It is a relief to see that BritishVolt has raised it’s first round. Unlike most startups they have managed to persuade investors of the idea that “build it and customers will come”. They probably will, but it is rare to see so much money raised without a firm orders. Must be a bull market Company … Read More
Last Titbits of 2021, and a slight deviation from the usual format. I have chosen four themes that have come to the fore this year and found news items to match the themes. Predictions for 2022: I expect to see an increasing influence of tech, epecially AI, in cleantech and funding of renewable energy projects … Read More
Monumental end to the week with the news that Shell has pulled out of developing the Cambo oil field. This is the first sign that stranded assets are starting to actually get stranded. The BBC suggested that smaller companies would jump in, but the cost of finance for this kind of project may well make … Read More
This week both the Queen and Greta Thunberg (the oldest and youngest activist?) called out the leaders of the developed nations for lack of concrete action on climate change. Greta called it “decades of blah blah blah”, whilst her majesty was irritated by those “who talk but don’t do”. Company news Falck family to sell … Read More
This, smaller than usual Titbits is beamed to you from the Fully Charged OUTSIDE show at Farnborough International Conference Centre. I would strongly recommend a trip to it over the weekend. It is full of EV’s and gave me the first sighting of the Tesla Model Y (big, definitely a SUV), The Hyundai Ioniq 5 … Read More
“Perfect is the enemy of good” was a quote attributed to Voltaire. Maybe he was dreaming of the Chinese ETS when he said it. UK news 40 waste-to-hydrogen refuelling stations planned for the UKElement 2 and Ways2H have joined forces to deliver as many as 40 waste-to-hydrogen refuelling stations in the UK as part of … Read More
Regular readers will know the exasperation that each successive report from the IEA generates. Every year they have to upgrade their forecasts for renewables sales and downgrade the costs. Imagine our surprise when they finally stop playing catch-up and publish their Net-Zero roadmap (see below). Do not underestimate the significance of this. Despite their failings … Read More
Titbits is very much in touch with this week’s political zeitgeist: praising Chinese architects and criticising the new coal investments. UK news Wrightbus to get £11.2m for hydrogen-fuel technologyThe Ballymena-based bus manufacturer, Wrightbus, is to receive £11.2m from the government to develop hydrogen-fuel technology.It is one of three UK firms to be awarded funding, with … Read More
Two stories this week about EV charging networks needing modernisation. A reminder that you can be too early into a new market on occasion. Company news Gridserve takes stake to boost Ecotricity’s Electric HighwayThe new partnership sees Gridserve taking a 25 per cent stake in the Electric Highway, bringing with it a whole load of new … Read More
Some of these oil companies and hydrogen stories leave me wondering whether there isn’t another distraction strategy at work, rather like companies promising to invest into CCS over the years Company news ENGIE and INEOS team up for hydrogen pilot projectENGIE and INEOS are teaming up for a pilot project to replace natural gas with … Read More