🌆 Infra Futures #23

Happy New Year! 🎉

The US Department of Energy provided a $9.63B loan to BlueOval SK, a joint venture between Ford and SK On, for the construction of three battery plants aimed at supporting Ford's electric vehicle production. In India, major transit infrastructure projects are underway in Delhi, with the construction of several new $3B transit lines expected to improve connectivity and ease congestion for millions of commuters. Samsung launched new AI-powered air-to-water heat pumps in North America, designed for various residential applications and optimized when connected to photovoltaic systems. The European Investment Bank also invests $59.95M in Ukraine to rebuild critical social infrastructure. Additionally, SmartAC.com secured funding to expand its HVAC and plumbing platform.

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.

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🏗️ Energy Infrastructure

🔋 DOE provides $9.63B loan for Ford-SK battery plants. The US Department of Energy provided a $9.63B loan to BlueOval SK, a joint venture between Ford and SK On, to build three battery manufacturing plants for Ford's future electric vehicles.

🔌 California Invests $1.4B in EV Charging Infrastructure. The state of California is investing $1.4B to build more public electric vehicle charging stations to support the growing number of EVs in the state and the ongoing transition. 

🏗️ UAE Achieves Major Infrastructure Milestone. The UAE achieved a significant infrastructure milestone with the start of commercial operations for Unit 4 at the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant, marking the full delivery of the groundbreaking project.

🚘 Transport Infrastructure

🚇 Major Transit Infrastructure Projects Underway in Delhi. Construction is progressing on several new transit lines worth $3B in the Delhi region of India. The new transit lines are expected to enhance connectivity and reduce congestion, benefiting millions of commuters in the Delhi region.

⚓️ DP World Starts Construction of New $1.2B Port in Senegal. DP World, a global logistics company, commenced construction of a new $1.2B port in Senegal. The new port will significantly boost trade and improve the region's logistics infrastructure, strengthening Senegal's position as a key player in West Africa's maritime industry.

🚉 Pennsylvania Invests $55M in Rail Infrastructure. Pennsylvania approved $55M in funding for rail infrastructure projects aimed at boosting freight mobility, modernizing railways, and creating over 340 jobs to support economic development and transportation.

🏛️ Buildings

🔋 Samsung Launches New Air-to-Water Heat Pumps in North America. Samsung, a Korean manufacturer, launched new monobloc air-to-water heat pumps that are now available in the North American market. These systems are suitable for multi-unit homes, apartments, new construction, and retrofits, and they work with AI technology and perform better when connected to a photovoltaic (PV) system.

🏗️ SpActrum reuses construction waste in the office. The architectural firm SpActrum in Shanghai reuses discarded construction materials in its office and exhibition spaces, addressing neglect in construction practices.

🏫 Social Infrastructure

🏢 EIB provides funding for social infrastructure in Ukraine. The European Investment Bank (EIB) is providing $59.95M in funding to enable Ukrainian communities to reconstruct social infrastructure such as schools, kindergartens, and hospitals.

🏫 Chhattisgarh to establish 15 new medical colleges with central funding. The Central Government provided Rs 4,400 crore to the Chhattisgarh government led by Vishnu Deo Sai for setting up 15 new medical colleges and infrastructure development.

🛠️ 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.

💰 Infra Deals

💰 SmartAC.com raises funding to grow the platform. SmartAC.com, a Houston-based company providing a customer loyalty platform for contractors, secured additional funding from Mercury Fund and other investors to expand its HVAC and plumbing platform.

💰 Eastern International Files for IPO. Eastern International, an engineering company, filed for an initial public offering (IPO) to sell 1.6 million shares at a price range of $4 to $5 per share.

🏗️ Vulcan Materials Expands with California Acquisition. Vulcan Materials, a Birmingham-based company, acquired a California company, adding two asphalt plants and thirteen ready-mixed concrete locations to its holdings.

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