Zero: The Climate Race Cutting through the climate tech hype and looking for profit
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Dec 12, 2024 Eric Toone, a climate technology investment partner at Breakthrough Energy Ventures and former chemistry professor, dives into the bustling world of energy startups. He discusses the hype around innovations in carbon removal and the pressing need to modernize our electricity grid. Toone also highlights the potential of nuclear fusion over fission, underscoring recent private investment trends. Additionally, he tackles the promise of hydrogen as a transformative resource while addressing its logistical challenges. Expect insightful revelations about where real progress lies!
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Carbon Removal Investment Uncertainty
- Akshat Rathi and Eric Toone discuss the complexities of carbon removal technologies and the need for smarter investments.
- They highlight the uncertainty in cost and demand, making it challenging to determine appropriate investment levels.
Grid Modernization and Operation
- Eric Toone highlights the need for grid modernization alongside expansion, emphasizing reconducting existing right-of-ways.
- He also stresses the importance of advanced grid operation technologies to manage the complexities of intermittent renewable energy sources.
Nuclear Fission's Role
- Eric Toone emphasizes the need for cost-competitive nuclear fission to meet baseload energy demands, particularly in developing nations.
- He advocates for building new-generation reactors to understand their true cost and regain construction expertise.