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. AI - Small Language Models: Microsoft Research has released a suite of small language models (SLMs) called “Phi” that "achieve remarkable performance on a variety of benchmarks," the software company said. We don't know how much power Phi consumes compared to large language models (LLMs).
2. AI - Nuclear Power: Microsoft is experimenting with generative artificial intelligence to see if AI could help streamline the approval process for nuclear power to drive cloud services, The Wall Street Journal reported.
3. Networking - Energy Efficient Ethernet: Netgear's new cloud-managed S3600 smart switches leverage Energy Efficient Ethernet (IEEE 802.3az) for "maximum power savings," the company said. The energy-saving abilities include per-port automatic lower power mode when the port link is down, or idle, Netgear added.
4. Networking - Circular Business Practices: Cisco Systems continues to expand its circular business practices to reduce global e-waste, according to Senior VP Tim Coogan.
5. Guidebook - Emissions Impact Analysis: The U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and Amazon are developing a guidebook for emissions impact analysis.
6. Software: Orbus Software, a provider of enterprise architecture platforms, has added Sustainability Lens capabilities to its OrbusInfinity solution. The feature "enables organizations to see how business and technology decisions impact sustainability, helping them ensure that all regulatory targets are achieved," Orbus asserted. Partner Program: Orbus Software partner program details are here. And the company has been added to our Sustainability Partner Programs database.
7. Green Data Centers: Liberation Technology Services (LTS) and E-New Data Corp. plan to build a "cutting-edge, environmentally conscious facility" in 2024. The green edge data center, situated within the Cree Nation, will "leverage state-of-the-art cooling technology to drastically reduce power and water consumption compared to traditional Data Centers," the organizations said. E-New Data Corp. is a 100% First Nation-owned private enterprise of the Cree nation.
8. Rebrand - Software: Green Business Bureau has rebranded as Green Business Benchmark° (GBB). The company develops sustainability management software.
B. Sustainability M&A, Investments, Funding and Green IT Business Launches
1. M&A: TotalEnergies has acquired three technology start-ups in the electricity business. The deals involve Dsflow, Nash Renewables and Predictive Layer. The acquisitions will enable TotalEnergies to improve its B2B offers; the development of renewable projects; market analyses; and the deployment of EV charging points, the buyer said. TotalEnergies also acquired a 56% stake in Time2plug to "facilitate and accelerate the deployment of EV charging points in France for its small B2B customers." Each of the acquired businesses participated in the TotalEnergies On accelerator program. TotalEnergies, based in Paris is a global multi-energy company that produces and markets oil and biofuels, natural gas and green gases, renewables and electricity.
2. M&A - Electrical Integrator: ArchKey Solutions has acquired Total Electric, which specializes in electrical and specialty service, repair, maintenance, and tenant improvements for strategic clients across a diverse set of end markets.
3. M&A - Engineering Services: BPA of Montreal has acquired The Mitchell Partnership (TMP), a consulting engineering firm in Toronto, Ontario. The buyer's engineering expertise spans institutional, commercial, multi-residential and industrial buildings, as well in sustainability. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
4. M&A List: Here's our database of all M&A deals involving sustainability, green IT and renewable energy buyers, sellers and investors.
C. Regional and Global Sustainability Policies and News
1. United States - Energy Transition: Electricity generated from US solar and wind systems will surpass power produced by burning coal for the first time in 2024, driven by surging panel installations, Bloomberg reported.
2. United States - California Energy Storage: Ormat Technologies has signed a 15-year Energy Storage Service Agreement (ESSA) with San Diego Community Power (SDCP). The deal is part of SDCP’s commitment to "bring clean, reliable energy to its nearly one million customers," Ormat CEO Doron Blachar said.
3. Europe - Partnership: Benchmark Gensuite and Bemari have partnered to "boost the value of sustainability services for European subscribers by combining our respective expertise and solutions," the two companies said.
4. COP28 - Fossil Fuels Agreement: Representatives from nearly 200 countries agreed to begin reducing global consumption of fossil fuels to avert the worst of climate change, a first of its kind deal signaling the eventual end of the oil age, Reuters reported.
5. COP28 - Natural Gas: Climate talks in Dubai ended with a nod that lower-carbon fuels like natural gas will play a role in the shift to cleaner energy sources, Bloomberg reported.
D. Sustainability and Green Technology Conference Calendar
- Sustainability Forum Middle East (SFME) 2024 (January 8-9, Bahrain)
- European Chief Sustainability Awards (January 15, Davos)
- Intersolar North America and Energy Storage North America 2024 (January 17-19, San Diego, California)
- Recycling, Circular Design & Sustainable Sourcing for EV Batteries & Carbon Neutral Vehicles USA Congress 2024 (January 23-25, Detroit, Michigan)
- ARC Industry Leadership Forum 2024 (February 4-8, Orlando, Florida)
- Complete Calendar of Sustainability Conferences
E. Previous Updates & Future News
1. Did You Miss Yesterday's Daily Update?: Here is our previous sustainability, green IT and renewable energy news for technology partners.
2. Future Updates: Send us your news tips.Please email me the details.
