CB-Insights-2021年气候技术展望：减少排放和降低资源强度的下一代解决方案-70页_6mb

2021 Climate Tech Outlook: Next-Gen Solutions To Cut Emissions & Reduce Resource Intensity

Core Content

The 2021 Climate Tech Outlook highlights the growing importance of climate technology in the industrial sector, focusing on reducing emissions and resource use. The report outlines key trends and investment movements that are shaping the future of sustainable industrial practices.

Main Trends and Key Points

Challenge 1: Abating Emissions

• Reduce Energy Usage & Intensity: Companies are developing physical and digital solutions to cut energy use, such as energy efficiency software and hardware.
• Increase Renewable Energy Use: Innovations in renewable energy integration are on the rise, with companies providing technologies to help integrate renewable sources into operations.
• Reduce Direct Emissions: Solutions to prevent or reduce direct emissions are being developed through physical and digital technologies, including carbon capture and utilization.

Challenge 2: Reducing Resource Use

• Lower Water Intensity: Companies are working on materials and digital solutions that enable the reuse of wastewater, reducing the overall water footprint.
• Design Sustainable Product Life Cycles: There's a focus on developing recyclable, reusable, or biodegradable materials and products to create a circular economy.
• Decrease Waste: Innovations in manufacturing methods are helping companies reduce the amount of waste produced, promoting sustainability across the value chain.

Key Climate Tech Trends in Industrials

• Energy Transition and Carbon Footprint Reduction: As regulatory pressure increases, companies are prioritizing energy transition and carbon footprint reduction.
• Commercialization of Energy Storage: Energy storage companies are receiving significant funding, with a record high of $15.3B in 2021 YTD. This is driven by the increasing demand for renewable energy and the need for reliable storage solutions.
• Smart, Green Grid: Grid technology, renewable energy, and energy management startups are attracting investment to upgrade grid systems for renewable energy integration.
• Emissions Tracking and Management: Corporations are investing in startups that help them track, manage, and reduce their emissions to meet carbon neutrality goals.
• Digitization & Operational Optimization: Startups are helping companies collect and track operational data, leading to better energy efficiency and reduced emissions.
• Innovating Circular Materials & Solutions: Companies are focusing on materials and technologies that support recycling and reduce resource intensity.

Current Backdrop

• Sustainability as a Business Concern: Sustainability is becoming an urgent business concern, with government officials, investors, and consumers demanding that companies report and mitigate their environmental impact.
• Corporate Investment in Clean Tech: Major corporations are investing in and deploying clean technologies to decarbonize their operations and meet carbon neutral goals.
• ESG Regulations: The rise of ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) regulations under the Biden administration is pushing companies to adopt sustainable practices.
• Greenwashing Scrutiny: Increased scrutiny on greenwashing is driving companies to genuinely commit to sustainability initiatives.

2021 Climate Tech Investment Trends

• Mega-Rounds and SPACs: In 2021, there has been a surge in mega-rounds and SPACs, particularly in energy and EV sectors. Notable examples include:

  • Tae Technologies: Raised $280M for nuclear fusion and energy management solutions.
  • FlexGen® Power Systems: Raised $150M for energy storage and power management systems.
  • Monolith Materials: Raised $120M for clean hydrogen production.
  • H2 Green Steel: Raised $105M for green steel production.
  • Energy Vault: Raised $100M for novel brick energy storage tech.

• Energy Storage Investments: Energy storage funding reached a record high of $15.3B in 2021 YTD, with a significant increase in the number of deals.

• Hydrogen Investment: Hydrogen is gaining momentum, with notable investments in hydrogen production and fueling stations. Examples include:

  • Gen-Hy: Raised $29M for modular green hydrogen production units.
  • Enapter: Raised $8.4M for modular hydrogen production units.
  • Hiringa Energy: Raised $13M for hydrogen supply and fueling stations in New Zealand.

• Battery Materials: Companies developing advanced battery materials are seeing substantial investment, including:

  • Sila Nanotechnologies: Raised $590M for silicon-based battery anodes.
  • Solid Power: Raised $130M for solid-state battery products.
  • SES: Raised $139M for solid-state electrolytes.

• Battery Manufacturing: Major investments are being made in battery manufacturing facilities, such as:

  • Northvolt: Raised $2.8B for lithium-ion battery production in Europe.
  • SVOLT: Raised $1.6B for battery production in China and Europe.

• Grid Technologies: Startups are developing grid technologies to support the integration of renewable energy, including:

  • Origami Energy: Raised $29M for an AI-powered platform to optimize renewable energy.
  • Reactive Technologies: Raised $15M for grid management software.
  • Leap: Raised $21M for automating grid services with a focus on renewables.

Summary

The 2021 Climate Tech Outlook underscores the significant role of technology in reducing emissions and resource use in the industrial sector. With increased investment in energy storage, hydrogen production, and battery materials, the industry is moving towards a more sustainable future. The focus on digital tools and operational optimization is also playing a crucial role in achieving these goals. As sustainability becomes a critical business priority, companies are adopting innovative solutions to meet carbon neutrality targets and reduce their environmental impact.