🌆 Infra Futures #25

Happy Monday 👋

This week in Infrastructure developments, China approved a $127B project to build the world's largest hydropower dam on the Yarlung Tsangpo River, aiming to boost clean energy while raising concerns about ecological and community impacts. Huawei conducted the first commercial pilot of its Qiankun ADS 3.0 autonomous airport parking system at Shenzhen Airport, advancing mobility innovation. In Dubai, DMCC and REIT Development plan to complete the Crypto Tower by 2027, enhancing the JLT district's tech ecosystem. Los Angeles' devastating wildfires caused $150B in damages, underscoring the urgent need for improved urban planning and fire-resistant infrastructure. Meanwhile, Positec Group secured $250M in equity financing to drive global expansion and innovation across its core business lines.

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

🌊 China Approves World's Largest Hydropower Dam. China approved plans to construct the world's largest hydropower dam on the lower Yarlung Tsangpo River in the Himalayas. The $127B project aims to boost clean energy but risks disrupting downstream ecosystems and communities.

💰 AWS Invests $5B in Mexico. Amazon Web Services (AWS) announced plans to invest $5B in Mexico over the next 15 years, demonstrating a long-term commitment to the region. This investment aims to foster innovation, supporting the digital transformation of businesses across Mexico.

⚠️ France Faces Challenges in Nuclear Reactor Construction Plan. France's plan to build six new nuclear reactors is facing delays and uncertainty regarding costs, financing, and design issues, according to a report by the country's Court of Auditors.

🚘 Transport Infrastructure

🚗 Huawei Pilots Autonomous Airport Parking System. Huawei conducted the world's first commercial pilot of an autonomous airport parking system called Qiankun ADS 3.0 at Shenzhen Airport, allowing cars to park themselves.

🚢 Japan Provides Loan for Patimban Port Development. Japan provided a loan of $815M to Indonesia for the development of the Patimban Port. Japan’s Jakarta-Japan Club also committed to increasing its contributions to Indonesia’s economy, aiming for 36% by 2030, up from 16% in 2024. 

⚓️ Odisha Invests in Ship Recycling and Port Infrastructure. The Odisha Government is investing $480M to develop a ship recycling hub by handling 40 million tonnes annually and creating a center for sustainable shipbuilding and repair.

🏛️ Buildings

🏢 DMCC and REIT Development to Build Crypto Tower in Dubai. MCC and REIT Development, two organizations based in Dubai, are collaborating to construct the Crypto Tower in Dubai's Jumeirah Lakes Towers (JLT) district. The construction is expected to be finished by the first quarter of 2027, after which the tower will become fully operational.

🏘️ New housing suburb unveiled in Adelaide. The South Australian government announced a $1B housing development that will create a new suburb with up to 1,300 homes in Adelaide's inner-west on the former West End Brewery site.

🏫 Social Infrastructure

🔥 Los Angeles' $150B Wildfires Highlight Need for Better Urban Planning. The wildfires in Los Angeles caused $150B in damage, highlighting the need for better urban planning measures like mandated firebreaks, non-flammable insulation and cladding, and exterior sprinkler systems to protect buildings.

🏠 New affordable housing for unhoused seniors in Tucson. A new affordable housing development called Milagro on Oracle is built in Tucson, providing housing for unhoused seniors.

🛠️ 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.

⚡ $28M investment in Gigapark to boost UK green skills. The Coventry and Warwick Gigapark, a pivotal UK green energy hub, secured $28M from the West Midlands Combined Authority. This funding will enhance energy infrastructure to support battery manufacturing, creating up to 6,000 EV and energy storage jobs. Anchored by Greenpower Park, the site will drive innovation in electrification, clean energy, and battery technologies. Positioned as a global leader, it supports regional growth and the UK’s transition to a sustainable, low-carbon economy.

🏢 1M1B launches Green Skills Academy for Andhra youth employment. The 1M1B Foundation, a UN-accredited nonprofit, has launched a Green Skills Academy in Kuppam, Andhra Pradesh, in collaboration with the the Kuppam Area Development Authority (KADA). Inaugurated by Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, the academy aims to train youth in green and professional skills, including e-waste management, renewable energy, and sustainable agriculture. Digital skills such as AI, communication, and leadership are also offered to prepare participants for green jobs, fostering regional innovation and sustainability.

🏜️ Deloitte Middle East introduces transformative green skills training program. Deloitte Middle East, in collaboration with IEMA, has launched the “Green Skills for a Green Economy” program, offering foundational training in sustainability and green job competencies. Since its debut in the UAE, the program has trained over 350 participants, including students, entrepreneurs, and professionals. This initiative supports regional sustainability goals by empowering individuals with eco-conscious skills and fostering green career pathways. Aligned with Deloitte’s WorldClass and WorldClimate strategies, it addresses the global green skills gap, driving inclusive and sustainable economic growth.

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

💰 Positec Group Secures $250M Equity Financing. Positec Group Ltd., a global technology leader in manufacturing and innovation, announced that it secured $250M in equity financing led by its existing shareholders. The new capital will support Positec's continued growth and expansion across its core business lines and geographies.

🔋 Qvantum Secures $116M Series C Funding. Qvantum, a company pioneering advanced heat pump technologies, secured $116M in Series C funding to boost production of its innovative Heat Pump to Grid (HP2G) technology.

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Thank you for reading. Have a great week ahead!
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