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 | This week’s edition is packed with clean energy breakthroughs fresh from the ARPA-E Innovation Summit, record-setting solar and storage growth, and big bets on carbon removal and geothermal. Plus, would you eat 3D-printed meat? Some folks in Barcelona just did—read on to see what’s sizzling in the world of climate tech. |
| | BIG IDEAS FOR OUR ENERGY FUTURE—I just got back from the ARPA-E Innovation Summit in Washington, D.C. As the early-stage innovation arm of the U.S. Department of Energy, the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) funds research and development of advanced energy technologies before they’re ready for private-sector investment. You could feel the enthusiasm and optimism throughout the Summit, even in this uncertain environment for clean tech. Nearly 3,000 energy innovators—scientists, technologists, entrepreneurs, investors, engineers, industry leaders (and a fair share of big data nerds)—came together to engage on such critical topics as AI in energy systems, resilient infrastructure, and the future of nuclear fusion. Opening Buzz: U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright kicked things off with a keynote that doubled down on his department’s mission to supercharge low-carbon energy innovations and boost U.S. energy security. He gave a big shoutout to ARPA-E as the engine behind game-changing tech, fast-tracking private-sector adoption, and keeping the U.S. ahead in the global energy race. Watch it here. Fast Pitches, Big Ideas: ARPA-E program directors and fellows took the stage with rapid-fire pitches on a whirlwind of cutting-edge innovations, from ultra-efficient data centers and backup power systems to subsea geothermal, direct carbon fuel cells, and microreactors for next-gen nuclear power. Tech Playground: The Technology Showcase was energizing, with over 400 jaw-dropping energy tech demos and prototypes. Attendees got a hands-on glimpse of the future— next-gen battery storage, smart grid solutions, clean hydrogen, and industrial decarbonization breakthroughs (yes, even steel made with lasers!).
Overall, the Summit was a powerful reminder of the accelerating momentum that’s driving the future of clean energy innovation in the U.S. It was impossible not to feel inspired by these bold ideas, breakthrough technologies, and the collaborative spirit that defined the event. The road ahead may have its challenges, but one thing is undeniable: There are exciting innovations in our future.
– Quinn A. Marvin, Head of Data & Analytics at Speed & Scale |
| | 🚗 1.0 – Electrify Transportation Charge It in a Flash: BYD’s shares soared after the company unveiled an ultra-fast charging system that adds about 250 miles of range in just five minutes, pushing it far ahead of Tesla for EV charging speed. With plans to roll out more than 4,000 charging stations, BYD is consolidating its lead in the global EV market (Bloomberg).
EVs Take the Lead: The Tesla Model Y became the world’s best-selling car in 2024, while BYD’s Song broke into the top 10. This signals a major shift as EVs gain ground globally over traditional gas-powered models (Visual Capitalist). Defying the Market: Belgium’s shift to 100 percent tax deductions for electric company cars has made it Europe’s third-largest EV market, despite weaker private demand. Policymakers are eyeing fleet incentives as a model for accelerating the clean vehicle transition (Bloomberg). Unplugging EV Growth: Despite major growth in the global EV market, the repeal of EV tax credits and emissions regulations could slash U.S. sales by 40 percent by 2030 and put U.S. battery and assembly plants at risk of closure. With 8.3 million fewer EVs projected on the road, the shift could stall investment and disrupt the domestic clean energy supply chain (Zenodo).
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| | | Lazard’s latest Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE) analysis highlights key trends shaping the energy transition. While renewables remain highly cost-competitive, the cost of new clean energy projects has risen for the first time due to supply chain constraints and stubborn higher interest rates. Although onshore wind ($27–$73/MWh) and utility-scale solar ($29–$92/MWh) are still among the cheapest sources of new power, tighter margins and grid bottlenecks are slowing deployment. Meanwhile, natural gas combined-cycle plants ($45–$108/MWh), which use both gas and steam turbines to generate electricity efficiently, are maintaining price competitiveness. These developments underline the need for stronger policy support for storage and transmission to balance intermittent renewables.
Speed & Scale’s Objective 2.0 calls for rapid scaling of zero-emission power. Lazard’s findings point to the urgency for developing innovative renewables, accelerating permitting reform, expanding storage, and modernizing the grid to sustain clean energy momentum. |
| 💡 2.0 – Decarbonize the Grid |
| Solar and Storage Surge: Clean energy in the U.S. set a record in 2024, adding 48 GW of utility-scale solar, wind, and battery storage—nearly half again more than in 2023, with solar and batteries making up 89 percent of new deployment. The current year is set to bring another 60 GW of new capacity online, though growth is expected to slow compared to last year’s surge (Clearview). Gas Turbine Bottleneck: Soaring energy demand from data centers and manufacturing is fueling a rush for natural gas, but turbine manufacturers can’t keep up, with backlogs stretching into 2029. As delays mount and renewables face their own supply chain constraints, the price of natural gas is expected to rise (Heatmap).
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| 🐄 3.0 – Fix Food Cattle Crunch Ahead: With U.S. beef supply shrinking and prices climbing (up 44 percent since 2020), President Donald Trump’s proposed tariffs on agricultural imports could push them even higher. Even as record beef imports help stabilize supply, new trade barriers risk inflaming inflation, straining ranchers, and making your next burger a luxury (The Economist). Feeding the Low-Carbon Future: Methane-reducing feed supplements, notably Bovaer and Asparagopsis, are gaining ground as a way to cut emissions from livestock. But they still face major hurdles: cost, regulation, and farmer resistance to adoption. The clean supplement market’s success will hinge on farmer incentives (Ag Funder News).
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| 🌟 Media Spotlight 🌟Would you eat a burger “cooked” by a 3D printer? Attendees at MWC2025, a tech conference hosted in Barcelona, had the opportunity to try 3D-printed plant-based shredded beef. The product came courtesy of the Spain-based food tech startup Novameat.
Check out the Washington Post’s reel about 3D-printed plant-based beef. We would love to hear your thoughts — would you try it? Definitely 😋 Maybe 🫣 Never 😵💫
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| 🌳 4.0 – Protect Nature Blazes Sweep the Plains: A historic wildfire outbreak is scorching the Southern Plains. More than 150 blazes in Oklahoma alone have destroyed nearly 300 structures and forced widespread evacuations amid 80+ mph winds and bone-dry conditions. From Texas to Nebraska, emergency crews are battling a relentless mix of fire and dust storms, as well as blackouts resulting from the two (New York Times). California’s Coverage Cliff: Los Angeles is racing to rebuild after this past winter’s wildfires destroyed more than 16,000 homes, but sky-high property values and a crumbling insurance market may leave many residents behind. With State Farm halting new policies and seeking a 22 percent rate hike, even well-funded plans to construct fire-resilient, prefab homes face tough odds to insure them (Wall Street Journal). Japan Battles Massive Blaze: In Japan’s worst wildfire in half a century, a week-long blaze near Ofunato has scorched more than six thousand acres and forced evacuations. Fueled by drought and dry heat, the fire underscores the growing threat of wildfires in regions once considered safe from them (Bloomberg).
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| 🧱 5.0 – Clean Up Industry Molten Moment: Boston Metal has produced its first ton of emissions-free steel using molten oxide electrolysis (MOE), a breakthrough electric-powered process that emits oxygen instead of CO2. With steel responsible for nearly nine percent of global emissions, this MIT-born tech could redefine the industry’s future (Interesting Engineering). Space Junk Spiral: As greenhouse gas emissions shrink the Earth’s upper atmosphere, a new study warns that the carrying capacity of low-Earth orbit satellites could fall by up to two-thirds. Reduced atmospheric drag translates to more persistent space junk and a higher risk of satellite collisions and orbital debris cascades, all threats to the future of satellite operations (Nature).
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| 🧹 6.0 – Remove Carbon Wind-Powered Carbon Pull: A new direct air capture project in Texas aims to remove 500,000 tons of CO2 annually by using low-cost wind power generated onsite, making it the world’s first carbon removal plant powered directly by wind. Led by Return Carbon and Skytree, the project could help cut the high cost of carbon removal while avoiding grid strain and negative power prices (Scientific American). Scope 1, Stage Set: The Science Based Targets initiative has proposed three potential avenues for companies to utilize carbon removals in their decarbonization strategies, marking a major shift in its net-zero standard. The update could boost corporate demand for durable removals and other new technologies and includes stricter targets for large companies, with final rules expected by 2026 (Wall Street Journal).
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| 🏛️ 7.0 – Win Politics And Policy Republican Support Clean Energy Tax Credits: Arguing that incentives from the Inflation Reduction Act are fueling jobs and investment in their districts, a bloc of 21 House Republicans is urging party leaders to preserve the legislation’s clean energy tax credits. With budget negotiations underway, they’re warning they may reject any GOP plan that guts the credits (Politico). Geothermal’s Moment: U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright called for a major expansion of geothermal energy in order to power AI, reshore, and lower electricity prices. At the geothermal-focused Project Innerspace’s summit, Wright indicated his strong support for geothermal as a 24/7, zero-carbon energy solution that draws on oil and gas tech and is a national asset (The Hill).
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| 🏃 8.0 – Turn Movements Into Action Banking Alliance Revises Target: In the wake of political pressure and mass defections from climate goals by U.S. banks after President Trump’s election, the Net-Zero Banking Alliance is asking members to vote on dropping its 1.5°C commitment in favor of a “well below 2°C” target. The move signals a broader retreat from climate ambition in global finance, as banks shift from setting bold goals to managing political risk (Financial Times). The Other Carbon Cost: According to new Harvard-led research, fossil fuel pollution caused over eight million deaths in 2018, or 18 percent of all global mortality. Using high-resolution modeling, the study shows long-term exposure to particulate matter (PM2.5) from fossil fuels is deadlier than previously thought, highlighting the urgent health case for a clean energy transition (Harvard Gazette).
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| ⚡ 9.0 – Innovate! Unlocking Grid Efficiency: To meet soaring electricity demand, former White House advisor Brian Deese and grid expert Rob Gramlich argue that the U.S. must urgently deploy advanced transmission technologies, low-cost upgrades that will speed grid expansion without new infrastructure. These tools could unlock hundreds of gigawatts of clean energy and cut consumer costs. Amid outdated regulatory and utility incentives, they could enlist bipartisan backing (MIT Technology Review). MOOve Over Methane: A UC Davis study found that Rumin8’s experimental feed additive reduced methane emissions in cattle by over 95 percent, with no negative impact on animal health or productivity. As global demand for meat and dairy keeps rising, the findings could point the way toward more climate-friendly livestock systems (Rumin8). Hot Data, Cool Solution: A new analysis shows that next-gen geothermal could meet up to 64 percent of projected electricity demand growth from AI data centers—and up to 100 percent if facilities are sited near the best resources. As data center load surges, geothermal offers clean, 24/7 power that avoids grid bottlenecks. Deployment will hinge on swift action from tech firms, developers, and policymakers (Rhodium Group).
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| 💰 10.0 – Invest! Cost-Effective Climate Action: Global warming of 3°C could slash global GDP by up to 34 percent, according to a new report co-authored by the Boston Consulting Group and the University of Cambridge. The good news: Limiting warming to 2°C could reduce that loss to just 2 to 4 percent. Investing 1 to 2 percent of global GDP in climate action today could prevent far greater long-term economic damage (BCG). The Energy Transition Grind: Even though global solar capacity is doubling every three years, J.P. Morgan reports that the renewable transition remains a slow, linear process, advancing less than 1 percent per year. Despite $9 trillion in clean energy investments over the past decade, fossil fuels still dominate industrial sectors. To accelerate the transition, we’ll need dramatic grid expansion and breakthroughs in energy storage (J.P. Morgan).
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