🌆 Infra Futures #16

Happy Monday 👋

China's EV charging infrastructure increased to 11.43 million units by September 2024, marking a 49.6% year-over-year growth, according to the National Energy Administration. Indian giants Adani and JSW Infra plan to invest $9.6B in port infrastructure over five years, targeting a 42% market share by FY2030. In infrastructure innovation, GScan introduced muon-based scanning technology, allowing AI-driven, high-accuracy defect detection for structures up to 10 meters deep. Gap Infrastructure Corporation (GIC) raised $31M to fund public infrastructure development in South Africa. Additionally, M Group Services, a prominent infrastructure firm, expanded by acquiring a technical engineering solutions company.

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.

🏗️ Energy Infrastructure

⚡ China's EV Charging Infrastructure Surges to 11.43 Million Units. China's electric vehicle charging infrastructure saw a significant increase, with the number of EV charging piles reaching 11.43 million by the end of September 2024, reflecting a substantial YoY growth of 49.6%, according to data from the National Energy Administration.

🔒 Australia Bolsters Cyber Defenses with New Critical Infrastructure Assets. Australia expanded its cyber resilience efforts by designating 46 additional critical infrastructure assets as 'Systems of National Significance' to enhance cybersecurity measures.

🏭 JSW Steel and POSCO to invest $7.7B in Odisha steel plant. India's JSW Steel and South Korea's POSCO plan to invest $7.7B in their proposed steel plant in Odisha, India in the coming years to capitalize on rising steel demand in India.

🚘 Transport Infrastructure

🚢 Adani, JSW Infra to invest $9.6B  in ports over 5 years. Adani and JSW Infrastructure are expected to invest around $9.6B in the ports sector over the next five years to expand their port operations, aiming for a combined 42% market share by FY30. 

🚋 Dubai to Transform Transport Network with $4.4B Plan. Sheikh Hamdan reviewed a $4.4B transport plan that aims to transform Dubai's transport network with massive road developments, trackless trams, and dedicated bus and taxi lanes.

🚦 Brisbane Embraces AI for Smarter Traffic Management. Brisbane City Council is upgrading its traffic management with AI through the "Smarter Suburban Traffic Management System." The initiative aims to optimize road use, improve traffic flow, and enhance safety, as part of the Race to Gold transport plan for the 2032 Olympics.

🏛️ Buildings

🏗️ New Scanning Tech for Smarter Infrastructure Maintenance. GScan uses muons, naturally occurring subatomic particles, and AI to assess infrastructure, detecting defects with 1mm accuracy up to 10 meters deep. The technology analyzes muon flow through structures, creating detailed maps of materials and flaws.

🌊 New York City Completes First Phase of $1.45B Coastal Resiliency Project. New York City completed the first phase of its $1.45B coastal resiliency project aimed at protecting the city from future storms and rising sea levels.

🏫 Social Infrastructure

🏦 GIC Raises $31M for Public Infrastructure Development in South Africa. Gap Infrastructure Corporation (GIC), a leading infrastructure developer, raised $31M in private investment to advance social infrastructure development in South Africa.

🏥 Egypt Announces Major Hospital Upgrades. The Egyptian government unveiled plans to upgrade hospitals across 11 governorates with a budget of $342M, according to the Ministry of Health spokesperson Hossam Abdel Ghaffar.

🛠️ Skills and Workforce

HolonIQ is now tracking reskilling and upskilling initiatives that are 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.

📖 LinkedIn has released its Green Skills Report 2024. The report reveals an 11.6% increase in the demand for green talent this year, outpacing a 5.6% growth in supply. Jobseekers with green skills are hired 54.6% faster, led by the US and Ireland. Demand is largely driven by the utilities, construction, and manufacturing sectors. However, only 1 in 10 women currently have a green skill compared to 1 in 5 men. LinkedIn urges governments to prioritize green upskilling in climate policies, advocating for COP29 to emphasize workforce investment for climate goals.

🌱 Proposition 4 has passed in California. $10 billion in climate bonds have been approved, to combat wildfires and create green jobs. It allocates $1.5B for wildfire preservation and $3.8B for water protection. Community colleges will expand training in clean energy, green construction, water management, and EV maintenance, preparing students for careers in climate resilience. Prioritizing disadvantaged communities, this measure supports workforce development in climate jobs, enhancing California’s environmental and economic future by enabling partnerships between community colleges and green industry employers.

⚡ Bute Energy has launched its Net Zero Skills Strategy. This program is tackling Wales’ green skills gap by engaging students and fostering upskilling partnerships. This initiative addresses the need for 25,000 green roles by 2050, reaching over 7,000 students with workshops, creating internships, and funding advanced education in green fields. Collaborating with Careers Wales and Cardiff University, Bute Energy supports green workforce readiness. Amidst a UK-wide green skills shortfall, this program underscores the critical need to cultivate a workforce prepared for the net-zero transition.

HolonIQ has launched the Green Skills Map, an open-source framework initiated for the purpose of 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.

💰 Infra Deals

🔧 M Group Services Acquires Large Engineering Firm. M Group Services, an infrastructure services group, acquired a technical engineering solutions business with over 1,500 employees.

🌐 Xypex Chemical Corporation Expands Global Footprint with Acquisitions. Xypex Chemical Corporation announced that it acquired Xypex Australia and National Concrete Solutions, expanding its operations globally.

🚗 Parsons Completes Acquisition of BCC Engineering. Parsons Corp. acquired BCC Engineering, a Florida-based transportation engineering firm, in an all-cash transaction.

🤝 OHM Advisors Acquires Griner Engineering. OHM Advisors, a leading architecture, engineering and planning firm, acquired Griner Engineering in a strategic acquisition.

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