Stay informed with the latest developments shaping the future of sustainability, energy, and tech. From major green investments and breakthrough hydrogen projects to AI-powered climate platforms and EV infrastructure milestones — here’s a roundup of this week’s most impactful news and deals across the sector:
Net Zero/Sustainability Key Industry News
Increase in EU companies supporting climate policy
A growing number of EU-based companies are proactively supporting ambitious climate policy, seeing it as a long-term enabler of competitiveness and risk reduction.
Weaker EU due diligence laws ‘would expose businesses to legal risks’ – edie
A coalition of companies and legal experts warns that watering down the EU’s corporate sustainability due diligence directive (CSDDD) would increase litigation risk and regulatory fragmentation.
Large UK and EU companies are increasingly turning to independent third-party verification of ESG reports to meet growing investor expectations and upcoming CSRD/ISSB regulations.
From carbon taxes to PFAS pollution: Green policy priorities for the UK-EU reset summit – edie
Ahead of the UK–EU Reset Summit, stakeholders push for alignment on carbon pricing, PFAS regulation, climate disclosure, and green industrial support.
More than half of businesses dissatisfied with Omnibus changes to CSRD – edie
Over 50% of businesses are dissatisfied with recent EU omnibus amendments to the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), citing confusion and reporting burden.
Net Zero/Sustainability Key Deal News
Dutch startup Hy2Care raised €4.5M to accelerate clinical trials and scale its hydrogel-based regenerative medical technology, used in cartilage repair.
Arctic Reflections, a UK-based climate startup developing reflective surface technologies to slow Arctic melting, has received public funding from UKRI.
Sweden’s greentech firm Lignin Industries bags €3.9M
Swedish start-up Lignin Industries secured €3.9M to scale production of bio-based polymers using lignin, a wood industry byproduct, as a sustainable alternative to fossil-based plastics.
German search engine Ecosia is expanding beyond tree-planting by launching a new “climate impact experience” focused on broader systemic interventions and user education.
Data Centre Key Industry News
How Polar & Vertiv Plan to Make Data Centres Sustainable
Vertiv will supply advanced thermal and power infrastructure for the AI-ready POLAR data centre in Norway, designed with sustainability and scalability in mind.
Dutch quantum computing community launches Tuna-5 quantum system via the public cloud – DCD
The Netherlands has launched Tuna 5, a publicly accessible quantum computing system made available via the cloud, advancing EU leadership in accessible quantum infrastructure.
Swedish real estate group Balder invests in Scandinavian Data Centers – DCD
Real estate firm Balder is diversifying into digital infrastructure, investing in Scandinavian data centers, driven by demand for sustainable compute and AI services.
AtNorth secures Swedish AI cloud provider as customer in Stockholm data center – DCD
AtNorth has onboarded a Swedish AI cloud company at its Stockholm facility, reinforcing the Nordics’ role as a scalable and green AI infrastructure hub.
Data Centre Key Industry Deals
Xoople, world’s first Earth Intelligence company, emerges from stealth with €115M raise
Stealth-mode data infrastructure and AI company Xoople has launched with €115 million in funding, aiming to redefine cloud services and sovereign digital ecosystems in Europe.
London-based Zendo Energy raised €2M to develop AI-powered solutions for data centre energy optimisation, helping operators manage rising power demands and carbon intensity.
Blue Owl closes $7 billion digital infrastructure fund – DCD
Blue Owl Capital has closed a $7 billion fund targeting investments in data centres, fibre networks, and digital assets, reflecting surging institutional interest in foundational tech infrastructure.
Cognichip raises $33m for AI-powered chip design – DCD
Cognichip, a semiconductor startup focused on AI-enhanced chip design, raised $33M to scale R&D and commercial partnerships.
Apto to invest $3.4bn to build Italy’s largest data center campus – DCD
Apto plans to invest $3.4 billion in building a hyperscale data centre campus in Milan, designed to support AI workloads with a strong emphasis on energy resilience.
Hydrogen Key Industry News
Statkraft halts development of new green hydrogen projects – edie
Statkraft, one of Europe’s largest green hydrogen developers, has paused new H₂ project development due to regulatory uncertainty and weak market signals.
A new study indicates that offshore hydrogen production costs could drop by up to 20% through integrated system-level design (e.g. platform co-location, modular integration).
French electrolyser firm McPhy faces partial asset sale and liquidation | Technology | H2 View
McPhy, a French electrolyser manufacturer once considered a European leader, is facing liquidation and is selling off key assets after failing to secure sufficient investment.
France proposes 1.5% hydrogen fuel by 2030 mandate | Mobility
France has proposed a mandatory 1.5% hydrogen fuel quota for transport energy use by 2030, aiming to accelerate demand creation for clean fuels.
InterContinental Energy says new hydrogen plant architecture can cut costs by 10%
Intercontinental Energy claims its newly proposed hydrogen plant layout could reduce total system costs by up to 10%, improving integration of renewables and infrastructure.
EU policy delays could hinder hydrogen and nuclear industry
Industry leaders warn that slow EU regulatory progress (especially on hydrogen and nuclear classifications, subsidies, and infrastructure guidance) is jeopardising deployment timelines and investment.
European Energy inaugurates Danish e-methanol plant ahead of first deliveries | Power | H2 View
European Energy has launched Denmark’s first industrial-scale e-methanol facility, with deliveries expected to partners in shipping and aviation sectors.
Hydrogen Key Deal News
Hy2gen green hydrogen plant RFNBO certified as 5MW expansion looms | Power | H2 View
Hy2gen’s existing green hydrogen plant has achieved RFNBO certification under EU rules, with plans to expand capacity by 5MW.
Veri Energy taps industry to de-risk hydrogen-based e-fuel plant in Shetland | Power | H2 View
Veri Energy is working with industrial partners to de-risk its hydrogen-to-e-fuel plant in Shetland, focusing on commercial validation and technical feasibility.
An Italian electrolyser startup is partnering with Indian firm Loyal Equipments to scale green hydrogen systems in South Asia.
Swedish start-up opens lab for lightweight, conformable hydrogen storage tech | Technology | H2 View
A Swedish start-up has launched a dedicated lab to advance lightweight, shape-adaptive hydrogen storage solutions, supporting mobility and aviation use cases.
Bilfinger acquires nZero Group to boost hydrogen capabilities in the UK | Technology | H2 View
Bilfinger has acquired Nzero Group, a UK-based hydrogen engineering and consultancy specialist, to enhance its capabilities in planning and delivery of hydrogen infrastructure.
Hystar raises $36m to scale PEM green hydrogen tech | Technology | H2 View
Norwegian electrolyser company Hystar secured $36M to scale up its high-efficiency PEM electrolyser technology and expand commercial deployment.
RVL to launch UK’s first hydrogen-electric flights with ZeroAvia | Mobility | H2 View
UK-based RVL Group is partnering with ZeroAvia to commence the UK’s first hydrogen-electric aircraft operations, marking a breakthrough in regional aviation decarbonisation.
Energy Storage Key Industry News
High electricity costs biggest barrier to green growth, manufacturers tell Chancellor – edie
UK businesses report that elevated electricity costs are the primary barrier to investing in clean technologies, undermining net-zero progress.
More ees Europe BESS product news: high-capacity cells, zero-degradation and sodium-ion
Reports from ees Europe highlight advances in battery energy storage systems (BESS), including sodium-ion batteries, zero-degradation lithium packs, and ultra-high-capacity cells.
Energy Storage Key Deal News
Inside AESC’s New £1bn Sustainable Transport Gigafactory
Battery manufacturer AESC is building a $1B gigafactory to produce sustainable transport batteries, integrating renewables and circularity into design.
Ilika Q&A: EV Battery Developments for Sustainability
Solid-state battery innovator Ilika discusses the future of EV batteries, sustainability improvements, and commercial scaling challenges.
Germany’s B2B tech company Akeno raises €4.5M
German startup Akeno raised €4.5M to scale its AI-powered energy market forecasting and asset optimisation software, serving grid operators and energy traders.
Singapore flow battery maker VFlowTech secures US$20.5 million investment
Singapore-based VFlowTech, which develops vanadium redox flow batteries (VRFBs) for long-duration energy storage, raised $20.5M to expand global deployments.
Built Environment Key Industry News
UKGBC consults on ‘nature positive’ pathways for the built environment
The UK Green Building Council is consulting on practical frameworks to integrate nature-positive outcomes (e.g. biodiversity net gain, ecosystem services) into construction and real estate.
UK Government confirms £630m energy upgrade package for public sector buildings – edie
The UK government is investing £630 million into public building retrofits and low-carbon energy upgrades, including heat pumps and insulation.
Built Environment Key Deal New
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EV & EV Charging Key Industry News
One in four cars sold globally in 2025 will be electric, says IEA
The IEA forecasts that 25% of global new car sales in 2025 will be EVs, driven by China, Europe, and the U.S., with rising demand for batteries and charging infrastructure.
EV & EV Charging Key Deal News
UK-based BE.EV secured €23M to scale its publicly accessible EV charging infrastructure, focusing on underserved areas across the UK.
