Here is today’s sustainability news, research and analysis for technology partners; renewable energy and green IT service providers; Today's sustainability news also involves management consultants; CIOs; chief sustainability officers (CSOs), c-suite members and climate accounting professionals.
A. Sustainable Technology, Talent, Partnerships and Green IT Alliances
1. AI and Processors: Intel has announced Hala Point, a "neuromorphic system" that leverages a brain-like design to run artificial intelligence (AI) applications. Intel says the design vastly reduces energy consumption while also boosting performance compared to typical AI systems. The first Hala Point system is deployed, leveraging Intel's Loihi 2 processor, is deployed at Sandia National Laboratories. It's unclear when such a system will be mass-produced to compete against Nvidia and other AI-focused chip companies.
2. IBM - Real Estate Management: IBM is leveraging AI software to capture and analyze IBM's energy data within a single, auditable tool across a portfolio of over 600 locations, the company said. Users can compile reports and filter by location, geography, and utility, among others, to understand where energy consumption is highest, where there are unexpected changes in energy, and where the company has the most opportunity to drive energy conservation to help meet IBM's 2030 net zero target, the company said.
3. Partner Program - Solar Financing: Sunstone Credit, a commercial solar loan platform that helps businesses switch to clean energy, has launched a Consultant Partner Program. The program provides solar energy brokers and consultants with "easier, quicker access to Sunstone’s loan offerings and extensive installer network," Sunstone Credit said.
4. Partner Program - Recycling: UPM Raflatac unveiled the RafCycle Partner Program, which is designed to "enhance sustainability and circularity in the labeling industry."
5. Partner Programs - Search Our Database: See 100+ Sustainability Partner Programs here.
6. Software - Renewable Energy Power Plants: BrightNight has announced PowerAlpha, a proprietary software platform that allows customers to "design, optimize, and operate renewable power plants with industry-leading economics," the company said.Â
7. More EV Layoffs: The Lion Electric Company is cutting 120 jobs or roughly 9 percent of its workforce, SustainableBiz Canada reported. This is Lion Electric's third round of layoffs since April 2023. The company develops heavy-duty electric vehicles (EVs) -- including urban trucks and school buses.
8. Research - EV Sales Market Growth Forecast: Global electric vehicle (EV) sales are expected to grow 21% in 2024 and 19% in 2025, ABI Research predicted. The EV market had grown 31% in 2023 and 60% in 2022, ABI Research also noted.
B. Sustainability M&A, Investments, Funding and Green IT Business Launches
1. Funding - Smart Home Technology: Quilt, a heat pump and smart home climate solution company, has raised $33 million in Series A funding, TechCrunch reported. Energy Impact Partners and Galvanize Climate Solutions co-led the round. Lowercarbon Capital, Gradient Ventures, MCJ Collective, Garage Capital, Incite Ventures, and Drew Scott also participated in the funding.
2. Funding - Liquid Cooling for Data Centers: Carrier Ventures has invested in Strategic Thermal Labs, which develops a liquid cooling solution for data centers. Financial terms were not disclosed.
3. M&A - Potential Acquisition: Schneider Electric may acquire Bentley Systems, an engineering software firm -- though there's no guarantee a deal will occur.
4. M&A - IT Consulting: Infosys is acquiring Intech, a developer of autonomous and electric technologies for the automotive, smart city and smart factory markets. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
5. Complete M&A List: Here's our database of all M&A deals involving green IT and renewable energy buyers, sellers and investors.
C. Regional and Global Sustainability Policies and News
1. United States - New York City Carbon Emissions: Mayor Eric Adams, The Rockefeller Foundation and other organizations announced efforts to reduce food-related carbon emissions.
2. United States - Clean Energy Careers: The U.S. clean energy sector could create roughly 5 million new jobs over the next decade, according the Political Economy Research Institute at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
3. Scotland - Change of Plans: Scotland on April 18 scrapped its target of cutting climate-damaging greenhouse gas emissions by 75% by 2030, blaming the central British government, but said it still intends to meet a 2045 net zero target, Reuters reported.
D. Sustainability and Green Technology Conference Calendar
- Caribbean Conference on Sustainable Tourism Development 2024 (April 22-24, Grenada)
- EarthX Congress of Conferences 2024 (April 22-26, Dallas, Texas)
- Hannover Messe 2024: Industrial Sustainability Conference (April 22-26, Germany)
- Scale Green 2024 (April 23, London, United Kingdom)
- Circular Computing Re: 2024 (April 23, UAE)
- 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.
