From Fintech to Space
Clean Tech, Advanced Energy, & Advanced Manufacturing
*** Our bad. We meant to send this during the morning. The intern that scheduled it messed it up and has been reassigned to go collect jet wash from the B-2s at Whiteman AFB. ***
Good morning,
A low-level, but official spokesperson for China has ramped up the rhetoric from coercion of Taiwan to destruction. North Korea has deployed troops to Ukraine to fight on Russia’s behalf (we covered that last week) and has now blown up parts of road and rails links that connect the North to the South. With all of these conflicts brewing, the risk of nuclear war is rising. But in good news, Robinhood co-founder, Baiju Bhatt, is starting a space-based solar power company. We’re bullish on SBSP. .
Let’s go!
News Headlines
N. Korea accuses S. Korea of flying drones to its capital and threatens to attack next time (AP)
Chinese spying is overwhelming Western governments (WSJ)
China expands threat to Taiwan from forceful reintegration to destruction (RT)
Cyber criminals are increasingly helping Russia and China target the U.S. and allies, Microsoft says (AP)
N. Korea continues its petulant displays, blowing up parts of inter-Korean road and rail links (AP)
China may raise $850B in new debt over three years to spur growth (RT)
Nuclear War risks rise again, stoked by global conflicts (WSJ)
CleanTech & Advanced Energy
America's AI leadership depends on energy (FP)
Renewables
Robinhood co-founder launches Aertherflux, a space-based solar power company (ABO)
Nuclear Fission & Fusion
Zap Energy shows off its new fusion power prototype, Century (TC)
A 'cornered' Iran may feel the need to build a nuclear bomb (NW)
Amazon follows Google, Microsoft in pushing for nuclear power to meet data center demands (RT)
Google signs deal with Kairos for microreactors to power AI (TC)
Hydrogen
America fires up largest hydrogen generator in history: 3T per day to blast China (EN)
Korean scientists develop cryogenic turboexpander capable of cooling hydrogen to -183⁰C (TX)
Advanced Manufacturing
'Speed-modulated ironing' gets multiple qualities out of one 3D-printed material (NA)
3D printing could make space settlements more viable (IE)
Lockheed Martin unveils new Advanced Manufacturing Tech center (MD)
U.K. launches industrial strategy to attract private investment in growth-driving sectors (NCE)
Deal Flow
Activate Capital is seeking $500M for its third climate VC fund (VCJ)
Ember Infrastructure raised a $500M sustainability-focused fund (AX)
Dutch PE firm Mentha raised €153M for its Impact Fund I, a buyout vehicle to target companies tackling climate and environmental issues (AA)
Montreal-based VC firm Diagram closed its ClimateTech Fund on a $80M hard cap (TC)
Form Energy, a cleantech company developing energy storage systems, raised a $405M Series F led by T. Rowe Price (FT)
Heliene, a Canadian maker of solar modules, raised $54M led by Transition Equity Partners to expand into the U.S.A. (WSJ)
Stockholm-based Paebbl raised a $25M Series A led by Capnamic for its carbon-capture work (TNW)
Aerleum, a startup converting CO2 to cargo fuel, raised a $6M seed round led by 360 Capital and HTGF (TC)
Concretene, a nanotech firm decarbonizing the concrete industry, raised a $3.8M round led by Molten Ventures (TFN)
Fortius Metals raises $2M in seed funding led by Finindus to boost metal 3D printing in aerospace and defense (3DPI)
Singapore's GIC is considering a sale of its 50% stake in India's Greenko Energy for ~$5B (BBG)
Tokyo Gas is in talks to acquire Chevron's Texas natural gas assets for ~$1B (FT)
Apollo is in discussions with Electricite de France to help finance a UK nuclear power plant, with Electricite aiming to raise $5.2B (BBG)
Opportunities
The Air Force is looking for novel approaches to generate electricity at Travis Air Force Base using geothermal energy (SAM)
The U.S. Embassy - Bucharest is seeking nuclear industry consultation with a specific focus on SMRs to support Romanian and other partners in the development of nuclear energy projects (SAM)
Editor's Picks:
The International Energy Agency has released its World Energy Outlook 2024.
Lighter Side:
Keep Building,
BOF