🌆 Infra Futures #26

Happy Monday 👋

The US announced the $500B 'Stargate' initiative, the largest AI infrastructure project in history, led by OpenAI, SoftBank, Oracle, and MGX. Rivian Automotive secured a $6.6B federal loan to construct an EV manufacturing plant in Georgia, with construction starting in 2026 and production in 2028. Meanwhile, China revealed plans to invest $27.8B in Tibet's infrastructure to mark the region's 60th anniversary. In the US, Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey proposed a $2.5B plan to modernize state college campuses using revenue from the millionaires tax. Germany’s Green Fusion secured $13M in Series A funding to advance heating transitions, cutting costs and emissions in housing.

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

🤖 US Unveils Massive AI Infrastructure Initiative. US President announced a $500B 'Stargate' venture, formed by OpenAI, SoftBank, Oracle, and MGX to build up the nation's AI infrastructure, touting it as the largest such project in history.

🌱 India Launches Massive Green Hydrogen Hub. India launched a massive $21.6B green hydrogen hub to develop 20 GW of clean energy projects and produce large quantities of green hydrogen, green methanol, sustainable aviation fuel, and other derivatives.

🌞 Puerto Rico Gets $1.2B to Boost Solar and Battery Storage. The US Department of Energy announced $1.2B in financing to replace Puerto Rico's fossil fuel plants with solar and battery storage by 2032.

🚘 Transport Infrastructure

🚗 Rivian secures $6.6B federal loan for Georgia plant. Rivian Automotive, an electric vehicle maker, finalized a $6.6B federal loan to build a factory in Georgia. Construction is set for 2026, with production starting in 2028.

🚚 Aegis Energy to Build Clean Fuel Hubs for Commercial Vehicles in the UK. Aegis Energy secured $125M to build clean fuel hubs for commercial vehicles in the UK, catering to truck and van operators transitioning to cleaner fuels like HVO, hydrogen, bio-CNG, and electric vehicles.

🔌 Siemens Secures Major EV Infrastructure Contracts in Italy. Siemens eMobility secured two major contracts to develop EV charging infrastructure across Italy. The company is partnering with Italian public transport operator Autolinee Toscane and energy solutions provider IPlanet for these projects.

🏛️ Buildings

🏗️ China Invests Billions in Tibet Infrastructure Projects. China announced that its Tibet Autonomous Region government will invest over $27.8B in major infrastructure construction projects to mark the 60th anniversary of the region's establishment.

♻️ IKEA invests $1b in recycling infrastructure. Ingka Investments, part of Ingka Group which owns most IKEA stores, pledged to invest $1.03B in companies working to improve recycling infrastructure. The investment aims to accelerate the availability of recycled materials and reduce the environmental impact of excessive resource consumption.

🔒 New TSA rules to improve cyber risk management. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) introduced new incident disclosure rules that align well with quantifying cyber risks for critical infrastructure.

🏫 Social Infrastructure

🏫 Massachusetts Governor Proposes $2.5B for State College Campus Construction. Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey proposed a $2.5B plan to fund construction projects on state college campuses, using revenue from the state's millionaires tax.

🏛️ Telangana Seeks World Bank Loan for Healthcare Infrastructure. The government of Telangana is seeking a loan of $480M from the World Bank to fund healthcare infrastructure development in the state.

🛠️ 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.

🍃 US Department of Energy Funds Non-Profits to Develop Clean Energy Workforce. The US Department of Energy’s Clean Energy Careers for All (CEC4A) program awarded up to $300,000 to seven non-profits promoting clean energy careers through STEM education, internships, and mentorship. Key initiatives include green building workshops (California Green Building Council), Zero Emission Vehicle training (EVHybridNoire), and geothermal virtual reality training (New Mexico Institute of Mining & Technology). Top performers may receive an additional $750,000 in Phase 2 funding.

📈 UNICEF and Muslim World League Launch $1.5M Green Skills Program in Pakistan. UNICEF and the Muslim World League, supported by the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), have launched a Green Skills training program in Pakistan to equip disadvantaged youth with sustainable development and digital skills. The initiative enhances employability in green sectors, building on a 14-year partnership between UNICEF and the Muslim World League. Aligned with UNICEF’s mission, it promotes education, child welfare, and economic growth, while SIFC ensures effective implementation to address youth unemployment and bridge critical skills gaps.

🌱 Cardiff Council Unveils Ambitious Green Development Plan for 2036. Cardiff Council's new “Deposit Plan” aims to create over 32,000 jobs by 2036, aligning with the city’s One Planet Strategy. The plan emphasizes sustainable growth, including low-carbon developments, energy-efficient buildings, and renewable energy expansion. It supports diverse employment opportunities by protecting existing sites and introducing new hubs in Cardiff Central Zone, Roath Basin, and other strategic areas. The initiative also prioritizes sustainable transport, active travel, biodiversity, and ecosystem resilience.

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

🔥 German Startup Green Fusion Raises $13M to Reduce Heating Costs. Green Fusion, a German startup, raised $13M  in Series A funding to drive the heating transition and reduce heating costs and CO2 emissions in the housing industry.

💧 Brown and Caldwell receive funding for water research. Engineering consulting firm Brown and Caldwell received $650K in funding from The Water Research Foundation to lead three innovative water research projects.

🏗️ InnoCSR Closes Series A Funding for Sustainable Construction Tech. InnoCSR, a company offering sustainable construction technology called Good Bricks, received an investment from NH Investment & Securities to close its Series A funding round. This will enable InnoCSR to accelerate the deployment of its green building solution across South Asia.

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Thank you for reading. Have a great week ahead!
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