Here is today’s sustainability news, research and analysis for technology partners; renewable energy and green IT service providers; management consultants; CIOs; chief sustainability officers (CSOs) and c-suite members.
A. Sustainable Technology, Talent, Partnerships and Green IT Alliances
1. Intel Strategy: Here's why Intel doesn’t follow sustainability guidelines from the Science Based Targets initiative, according to a GreenBiz report.
2. Apple Vision Pro Headsets: Apple will begin pre-orders for Vision Pro headsets on January 19, and the headsets will begin shipping on February 2. We'll be watching to see if the Vision Pro headsets generate new types of sustainability-oriented headsets.
3. Talent and Executive Leadership - Supply Chains: Accenture has hired Infosys veteran Binny Mathews as chief procurement officer.
4. Talent and Executive Leadership - Gulf Region: Schneider Electric has promoted Amel Chadli to Gulf Cluster President. Chadli will "drive innovation and growth in digital transformation, sustainability, and energy management and industrial automation with artificial intelligence technologies across the Gulf region," the company said. Formerly, Chadli was the VP of digital energy and energy management software - Middle East & Africa, leading the company’s smart building, healthcare, and microgrid initiatives, the company said.
5. Microsoft - Solar Panels Purchase: Qcells has agreed to supply Microsoft with 12 gigawatts of solar panels that will be built at its second north Georgia factory, in what the companies say is the largest such deal in U.S. history, the Seattle Times reported.
6. Microsoft and OpenAI - Antitrust Prob: Microsoft's $13 billion investment into OpenAI risks a full-blown investigation by European Union deals watchdogs, after a mutiny at the ChatGPT creator laid bare deep ties between the two companies, Bloomberg Law reported.
7. AI and ESG Reporting: Using AI for ESG reporting involves opportunities and challenges, Reuters reported.
8. Research - Carbon Accounting Market Growth Forecast: Sales of carbon accounting software will reach $65.06 billion by 2030, up from $12.5 billion in 2023 -- generating a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 22.9% from 2023, according to SNS Insider.
B. Sustainability M&A, Investments, Funding and Green IT Business Launches
1. Investment - Carbon Capture Technology: The Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) has acquired a $10.1% stake in Storegga -- a UK-based carbon capture and storage (CCS) project company.
2. Funding: I Squared Capital, a global infrastructure investment manager, has agreed to invest up to $400 million in Órigo Energia, a distributed energy generation company in Brazil.
3. Potential Exit - Wind Farms: Eversource Energy is in advanced talks to unload its share in three offshore wind projects that it planned to build with Orsted A/S, and will take a fourth-quarter charge of as much as $1.6 billion, Bloomberg reported.
4. Potential M&A - IT Infrastructure: Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) is negotiating to potentially acquire Juniper Networks for roughly $13 billion, The Wall Street Journal reported.
5. M&A - Data Centers: T.Loop has acquired a data center in central Stockholm. The facility will be modernized and transformed into a Data Energy Center in 2024, the buyer said. T.Loop designs, build and operate Data Energy Centers (DEC). Financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.
6. M&A - ESG and EHS Software: VelocityEHS has acquired Contractor Compliance, a Canadian-based enterprise safety and risk management software solution provider. VelocityEHS develops SaaS-based software for EHS & ESG use cases. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
7. M&A - EV Batteries: Komatsu America Corp. is acquiring American Battery Solutions, a battery manufacturer headquartered in Detroit, Michigan, The Manufacturer reported. The deal is designed to accelerate battery-powered electric vehicle (EV) development. Financial terms were not disclosed.
8. M&A - Waste Management: Ridgewood Infrastructure has acquired Waste Resources Management, a provider of liquids and wastewater collection, treatment and disposal serving the commercial and industrial market. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
C. Regional and Global Sustainability Policies and News
1. United States - ESG Legal Case: A Wall Street challenge to Missouri’s ESG investing constraints can proceed in court after a federal judge rejected the state’s attempt to scuttle the case, Bloomberg Law reported.
2. United States - EV Charging Market Challenges: US electric vehicle charging installations fell significantly in 2023 companies grappled with financial challenges, according to a BloombergNEF report. Among the takeaways: US public charging installations were 76% below BNEF’s forecast in 2023 and they are expected to lag behind China and Europe this year, the report said.
3. United States - New York City Building Decarbonization: Onsite Utility Services Capital has launched a $200 million fund to help New York City businesses reach Local Law 97 Goals.
4. United Kingdom - Amazon and Wind Power: Amazon is reportedly set to announce a "significant investment" in the Moray West offshore wind farm, aiming to power its entire UK operations, Energy Live News reported.
5. United Kingdom - Fossil Fuel Policy Concerns: UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak faced fresh criticism of his plan to expand oil and gas drilling in the North Sea after a senior Conservative said he plans to rebel against legislation to implement the policy amid questions over its impact and efficacy, Bloomberg reported.
6. Norway - Renewable Energy Investments: State-owned Norwegian hydropower and renewable energy production company Statkraft plans to invest up to €6 billion in its hydro and wind facilities, and for the construction of new wind farms, ESG Today reported.
7. India - Energy Transition: Tata Power Co. Ltd. reached an exploratory agreement with the government of Tamil Nadu to invest an estimated $8.5 billion in clean energy projects, as the company seeks to decarbonize its generation capacity, Bloomberg reported.
D. Sustainability and Green Technology Conference Calendar
- CES 2024 (January 9-12, Las Vegas)
- European Chief Sustainability Awards (January 15, Davos)
- Intersolar North America and Energy Storage North America 2024 (January 17-19, San Diego, California)
- CleanTech Forum 2024 North America (January 22-24, San Diego, California)
- Recycling, Circular Design & Sustainable Sourcing for EV Batteries and Carbon Neutral Vehicles USA Conference 2024 (January 23-25, Detroit, Michigan)
- Complete Calendar of Sustainability Conferences
E. Previous Updates & Future News
- Did You Miss Yesterday's Daily Update?: Here is our previous sustainability, green IT and renewable energy news for technology partners.
- Future Updates: If you have news to share then please email me the details.
