple’s App Store as of Wednesday morning. The fire tracking app surpassed the ChatGPT app for the number one spot as devastating fires continue to rage across Southern California. Watch Duty has been around since…
Artificial Intelligence (AI), Climate, electrical grid, Exclusive, Fundraising, Global IT News, Global Security News, Gridware, Power Lines, Sequoia Partners
Gridware’s boxes literally listen to power lines to find outages
Gridware’s sensors listen for sounds that the company’s software has been trained to identify as different hazards to the grid. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.
Climate, data centers, Deep Fission, endeavour, Enterprise, fission, Global IT News, Global Security News, nuclear power
Nuclear startup Deep Fission plans to bury micro-reactors to power data centers
Deep Fission’s small modular reactors would be lowered on cables down a 30-inch, one-mile deep borehole. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.
Alta Resource Technologies, biotech, Climate, critical minerals, DCVC, Exclusive, Global IT News, Global Security News, Hardware, rare earth minerals, Voyager Ventures
Alta Resource breaks down e-waste for rare earth metals that electronics need
Nvidia, Apple, and the Pentagon want more rare earth metals. Alta says it can capture more of the critical minerals from low-grade sources than other methods. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.
agriculture, AgTech, CES, Climate, full nature farms, Global Security News, Startups
Full Nature Farms launches smart irrigation system at CES 2025 to reduce agricultural water waste
Agriculture, which consumes about 70% of global freshwater, is grappling with increased water scarcity and inefficient irrigation systems. Traditional methods of irrigation not only lead to wasted water and nutrients, but also contribute to lower crop yields, food insecurity, and unnecessary carbon emissions. Hong-Kong based agriculture technology startup Full Nature Farms thinks there’s a better…
Climate, Global IT News, Global Security News, Government & Policy, green hydrogen, Hydrogen, inflation reduction act, tax credits
Hydrogen tax credit rules give startups clarity while boosting nuclear and carbon capture
Hydrogen startups are widely seen as a promising way to eliminate fossil fuels from heavy industry and long-haul transportation. But they have been stuck in limbo for the last couple years, waiting for official guidance from the U.S. Treasury on lucrative tax credits. The wait ended today, with the Treasury announcing final rules for hydrogen…
Climate, electra, Exclusive, Fundraising, Global IT News, Global Security News, scoop, steel
Electra found a cheap, clean way to purify iron, and it’s raising $257M to make it happen
Electra has raised $76.3 million to clean up the dirty ironmaking industry, TechCrunch has learned. The startup has developed a novel method of using electricity to coax pure iron out of low-grade ores, opening the door to cleaner steel. The new funding round, which was disclosed in a regulatory filing, seeks to raise a total…
Andreessen Horowitz, Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Climate, Durable Capital Partners, Fundraising, Global IT News, Global Security News, Kobold Metals, t.rowe price
KoBold used AI to find copper. Now investors are piling in to the tune of $537M
The Bill Gates-backed startup uses AI to comb through massive data sets in an attempt to find more critical minerals. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.
Artificial Intelligence (AI), Climate, climate tech, fusion power, Global IT News, Global Security News, Hydrogen, nuclear power, Startups
2025 will be the year climate tech learns to love AI
As 2025 dawns, it’s a good time to look at the trends that are likely to define the coming 12 months. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.
Climate, Climate Capital, early stage investors, Exclusive, Global IT News, Global Security News, Juniper, synthetic biology, Venture
Juniper Ventures spins out of Climate Capital to invest in synthetic biology for the climate
The first Juniper fund is $10.6 million and is oversubscribed. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.
Climate, climate tech, Commentary, Global IT News, Global Security News, vc trends
If climate tech is dead, what comes next?
Climate tech is about a decade old, and people are itching for a rebrand. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.
Climate, energy, Global IT News, Global Security News, Hardware, hyme, hyme energy, Thermal
After raising $26M, Hyme Energy signs global deal to scale thermal storage
With lithium battery storage too weak for many industries, companies are desperately looking elsewhere for energy storage. Molten-salt batteries offer high energy and power density, and can work for long periods. Now, Denmark’s Hyme Energy — which has raised $26 million to date — has signed a deal which could see its technology scale to…
california, california air resources board, clean air act, Climate, epa, Global IT News, Global Security News, Transportation, zero emissions
California can ban new gas cars starting in 2035, EPA says
California’s phase out would begin in 2026, when the state will require 35% of automakers’ sales to be zero emissions vehicles. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.
Climate, Global Security News, Startups, sustainable ocean alliance
Sustainable Ocean Alliance marks 10 years with ocean-friendly startup label and a new batch of ‘ecopreneurs’
Over the last decade, the Sustainable Ocean Alliance has graduated from dorm room activism to a thousands-strong global network of experts, investors, and “ecopreneurs” — all of whom believe the best way to save the ailing oceans is to embrace innovation. Founder Daniela Fernandez has steered the ship the whole time, and the SOA is…
Climate, data centers, fission, Global IT News, Global Security News, nuclear power, Oklo, sam altman, Startups
Sam Altman-backed nuclear startup Oklo lands massive data center power deal, with caveats
Among the hurdles, Oklo still hasn’t received approval from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission after having its previous application denied. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.
Climate, Commonwealth Fusion Systems, Fusion, fusion power, Global IT News, Global Security News, nuclear fusion, Startups
Commonwealth Fusion Systems just picked its first commercial site partly because of its proximity to Washington, D.C.
The fusion startup intends to hook the power plant up to the grid in the early 2030s. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.
Climate, Exclusive, Focused Energy, fusion power, Global IT News, Global Security News, lasers, nuclear fusion, Startups
Focused Energy buys two of the world’s most powerful lasers for its fusion quest
The massive lasers will be installed in the startup’s future facility, which it is building in the San Francisco Bay Area. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.
Climate, climate tech, Exclusive, g2 venture partners, Global IT News, Global Security News, scoop, Venture, venture capital
G2 Ventures Partners is raising $750 million for a third fund
The raise is a bullish vote of confidence in climate and sustainability startups. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.
Climate, climate tech, Exclusive, g2 venture partners, Global IT News, Global Security News, scoop, Venture, venture capital
G2 Ventures Partners is raising $750 million for a third fund
The raise is a bullish vote of confidence in climate and sustainability startups. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.
Climate, climate tech, Exclusive, g2 venture partners, Global IT News, Global Security News, scoop, Venture, venture capital
G2 Ventures Partners is raising $750 million for a third fund
The raise is a bullish vote of confidence in climate and sustainability startups. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.
AI, Artificial Intelligence (AI), carbon capture and storage, CCS, Climate, data centers, Enterprise, exxon, exxonmobil, Global IT News, Global Security News, power plant
Exxon can’t resist the AI power gold rush
The oil and gas company announced that it’s planning to build a massive power plant for data centers. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.
advanced technology vehicles manufacturing loan, Climate, Department of Energy, EV batteries, Global IT News, Global Security News, Government & Policy, Rivian, Samsung SDI, Solar Power, starplus energy, Stellantis, sunwealth, Transportation
Biden administration races to approve clean energy loans before Trump takes over — here’s who is benefiting
The Department of Energy (DOE) is on a loan-approval spree in the lead-up to President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration, and the winners are all companies manufacturing clean energy solutions on U.S. soil. Companies like Stellantis and Samsung, Rivian, and most recently, EVgo. Trump has promised to cancel any unspent federal dollars under President Joe Biden’s Inflation…
Climate, DOE, EV charging, evgo, Global IT News, Global Security News, Government & Policy, inflation reduction act, Transportation
EVgo secures $1.25 billion loan amid Biden’s rush to approve clean energy loans
Electric vehicle charging startup EVgo is the latest company to secure funds from the U.S. Department of Energy as the Biden administration races to approve clean energy loans before Donald Trump takes over. Trump has promised to cancel any unspent funds from Biden’s bipartisan Inflation Reduction Act, including the $7,500 tax credit for new EV…
accelerators, activate, Climate, Exclusive, Global IT News, Global Security News, Startups, The Engine
Activate and The Engine Accelerator team up to train scientists to become founders
Two prominent programs, Activate and The Engine Accelerator, have decided they can give founders an advantage if they team up. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.