🌞 Energy Futures #51

Happy New Year! 🎉

New York’s Climate Change Superfund Act, signed by the NY governor this week, if passed into law, will require oil companies to contribute up to $75B for climate adaptation, based on emissions. In Korea, researchers developed solar-powered self-charging supercapacitors, advancing energy storage for off-grid locations. Eni invested over $103M in a supercomputer for oil and gas exploration, leveraging AI. A major lithium deposit was discovered on the Oregon-Nevada border, potentially reshaping global energy dynamics. Finally, Enlight Renewable Energy secured $550M for its Roadrunner solar-plus-storage project in the US, furthering renewable energy progress. These developments highlight the push towards sustainable energy and innovation in the energy sector.

What's new?

HolonIQ’s new Green Skills Map and Workforce section reveal industry-wide sustainability skills and jobs, as well as workforce development initiatives, supporting upskilling for a sustainable economy.

HolonIQ's new skills newsletter is here! Get updates on emerging skills, workforce shifts, and industry insights across impact sectors. Subscribe now to stay ahead.

🌅 New Energy

🌍 New York to Charge Oil Companies for Climate Change Adaptation. New York’s Governor Kathy Hochul signed the Climate Change Superfund Act, requiring oil companies to contribute up to $75B to infrastructure investments needed for climate change adaptation. The contributions will be proportional to each company's greenhouse gas emissions.

⚡ World's First Large-Scale Pure Hydrogen Power Plant. The commissioning of the world's first 30 MW pure hydrogen power plant marks a significant step in clean energy. This large-scale facility will harness hydrogen as a primary fuel source, demonstrating its potential in electricity generation and offering a sustainable alternative to traditional fossil fuels.

🌱 China Enacts First Energy Law. China implemented its first Energy Law, which serves as a fundamental law governing the energy sector. The core focus is on actively supporting new energy development and the establishment of an energy reserve system, and it also clarifies the responsibilities of enterprises in this regard.

🔌 Utilities

🔋 Solar-powered self-charging supercapacitors developed in Korea. Researchers from DGIST and Kyungpook National University in Korea have developed solar-powered self-charging supercapacitors. These devices continuously harness solar energy, offering a sustainable energy storage solution, particularly for remote or off-grid locations. This innovation could significantly improve the efficiency and sustainability of renewable energy systems.

☀️ Huasun Energy Connects World's Largest Solar Project in China. Huasun Energy facilitated the successful grid connection of the world's largest 4 GW single-site heterojunction solar project in Ruoqiang, Xinjiang, China. The company's high-efficiency HJT solar modules contributed to the project's success.

🔋 Researchers Develop Fire-Resistant Lithium Battery. Researchers developed a triple-layer lithium battery designed to be resistant to fire and explosions. This innovation enhances safety, addressing common concerns with traditional lithium-ion batteries. The new structure includes a layer that acts as a barrier to prevent overheating, significantly reducing the risk of hazardous incidents.

⛽ Oil & Gas

🔬 Eni Invests in Supercomputer for Oil and Gas Exploration. Eni, an Italian energy company, invested over $103M in a new supercomputer called HPC6 to aid in oil and gas exploration using artificial intelligence.

⛽ Russia and Ukraine End Long-Standing Gas Transit Deal. Russia and Ukraine ended their decades-long gas transit agreement, marking a significant shift in Europe's energy supply dynamics, expected to have lasting impacts on energy markets and supply security in Europe.

⛽ Sinopec Completes China's Largest Petrochemical Base. China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation (Sinopec) completed the construction of the second phase of a major petrochemical project, creating China's largest petrochemical industrial base.

💎 Mining and Metals

⚡ Massive Lithium Deposit Discovered in America. A huge lithium deposit of 40 million metric tons was discovered in the McDermitt Caldera on the Oregon-Nevada border in America. This discovery could shift global energy dominance away from China and accelerate the green energy revolution.

🌱 Breakthrough in Photochemical Water Oxidation. Researchers from the University of Illinois Chicago made an advance in photochemical water oxidation, enhancing the potential for sustainable hydrogen fuel production from water using sunlight.

🌱 Korea-Oman JV Inks Green Ammonia Supply Deal. The Korea-Oman joint venture, LUPRO-Oman, finalized a long-term agreement to supply LUPRO Inc. with 5 million tonnes of green ammonia over an extended period, valued at $4.5B.

🛠️ Skills and Workforce

HolonIQ is now tracking reskilling and upskilling initiatives critical in bridging workforce gaps. Impact industries are rapidly evolving, fueled by technological advancements, decarbonization, geopolitical dynamics, and socio-economic factors. To that extent, these sectors require considerable workforce/professional development initiatives to enhance workers' capabilities, boost economic growth, and promote social well-being. Read on for this week’s insights, and discover more in HolonIQ's latest Skills newsletter.

⚡ New York State funds $45 million in apprenticeships and pre-apprenticeships for clean energy construction and development to build a diverse pipeline of skilled workers. This initiative is a partnership between the New York State Energy Research Development Authority and the Finishing Trades Institute of New York, focusing on energy efficiency and building technologies, and aims to address workforce needs and ensure an inclusive energy transition.

🌱 Dorchester Bay Economic Development Corporation (DBEDC) and the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) Massachusetts have partnered to expand workforce training in the green jobs sector. The Dorchester-based training hub will host its first 10-person cohort starting in February, offering paid technical training, essential job skills training, and career connections in clean energy fields like weatherization, HVAC, energy auditing, and solar. The program aims to bridge wage and economic opportunity gaps in communities affected by climate change.

🔋 Micron Technology has committed $3M to the D'Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families at Syracuse University in New York to support workforce development. The funding will help create a specialized Semiconductor Hub within the institute's Onward to Opportunity (O2O) career training program, connecting transitioning service members, veterans, and their families with careers in the semiconductor industry. This initiative aligns with the CHIPS and Science Act and aims to bridge the gap between veteran talent and industry needs.

HolonIQ has launched the Green Skills Map, an open-source framework initiated for cataloging, evaluating, and contextualizing the different components of the rapidly expanding field of green jobs. This comprehensive taxonomy will serve as a resource for understanding the full spectrum and complexity of green skills required across various sectors, thereby enabling a cohesive approach toward achieving net zero and decarbonizing the global economy. Green Skills Map spans 11 areas, 54 sub-areas, and 243 green skills clusters. A snippet of the map covering four areas has been included above. Explore the full map on greenskills.org.

💰 Energy Deals

🔋 Enlight Renewable Energy Secures $550M Financing for Solar+Storage Project. Enlight Renewable Energy announced the closing of $550M debt financing for its Roadrunner solar plus storage project located in the U.S.

💰 KoBold Metals Raises $500M for AI-Powered Mineral Exploration. The mining startup KoBold Metals, backed by tech billionaires Bill Gates and Jeff Bezos, reached a significant milestone by raising $500M in funding for its AI-powered mineral exploration technology.

🌞 Nebraska Electric G&T Receives $200M Grant for Renewable Energy. Nebraska Electric G&T, a Columbus-based co-op, was awarded a $200M grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture for developing solar and wind energy projects in Butler, Burt, and Custer counties.

🔋 Aypa Power Secures $190M Financing for Texas Battery Project. Aypa Power, a Blackstone portfolio company, secured a $190M financing package for its 200 MW/400 MWh battery energy storage project in Texas.

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