Happy Tuesday!
We’ve got a lighter newsletter for you this week, because following up on our fundraising news from yesterday, we want to hear from you: We’re launching a readership survey!
In other news, what DeepSeek’s new model could do to power demand, banks leaving climate groups, and the USDA's new guidance for clean fuel credits.
In deals, $70m for renewable energy management platforms across three deals, $30m for an agritech credit provider, and $16m for energy storage manufacturing.
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Fresh off announcing our Seed funding round (yes, we're growing!), we're taking a moment to reflect on our journey – and more importantly, to check in with you. When we started this newsletter during the pandemic, we dreamed of creating a meeting of the minds for fellow climate tech nerds. From an initial band of 500 readers, we've grown into a vibrant community of over 70,000 strong.
We last checked in just over a year ago and received ~1,000 responses. Since then, it’s been a whirlwind: We've released reports, held webinars, raised capital to expand beyond the inbox to Sightline, and watched the ecosystem continue to mature. We've guided you through the intricacies of First-of-a-Kind projects, gathered your annual predictions, and recapped the biggest events of the year. We've tracked billions in climate tech investments and new funds, all while trying to make this complex landscape more accessible for founders, investors, and climate leaders alike.
With all these ebbs and flows, we want to make sure we're not just riding the wave, but helping you navigate these waters. Whether you're a day-one subscriber or just joined us last week, your perspective matters deeply to us. We've created a quick <5-minute survey to learn more about who you are and how we can better serve your needs in this rapidly evolving transition.
And yes, we really do read every single response! Your feedback directly shapes our coverage and helps us build a better resource for everyone working toward a more competitive transition.
Ready to share your thoughts? Click below to take the survey. And thank you, truly, for being part of this growing community.
🔋 H2, a Daejeon, South Korea-based vanadium flow battery manufacturer, raised $16m in Series C funding from STIC Investments, Krun Ventures, and Lighthouse Combined Investment.
⚡ Orennia, a Calgary, Canada-based energy transition analytics platform, raised an undisclosed amount in Series C funding from Decarbonization Partners.
⚡ Ecoplanet, a Munich, Germany-based B2B energy platform, raised $17m in Series A funding from EQT Ventures and HV Capital.
🥩 Project Eaden, a Berlin, Germany-based plant-based meat developer, raised $16m in Series A funding from Planet A, REWE Group, AgriFoodTech Venture Alliance, Creandum, DeepTech & Climate Fonds (DCTF), and other investors.
⚡ Gravity, a San Francisco, CA-based enterprise carbon accounting and energy management platform, raised $13m in Series A funding from Ansa Capital, Buoyant Ventures, Caffeinated Capital, Eclipse Ventures, Hanover Technology Investment Management, and other investors.
🏠Bedrock Energy, a Los Angeles, CA-based geothermal heating and cooling developers, raised $12m in Series A funding from Energy Impact Partners, Sustainable Future Ventures, and Titanium Ventures.
⚡ Enapi, a Berlin, Germany-based EV charging platform, raised $8m in Seed funding from Voyager Ventures, Helloworld VC, Project A Ventures, and Seedcamp.
🌱 Sightline Climate, a London, UK-based market intelligence platform, raised $6m in Seed funding from Molten Ventures, The Westly Group, Accelr8, John Doerr, Red Sea Ventures, and other investors.
🧪 Addis Energy, a Cambridge, MA-based clean ammonia producer, raised $4m in Pre-Seed funding from Engine Ventures, Pillar VC, and Voyager Ventures.
🏠ScrapBees, a Neuss, Germany-based scrap metal recycling and disposal service provider, raised $4m in Seed funding from BonVenture, EIT RawMaterials, and NRW.BANK.
⚡ Fusebox Energy, a Tallinn, Estonia-based energy management software, raised $3m in Series A funding from PKO Bank Polski, Soulmates Ventures, Eneco Ventures, and SmartCap.
⚡ CapeZero, a New York, NY-based clean energy finance platform, raised $3m in Seed funding from Powerhouse Ventures, Avesta Fund, Climactic VC, StepChange, and Virta Ventures.
🔋 Cancrie, a Jaipur, India-based sustainable advanced materials producer, raised $1m in Seed funding from IIMA Ventures, Roots Ventures, Fondation Botnar, and Sagana.
⚡ Snowfox Discovery, an Oxford, England-based natural hydrogen exploration technology provider, raised an undisclosed amount in Series A funding from bp Ventures, Oxford Science Enterprises, and Rio Tinto.
🔋 Li-Cycle, a Toronto, Canada-based lithium-ion battery recycling service provider, raised $15m in Post-IPO equity funding.
🏠Sensorfact, an Utrecht, Netherlands-based smart energy monitoring software, was acquired by ABB for an undisclosed amount.
🏠Daulto, a Heidelberg, Germany-based heat pump maker, was acquired by Octopus Energy for an undisclosed amount.
Algebris Investments, a London, UK-based investment firm, raised $65m for its first venture capital fund, Algebris Climatech, focusing on Climate and Deep Tech.
Shift4Good, a Singapore and Paris, France-based investment firm, closed $230m for its first venture capital fund, focusing on driving innovation in sustainable transport.
Can’t get enough deals? See full listings and deal analytics on Sightline Climate.
Chinese AI company DeepSeek announced a new, highly efficient model it claims costs a fraction of OpenAI’s. The news sent chip and power stocks tumbling while raising concerns about AI’s true energy demands. While rising AI-driven power demand has fueled significant investment in energy infrastructure (including the White House's newly announced Stargate, a $500bn AI infrastructure project), DeepSeek's model suggests AI can scale with less energy, although efficiency gains in tech can often spur more demand, a phenomenon known as the Jevons paradox.
Major US banks, asset managers, and the Federal Reserve have withdrawn from key climate alliances. It’s unclear if their climate strategies (including compliance with stricter European climate regulations) will change, or if they’re moving away from being perceived as “woke” amid new president Trump’s executive push, but the exits underscore a widening US-Europe divide in corporate climate action.
The USDA has released guidance to help farmers access renewable fuel tax credits through climate-smart practices like reduced tillage. This interim rule clarifies how farmers can participate in biofuel programs and gain clean fuel credits under the Inflation Reduction Act, a potential new revenue opportunity for farmers. While the guidance fills regulatory gaps, a Trump administration freeze on recent federal regulation could delay full implementation.
The world’s largest grid battery, a 300MW system owned by Vistra in Moss Landing, California, caught fire last week, prompting evacuations. Atypically, it used NMC batteries that were housed close to each other indoors, allowing the fire to spread. While such incidents are rare, this may affect public perception and local opposition to lithium battery installations.
COP29's goal to triple annual climate finance is at risk following President Trump’s withdrawal from the Paris Agreement. The US exit threatens multilateral banks' ability to boost climate funding, risking a significant shortfall in support for developing nations., although an opportunity remains for China, the EU, or the UK to step in and fill the gap.
Thailand plans to launch a new carbon credits market to boost trading and address weak demand for carbon offsets. The market aims to attract both domestic and international investors, providing a platform for carbon credit trading, and strengthens Thailand’s position in the global carbon trading landscape, alongside countries like Indonesia, Malaysia, and Vietnam, which are seen as key suppliers as global demand for carbon credits grows.
The EPA has granted West Virginia "Class VI primacy," allowing the state to oversee and administer permits for Class VI wells that enable carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) projects by injecting CO2 into deep rock formations. The move sets up the state to permit CCUS projects more quickly.
Soaking up the sun: EU solar farms produced more power than coal in 2024 for the first time.
China also broke records, installing more renewables in 2024 than ever before.
A different type of solar power: A fusion-powered “artificial sun” in China achieved a 1,066-second plasma operation.
Taking on offtake: A new coalition is bringing demand signals to decarbonization technologies.
Data centers are going nuclear, with a new MOU between Sabey data centers and advanced nuclear developer TerraPower.
This interactive tool is tracking Trump’s executive orders.
Good COP? Brazil’s President Lula tapped Corrêa do Lago, a longtime climate diplomat, as COP30 chief.
Meanwhile, Bloomberg Philanthropy is plugging the UN climate funding gap after the US’ exit from the Paris Accords.
Slicing through the Climate Capital Stack, this energy efficiency startup bought other startups and raised $87m, mimicking a private equity buyout firm.
Vertical farms and voluntary carbon markets were among the biggest tech flops of the year, according to MIT Technology Review.
Blast off! New nuclear rocket fuel makes the journey to Mars possible in only 45 days.
Not-so-secret handshake: A mother-daughter chimp duo were discovered to have their own private hand gestures.
📅 Founder Office Hours: RSVP to attend Gigascale Capital’s virtual office hours with Mike Schroepfer on January 28th, where startup founders can receive hands-on advice on scaling their technology and companies effectively.
📅 Climate Capital Stack webinar: Join HSBC for a live webinar on January 29th at 12 pm EST for a deep dive into Sightline Climate’s latest report The Climate Capital Stack and New Funds.
📅 Canary Live Houston: Register to attend Canary Live at Greentown Labs in Houston on January 30th for networking opportunities and a discussion on the future of America’s dynamic clean energy market.
📅 GreenBiz 25: Register to attend GreenBiz 2025 from February 10–12th for the chance to connect with peers and trailblazers in climate tech and explore the latest insights on topics such as disclosure, supply chains, strategic communications, change management, and more.
đź’ˇ Climate Hackathon for Battery Fire Safety: Apply to the Hackathon for Battery Fire Safety by February 22nd at Newlab to help address the challenge of fires caused by e-bike batteries, a problem that requires bold thinkers and creative solutions.
📅 2025 Energy Storage Summit: Register to attend the 2025 Energy Storage Summit from February 17–19th for panel discussions and networking opportunities focused on the fundamental role of energy storage in the clean energy transition.
📅 Carbon Unbound: Register to attend Carbon Unbound from May 20–21st in New York City to discuss the future of carbon removal under a Trump administration alongside carbon credit buyers, investors, NGOs, and tech innovators.
Research Associate – Grids, Senior Software Engineer, Research Analyst, Marketing Manager, Enterprise Customer Success Manager @Sightline Climate [We just raised! Come join us.]
Sales Lead, Head of Commercialization and GTM @Thalo Labs
Project Designer @it’s electric
Director of Business Development, Embedded / Full Stack Software Engineer, Senior Mechanical Engineer @Yard Stick PBC
Research Specialist, Economics & Finance @EFI Foundation
Vice President, Capital Markets, Senior Counsel, Commercial & Construction @NineDot Energy
GIS Analyst and Designer @Horizon Climate Group
Building Decarbonization Project Manager @City of Boston
Senior Electrical Commissioning Test Engineer @Commonwealth Fusion Systems
Backend Engineer @Rock Rabbit
đź“© Feel free to send us deals, announcements, or anything else at [email protected]. Have a great week ahead!
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