Daily Digest for

UK-based OEG announced that Apollo funds will acquire a majority stake from Oaktree Capital Management and other investors. OEG, a leader in offshore energy services, operates one of the largest fleets of cargo carrying units. The acquisition aims to enhance OEG’s capabilities in the energy transition, particularly in offshore wind. The transaction is expected to close in Q2 2025, pending regulatory approvals.

ADQ, an Abu Dhabi-based investment and holding company, and Energy Capital Partners (ECP), the largest private owner of power generation and renewables in the United States, have entered into an agreement to establish a 50-50 partnership in new build power generation and energy infrastructure. They plan to invest more than US$25 billion across 25 GW worth of projects focused on meeting the growing power needs of data centres and other energy-intensive industries. The initial capital contribution from both partners is expected to be US$5 billion.

G42 and NVIDIA launched a hyper-local weather forecasting system under the Earth-2 Climate Tech Lab partnership in Abu Dhabi. The system uses a generative downscaling model to offer detailed 200-meter resolution forecasts, enabling better prediction of extreme weather events. G42 has conducted successful fog simulations across UAE, demonstrating enhanced visualization capabilities, while also committing to improve forecasting precision for climate-adaptive urban development globally.

The AI Infrastructure Partnership (AIP), established by MGX, BlackRock, Global Infrastructure Partners, and Microsoft, expanded to include NVIDIA and xAI. This partnership aims to invest in AI infrastructure, attracting US$30 billion in capital and potentially mobilizing up to US$100 billion including debt financing. GE Vernova and NextEra Energy will collaborate with AIP to develop energy solutions for AI data centers. Their focus includes utilizing renewables and battery storage to support AI technology’s demands.

Dispersa, a Canadian startup focused on producing sustainable chemical ingredients from food waste, successfully closed a $5.8 million CAD seed funding round led by Nàdarra Ventures. This financing supports the commercialization of PuraSurf®, the world’s first waste-derived biosurfactant. Dispersa leverages its proprietary technology, BioEterna®, to manufacture affordable and sustainable surfactants, aiming to meet the growing demand for eco-friendly alternatives in the chemical industry. The investment will enable Dispersa to scale production to serve major multinational companies in North America’s household and industrial sectors.

NVIDIA announced the release of the Physical AI Dataset, an open-source dataset that encompasses 15 terabytes of data for training autonomous robots and vehicles. The dataset includes over 320,000 trajectories for robotics training and additional data specifically for developing autonomous vehicle applications. The dataset is available on Hugging Face and is projected to grow over time. It aims to assist in the creation of AI models that can enhance the safety and performance of autonomous vehicles and robots across various real-world environments.

The Sabin Center published a report detailing legal liability considerations for marine carbon dioxide removal (mCDR) in U.S. ocean waters. The study highlights potential federal laws that impose requirements on mCDR projects, such as the Clean Water Act and the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act. It also explores overlapping liabilities that project proponents could face under state tort laws. The report proposes that existing liability frameworks could be reformed to encourage safer testing and implementation of marine CDR techniques.

eChemicles, an innovative start-up focused on carbon recycling, has developed a containerised low-temperature CO₂ electrolyser system designed to work with renewable energy to convert CO₂ into useful chemicals. This groundbreaking technology has achieved a technology readiness level (TRL) of 6 and successfully completed its first validation campaign. eChemicles will showcase this system at its Open Day on May 27, 2025, in Szeged, Hungary, where participants can witness the technology and attend presentations and discussions with experts on carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCU and CCS).

The Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB) and the European Investment Bank (EIB) signed a Mutual Reliance Agreement to enhance cooperation and co-financing of public sector projects outside the European Union. This agreement is aimed at reducing transaction costs and administrative burdens, streamlining project preparation, and focusing on the delivery of benefits for member countries. This collaboration aligns with the G20 Roadmap for Multilateral Development Banks, emphasizing stronger coordination and financing efficiency. Key projects include water irrigation in Greece, a cultural and educational hub in Cyprus, and wastewater facilities in Serbia.

The Dutch government has announced the definitive approval of three National Growth Fund projects, allocating a total of €182.2 million. The projects include ‘LLO Collectief Laagopgeleiden en Laaggeletterden’, focusing on education and job placement for low-educated individuals with a funding of €42.9 million; ‘Luchtvaart in Transitie’, aimed at making the Dutch aviation sector climate-neutral by 2050 with €34.3 million; and ‘GroenvermogenNL’, which supports large-scale green hydrogen usage in industry with a funding of €105 million.

Energy Secretary Ed Miliband visited China for discussions focusing on climate leadership and cooperation on clean energy technologies. He signed the Clean Energy Partnership Memorandum of Understanding with China’s National Energy Administration, committing to enhance cooperation on renewables and grid modernisation. Miliband emphasized the importance of major emitters, including China, taking action against climate change to protect future generations.

The Indore Municipal Corporation has launched India’s first PPP green waste processing plant under the Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban. This facility will convert approximately 30 tons of green waste produced daily in Indore into valuable resources like wooden pellets serving as an alternative to coal. The plant, covering 55,000 square feet, is expected to generate revenue of around Rs 3,000 per ton from wood and branches supplied for processing. The project will aid in enhancing the city’s waste management system and reduce pollution levels, contributing significantly to sustainable urban development.

CorPower Ocean has partnered with NTNU on the WACE Project, which utilizes AI to enhance wave energy technology. They received financial support from Vinnova, Sweden’s national innovation agency, for this initiative, which will run until November 2025. The project aims to improve the operation of wave energy converters (WECs) through an AI-based control strategy. The company has recently secured EUR 32 million in Series B funding, following successful tests of their commercial scale C4 device.

The Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) and the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications have established the Wat-Bit Public-Private Dialogue to promote effective collaboration between power and communication infrastructure. This initiative is essential due to the rapid expansion in demand for data centers driven by AI advances and increased communication traffic. The first meeting is scheduled for March 21, 2025, to discuss the efficient development of infrastructure as stipulated in the revision of GX2040 Vision for a Decarbonized Growth Economy.

The Swedish Geological Survey (SGU) has expressed its support for lifting the current ban on uranium mining in Sweden. The organization argues that the ban distorts competition both within the EU and globally and complicates the extraction of other critical metals necessary for the energy transition. They believe that with Sweden’s resource-rich geology and robust environmental legislation, the country can play a critical role in supplying Europe with essential metals for the green transition. As of now, since 2018, uranium extraction has been prohibited, which SGU opposes, highlighting the need for a change to manage the country’s mineral resources effectively.

Ocean GeoLoop AS reported revenues of NOK 235.7 million in 2024, up from NOK 172.9 million in 2023. The company achieved record low carbon capture electricity consumption data for the lime and cement industries, with carbon capture rates exceeding 90% and product gas purity of 95%. CEO Odd-Geir Lademo emphasized the significance of the technology, stating its efficiency and attractiveness for decarbonization efforts across industries. Ocean GeoLoop is expanding its market presence, focusing on commercial carbon capture projects with NorFraKalk and Yara, aiming for international scaling by enhancing its commercial capabilities.

Tropicarbon, co-founded by Ludwig Ritter, Wilson Escobar, and Professor Camilo Montes, is executing projects in Colombia aimed at transforming agriculture into a carbon sink using enhanced weathering. The initiative plans to remove 1 million tons of CO2 by 2030 through techniques that involve spreading rock dust on fields, utilizing the tropical climate, and rich geological resources of Colombia. Current empirical studies in Córdoba and Barranquilla explore the soil’s potential for carbon capture, aiming for improvements in crop yields and reduction in emissions in agricultural practices.

In 2024, the German seaports handled a total of 274.0 million tons of goods, reflecting a 2.3% increase from the previous year. The United States continued to be the largest trading partner with 29.8 million tons, which was a 6.7% rise compared to 2023. Fossil fuels represented a significant portion of this trade, with notable quantities of coal, oil, and gas imported. The cargo of natural gas notably increased to 5.0 million tons, mainly from the USA, marking a 4.0% growth from 2023. The container traffic also saw a general rise, with the EU playing a significant role in this increase. However, coal imports dropped by 8.0%, highlighting a distinct trend in energy sourcing.

California has established a new partnership with Sonora, Mexico, aimed at promoting the development of renewable energy resources, supply chain resilience, and clean transportation solutions. This alliance marks a significant step in cross-border efforts to address environmental challenges and enhance energy collaboration between the two regions. The announcement was made on March 17, 2025, highlighting the commitment to improve air quality and foster sustainable practices across the border.

The Finnish food technology company Solar Foods announced an investment plan that could lead to the largest emission reduction project in Europe. This plan includes the development of Factory 02 with an annual capacity of 12,800 tonnes and explores the construction of two additional facilities (Factories 03 and 04) on the same site, located in Lappeenranta, Eastern Finland. Once operational, the three factories could produce 50,000 tonnes of Solein annually, which could contribute to a greenhouse gas emission reduction of approximately 10 million tonnes CO2 equivalent per year. The investment decision is expected to be made during 2026.