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
Is Shipping’s First Carbon Levy ‘Too Little, Too Late’? | Sustainability Magazine
The IMO’s global carbon levy for shipping is under scrutiny for being too modest to accelerate fuel transition—raises questions about its effectiveness.
Why Are Global Banks Retreating From 1.5°C Climate Targets? | Sustainability Magazine
Several global financial institutions are softening their stance on 1.5°C-aligned lending, raising questions about private finance’s commitment to climate leadership.
‘Adaptation is a must’: 2024 confirmed as Europe’s hottest year on record | BusinessGreen News
2024 is now officially Europe’s hottest year on record, reinforcing the urgency of climate adaptation and mitigation. The findings are part of the Copernicus “European State of the Climate” report.
Reports: UK and EU seeking landmark carbon market deal | BusinessGreen News
The UK and EU are reportedly in talks to link their carbon markets—a move that would align pricing, reduce fragmentation, and boost investment certainty for low-carbon projects.
Net Zero/Sustainability Key Deal News
Evergreen, a green finance and sustainability data company, raised €5M to expand its SaaS platform that helps institutions measure and report ESG impact and portfolio alignment.
EIB and ABN AMRO strike €1.2B deal to boost Dutch businesses
The European Investment Bank and ABN AMRO have launched a €1.2B co-financing programme to support sustainability-focused investments by Dutch SMEs.
Data Centre Key Industry News
How Sustainable is Portugal’s Largest Data Centre?
Start Campus is developing one of Europe’s largest hyperscale campuses in Portugal (SINES 01), designed to support AI, HPC, and powered by 100% renewable energy.
BNEF: AI and data centre energy demand to double by 2050 alongside renewables growth – edie
BloombergNEF forecasts a doubling of energy demand from AI and data centres by 2050, which will require major increases in renewables and grid flexibility.
Nokia Cuts Energy Use in ResetData AI Data Centres
Nokia and ResetData have partnered to connect AI infrastructure sites with liquid-cooling systems that cut energy use by 75%, offering a breakthrough in sustainable data centre operations.
Data Centre Key Industry Deals
CleanArc Data Centers: Investment Raised From Townsend Group
CleanArc, a next-gen data centre operator focused on sustainable infrastructure, secured new investment from real estate investor Townsend Group to accelerate the development of energy-efficient, ESG-aligned data centre assets.
Hydrogen Key Industry News
LONGi is exploring a joint electrolyser manufacturing venture with HydrogenPro to better serve European customers as demand for electrolysis grows.
Hexagon Purus wins €2.4 order for hydrogen bus storage systems from MCV | Mobility | H2 View
Norwegian hydrogen mobility leader Hexagon Purus has secured a €2.4M contract to supply hydrogen storage systems for fuel-cell buses built by Egypt’s MCV.
Energy consultancy Hinicio has launched Andrea, a digital platform to optimise investment, operation, and integration of hydrogen and Power-to-X projects.
Q Power begins e-methanol production in Finland with hydrogen from P2X Solutions
Finnish startups Q Power and P2X Solutions have launched e-methanol production using green hydrogen—marking a key milestone in synthetic fuel innovation.
France cuts 2030 hydrogen target but maintains €4bn subsidy plan | Policy | H2 View
France has revised its 2030 hydrogen production target downward but will still allocate €4B in subsidies to accelerate electrolyser deployment and industrial adoption.
Hydrogen Key Deal News
Lhyfe secures €149m grant for green hydrogen project in Le Havre | Policy
French hydrogen producer Lhyfe has secured €149M in EU and French government support to build a large-scale green hydrogen production facility in Le Havre.
France backs Gen-Hy with nearly €100m to build first AEM electrolyser factory
France is providing close to €100M in support to Gen-Hy, enabling construction of the country’s first factory for AEM (anion exchange membrane) electrolysers.
Manchester pilot to turn sewage into clean hydrogen and graphene | Technology | H2 View
A UK pilot in Manchester will convert sewage into hydrogen and graphene using novel pyrolysis technology, offering a circular, low-waste solution.
The European Commission has approved a €400M Spanish scheme to support 345MW of electrolyser capacity via grants and project support.
Energy Storage Key Industry News
Ofgem Reforms Boost UK’s Clean Energy Projects
Ofgem is removing inactive (zombie) grid connection applications to fast-track clean energy projects. Over 4GW of stalled capacity could now progress faster.
According to new analysis, achieving net zero in UK energy storage will require over $5B in investment by 2035 to replace fossil-fuel-reliant backup systems with cleaner alternatives.
Energy Storage Key Deal News
UK’s Porpoise Power emerges from stealth, bags €1.3M
Dutch startup Porpoise Power has emerged from stealth with €1.3M in backing to commercialise its compact, modular tidal energy turbines designed for low-impact marine energy generation.
Cambridge’s EV charging tech provider Nyobolt bags €26.4M
UK-based Nyobolt raised €26.4M to bring its fast-charging battery technology to market, targeting EVs, robotics, and energy storage applications.
UK-based deeptech startup Nyobolt secured €26M to scale its ultra-fast charging battery tech, enabling major advancements in EVs, robotics, and energy storage systems.
UK-based Altilium is investing £30M to build a lithium chloride factory in Basingstoke to support domestic battery production.
LevertonHelm opens £35m lithium chloride plant – News – The Chemical Engineer
LevertonHELM has opened a £35 million lithium chloride plant in Basingstoke to support Europe’s battery materials supply chain. The facility will provide low-carbon, UK-sourced lithium for EVs and energy storage.
Austrian-based SALZSTROM Raises over $1 Million in Pre-Seed Funding
Salzstrom, a UK-based startup developing ultra-low carbon hydrogen generation and storage solutions, has raised over £1 million in pre-seed funding to advance product development and hire technical staff.
Built Environment Key Industry News
Threats to nature in Labour’s planning bill | Planning policy | The Guardian
The UK Labour Party’s proposed planning reform bill is facing backlash from conservation groups who warn it could weaken nature protections by bypassing environmental assessments to fast-track developments.
The World Green Building Council (WorldGBC) has launched a manifesto calling on the EU to strengthen its Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) and commit to full decarbonisation of building stock by 2035.
EV & EV Charging Key Industry News
Can Hitachi’s All-In-One Platform Kickstart EV Fleet Uptake? | Sustainability Magazine
Hitachi’s integrated platform is helping businesses transition to electric fleets, combining charging, data, and energy optimisation into one ecosystem.
How GM is Driving Sustainable Battery Technology?
GM is pushing battery innovation with a focus on recyclability, cobalt reduction, and sustainability in supply chains.
EV & EV Charging Key Deal News
The UK has officially passed 1 million electric vehicles, marking a significant decarbonisation milestone. Additionally, eBay awarded its Circular Fashion Innovator Fund to startup Pirkx for sustainability-focused fashion reuse.
Flock Mobility raised €1.1M to expand its shared mobility-as-a-service platform designed for universities, companies, and communities seeking sustainable alternatives to single-occupancy travel.
