Cleantech for Baltics’ Post

📢 4impact capital leads €5.5M round in Etpa - A new way of power trading! ⚡ We’re thrilled to announce our investment in Etpa's €5.5M investment round, joined by existing investors SET Ventures and ABN AMRO Sustainable Impact Fund. Etpa, the most advanced European power exchange, is transforming the energy landscape by enabling power market participants to optimise their energy portfolios through short-term trades—a vital tool in today’s fast-evolving market. 💡 With this funding, Etpa is set to introduce day-ahead and intraday auctions, offering energy market participants greater flexibility and a wider range of trading options. These advancements will make energy trading more responsive and resilient. In addition, Etpa plans to expand its operations into Belgium, Austria, and France—further strengthening its impact and leadership across the European energy market. 🌍 The energy sector remains one of Europe’s largest polluters, accounting for more than 25% of GHG emissions in 2021. While renewable energy has grown significantly, achieving the EU’s climate goals—phasing out coal by 2030 and fully decarbonizing the electricity sector by 2035—faces hurdles. Increased Renewable Energy Systems production and electrification have led to grid congestion and high balancing costs. Etpa increases access for more market participants and reduces costs, which could ease grid congestion and integrate renewables at scale, accelerating the shift to a 100% renewable energy grid. 🌟 We are impressed by Michiel Lensink, Jorrit Nijholt, Diederick Joosten and the team, and look forward to partnering with the Etpa team and its existing shareholders to drive a sustainable and efficient energy future! ➡ Read more about our investment in Etpa here: https://lnkd.in/dJC_tNEJ Yasmin Venema Pauline Wink Ellen Smeele René Savelsberg Pauline de Valk Arco Zaanen Petrica Leuca cusbi INGEN HOUSZ Quirijn van Veen Berend Veenstra Djoeke Siemssen #venturecapital #vc #impactinvesting #tech4good #impact #software #sustainability  #tech #startup #growthcapital #energy

The Nordic Cleantech Open Finals are upon us!! 🚀 Will you join us in #Helsinki, May 14 -15 ?? 🌍 Organized by Cleantech Scandinavia, this is key event that highlights emerging innovations and connects them with impact capital opportunities! The event will kick off with a compelling discussion led by ClimatePoint, addressing the critical question: "Does impact actually raise capital?" This #Scope4 avoided emission topic sets the stage for a lineup of ambitious startups presenting their pioneering solutions! Participating Startups (Group 1): ✨ Fusebox - This innovative company utilizes smart grid technology to optimize electricity consumption in real time, reducing costs and carbon footprint for businesses. ✨ Over Easy Solar - Specializing in accessible solar solutions, this team is making renewable energy more attainable for homes and small businesses, emphasizing simplicity and affordability. ✨ Roofit.Solar - This technology combines roofing materials with solar technology, creating aesthetically pleasing and energy-efficient solar metal roofs that integrate seamlessly into building designs. ✨ GREEN14 - Focused on large-scale renewable projects, this company is contributing to the global transition towards sustainable energy with its innovative approaches to green technology. The session will be accompanied by esteemed professionals of impact including Ruchit M. from Ørsted Ventures, Natalie Milde with Future Energy Ventures, Benedikt Weissenberger of VERBUND AG, and Carlos González Guil from Net Zero Ventures. Cleantech Scandinavia is dedicated to advancing these startups through the pitch challenge and coordinating success through impact! Join us at the event: https://lnkd.in/dvGxZnhX Come witness the next generation of startups as they present their solutions designed to make a significant environmental impact!! #SFDR , #Article9 , #EUTaxonomy, #CSRD , #Quantify , #PAIs Laura Fostinone

We co-signed the open letter initiated by Cleantech for Europe addressed to leading EU candidates, advocating for a #cleantech competitiveness deal. Without a renewed strategic vision, #Europe risks falling behind and jeopardizing our future industrial and climate leadership. 🌍✉️ Thanks to our VP Arnaud Castaignet for not only making our thoughts as a European energy storage manufacturer heard but also tirelessly striving to make a difference for the entire cleantech sector. 🏭🌱 #EnergyStorage #Cleantech #Sustainability #GreenInvestment #CleanEnergy #EUInnovation #RenewableEnergy #ClimateAction #SustainableEurope #TechLeadership #GreenManufacturing #OpenLetter #EUElections2024 #EuElections #futureofeurope

🥁 GreenTech Hub unveils its first innovation challenge to support advancing the State's green technologies! The Hub's first innovation challenge will focus on energy storage. 🍃🔋 GreenTech Hub will work closely with industry, government and academia to explore innovative solutions to improve reliability and efficiency in energy storage for metropolitan and rural area applications. Operated by Curtin University, the Hub is funded at $4 million over 4 years through the $40 million Lower Carbon Grants Program and GreenTech Hub Fund, a collaboration between the State and Chevron for the Gorgon Joint Venture. GreenTech Hub's aim is to help advance WA's expertise and infrastructure in green technology and services. The Hub launched at West Tech Coast as part of West Tech Fest hosting global and local leaders to discuss how corporates, startups and individuals can leverage technology for sustainable development goals. Learn more 👉 https://loom.ly/Y5FpIYc #WesternAustralia #LikeNoOtherWA #GreenTechHub #EnergyTransition #InnovationWA #Renewables #RenewableEnergy #CurtinUniversity

This week, I embarked on a new journey with Cleantech for UK, an initiative driven by Cleantech Group and supported by Breakthrough Energy . It’s an exciting and challenging time to be working at the intersection of policymakers, innovators, and investors, especially as the UK's new political landscape and climate priorities converge. With the government demonstrating a clear intent to introduce new policies and strengthen existing ones, there's a unique opportunity to explore innovative strategies for increasing investment in UK cleantech. However, the current capital markets are somewhat fragmented, posing significant challenges to these efforts. A major issue is the availability of funding, particularly for venture capital and growth-stage technology investments that post greater risk to investors. We therefore need a plan to attract medium-sized investments to help de-risk some of these critical technologies, for instance, the roll out of new biofuel innovations, smart grid technologies and water purifications technologies. But such funding is scarce, with much of the capital coming from larger infrastructure funds. I'm excited to engage with the cleantech ecosystem to explore how we can collectively shape policies that address these challenges and drive the growth of cleantech innovation in the UK.

Africa is ripe with the potential for sustainable energy, thanks to its abundant sunshine and wind resources, which could pave the way for a cleaner and more independent energy future. However, integrating these renewables requires innovative solutions. Enter the dynamic world of African sustainable energy startups: https://lnkd.in/dCaTBdgD

✉️ Open Letter to lead candidates - Europe needs a Cleantech Competitiveness Deal ✉️ In the wake of the European Council’s call for a new Competitiveness Deal and Enrico Letta’s report on the Single Market, and ahead of the European Parliament’s vote on the Net Zero Industry Act on Thursday, 24 leading cleantech scale ups, investors, industry associations and think tanks are publishing an open letter calling for a Cleantech Competitiveness Deal.   The letter, addressed to lead candidates in the upcoming European elections, lays out a new strategic vision for how cleantech can ensure our future competitiveness. We call on candidates across parties to enact a Cleantech Competitiveness Deal as a first priority for the next mandate, with the following priorities:   💶 Invest at scale now: Europe needs a Cleantech Investment Plan which mobilises institutional investors, boosts and broadens the European Investment Bank (EIB)’s counter-guarantee facility, and leverages revenues from the Emissions Trading System to invest in the scale-up of EU clean technologies.   📋 Concrete Action Plans for Cleantech Manufacturing in Europe: the EU should build on the successful model of the Wind Power Action Plan to develop targeted, tailored policy and financing plans to support the scale-up of strategic cleantech sectors   💡 Plan for the future: the EU should chart a vision for the next generation of cleantech breakthroughs and develop strategic plans to attract and develop innovative, growing sectors crucial to our long-term competitive sustainability. This means defending research and growth funding to nurture the next generation of cleantech leaders.   Let’s make cleantech the success story of the next five years, and the driver of a competitive, secure and prosperous Europe. Airborne Wind Europe Aster Capital Carbon-Free Europe Carbon Gap Climate Strategy & Partners Ecocem Global Electrochaea EUREC - The Association of European Renewable Energy Research Centres GET Fund I4CE - Institut de l'économie pour le climat / Institute for Climate Economics MITO Technology Negative Emissions Platform Planet A Ventures Rockstart Skeleton Technologies Solar Impulse Foundation Tech for Net Zero Transport & Environment (T&E) Trill Impact Verkor Vireo Ventures World Fund xista science ventures https://lnkd.in/e5z7aYQv

Following last week’s publication of the #LettaReport and Member State calls for a “new European competitiveness deal”, the urgency to reignite European competitiveness is heating up. But how should we do it? European cleantech experts, innovators and investors, provide the answers in an open letter published today! Europe must learn from the experience of NZIA (set to be voted on this week) but think much bigger - a #Cleantech Competitiveness Deal. They call on lead candidates from all parties across Europe to focus on three priorities: 📈 Invest at scale now: Europe’s cleantech competitiveness is being throttled by a severe investment gap, which NZIA and STEP have done little to address. Targeted public support holds the answer. Support for manufacturing through public guarantees, mobilising institutional investors, and front-loading of #ETS revenues can form the basis of a cleantech investment plan. ✅ Concrete Action Plans for Cleantech Manufacturing in Europe: Europe has been a world leader for years in cleantech industries including Wind, Batteries and Heat Pumps… but that lead is slipping. The EU should build on the successful model of the Wind Power Action Plan to develop targeted, tailored policy and financing plans to support strategic cleantech manufacturing sectors. 🎯 A vision for the next generation of cleantech breakthroughs: Europe’s cleantech innovation is a powerful driver of long-term competitive sustainability - but the growth of these young companies is being stifled. Europe needs to develop tailored strategic roadmaps to show how these technologies will contribute to our long term prosperity and achieving the 2040 target, while defending R&D programs like Horizon Europe. Without investment and a new strategic vision Europe will fall behind in the cleantech race, risking our future industrial and climate leadership. As we approach the European elections in June, candidates across parties must get serious about securing Europe’s cleantech future. Let’s deliver a Cleantech Competitiveness Deal. https://lnkd.in/eDuUSZPf

What an experience travelling to South Africa and getting to learn about the local ecosystem of startups and companies in the cleantech and energy space. Thank you to the organizers of The Swiss-South Africa Cleantech Innovation Call, supported by the Department of Science and Innovation, Technology Innovation Agency, Swissnex, Swiss Leading House Africa, and Innocircle . Special thanks goes to Karen Eksteen for the amazing organization and to the other startupers Joel Jeanloz, Calogero A. and Fredy Nandjou! The event was an incredible platform for learning and collaboration. My key takeaways are: - South Africa’s grid remains predominantly coal-powered and has faced significant load-shedding challenges over the past year. Access to renewable energy is critical, especially since the residential RE market is already saturated. However, a substantial opportunity exists in the commercial and industrial sectors. - Corruption and asset safety issues necessitate off-grid, reliable, secure, and affordable energy production. While green energy is not yet there, stable, cost-effective solutions are critical. - South Africa and neighboring countries, like Namibia, have ambitious visions for local green ammonia production, which could not only meet off-grid energy needs but also be exported to Europe, aligning with future EU regulations to ensure a clean energy transition. - The country is focusing on building more technology capabilities domestically, such as catalysis production knowledge, rather than merely exporting raw materials. This opens the door to exciting collaborations on material usage, recyclability, and the circular economy. This initiative highlights the growing importance of sustainable energy solutions and the potential for collaboration in driving the green transition forward. I look forward to future partnerships and innovations! #Cleantech #Sustainability #Innovation #InternationalCollaboration #Switzerland #SouthAfrica #GreenTech #Ammonia #Hydrogen

📝🌱🏭 Skeleton has joined other #cleantech industry stakeholders in signing an open letter to EU lead candidates, including President Ursula von der Leyen. The letter, initiated by Cleantech for Europe, advocates for the "Cleantech Competitiveness Deal". Without a renewed strategic vision, #Europe risks falling behind and jeopardizing our future industrial and climate leadership. 🔗 Read our news post https://lnkd.in/du5XWrSp Arnaud Castaignet, our VP of Government Affairs and Public Relations, underscores the urgency, stating, “There is a lack of strategy in Europe’s approach, and right now we are at risk of losing the scale-up race. Without appropriate funding, the vision of a future European cleantech industrial base will not materialize, so we need to incentivize institutional investors to participate in this market." Furthermore, the open letter advocates for Concrete Action Plans for Cleantech Manufacturing in Europe. These plans aim to enhance domestic production of key technologies such as electrolyzers, batteries, and grid technologies and strengthen supply chain resilience, promoting the use of European-made components to mitigate international supply disruptions. Castaignet insists that Europe needs to ensure the technologies needed for its energy security and transition can be developed, grown, and manufactured within the region. He emphasizes, "If Europe fails to scale strategic clean technologies, we will lose our technological edge and weaken our energy security. It is therefore critical to work with allies and build global partnerships, but also tackle and fix our strategic dependencies and competitiveness crisis." In addition, the signatories urge for regulatory reforms and public investment in clean energy infrastructure to support industrial companies and startups scaling up. Castaignet highlights, "Manufacturing activities are energy-intensive, and a clean economy demands more electricity, not less. Reindustrialization and large-scale industrial projects cannot occur without abundant, decarbonized, and cheap electricity. Countries that fail to grasp it will find themselves sidelined and lacking competitiveness." Airborne Wind Europe Aster Capital Carbon-Free Europe  Carbon Gap Climate Strategy & Partners Ecocem Global Electrochaea EUREC - The Association of European Renewable Energy Research Centres GET Fund I4CE - Institut de l'économie pour le climat / Institute for Climate Economics MITO Technology Negative Emissions Platform Planet A Ventures Rockstart Solar Impulse Foundation Tech for Net Zero Transport & Environment (T&E) Trill Impact Verkor Vireo Ventures World Fund xista science ventures #CleantechLeadership #GreenEconomy #EnergyTransition #EnergyStorage #Sustainability #GreenInvestment #CleanEnergy #EUInnovation #RenewableEnergy #ClimateAction #SustainableEurope #TechLeadership #GreenManufacturing #OpenLetter #EUElections2024 #EuElections