Daily Digest for

Italy-based Terna presented its 2025-2034 Development Plan, committing over €23 billion in investments to enhance the national electricity grid. The plan aims to integrate renewable sources and increase grid capacity, supporting Italy’s energy transition. Key projects include the Tyrrhenian Link, Adriatic Link, and Italy-Tunisia energy bridge. The plan aligns with the 2024 Integrated National Energy and Climate Plan, targeting significant CO2 emission reductions by 2030 and 2040.

The African Energy Chamber (AEC) signed two Memoranda of Understanding at the Invest in African Energies Forum in Shanghai. The first agreement with Tima Networks will implement automated fleet management technology to enhance EV efficiency across Africa. The second agreement with Yunan County Chuangxing Industrial Investment Group aims to establish a platform for technological exchange and resource-sharing in the energy and chemical industries. The AEW: Invest in African Energies conference is set for September 29 to October 3, 2025 in Cape Town, focusing on collaboration and investment in Africa’s energy sector.

The South Africa-European Union Summit concluded with President Cyril Ramaphosa announcing a €4.7 billion Global Gateway Investment Package aimed at supporting a clean and just energy transition in South Africa. This package focuses on critical raw mineral processing, green hydrogen, renewable energy, and resources for skills development. A Clean Trade and Investment Partnership will be negotiated to support cleaner value chains and renewable energy development. The partnership is expected to enable Sasol to export sustainable fuels to the EU.

The federal government has invested more than $156.8 million through the Green Infrastructure Stream of the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program to support eight BC Hydro projects across British Columbia. These projects aim to electrify existing facilities, improve transmission capacity, and contribute to a cleaner electricity grid. Notable projects include the electrification of the BC Cancer Centre, the construction of new capacitor stations, and the connection of several facilities to the BC Hydro grid.

The UK Government announced a £7.9 billion investment to modernise water infrastructure, particularly focusing on the East of England, to address an anticipated water deficit of 600 million litres a day by 2050. Key initiatives include the Fens Reservoir project to support sustainable growth. The government has also secured £104 billion in private-sector investment for nine new reservoirs across the country. Anglian Water is investing £794 million for supply upgrades over the next five years, which includes £154 million designated for the Fens Reservoir. The strategic pipeline network project, covering 300km, aims to boost regional water resilience and is expected to be operational by 2030.

Standard Chartered announced the completion of its first adaptation finance deal for JinkoSolar, facilitating the delivery of storm-resistant solar modules to US, UAE, and Saudi Arabian solar photovoltaic farms. The bank provided Bank Guarantees to support the trade of Tiger Neo N-type solar modules which are designed to withstand extreme weather conditions. This deal is part of a broader effort to promote resilience against climate-related economic losses, which amounted to over $2 trillion in the last decade, and highlights the bank’s commitment to sustainable finance and investment in infrastructure adaptation.

Denmark, Norway, and Sweden contributed a total of 24.35 million USD to the Energy Vulnerability Reduction Fund (EVRF) in Moldova through the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Denmark provided 5.59 million USD, Norway contributed 8.86 million USD, and Sweden 9.9 million USD. These funds will help provide energy compensations to vulnerable households for the current cold season. The EVRF, established in 2022, has already supported over 895,000 households with compensations, ensuring access to sustainable energy in Moldova.

The UK Parliament has introduced the Great British Energy Bill to establish a framework for energy management and services. Originating in the House of Commons, the bill is currently at its final stages, having undergone readings and committee reviews in both the Commons and the Lords. The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero is sponsoring the bill, with key figures being Ed Miliband and Lord Hunt of Kings Heath. This legislative effort aims to enhance the national energy strategy.

The Celtic Freeport, based in South West Wales, was officially launched by the UK Government and Welsh Government. It offers significant tax breaks and customs exemptions to drive economic growth and industrial reinvigoration. The initiative secured planning consents for projects including LanzaTech’s sustainable aviation fuel plants and RWE’s Pembroke Green Hydrogen plant, alongside additional projects in floating offshore wind and battery energy storage. The project involves a potential investment of £26 million from the UK Government, targeting over £8bn in total public and private investment, with confirmed support from multiple government entities.

The Grønn Byggallianse and Grønn Anleggssektor launched a roadmap for Norwegian infrastructure towards 2050. It emphasizes that infrastructure projects must be climate and nature positive, utilize climate-positive materials, and form part of circular value chains. The reports also state that significant land will be used for infrastructure, hence the importance of incorporating environmental considerations in planning. The roadmap recommends ambitious goals from politicians to reduce emissions and restore nature. A commitment to a circular economy and sustainable infrastructure is necessary for future developments.

The Ministry of Mines, in collaboration with the Government of Goa, organized a landmark event on March 13, 2025, to launch India’s first-ever auction of Exploration Licenses (ELs). Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy and Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant inaugurated the auction of 13 EL blocks, targeting critical minerals such as Rare Earth Elements (REE), Zinc, and Copper. This auction aims to enhance mineral exploration, increase private sector participation, and reduce India’s import dependency. Furthermore, an AI Hackathon focused on ‘Mineral Targeting using AI’ was also inaugurated during the event, leveraging technology to improve mineral discovery. Certificates were awarded to three newly recognized Private Exploration Agencies as part of the initiative. Discussions at the accompanying review meeting highlighted the importance of sustainable and responsible mining practices.

The Transmission Zero project, co-developed by researchers from Imperial College London and the Ifakara Health Institute in Tanzania, aims to combat malaria by genetically modifying mosquitoes to render them incapable of transmitting the malaria parasite. This effort could significantly reduce malaria cases, especially among vulnerable populations such as children. Supported by a $15 million grant from the Gates Foundation, the research seeks to establish local partnerships and capabilities for ongoing malaria mitigation.

The World Cement Association, led by Founder and Director Emir Adiguzel, announced significant financial challenges for the cement industry due to rising carbon costs during the Envirotech 2025 Conference in Athens. He pointed out that carbon costs are becoming critical in pricing structures and suggested a €100 billion industrial decarbonisation bank proposed by the EU Commission to support the industry. However, he raised concerns over equitable funding distribution, particularly for small to mid-sized companies, which are at high risk as the industry adapts to these changes.

The GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel has initiated a global research project titled “Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement Pelagic Impact Intercomparison Project” (OAEPIIP) to investigate how plankton communities in different ocean regions respond to increased alkalinity. Standardized experiments will be conducted at 19 research locations worldwide, including studies in the Baltic Sea and Kenyan tropical waters, with the goal of examining the ecological effects of ocean alkalinity enhancement as a method for climate change mitigation. Dr. Giulia Faucher and Dr. Leila Kittu are leading the respective studies in these regions, beginning in March 2025.

The South Korean government, through the Korea Energy Agency, has committed to invest over $150 million in sustainable energy initiatives to reduce carbon emissions. This initiative aims to promote the adoption of renewable energy technologies and enhance energy efficiency across various sectors. The funding will support research and development projects focusing on solar and wind energy solutions. This action is part of South Korea’s broader plan to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

The EU project AlgaeProBANOS, coordinated by the Submariner Network from Germany, has secured €12 million in funding to develop products based on seaweed and algae. This initiative includes 26 partners from European industry and research and focuses on creating dietary supplements and other seaweed-based products. Products to be developed include dietary supplements for Alzheimer’s, seaweed soups, and fishcakes, emphasizing the health benefits of seaweed and its sustainability as a resource.

On March 13, 2025, MakinaRocks, a leading industrial AI company in South Korea, announced a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Siemens Digital Industries (DI) for industrial edge AI innovation. This partnership aims to enhance digital transformation in the manufacturing sector by combining AI technology with operational technology. The global market for edge AI is projected to grow from approximately $20.45 billion in 2023 to $269.8 billion by 2032. MakinaRocks will integrate its AI platform, ‘Runway’, with Siemens’ edge solutions to optimize operations in large-scale manufacturing facilities.

Resand Ltd, a Finnish technology company, entered the Swedish foundry market by signing an agreement with Combi Wear Parts AB to introduce an electric sand reclaimer. This agreement was signed in January 2025, and the e-reclaimer is the first such electrical sand reclaiming solution in Sweden. The collaboration aims to eliminate waste sand in landfills, reduce costs and CO2 emissions, and promote the reuse of waste sand in production processes.

Low Carbon, a company building a hydrogen production base in Florida, USA, expects its hydrogen projects to garner more interest following the Trump administration’s push for natural gas project expansion to secure blue hydrogen. Low Carbon previously held a groundbreaking ceremony on June 8, 2023, in Mulberry, Florida, for its clean hydrogen production base after signing an MOA with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. The company plans to invest approximately $100 million to produce 10 tons of hydrogen daily by reforming natural gas, while capturing 100 tons of carbon dioxide, for supply to entities like Space Florida.