Ampersand Partners

Celebrating 6 Years of Ampersand Partners! 🎉 For 6 years Ampersand has been at the forefront, helping businesses navigate the complexities and challenges of the energy transition. We’ve driven real impact, delivering on our mission to accelerate the transition to a sustainable, regenerative economy What sets Ampersand apart? Without a doubt, it’s our people. Our team understands that collaboration, innovation—and a bit of fun—are the ultimate drivers of success Together, we have achieved more than we ever imagined—and the best part is, we are just getting started! As we celebrate this milestone and reflect on our journey so far, we’re even more excited about what’s ahead 😄 To everyone who’s been part of our story so far: thank you for your support, trust, and partnership. Here’s to the next chapter! 🥂 We also want to wish all our clients, colleagues, and friends a joyful holiday season and a bright start to the New Year 🎄

#COP29 was heavily centered on establishing a new climate finance goal. Developed nations committed to mobilizing at least $300 billion annually by 2035 in the NCQG to assist developing countries in addressing climate change. This figure, while an increase from previous commitments, falls short of the $1.3 trillion per year that experts deem necessary to meet global climate targets ⛽️ Despite the urgency, COP29 failed to reach a fossil fuel phase-out agreement, with resistance from major oil producers like Saudi Arabia, China, and India. This omission mirrors the recent G20 summit's failure to address fossil fuel reduction ✈️ To meet the ambitious climate finance goals, discussions explored taxes on shipping, aviation, fossil fuel production, and financial transactions. Countries like France, Spain, and Kenya forming a task force to develop these “solidarity levies” 🤝The conference aimed to rebuild trust between developed and developing nations, especially after previous commitments to the Loss and Damage Fund were not fully realized. While the new finance agreement is a step forward, many developing countries expressed dissatisfaction, viewing the pledged amounts as insufficient and the timelines as too distant to address the immediate impacts of climate change ☁️ The upcoming COP30 in Belém, Brazil, will mark the 10-year anniversary of the Paris Agreement, serving as a critical juncture to accelerate emission reduction targets. However, the recent election of a climate-skeptic U.S. president poses challenges to international climate efforts, potentially affecting global cooperation and ambition. #ClimateFinance #SustainableFuture

Companies starting their #sustainability journey can easily get confused about where to start. We at Ampersand have seen that the most effective way to embed and understand a company's sustainability needs is to develop a full-suite decarbonisation program 🚀 We have broken down it down into 5 key steps:  ▪ Baseline: assess prior sustainability performance to understand the current state ▪ Develop strategic rationale: understand #why the company should pursue better sustainability performance 🧠 ▪ Set ambition and targets: stage for what the company should strive for, and allow that to inform future efforts ▪ Mobilise: develop a clear structure and #governance for the sustainability program ▪ Implement: provide initial support and the tools needed for the company to thrive  Through these steps, Ampersand has ensured the smooth run of sustainability programs with the highest level of engagement from the company and its key stakeholders 🌱 Do you know what your sustainability needs are? We are here to chat 😉

As more organizations recognize the 1.5°C target has slipped from reach, the question becomes: How do we keep going, and why? The latest UNEP report underlines that the path to even staying below 2°C will require a monumental shift in ambition   Yet, each fraction of a degree avoided is better than nothing. For businesses, this means recognizing the financial, regulatory, and reputational implications of climate inaction and positioning #sustainability as core to resilience and competitiveness.   Let's be bold. Every action counts!

Is the #DataCentre industry ready to meet the demands of the booming AI industry?  With AI requirements increasing power consumption and workloads, traditional data centres face challenges to its implementation. The solution 👉🏼 potentially creating AI-specific designs.  To find out more about what aspects could need new thinking, check out this post by Upsite Technologies

Amazon, another big tech company, is looking at alternative ways to bring power to #DataCentres 🔋 Following the surge in cloud and #AI demand, the company is investing in Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), an advanced form of nuclear technology. More specifically, to fund a feasibility study for an SMR project that could generate up to 960 MW — enough to power hundreds of thousands of homes Despite nuclear’s resurgent popularity, some remain sceptical over the likelihood of this solution, with no existing #SMRs operational in the US today Find out more on Amazon’s innovative nuclear strategy below 

With #COP16 less than a week away, the focus on biodiversity finance becomes even more critical. Closing the US$700 billion annual #biodiversity finance gap requires private capital to shift towards nature-positive investments. Addressing barriers like low returns and limited capacity is key to mobilizing mainstream finance. 👉 Discover how initiatives at COP16 will push biodiversity #finance forward, driving both conservation and reversing nature loss.

Climate change now ranks as a top-three priority for business leaders finds Deloitte's 2024 CxO Sustainability Report 🌱 Over 2,100 executives revealed that: 💡 70% expect #ClimateChange to significantly impact #strategy and operations over the next three years 💡 92% of CxOs believe that their companies can grow while reducing #emissions Click the link below for the full report 👇🏼

How can #AI and digital twin coupling help data centre efficiency? Despite steady workload growth, power usage in data centres was flat until 2020 due to efficiency gains in server technology and the shift to the cloud. Since then, however, computational demand growth has outpaced efficiency gains, causing an increase in power usage⚡ While waiting for newer and more efficient models of equipment. #DataCentres should improve the efficiency of their operations, for example optimising cooling systems and server density. Here’s where AI and digital twin coupling can help them! 👇🏼 Digital twins are a virtual replica of an asset or an environment. This can act as testing grounds for changes without having yet to invest such as optimising design and scheduling. Generative AI can then add to the test results by synthesizing the outputs and structuring new ideas for testing. The two technologies will reinforce each other to produce better results ♻ With this, data centre developers and owners can reduce costs and improve efficiencies easier and faster than what can be done onsite

Microsoft signed a deal with Constellation Energy to refurbish and reopen the 835 MW Three Mile Island Unit 1 #NuclearPower plant. The agreement commits Microsoft to purchase the plant’s entire output for 20 years as it looks to support its ambitious AI-fueled growth and meet its #decarbonization targets With a third of US nuclear power plants reportedly in talks with tech companies to provide electricity to new data centres, the industry is increasingly interested in signing large deals to secure long-term uninterrupted carbon-free energy. However, buying energy from existing resources won’t be enough to meet the demand from data centres. New data centres must bring power solutions to the table and invest in #additional #carbonfree energy to sustainably support their growth