The Week in Cleantech: 14 May 2023

Last week witnessed a deluge of funding initiatives across various cleantech sectors. The Australian government allocated an additional $4 billion towards the country's renewable energy pathway, the US EPA unveiled a $4 billion plan for zero-emissions ports and heavy-duty vehicles, and Wells Fargo announced $970,000 in funding for cleantech and agtech ecosystems. Meanwhile, BNP Paribas is going to cease funding for new oil and gas exploration projects.

Apex Clean Energy to build two energy storage facilities in Texas. The projects will use Powin's Centipede Platform and StackOS battery management system. (Renewables Now and 7 other sources)

Tesla breaks ground on Texas lithium refinery to support EV production. The $365 million plant will employ 165 people and use new production technology to reduce waste. (Elektrek and 6 other sources)

ProLogium to build $5.7bn battery gigafactory in Dunkirk, France, creating 3,000 jobs. The plant will produce solid-state batteries and is set to open in 2024. (Batteries News and 3 other sources)

Chinese battery maker Eve Power to build $1.18bn plant in Hungary. The plant will supply batteries to BMW's Debrecen plant. (Energy Storage Journal and 5 other sources)

Mosa Meat unveils new facility for large-scale cultivated meat production. The Dutch-based company is also working to clear regulatory hurdles in Singapore. (Green Queen and 2 other sources)

Fisker Ocean's European version has a 113 kWh battery, 440 miles of WLTP range, and a 33-minute DC fast-charging time. The electric SUV has a curb weight of 5,365 pounds, a GVWR of 6,557 lbs, and a towing capacity of 4,012 lbs. (InsideEVs and 7 other sources)

Honeywell's UOP eFining technology to produce low-carbon sustainable aviation fuel. HIF Global to deploy the technology at its second eFuels facility, with potential capacity to decarbonize over 12 billion air passenger miles per year. (ESG News and 3 other sources)

Goodyear's ElectricDrive GT tire for Tesla Model 3 goes green with carbon black from renewable electricity. The tire also has a built-in sound barrier for a quiet ride, and Goodyear is investigating the potential use of carbon black made from methane derived from waste sources. (Green Car Reports and 2 other sources)

Lypid introduces world's first plant-based pork belly product, hitting US and Taiwan markets in April 2023. Lypid Pork Belly is protein-rich, free from antibiotics and cholesterol, and contains 85% less saturated fat, 39% fewer calories, and 69% less sodium than traditional pork bacon. (iGrow News and 1 other source)

GEA redesigns pasta dryer to improve efficiency and reduce costs (Industrial News and 1 other source)

Codling Wind Park wins 1,300 MW offshore wind contract in Ireland. Construction could begin in 2026. (Offshore WIND and 11 other sources)

Aker Horizons to supply 200k tonnes of green ammonia annually to VNG AG. The clean fuel will be produced in Narvik, Norway and shipped to Germany. (Renewables Now and 3 other sources)

LanzaTech and ADNOC partner to reduce carbon footprint and produce sustainable fuels. LanzaTech's CCT technology uses bacteria to convert waste carbon into CarbonSmart™ chemical intermediates for the production of various hydrocarbons, and the partnership will explore gas fermentation technology for the production of ethanol and other chemical intermediates. (LanzaTech and 1 other source)

Call2Recycle partners with VMX International to expand EV battery collection and transportation. VMX will provide collection, transportation, removal, temporary storage, and battery shredding services. (Waste Advantage Magazine and 1 other source)

Aker Carbon Capture extends partnership with Carbfix for carbon capture and storage. The companies will develop complete CSS value chains for industrial carbon emitters using Carbfix's mineralization technology. (Carbon Herald and 1 other source)

Ingka Investments acquires 49% stake in Finnish offshore wind farms from OX2. The three facilities have a combined installed capacity of 6GW and will produce almost one-third of Finland's electricity consumption in 2022. (Power Technology and 5 other sources)

Australia's federal budget allocates an additional $4 billion towards the country's renewable energy pathway, including $2 billion for hydrogen, $90 million for storage projects, $14.8 million for the Powering Australia Industry Growth Centre, and $57.1 million to develop Critical Minerals International Partnerships. (pv magazine Australia and 9 other sources)

EPA unveils $4B plan for zero-emissions ports and heavy-duty vehicles. The Clean Ports Program and Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicle Program aim to reduce emissions and improve infrastructure. (Environment + Energy Leader and 1 other source)

The Agriculture Innovation Mission (AIM) for Climate partners exceed $10 billion investment challenge at COP28. The AIM for Climate Summit announced 21 new innovation sprints totaling an additional $1.8 billion in increased investment in climate-smart agriculture and food systems innovation. (ESG News and 1 other source)

Wells Fargo's IN² announces $970,000 in funding for cleantech and agtech ecosystems. Seven winners will receive between $100,000 to $250,000 to fund innovative and impactful projects that focus on fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion or supporting pilot and demonstration projects for startups. (AgriTech Tomorrow and 1 other source)

Biden administration allocates $830M to make low-income housing energy efficient. The funding notice for the Green and Resilient Retrofit Program aims to reduce costs and address climate change. (The Hill and 1 other source)

DOE invests nearly $600m in US hydroelectric and marine energy. The funding will support renewable electricity generation and reduce environmental impacts. (NS Energy and 1 other source)

Pivot Energy secures $203m financing for multi-state solar project portfolio. Silicon Valley Bank leads debt facilities for 100 MW DC portfolio in seven US states. (Solar Industry and 4 other sources)

Britvic cuts factory emissions by 1,200 tonnes annually with new heat recovery system. The £8m investment is part-funded by a £4.4m government grant from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. (Food and Drink Technology and 1 other source)

Glencore and Li-Cycle to study the potential construction of a European battery recycling hub in Italy. The hub would be built at an existing facility in Sardinia and would process 50,000-70,000 tonnes of black mass per year. (Rho Motion and 8 other sources)

Emirates pledges $200m to fund R&D into advanced fuel and energy technologies for commercial aviation. The initiative will identify partnerships with key organisations focused on projects to advance new fuel and energy technologies. (GreenAir and 2 other sources)

Ireland and New Zealand launch second joint research call on agriculture and climate change. The research will focus on land management, agricultural GHG emissions, ruminant systems, and digitalisation. (Agriland and 1 other source)

Biden administration invests $26m in clean energy grid projects across 15 sites in the US. The projects will test innovative technologies to build and support a resilient grid that automatically adjusts to changing demands, while promoting the adoption of affordable clean energy. (NS Energy and 1 other source)

Breedon Cement receives £230k from the UK government for CCS feasibility studies. The studies will focus on the use of carbon capture and storage facilities in cement production and developing a pipeline to transport captured emissions to a storage facility. (Construction News and 1 other source)

Rooftop solar panels could meet the electricity demand of up to 35% of US manufacturers, according to a study by Northeastern University. The research found that companies producing furniture, textiles and apparel were set to benefit most. (Solar Power World and 5 other sources)

China's plug-in electric car sales surge, with over 563,000 new registrations in March. BEVs represent 24% of new registrations, and BYD remains the most popular brand. (InsideEVs and 2 other sources)

Circular economy research overlooks impact on Global South, says report "The transition to a circular economy could create jobs but policies must promote sustainability and job quality". (Ecotextile and 1 other source)

"Proportional allocation best for plastic recycling," says Zero Waste Europe study. The study found that proportional allocation has the lowest impact on the level-playing field and the largest potential environmental benefits. (Recycling Magazine and 1 other source)

Public companies' global emissions budget for 1.5°C will expire by Oct 2026. Only 17% of their decarbonization targets align with the goal. (ESG News and 1 other source)

BNP Paribas to end funding for new oil and gas explorations. The French bank will cease financial support for all new oil and gas developments, regardless of financing methods. (Offshore Technology and 5 other sources)

Canadian startups urged to improve handling of e-waste to create positive environmental impact. Electronic Recycling Association offers repurposing services and calls for more evolved programs and a national e-waste management strategy built around awareness and inclusiveness. (Betakit and 2 other sources)

NextEra Energy Partners to sell its natural gas pipelines and focus on renewable energy investment, including green hydrogen. This move contradicts Florida Governor Ron DeSantis' anti-renewable energy stance. (CleanTechnica and 2 other sources)

Fortum's Kalle Saarimaa appointed CEO of Tana Oy, a Finnish waste management company. Saarimaa brings extensive expertise in circular economy solutions and will lead Tana's growth strategy. (Recycling Production News and 1 other source)

EU Parliament votes for stricter measures to reduce methane emissions in energy sector. The legislation includes tighter rules for monitoring emissions and leak detection and repair requirements. (POLITICO and 4 other sources)

US Treasury and IRS release guidance on domestic content bonus for clean energy projects. Projects that meet American manufacturing and sourcing requirements receive up to a 10% bonus under the Production Tax Credit and Investment Tax Credit. (Solar Industry and 1 other source)

EPA rule on power plants expected to promote carbon capture, but questions remain about its viability and cost. The technology needs to be deployed quickly to meet climate goals, but environmentalists argue that it's a handout to the fossil fuel industry. (E&E News - Energywire and 1 other source)

Meatable hosts its first cultivated meat-tasting event in Singapore, moving closer to regulatory approval. The Dutch food technology pioneer aims to enter the Singaporean market in 2024, followed by the U.S. market, with strategic partnerships to refine and launch its products. (Green Queen and 1 other source)

Join edie's Circular Economy Action Sessions on May 25th to learn from circular economy leaders and explore practical solutions to accelerate the transition towards a regenerative economy. The free-to-attend online event will feature three webinars focused on waste management, circular economy business case studies, and eliminating single-use plastics. (edie and 3 other sources)

"Plastics Recycling Awards Europe 2023 Winners Announced in Amsterdam" - Seven category winners recognized for circular use of plastics and recycling innovation. (Recycling Magazine and 1 other source)

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