Future Energy Ventures’ Post

I never imagined that something I wrote would be translated into Japanese! One of the perks of working at a global company with over 60 offices I guess! Cheers to our VC friends Maciej and Natalie from Future Energy Ventures, Ellen, Moritz and Lucas from SET Ventures and the amazing Diego and Zeina! 🚀 This report focuses on how we power our industries, from renewable energy generation and procurement to energy efficiency measures and cross-cutting enablers.

Late last year I got to spend a week in #Japan meeting #businessleaders, #investors, and the team at First Trust Japan. While there I connected with the folks over at Monex Group Japan and recently conducted an interview with “Hutch” Heihachiro Okamoto. In the interview I talk about my personal journey and the genesis for Clean Edge, the cofounding of the firm with Joel Makower, what's changed over the years since we wrote "The Clean Tech Revolution" (released in 2007) with Clint Wilder, and where the best opportunities are for #cleantech right now, including the systems integration of formerly siloed technologies. #cleanenergy #energytransition #electricvehicles #smartgrid #cleanwater #energystorage #gridmodernization #solar #wind #transmissionlines #heatpumps #bidirectional #grids

As part of the Future From Here TV Asahi project, a report will be presented on SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) initiatives. One of the key topics for today is clean energy for all. Currently, the world is paying attention to technology that produces electricity by generating hydrogen from aluminum scraps. Hydrogen is rapidly produced from aluminum in a joint venture in Takao-ka, Toyama Prefecture, where companies are developing a system that recycles discarded aluminum to produce hydrogen and clean electricity. The future envisioned by Mizuki is reminiscent of the DeLorean time machine from the movie "Back to the Future." It works by transforming waste into fuel. Nobuaki Mizuki, president of Al Hitech, stated, "I believe it's possible to create fuel from waste." Paper and plastic fibers are removed from waste containing aluminum, and only clean aluminum is extracted. This aluminum is then mixed with a liquid that triggers a chemical reaction, resulting in the production of hydrogen. This hydrogen is sent to fuel cells to generate electricity. The special reaction solution we've developed has a secret. Normally, the sodium hydroxide solution used to produce hydrogen loses its functionality after a single use. However, our special reaction solution can be used approximately 100 times and can be purified and reused even after that. With this special reaction solution and aluminum, you can generate hydrogen and produce electricity as needed without emitting carbon dioxide. Since it's a compact system, it can be installed in factories without the expense of storing hydrogen or carbon dioxide emissions during transportation. I traveled with Prime Minister Kishida on a visit to the Middle East last year, and I was subsequently invited to attend COP28. Governments around the world, including Japan, are paying attention to new hydrogen technologies that could change the future of the world. Nobuaki Mizuki, president of Al Hitec, said, "I am confident that we can create a new carbon-free energy society using everyone's waste, which can continuously produce energy 24 hours a day, regardless of location or weather conditions." In addition to the sliding wheel, we are also developing small devices that can move without the need for energy sources. As long as you have aluminum, you can generate hydrogen and produce electricity anytime, anywhere. Local governments across the country are interested in ideas to help maintain electricity security during major disasters.

Biofuel to be Used in Construction of Japan’s Tallest Building 💡 Key takeaways from this article: ✔️ Tokyo Metropolitan Government selected Shimizu Corporation, Mitsubishi Estate Co., Ltd., Mitsubishi Jisho Design, and Euglena for a project to support the use of #biofuels. ✔️ 株式会社ユーグレナ - Euglena Co., Ltd.'s biodiesel fuel will be used in the construction of Torch Tower (Chiyoda, #Tokyo), the tallest building in #Japan. ✔️Aiming to realize a decarbonized society through the use of biodiesel fuel at construction sites #Sustainability #SustainableConstruction #Construction #Building #SustainableBuilding #biodiesel https://lnkd.in/gVdSrGBn Daisuke Matsuda wrote this article.

Congratulations to our portfolio company, EFT, on a major milestone in advancing EV battery recycling and promoting rare metal resource circulation through open innovation! 🔋🌱 We are thrilled to announce that Emulsion Flow Technologies (EFT) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Daiichi Kigenso Kagaku Kogyo (DKK), a leading manufacturer of zirconium compounds. This partnership aims to combine EFT’s groundbreaking rare metal recycling technology, developed from nuclear research, with DKK’s extensive experience in zirconium refining to address the global challenges of rare metal sustainability. This collaboration is a pivotal step in supporting the circular economy by enhancing the recovery of critical resources like neodymium and cobalt from used EV batteries. Together, EFT and DKK are paving the way toward a greener, more sustainable future, reducing the need for resource-intensive mining and supporting innovation in electric vehicle technology. 📢 Learn more about this exciting development here: https://lnkd.in/gkeUbH3U #HondaXcelerator #Sustainability #EVRecycling #RareMetals #OpenInnovation #CircularEconomy #GreenTech #HondaVentures #FutureOfMobility

According to a report by Nihon Keizai Shimbun, JCCL (Fukuoka City), a start-up company from Kyushu University, announced on April 24 that it will begin selling a device that separates and recovers carbon dioxide (CO2). The device uses absorbents and permeable membranes to capture CO2. Each unit will be sold for approximately 50 million yen. Inclusion Japan, Inc. has made a seed investment in the company. CCUS, an initiative to reduce CO2 emissions by separating and recovering CO2 for reuse in various products and fuels, is expected to become an important topic in the Japanese venture capital industry in the future. In Fukuoka, there is a company called Seibu Giken, which went public last year. This company is a top niche manufacturer of desiccant air conditioners, desiccant dehumidifiers, and VOC concentrators using functional honeycomb laminates. Both products are based on deodorization and dehumidification technologies. I expect that many technology startups will follow Seibu Giken's lead and go public in the Kyushu region. https://lnkd.in/gDRyUpdm

At elvah, we're always on the move, driven by our passion for creating a brighter, cleaner future. Our mission? Make electric mobility the cornerstone of the transition to 100% renewable energy, paving the way for a more sustainable tomorrow. 🌍 We firmly believe that having a purpose is not just desirable, but fundamental for any company. Why? Because it provides a clear direction, inspires meaningful action, and cultivates a sense of shared mission among employees. A strong purpose guides decision-making, fosters innovation, and attracts like-minded individuals who are passionate about making a difference. Every day, we're working tirelessly to harness the power of innovation and technology to make this vision a reality. We're dedicated to shaping the electric mobility landscape, from developing innovative charging solutions to advocating for sustainable transportation policies. ⚡🚗  What about you? What purpose do you have in your company? #ElectricMobility #RenewableEnergy #Sustainability #Innovation #JoinUs

About CCS. Major trading house, Marubeni invests in CCS and will accelerate the CCS-carbon credit business( ^^) _旦~~ Marubeni(https://lnkd.in/gpi25fYe ), which is the 5th in sales among general trading companies in Japan, is starting a business in the U.S. called "CCS," which captures carbon dioxide (CO2) and buries it deep underground. The company will begin in southern Texas and gradually expand its investment destinations. It aims to store 10 million tons annually in North America by 2030, equivalent to the emissions from two coal-fired power plants (1 million kilowatts class). The company has invested 50% in a business company established by Ozona( https://ozonaccs.com/), a US company developing CCS, making it an equity method affiliate. The investment amount is estimated to be around 1 billion yen. The company will begin a project to capture CO2 emitted by a natural gas processing plant in the southern US state of Texas via a pipeline and store it deep underground. The plan is to first process 200,000 tons per year in 2026. CO2 stored underground is considered to have been reduced in the atmosphere, and can be converted into "carbon credits," which are traded for the amount of greenhouse gas reduction. Marubeni's CCS business earns revenue by selling credits to third parties. Marubeni is gradually expanding its base in Texas and is considering launching CO2 capture and storage businesses in several regions in North America, including Canada. Around 2030, it aims to store 10 million tons of CO2 underground per year, which would give it a maximum 10% share of the North American CCS market. According to a forecast by German research firm Statista, the global CCS market, which was $2.4 billion (about 340 billion yen) in 2023, will expand about sevenfold to $16.5 billion in 2031. The U.S. government has positioned GX as a promising technology. It supports the technology's commercialization by oil majors such as Exxon Mobil and Chevron through tax breaks and other measures. Japanese trading companies are also investing in CCS businesses. Sumitomo is working on a project with European companies in the UK, while Mitsui is also working with Malaysian state-run oil company Petronas and others to develop a storage site in the country. On the other hand, there have been very few cases of Japanese companies taking the lead in CCS overseas. Sumitomo has acquired just a 10% stake in a project it is working on with European companies in the UK. Marubeni aims to increase profits by taking the lead in the project itself. The International Energy Agency (IEA) estimates that to achieve net-zero CO2 emissions by 2050, efforts will be needed to capture up to 7.6 billion tons and store them underground. In Japan, it is estimated that 120 to 240 million tons will be required to store them.

Japanese Ministry announces CCs programme: "Today, the Japan Energy and Metals National Corporation (JOGMEC) selected seven CCS projects as model "advanced CCS projects" with the goal of starting operations by 2030, expanding the scale of operations, and dramatically reducing costs, in order to fully deploy CCS projects toward achieving carbon neutrality by 2050." "The seven selected projects involve a wide range of business sectors, including power generation, oil refining, steel, chemicals, paper and pulp, and cement, and will address CO2 emissions in areas with industrial concentrations, such as Hokkaido, Kanto, Chubu, Kinki, Setouchi, and Kyushu. The seven projects (five of which are for domestic storage and the remaining two are for storage in Asia and Oceania) aim to store a total of 6 to 12 million tons of CO2 per year by 2030, with the aim of securing approximately 13 million tons." https://lnkd.in/eqYmczqZ

In Japan, Carbon Capture and Storage（CCS）Industry Law was passed on the 17th of May 2024. (^_-)-☆ According to the law, the government will designate areas where carbon oxide can be stored, and approve CCS business players of exploration rights and storage rights.( ^^) _旦~~ The Blue hydrogen/Ammonia is suitable for the Japanese green energy shift. So, how to treat CO2 is a critical issue. Some makers, like Mitsubishi Kakoki＊, are good at hydrogen production from city gas, and Mitsubishi Heavy Industry＊ has a remarkable sales record of a CO2 absorbing units. However, how to deal the captured CO2 has been a choke point for its business for this decade. The law can open the new CO2 business in Japan.(^^)/ ＊Mitsubishi Kakoki：HyGeia https://lnkd.in/gbgXs6qD ＊Mitsubishi Heavy Industry：https://lnkd.in/gEMzcztU https://lnkd.in/g89N53td