Here is today’s sustainable IT services and climate tech news, research and analysis -- written for technology partners, green IT service providers, CIOs, chief sustainability officers (CSOs) and climate accounting professionals.
A. Sustainable IT, Talent, Partnerships and Green Tech Alliances
1. Executive Leadership: Stem has hired Arun Narayanan as CEO to accelerate the company's shift from hardware to clean energy software and services. Narayanan previously was CEO of RES Digital Solutions, a renewable energy company. Earlier, he held key posts at Anglo American and SLB. Stem develops "clean energy solutions and services designed to maximize the economic, environmental, and resiliency value of energy assets and portfolios," the company says. Ahead of Narayanan's arrival, a business model evolution caused Stem's revenues to plummet in Q3 of 2024. We'll be listening for updates during Stem's next earnings call.
2. Microsoft Xbox Right to Repair: Microsoft has introduced more Xbox repair and sustainability options. On January 20, uBreakiFix by Asurion will become the first Xbox Authorized Service Provider to repair Xbox consoles at its nearly 700 participating store locations across the U.S. Moreover, replacement components for the three Xbox Series X|S console options are now available for purchase via the Microsoft Store and replacement console parts are also now available for purchase online via the Microsoft Repair Hub on iFixit, the technology giant said. Microsoft also is touting an Xbox Sustainability Toolkit, which helps developers to create more energy-efficient games. Related: See Microsoft's sustainable IT strategy.
3. Data Center Business Expansion: STACK Infrastructure plans to develop a 1+GW data center campus in Stafford County, Virginia. The campus spans 500 acres, features four sub-campuses, and will house 19 data centers, drawing committed power from six 300MW substations supplied by Dominion Energy, STACK said. The project "aligns with STACK’s commitment to 100% clean energy, carbon reduction, and environmental conservation best practices," the company said.
4. AI and Consumer Goods R&D: L'Oréal will leverage IBM's generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) technology and expertise to more effectively embrace sustainable raw materials, while reducing energy consumption and material waste, the companies said. Related: See IBM's sustainable IT strategy.
5. Carbon Credits Deal: Google will buy carbon credits from Varaha, an Indian initiative that turns large amounts of agricultural waste into biochar - a form of charcoal that removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and returns it to the soil, Reuters reported. Related: See Google's sustainable IT strategy.
6. EV Charger Vandalism: In a quest to deter EV charger vandalism, ChargePoint has introduced a "cut-resistant charging cable" and alarm system.
B. Sustainability M&A, Climate Tech Investments, Funding and Green IT Business Launches
1. Seattle Climate Innovation Hub: Multiple organizations have launched the Seattle Climate Innovation Hub (SCIH), a downtown space dedicated to "investing in and designing technology to combat climate change." Key launch partners include the Seattle’s Office of Economic Development (OED), the University of Washington’s CoMotion Labs startup incubator, global climate community 9Zero, and VertueLab. The hub "will serve as a nexus for innovators and early-stage entrepreneurs focused on tackling the climate crisis and expanding the region’s green technology sector while supporting downtown Seattle revitalization," the organizations said.
2. Financial Donation - Solar Energy Research: Nextracker has donated $6.5 million to establish a solar energy research center at the University of California Berkeley Engineering (UC Berkeley).
C. Regional and Global Sustainability Policies and News
1. Philippines - Renewable Energy Supply: United Arab Emirates state energy firm Masdar has signed a $15 billion renewable energy deal with the Philippines to develop solar, wind and battery energy storage systems, providing it with up to 1 gigawatt of clean power by 2030, Reuters reported.
D. Sustainable IT and Green Technology Conference Calendar
- Davos 2025Â --Â World Economic Forum 2025Â annual meeting (January 20-24, Switzerland)
- Sustainable Foods Summit 2025Â (January 22-23, San Francisco, California)
- Global Conference on Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Sustainability (GCEIS) 2025Â (January 24-26, Vancouver, Canada)
- Cleantech Forum North America 2025Â (January 27-29 in San Diego, California)
- Seminole Tribe of Florida Renewable Energy and Sustainability Conference 2025Â (January 27-29, Hollywood, Florida)
- Complete Calendar of Sustainability Conferences
E. Previous Updates & Future News
Did You Miss Yesterday's Daily Update?: Here is our previous sustainable IT, climate tech and renewable energy news for technology partners.
Future Updates: If you have news to share then please email me the details.
