In a few months a lot can change.
The climate tech world is not upside down, but it is definitely more questioning than the summer. The US federal election results may have affected the start -up friendly inflation reduction Act (IRA), possibly throwing wrench in business plans for many companies.
Still, at the same time, the AI ​​sky -growing computing requirements have driven the data center operators dragging the Earth to power sources, which increases interest in numerous sources of electricity, including nuclear, renewable sources, batteries and even fusion.
With the beginning of 2025, it is a good time to see these trends that the next 12 months are likely to be explained.
Advanced atoms
Last year, nuclear power received a lot of love, Microsoft signed a 500 MW contract with Startup Carros from Google to Google to Google from Google to Google. Driver? Data centers, data centers, data centers. AI servers face electricity shortages with 2027, tech companies are running to raise their hands on electricity wherever they can find it.
Nuclear power is one of these places. Historically, adding nuclear capacity meant major power plants, which take a decade or more time. But a new wave of startups has been suggesting small designs that can be easily manufactured, or thus thinking. They have not yet been tested on a scale, and the success of the nuclear start will depend on how the first few go.
In their favor, these companies have the advantage of a new organized regulatory process, which should help speed up the proposal to build time.
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But they also face severe competition from renewable power sources, which are firm and quick to deploy. Unless there is any progress in the training or diagnosis performance of the AI ​​model, expect to hear more about the issue of tech love with nuclear in the coming year.
Fusion power
We have been more than two years since this important announcement of the national ignition facility that it has created the world’s first control, purely positive fusion reaction. Of course, Fusion Startups used this news to start their fundraising efforts. The winners this year include: Excelon Fusion, Communication Fusion, Marathon Fusion, Type One Energy, Axiser Energy, and Zip Energy.
Expect more this year. The construction of a fusion power plant, even a demonstration unit, is expensive. Many startups have begun work on prototypes, demo, and even commercial reactors, including the Commonwealth Fusion System and Zip Energy. In the early 2030s, many people have the goals of fishing power plants on the grid, which means they have a lot of work in the coming years. And that means they will need more money soon.
This is a dangerous technology, but rewards include regenerating the dollar energy sector. If companies are able to target scientific and engineering milestones, expect more investors in 2025.
Hydrogen
Inflation reduction acts face possible changes, such as hydrogen. Many startups are hoping that the gas will eventually reach $ 1 per kilogram, but not until the end of this decade or the next.
To get there, they are hopeful that the two -year IRA can help eliminate this gap by subsidy of 3kg per kilogram for hydrogen manufactured by renewable electricity. If this section has been used, several hydrogen startups may be at risk of getting into the stomach. Large companies have already increased skirts.
At the same time, scientists and investors have warmed the so -called geographical hydrogen, or hydrogen, which is naturally born under the earth. Can it save the industry? The next 12 months can be a Mac or Brake moment.
And what?
The next year will certainly make some certain changes, especially when politicians and regulators are suffering from increasing electricity from AI. The changes in the allowing process can create a wave of investment in grid -related technologies, but if these efforts are stalls, more companies are expected to sign agreements with power suppliers to prevent the grid and connect directly to data centers.
Investors have told me that it will be difficult for many startups to raise new funds in the coming year. The most exposed companies are those that rely on weak subsidies.
But 2025 is likely to throw the curve hair – it is helpful to remember that the current climate tech wave has emerged during the first Trump administration. There may be some surprises in the store next year.