Currents

Apoorv Sinha, CEO of Carbon Upcycling, discusses his company's innovative methods for transforming industrial carbon emissions into valuable materials like cement and plastics. He highlights the mineralization process and its role in reducing carbon footprints. The conversation dives into advancements in sustainable practices within the cement industry and the economic benefits of low-carbon solutions, such as using coal ash. Sinha also explores broader applications of carbon upcycling technologies and their potential impact on emissions reduction in heavy industries.

Britta von Oesen, Partner and Managing Director at CRC-IB, dives into the US renewables market's complexities, particularly around M&A activity. She discusses the impact of political changes on the industry and the shift in financial strategies for investors. Britta highlights evolving tax credit dynamics, the maturing role of investment banks, and how insurers are adapting to meet new challenges. The conversation sheds light on opportunities for growth in carbon capture technology and the increasing sophistication of funding strategies.

Rachel Crouch, Chief Counsel of Hydrogen at The AES Corporation, joins fellow industry leaders to dissect the recent U.S. Treasury rules for hydrogen tax credits. They share insights on the importance of hydrogen in the energy transition and its potential in climate technology. The panel discusses regulatory challenges, such as aligning energy supply with hydrogen generation, and the complex landscape of hydrogen production. With growing global demand, the experts emphasize the necessity for policy alignment to support domestic market growth and enhance competitiveness.

Gary Cate, Director of Energy Market Analytics at Fluence, specializes in electricity price forecasting. He discusses optimizing battery performance in electric vehicles and the critical impact of charging practices. Cate delves into the complexities of forecasting prices amid increasing renewable energy usage, emphasizing advanced models and AI's role in enhancing decision-making. He also highlights how predictive analytics can maximize energy storage efficiency, driving better revenue outcomes in a rapidly evolving market.

In this discussion, guests Jack Cargas, Elizabeth Waters, Ralph Cho, and Rubiao Song—industry veterans in tax equity and project finance—delve into the burgeoning landscape of renewable energy financing. They reveal that tax capital for renewable projects is projected to soar to $33 billion by 2025. Key topics include navigating hybrid tax equity complexities, legal intricacies in project qualifications, and trends in solar financing shaped by tax incentives. They also explore the evolving lender dynamics in project finance amid changing market conditions.

Amy Duffuor, co-founder and general partner of Azolla Ventures, brings her expertise in climate tech and impact investing to the table. She dives into the innovative strategies in venture capital aimed at combating climate change, especially within hard-to-abate sectors like maritime shipping. Discussion includes the cutting-edge advancements in green methanol technology and the importance of articulating impact to attract investors. Duffuor also highlights emerging opportunities in renewable energy, from decarbonizing rice cultivation to enhancing wastewater treatment.

Michelle Demers, CEO of Boundless Impact and Analytics, sheds light on vital data analytics for investors grappling with climate risks. She discusses the complexities of measuring sustainability and the rise of greenwashing, advocating for third-party verified assessments. The conversation dives into lifecycle assessments in clean tech, addressing costs and regulatory compliance. Demers also navigates the intricacies of carbon credit markets and touches on how political shifts could influence clean technology policies, focusing on potential impacts of the Inflation Reduction Act.

Stefan Reisinger, a partner at Norton Rose Fulbright, delves into the new anti-dumping duties on solar panels imported from Southeast Asia. He explains how these duties, prompted by a petition from the American Alliance for Solar Manufacturing, could reshape import costs and practices. The discussion reveals the complexities of tracing supply chains regarding silicon and solar cells. Reisinger also highlights the implications for project developers, including retroactive tariffs and their impact on contract negotiations.

In this discussion, Chris Seiple, vice chairman of energy transition and power & renewables at Wood Mackenzie, dives into the surging electricity demand in the U.S., driven by data centers and electric transportation. He highlights the need for a robust renewable energy capacity while grappling with the economic and logistical challenges of scaling green technologies. The conversation also touches on the potential of small modular reactors as a nuclear solution and the hurdles faced by the energy sector amid growing demands and outdated infrastructure.

Five prominent stock analysts discuss how they expect policy changes in the wake of the Trump victory to affect renewable energy, storage, transmission, RNG and other parts of the energy transition sector. The five are George Gianarikas, managing director and senior analyst, Canaccord Genuity, Joe Osha, senior managing director for equity research, Guggenheim Partners, Phil Shen, managing director and senior research analyst, Roth Capital Partners, Whitney Stanco, managing director and senior policy analyst, Compass Point Research & Trading, and Paul Zimbardo, managing director and energy research analyst, Jefferies. The moderator is Keith Martin in Washington.