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. IT Consulting, Cloud Services and Generative AI: Global IT consulting firm Deloitte has launched the Geospatial and AI Platform for Scenario Planning and Monitoring. The solution is powered by Google Earth integrations, Google Earth Engine (GEE) and Generative AI technology from Vertex AI. The solution can help customers to "leverage AI and geospatial data to take action on sustainability and climate as they work toward positive economic, social and environmental outcomes," Deloitte said.
2. Semiconductors and Scope 3: The Semiconductor Climate Consortium has introduced a Scope 3 Category 1 Assessment guide.
3. Partnership - Analyics and ESG Consulting: Data analytics software provider Datagration and consulting firm Langan are partnering to assist customers with ESG software deployments.
4. Carbon Capture: Drax Group Plc plans to start a US-based business to oversee construction and development of its new carbon-capture plants worldwide, Bloomberg reported.
5. Tesla Energy Storage Business: Tesla said its energy-storage division — the unit that makes utility and home batteries — will likely be its growth engine for rate of deployments and revenue in 2024. Bloomberg reported.
B. Sustainability M&A, Investments, Funding and Green IT Business Launches
1. Climate Tech Accelerators: SUITz Tokyo has been added to our list of sustainability accelerators for startups.
2. Funding - Electric Vehicle (EV) Batteries: Sion Power has raised $75 million, led by LG Energy Solution. Valuation terms were not disclosed.
3. ESG Investor Exodus: For the first time ever, ESG funds saw net global outflows in 2023 amid a major exodus by US investors from environmental, social and governance strategies, Bloomberg reported.
4. M&A - Automotive Software: Stellantis N.V. has acquired CloudMade, a software company focused on automotive solutions. The asset-centric acquisition involves cloud software, developer kits and 44 engineers. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
5. M&A - Recycling: Revolution Sustainable Solutions has acquired PolyAg Recycling, a Canadian mechanical recycler of agricultural films. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
6. M&A - Renewables: SLR has acquired ITPEnergised, a UK-based consultancy focused on the renewables sector. ITPEnergised has roughly 100 employees. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
7. Complete 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 - Natural Gas Policy: The Biden administration is set to unveil plans within days for intensifying environmental scrutiny of applications to export natural gas, potentially stalling massive planned projects for months, if not longer, Bloomberg reported.
2. United States - New Jersey Offshore Wind Farms: Stung by the pullout of the world’s largest offshore wind developer from two projects off the New Jersey coast in 2023, state energy regulators approved two new wind farm projects, saying they remain committed to making the state a leader in the nascent industry, the Associated Press reported.
3. European Union - ESG Disclosure Policies: European Union lawmakers backed a two-year delay in sector-specific rules for the oil, energy and mining industries, to make more detailed disclosures on ESG, citing the need to ease regulatory burdens on companies.
4. China - Energy Transition: Clean energy accounted for 40% of China’s economic growth in 2023, according to the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air, potentially giving the sector more political heft in Beijing, Bloomberg reported.
D. Sustainability and Green Technology Conference Calendar
- Green Investment and Sustainability Summit 2024 (January 30-31, Chennai, India)
- ARC Industry Leadership Forum 2024 (February 4-8, Orlando, Florida)
- Music Sustainability Summit 2024Â (February 5, Los Angeles, California)
- ConnectWise Automation Nation 2024 (February 6-10, Tampa, Florida)
- GTDC Summit North America 2024 (February 7-9, Oceanside, California)
- 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.
