Gabriel Scheer

A New Report  Highlights Potential Strategies to Dramatically Reduce Carbon Emissions for the United States and Canada Aluminum Industry The Aluminum Association has released a groundbreaking roadmap detailing pathways to achieve significant carbon emission reductions in alignment with the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) Net Zero by 2050 goals. Key findings and strategies include: Significant Head Start: North America's aluminum products have a carbon footprint approximately 50% lower than the global average, thanks to the use of low carbon primary aluminum, increased recycling, and voluntary emission reduction efforts. Aggressive Targets: Achieving net zero by 2050 will require aluminum production emissions to decline by: 24% by 2030 63% by 2040 92% by 2050 (compared to 2021 levels) Projected Growth: Aluminum output is expected to increase by 80% to meet the growing demand for sustainable metal across various sectors. Key Pathways: Technology and Efficiency: Innovations like inert anode smelting and energy efficiency improvements. Alternative Fuels and Carbon Capture: Transition to green hydrogen and electrification of furnaces. Grid Decarbonization: Use of clean energy technologies supported by the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). Enhanced Recycling: Optimizing scrap utilization to cut emissions significantly. Investment Needed: Achieving these goals will require substantial investment—estimated at $60 billion for North America alone—to meet global net-zero climate targets in the primary aluminum production segment. Charles Johnson, president & CEO of the Aluminum Association, emphasizes the industry's vital role in the clean energy transition, noting, “Achieving these ambitious targets by mid-century will require an all-of-society approach to decarbonization. The aluminum industry won’t be able to do this alone.” This research underscores the necessity of decarbonizing the energy sector to ensure broader industrial decarbonization. The North American aluminum industry is positioned to lead globally, but collaborative efforts and significant investments are critical to meeting the net-zero targets by 2050. https://lnkd.in/e_h_5q_5 #aluminium‍ #CLEANENERGY

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In 2023, the largest segments in the climate tech vertical were low-carbon mobility, industry, grid infrastructure, intermittent renewable energy sources (solar and wind). 50 VC deals for climate tech companies in 2023 exceeded $150 million, and of these, nine exceeded $500 million. Companies that need a lot of capital to execute on a big vision can succeed today. #climatetech #climateVC #climate

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🚀 Calling all adopters of #proptech and #construction tech: real estate developers, builders, and owner-operators, and more! 🌟 Big News! I’m thrilled to announce our partnership with Wells Fargo Innovation Incubator (IN2), co-administered by the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory, to accelerate cleantech adoption. This is a first-of-its-kind initiative bringing public and private industry together to drive the digitization and decarbonization of the built environment with a focus on the adoption of startup technologies by end customers. I couldn’t be more excited to collaborate closely with IN² and NREL’s incredible teams to build the industry’s first Adoption Playbook, and the impact this program will have to catalyze more sustainable innovation implementation to our built world. Led by Program Manager Sarah Derdowski, NREL's team is backed by world-class research and a history of running successful incubators. 💡 If you're a forward-thinking organization that is seeking to innovate your real estate footprint, apply today. Adopters can receive up to $250,000 in grant funding to pilot cutting-edge technologies, while startups have the chance to scale and engage with major corporations. This groundbreaking program offers incredible opportunities for both adopters and startups to drive sustainability and innovation—and we're kicking it off this month! 🌍 With our team at Overlay Build, we will design the curriculum in partnership with IN² for corporate adopters through their Adoption Playbook. The playbook will prioritize pain points, identify innovation areas, and form peer groups for implementation strategies. Overlay will also develop due diligence criteria, help to determine the top startups for potential pilots, and form internal innovation working committees that will drive change. Additionally, Overlay will build a change management strategy to ensure practical evaluation and implementation of pilot projects, helping companies with significant real estate ownership reduce construction inefficiencies, costs, and carbon footprints. 🔍This initiative addresses the "missing middle" in technology adoption of built environment solutions—let's bridge that gap together. For more information or to discuss how you can get involved, feel free to reach out to me directly. 👉 Join us in shaping the future of the built environment! Adopters, apply here today: https://lnkd.in/eCRHCXfm #Sustainability #Cleantech #Innovation #BuiltEnvironment #IN2 #OverlayCapital #DigitalTransformation #Decarbonization #ESG #NetZero

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Top 10 Podcasts for Climate Leaders 😎 (plus my favorite episode for each pod) 👇 And yes, the ranking was a hotly debated topic ✌️ 1️⃣ Switched On by Dana Marie Perkins → The latest in clean energy and sustainability. → Favorite: EV battery recycling challenges with Andy Leach 2️⃣ Volts by david roberts → Nuanced perspective on political, economic, and technological factors. → Favorite: Cora Wyent on Rewiring America's "personal electrification planner”. 3️⃣ Shift Key by Robinson Meyer and Jesse Jenkins → Research, tech, and policy debates for a sustainable energy future. → Favorite: Jigar Shah on the $400 billion lending authority for new EV factories, geothermal, and carbon capture sites. 4️⃣ Catalyst by Shayle Kann → Latest trends, innovations, and investment opportunities. → Favorite: Andy Lubershane on nuclear, grid-enhancing, geothermal solutions for the rising "EV, data centers, and AI race" electricity demand. 5️⃣ Energy Gang by Ed Crooks → Cutting-edge renewable energy tech and energy policy debates. → Favorite: Clean energy investment review of 2023 + 2024 outlook.  6️⃣ TILClimate by Laur Hesse Fisher → Climate topics from the science to policy implications. → Favorite: Michael Howland on wind turbine reliability in harsh conditions. 7️⃣ Redefining Energy by Laurent Segalen and Gerard Reid → 2 investment bankers discuss EVs, hydrogen, battery storage, etc. → Favorite: Grid Enhancing Technologies (GETs) with Jason Huang. 8️⃣ A Matter of Degrees by Leah Stokes and Katharine K. Wilkinson → Challenges and the tools to address climate change. → Favorite: Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes on electric utilities opposition to rooftop solar. 9️⃣ The Jane Goodall Hopecast by Jane Goodall → Amazing guest share what inspires them to action. → Favorite: Academy Award-winner @Adam McKay on storytelling and humor in driving climate action. 🔟 Outrage + Optimism by Christiana Figueres, Tom Rivett-Carnac, Paul Dickinson → Innovators who transform challenges into opportunities. → Favorite: 3 issues for outrage and optimism: Tom on Earth Day, Christiana on plastics, Paul on corporate transition plans. Use this list to make yourself successful 🙌 Help each other out 👉 Add your favorite podcast episodes in the comments. —— PS. If you want to move your talents into climate. Take a look at the Climate Drift Career Accelerator for mid-career/exec-level professionals. Our members hold leadership positions in Tech (Apple, Google, Spotify), Finance (JP Morgan, Wall Street), Non-profits (Gates Foundation), Legal, etc. All motivated to switch their talents into climate. More info on the Climate Drift website. PPS. In case you’re wondering ❓Why trust my advice❓ Maybe this helps (slightly blushing as I write this ���) → I taught 100s of students at the best universities (Harvard, etc.) → Personally helped 1,000s of people transition careers. → Built a 6-, 7-, and 8-figure education business. → 15 years of launching education programs.

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The Midwest is emerging as a hub of manufacturing for EVs and clean energy technology. Midwestern states have received about $30 billion in private investment since August 2022, with Ohio ($7B), Indiana ($7.8B), and Michigan ($11.6B) ranking among the top 10 states nationally, reports Inside Climate News “This is like a new era in American manufacturing as it switches to clean energy,” says Michael James Timberlake, “and it’s not a surprise that one of the big drivers of that happens to be the place that drove the last major manufacturing boom in the U.S.” What’s it going to take to maintain the momentum? https://lnkd.in/eZGYjK2D

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Going #electric at home may appear daunting and costly. However, with state and federal incentives, this shift becomes more feasible. DSIRE's (screenshot below) platform simplifies identifying available state incentives for renewable energy and efficiency initiatives. Companies like Rock Rabbit, EnergySage, Encentiv Energy, Opower, Rebate Bus, Sense, Enervee, Powerley, and others are demystifying these incentives, making them more accessible to homeowners. Learn more in Climate People's latest #1MinuteClimateSnippet: https://buff.ly/3KyG3Nz .

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Shocking statistic: 92% of all persistently impoverished communities are served by co-ops. 🤯 With 110 on bill financing programs around the country (mostly run by co-ops), the barriers have never been lower to reduce bills. So why are these communities still suffering? Barriers: Accessibility. Education. Capital. Accessibility: Going through an energy audit, sourcing and hosting 3-5 contractors, and filling out loan applications with little support is HARD. Even tougher to go through this process with confidence.... Education: Expertise is hard to come by in co-op territories and delivering it is expensive! Capital: Many on-bill programs still have credit checks, lengthy bill payment criteria, and small loan funds. In other words, to be successful these programs MUST: 1) Reduce the time intensity 2) Educate homeowners -- get them excited to move forward with confidence! 3) Lighter capital requirements and raise bigger loan funds Is there something else that I've missed? A big thank you to Miguel Yañez-Barnuevo (he, his) for penning this paper and for all his effort helping co-ops get access to the capital they need to help their members! ______________ I'm Grant Gunnison Click my name + follow + 🔔 to learn how to get off gas and electrify P.S. If you'd like early access to our platform, repost this! #onbill #batteries #renewables #heatpumps

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Hot off the presses! A new paper with Nick Laws and Maggie Chen -- "Valuing Distributed Energy Resources for Non-Wires Alternatives" Main takeaway: Distributed energy resources (DER) such as batteries -- regardless of whether it's the utility or homeowner who owns the system -- can reduce system operating costs and delay system upgrades for distribution systems. For example, using DER might help reduce how often local transformers might need to be upgraded. "We show that when valuing DER the operating costs over 20 years can be reduced by over 40%." Let's deploy some batteries, y'all! #batteries #futureofenergy #distributedenergyresources #DER Walker Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin Webber Energy Group

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Microgrids significantly impact EV charging by enabling faster deployment and operation of charging stations, offering cost savings, lower emissions, and 100% reliability. They allow for quicker electrification of fleets, beneficial for areas like Southern California facing regulatory pressures.

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Calling climate tech innovators with high impact projects: fund your business concept with government resources 💰 The ARPA-E Energy Innovation Summit highlights how U.S. government investments support energy innovation and sustainability. ⚠️ The summit showcased projects funded by ARPA-E, which focuses on high-risk, high-potential technologies that are often too risky for private investors. 🏢 Government resources available for startups are categorized into seed, scale, and deploy: 🌱 Seed programs like ARPA-E, DOE’s SBIR/STTR, and FESI provide early-stage funding and support. The Department of Defense also offers funding for near-commercialization projects. 📈 Scale initiatives such as ARPA-E’s SCALEUP, DOE’s OCED, and EERE provide substantial funding for scaling up technologies, including building factories and developing supply chains. 🚀 Deploy: agencies like DOE’s LPO and OTT, and EPA’s Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund focus on commercializing technologies ready for deployment, offering loans, grants and tax breaks. ⚡️ The DOE offers comprehensive support, especially at the early and late stages of development, but startups in the intermediate phase may face funding challenges. Focus on available “scale” resources and state-level investments to bridge this gap.

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U.S. Government supports high-quality voluntary carbon market :) This morning, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, and Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm - released an endorsement of the voluntary carbon market. It came alongside a set of principles adopted from the VCMI (Voluntary Carbon Market Integrity Initiative). Principles for Responsible Participation”, namely: ➡ Focus on High-Quality Credits ➡ Permanence ➡ Robust Monitoring, Reporting, Verification, and Validation (MMRV) ➡ Co-Benefits ➡ Emissions Reduction Priority This positive endorsement of the VCM is a strong signal that the VCM is here to stay. It acknowledges past issues and provides a clear, government-backed, path for how we should adopt and build out the VCM to protect and regenerate global biodiversity. Press Release link: https://lnkd.in/eBtjtF9c

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I always enjoy reading Andre's Climate Substack from André Meurer. Today I learned a ton about Heat Pump Water Heaters (HPWH) and the HWH replacement process. TL;DR (But seriously you should read it, it's funny and packed with great advice) ➡️Efficiency: Heat pump water heaters (HPWHs) are significantly more energy efficient than traditional gas or electric models, offering long-term cost savings and environmental benefits. ➡️Installation: Upgrading to a HPWH can be complex, requiring electrical work and careful consideration of sizing (first-hour rating). Choosing an experienced contractor is crucial. ➡️Cost: While initial costs are higher, HPWHs pay for themselves through reduced energy bills and potential rebates. ➡️Additional Benefits: HPWHs dehumidify and slightly cool the surrounding area, which can be beneficial in humid basements. ➡️Considerations: HPWHs might be slightly noisier than traditional models and may require larger tanks to match the hot water output of gas heaters. Sign up for Andre's Climate! https://lnkd.in/e2HzZizE

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My hot take today is about a little noticed announcement the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) released quietly today. It has reopened an opportunity to fund carbon dioxide transportation networks. This is a positive and a much-needed development because Cipher reporting earlier this year revealed that many of the carbon storage projects are not just dependent on securing permits but also on delivering the captured CO2. Aware of the paucity of transport networks, DOE itself noted, the U.S. will need to capture and permanently store approximately 400–1,800 million metric tons of CO2 annually by 2050 to meet its commitments. https://lnkd.in/ef7JPEgr In other top reads by my colleagues, Cat Clifford highlighted a Bloomberg article that spotlights how Holtec International, a company involved in making nuclear waste storage casks, is now looking to revitalize a nuclear plant headed for decommissioning. And Bill Spindle reported about an upcoming gathering of corporate heads of fossil fuel and tech companies. We try to stay on top of breaking news about the global developments in the cleantech and climate space and share them with you so continue reading our Top Reads and Hot Takes at Cipher News. Cheers!

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Boulder, CO's partnership with its electric utility directs funding to bury powerlines, which is a smart strategy for climate resilience. Today, the The New York Times mentions it as a preventative strategy to power outages. The scenario analysis in the article show that power outages and a loss of of air conditioning in hot climates risks thousands of lives. I wonder about the specific risks in cold climates, particularly as we electrify our heating. Growing up in Indiana, I remember ice storms that took down powerlines, sometimes for days. As Minnesota warms, ice storms are more likely. Many strategies are needed for grid reliability. Undergrounding powerlines, particularly at opportune times such as during road reconstructions, is a practical, preventative strategy for grid reliability. https://lnkd.in/geTDkXBU

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Yesterday, the DOE released its latest lift-off report on advanced grid technologies – it’s a fascinating and compelling read with some surprising and powerful take-aways. I’m summarizing the highlights here, but I would definitely recommend at least checking out the executive summary for its clarity and conviction. You can access the report here: https://lnkd.in/gMuFwx3c Highlights and key take aways: We all know the grid is experiencing an unprecedented increase in demand: data centers, AI, electric cars and the broader shift to electrify everything is expected to drive 91GW of peak demand growth in the next decade. This risks reversing so many recent decarbonization gains if the default response is to build new gas peaker plants and defer shuttering of existing coal generation. As laid out by the DOE, multiple grid solutions that are commercially available TODAY could increase effective transmission & distribution capacity by 20-100 GW, in other words, potentially allowing us to fully meet the coming surge in demand without the need for new generation capacity These solutions can be deployed in UNDER 3-5 YEARS and at LOWER COST and GREATER VALUE than conventional approaches. The types of technologies being described here fall into four categories: 1) Advanced transmission (e.g., high voltage direct current); 2) Situational awareness and system automation (e.g., advanced distribution management systems); 3.) Grid enhancing technologies (e.g., virtual power plants); and 4) Foundational systems (e.g., system digitization). Sadly, though not surprising, the report also finds “adoption at scale and associated industry know how is lagging largely due to a lack of industry incentives and prioritization” In other words, even though investing in these available technologies is cheaper and more effective than sticking with the status quo, its not happening. The report powerfully reminds us: “ The mandate of the United States electric grid and of its operators is to provide safe, reliable, and affordable power to customers.” And "The U.S. transmission and distribution grid requires significant investment to address these accelerating trends and pressures." In this moment of disruption, utilities, regulators and grid operators have such incredible power to support and accelerate the green transition; not just in the fight against climate change, but simply to move us toward a more dynamic, resilient and cost effective grid. In the past, when demand was flat, incremental, risk averse, business-as-usual approaches to infrastructure and capacity investment maybe could work; but in a moment where the future looks nothing like the past, actual long term, system-level strategic planning and innovation is needed. From interconnection fees to cost-plus payor rates, its time for us to cast off the vestiges of last century's model of centralized generation and distribution, and embrace a new identity for utilities in the 21st century.

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☑️ California's Community Renewable Energy Act (AB 2316) aims to promote the use of solar energy through community projects, yet recent proposals by the CPUC have created uncertainty. ☑️ The US community solar market is predicted to grow by 118% over the next five years, showcasing the massive potential if the guidelines are clear. ☑️ The takeaway for property owners is that solar power is not just for individual residences and can help to create a more resilient energy grid. People, let's dive into the exciting yet complex terrain of California's community solar project regulations! With the surge in popularity solar energy has seen recently, coupled with the introduction of innovative solutions for capturing the sun's bounty, the solar industry is thriving more than ever. But, a recent revised proposition by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) regarding AB 2316 has whipped up a sector-wide uproar. The issue lies in the alleged conflict between Net Value Billing Tariff (NVBT) and federal laws, making the future of community solar program vague. Despite such a setback, the immense potential of community solar projects is undeniable, with predictions indicating a whopping 118% growth in the US community solar market over the next few years. If regulated properly, California could spearhead a thriving solar market in the US, encouraging homeowners to invest in solar arrays and decentralized energy production. Let's keep an eye on community solar programs, making every home and business an ally towards achieving energy independence. For more information on selling solar virtually across the USA visit www.tstpros.com.

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Partnering with startups can help companies to "solve a product problem, create a new avenue for revenue, accelerate R&D, or accelerate time to market for a specific product," according to Otilia Barbuta, principal at HP Tech Ventures, the venture capital arm of HP. She was talking at a breakout session at Circularity 2024. "There are solutions in the market created by startups and in this circularity realm, I think it's more important than ever to partner with [them]." #climatetech #startups #climateVC

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