These California companies are receiving vouchers to test their technologies in world-class labs.
CalTestBed proudly announces its newest cohort of 12 clean-energy companies, pioneering research, and development around charging infrastructure, novel materials, grid monitoring, and more. These forward-thinking California-based startups were selected to receive vouchers that grant them access to world-class testing facilities at University of California laboratories to help them further test and validate their discoveries.
Funded by the California Energy Commission and operated by New Energy Nexus California, the CalTestBed initiative supports early-stage technologies by providing the necessary resources to refine and validate their groundbreaking solutions. The program’s commitment to equity and diversity in California’s clean energy transition is evident in its active recruitment of entrepreneurs from diverse backgrounds, including BIPOC, LGBTQ+, rural, and veteran communities (here are the specific CPUC designations). This focus ensures that the benefits of clean energy innovation extend to all Californians, particularly those in disadvantaged and low-income areas.
CalTestBed’s rigorous application and review process ensures that promising and impactful technologies receive support. Applicants undergo a comprehensive evaluation, considering their technologies’ innovation, feasibility, scalability, and potential impact.
The program focuses on diverse technology types, from renewable energy and energy storage to advanced materials and grid infrastructure. By partnering with leading UC laboratories, CalTestBed offers these companies opportunities to test and optimize their innovations in state-of-the-art facilities. This cohort showcases various technologies and applications, each contributing to California’s clean energy goal of reaching carbon neutrality by 2045. Learn more about the technologies CalTestBed supports and the program at CalTestBed.com.
Below, we highlight the innovative work and potential impact of these 12 companies, demonstrating why we chose them and where they will be testing their technologies.
Enventix
Testbed: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratories
Advanced thermocatalytic conversion of lignocellulosic biomass
Enventix, Inc. employs a patented thermocatalytic pyrolysis-reformer pathway to convert dry plant biomass waste into hydrogen, biofuel blend stock, biochar, and wood vinegar. This approach results in high conversion efficiency and flexibility in feedstock variability, producing multiple valuable products at a commercial scale of 230–460 tons per day while addressing energy security, sustainable farming, and carbon reduction.
Impact: Enventix’s technology has the potential to transform biomass waste into valuable products like biofuels and fertilizers, reducing the need for open burns and landfilling, improving local air quality, and lowering greenhouse gas emissions, with a carbon intensity range of -7 to -11 gCO2e/MJ.
Flex Power Control
Testbed: UC Davis
Smart Power Integrated Node (SPIN) vehicle-to-home charging
Flex Power Control‘s Smart Power Integrated Node (SPIN) is a Vehicle-to-Home (V2H) product providing a 10kW bidirectional charging system, expandable to 30kW, for whole-home backup using an electric vehicle.
This system integrates advanced power electronics to manage DC loads, including solar, stationary storage, and EVs, enabling both on-grid and off-grid operation. It can also island at home during power outages and export power to the grid upon request.
Impact: The SPIN product uses the growing number of EV batteries as a new category of Distributed Energy Resources (DERs), helping to stabilize the electric grid during peak demand. Its unique bidirectional charging capability using the Combined Charging Standard (CCS) sets it apart from other products, making it a valuable asset for grid resilience and energy management.
Evoloh
Testbed: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratories
Novel Anion Exchange Membrane (AEM) Electrolyzer
EvolOH is developing a cost-effective, scalable water electrolyzer stack using anion exchange membranes (AEM) that rely on earth-abundant materials like steel and plastic, avoiding the need for rare earth elements. This innovative approach enables high-volume manufacturing of electrolyzers with 100% domestic supply chains, achieving significant cost reductions and efficiency improvements in green hydrogen production, with proven performance benchmarks in efficiency, current density, and durability.
Impact: EvolOH’s low-cost electrolyzers can produce green hydrogen more affordably than current technologies, offering substantial savings compared to battery storage for long-term renewable energy storage. This transition to green hydrogen could save California approximately $80 million annually and significantly reduce CO2 and NOx emissions, aiding in decarbonizing the state’s energy and transportation sectors.
Evolectric
Testbed: UC Riverside
Modular technology converts existing commercial diesel trucks to 100% electric.
Evolectric is creating a hardware and software solution for retrofitting existing combustion engine commercial vehicles with new battery-electric powertrains. This innovative approach leverages AC-based overnight charging, reducing thermal impact and GHG emissions while enhancing vehicle efficiency and longevity. Evolectric offers a cost-effective and scalable pathway to transition commercial fleets to zero-emission vehicles by using modular software and hardware for retrofitting.
Impact: By reusing existing vehicle chassis, Evolectric lowers the economic and environmental costs of manufacturing new electric vehicles. Their retrofit kits, produced in California, enable rapid deployment and scalability, offering a faster and more cost-effective solution for fleet owners, especially small and medium-sized businesses, to transition to electric vehicles.
Kfobix
Testbed: UC Irvine
A superhydrophobic coating applied to wind turbine blades and power lines to prevent water retention and icing.
Kfobix invented a lightweight, low-cost, and durable superhydrophobic nano-composite coating called K-FobiX. This innovative coating can be easily applied via airbrush or drone to prevent ice formation on power lines and wind turbines, enhancing electrical distribution safety and renewable energy efficiency. The nanocomposite achieves superhydrophobic properties without fluorinated chemicals, maintains light transmittance of around 80%, and lasts up to four years.
Impact: K-FobiX has the potential to significantly reduce maintenance costs for energy transmission lines by 24.2% and prevent ice buildup on wind turbines, improving their efficiency and performance. This leads to lower operational costs and increased reliability of renewable energy infrastructure, aligning with California’s commitment to environmental sustainability.
Twelve
Testbed: Lawrence Berkeley National lab
Novel Membrane Electrode Assemblies for CO2 Electrolysis
Twelve is pioneering a scalable electrolyzer technology that converts carbon dioxide into essential building blocks for chemicals and fuels. The initial focus is sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) produced through the Fischer-Tropsch process from electrolyzed carbon monoxide. Twelve is constructing a groundbreaking CO2-to-SAF plant, with their SAF certified for up to a 50% blend in jet engines under ASTM D7566 Annex A1. The project aims to enhance the performance and durability of the membrane electrode assembly, the electrolyzer’s core component. Twelve’s electrolyzer can efficiently utilize excess electricity, promoting renewable energy’s economic viability and reducing overall electricity costs.
Impact: Twelve’s SAF offers significant environmental advantages, including 80% less fine particulate matter and over 90% less ozone than petroleum jet fuel. Additionally, SAF emits less NOx and SOx, benefiting residents near California airports, often low-income communities. Deploying this technology at scale could reduce CO2 emissions by 2-3 billion tons annually, mitigating climate change impacts such as wildfires and flooding.
Relyion Energy
Testbed: UC Riverside
Repurposed EV batteries with extended life span and storage.
Relyion Energy is pioneering an advanced energy storage system that utilizes repurposed electric vehicle (EV) batteries, extending their lifecycle and minimizing environmental waste. Their prototype integrates second-life EV batteries into a scalable system, enhanced by advanced control algorithms and machine learning for optimized performance. The system provides a sustainable and cost-effective solution for energy storage, crucial for supporting the transition to renewable energy and the electrification of transportation while promoting a circular economy by minimizing battery waste.
Impact: Relyion’s energy storage system significantly reduces upfront capital expenditures for energy storage by 30-50% compared to first-life battery systems. This cost-effectiveness, combined with extended battery life and improved performance, leads to long-term savings. Reduced strain on California’s electricity grid during peak times translates into lower energy costs for ratepayers, benefiting commercial and industrial users and underserved communities.
UNIGRID
Testbed: UC San Diego
Advanced Sodium-Ion Battery
UNIGRID is advancing a sodium-ion 18650 cylindrical cell, a standardized battery form factor widely used in the industry. This innovation competes with lithium-ion (Li-ion) 18650s, offering a safer, more cost-effective energy storage solution. The sodium-ion battery addresses key challenges associated with current technologies, including cost, safety, and material supply chain issues. By leveraging low-cost, abundant, and domestically sourced sodium materials, UNIGRID’s battery reduces the bill of materials by 50% compared to lithium-ion batteries while being non-flammable and releasing no toxic fumes.
Impact: The advanced sodium-ion battery offers superior performance metrics, including lower cost, improved safety, a wider operating temperature range, and higher energy densities than lithium-ion and lead-acid batteries, ensuring more reliable and efficient energy storage.
Tyfast
Testbed: UC San Diego
High-performance batteries for heavy-duty vehicles
Tyfast‘s innovation is a high-performance lithium-ion battery that replaces conventional graphite with a proprietary vanadium-based anode. This technology allows for ten times faster charging (under six minutes), ten times the cycle life (over 10,000 cycles), new charging capability below freezing temperatures (as low as -40°C), and enhanced safety due to the metal oxide anode. Tyfast designed the battery to meet the rigorous demands of heavy-duty and construction vehicles, providing continuous high power and reliability in challenging conditions.
Impact: The batteries’ enhanced safety features, including non-flammability and resistance to lithium-metal plating, lower the risk of battery fires and toxic fume emissions. These improved safety features are crucial for heavy-duty and construction vehicles operating near residential areas, reducing health hazards for communities and workers.
Nelumbo
Testbed: UC Davis
Anti-Frost Heat Pump for Cooling & Heating Efficiency Boost
Nelumbo‘s innovation involves advanced surface treatments for heat exchangers in residential heat pumps, enhancing resistance to frost formation and accelerating frost shedding. This technology increases the operational efficiency of heat pumps, particularly in frosty conditions, by extending operating time and reducing defrost cycles. Additionally, Nelumbo’s surfaces enable the use of more efficient heat transfer designs that are otherwise prone to performance degradation due to frost, thereby supporting the transition of 14.5 million homes in California from natural gas furnaces to heat pumps.
Impact: Nelumbo’s technology can save over 2 billion kWh annually by transitioning electric resistance heaters to heat pumps three to four times more efficiently than traditional heaters. The significant energy saving from this technology helps reduce electricity consumption and peak load demand, contributing to a more resilient and efficient power grid in California.
The GridSweep instrument is an advanced hardware technology integrated with firmware and software that enhances grid reliability, efficiency, and solar deployment capacity. It measures the stability of distribution grids with inverter-based resources like solar power inverters and battery storage inverters. GridSweep uses a subsynchronously modulated electric heater to probe a 120-volt outlet while measuring voltage changes at a different location on the grid, providing parts-per-billion resolution. This technology increases the hosting capacity for solar generation resources, enabling more solar power deployment without grid replacement or upgrades.
Impact: By identifying faults and ignition points early, GridSweep can contribute to wildfire prevention and overall grid safety. Its precise measurement capabilities and low-cost deployment make it a valuable tool for enhancing the safety of California’s electricity grid, especially in areas prone to wildfires.
ChargePodX is developing a charging technology that provides a Level 3 DC Fast Charging experience using existing Level 2 (240V AC) infrastructure. This portable design eliminates the need for extensive construction of fixed charging stations, offering a flexible and efficient charging solution. ChargePodX’s portable DC-fast chargers can be easily deployed in various locations, ensuring accessibility in underserved regions and urban areas without complex installations.
Impact: ChargePodX’s portable DC fast chargers enable rapid deployment in diverse locations, bridging the gap in areas lacking permanent charging infrastructure. Portable fast chargers increase accessibility and convenience for EV owners, particularly in underserved and urban regions, encouraging wider adoption of electric vehicles and supporting California’s goal of increasing EV usage.
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Insights from Indonesia’s first youth-driven clean energy policy hackathon
August 15, 2024
Participants of the [RE]Power Launch event listen to a discussion on Indonesia’s energy policy and the role of young people in shaping the country’s sustainable energy future.
As a Policy Analyst Manager at New Energy Nexus Indonesia and a young professional, I’m often told that we are ‘the hope of the nation.’ This phrase carries immense responsibility, especially in the context of a climate crisis for which we’re expected to lead solutions. But this begs the question: are we able to access the resources to tackle this enormous challenge? Moreover, are we able to think critically and participate in energy policy decisions in our country, which will ultimately impact our future?
The climate crisis is not some distant issue, but an immediate challenge that disproportionately affects us: the youth. We are the ones who will live with the consequences of today’s policy decisions. Therefore, we must understand how these energy policies are crafted and their potential impacts—both positive and negative. Youth is crucial in identifying new solutions to the challenges our world urgently needs to address.
This is why New Energy Nexus Indonesia initiated Indonesia’s first youth-driven energy policy hackathon, [RE]Power. The event is more than just a gathering; it provides a unique platform for young people to engage with complex issues, learn from experts, and collaborate on innovative solutions. It’s a space where youth can voice their concerns and actively participate in crafting policies that will shape their future. Beyond the event itself, policy hackathons symbolize a broader movement toward making youth participation in policy-making, especially in the energy sector, more meaningful.
Bringing together young people with diverse ideas
At the Policy Hackathon, we are bringing together a diverse group of individuals with varying perspectives and expertise, such as tech, engineering, law, and management, among others. This diversity is key for the group to think outside their own boxes, and be able to bring something new to the national energy policy front. When people from different backgrounds and skill sets collaborate, they are more likely to come up with creative solutions and see gaps that a more homogenous group might overlook. In the context of clean energy and climate policy, this means drawing on insights from young engineers, social scientists, environmentalists, and even those who simply have a passion for sustainability. Furthermore, diversity is essential to the development of inclusive policies that can address the multifaceted challenges of our time, without leaving anyone behind.
Moreover, these events create a sense of community and shared purpose. Young participants not only learn from experts but also from each other, building networks that can be leveraged for future initiatives. This collaborative spirit is crucial for fostering a culture of continuous improvement in clean energy policy.
Meaningful youth participation in learning policy and regulatory framework
One of the biggest challenges young people face in engaging with policy is the lack of transparency and access to information. Often, policy-making processes are not as transparent, making it difficult for the youth to understand how decisions are made and how such decisions can influence their lives. By contrast, policy hackathons provide a transparent and inclusive environment where young people can learn about policy frameworks, regulatory processes, and the complexities of governance. These offer hands-on experience that is invaluable for anyone looking to make a real impact.
Beyond the event itself, policy hackathons symbolize a broader movement toward making youth participation in policy-making more meaningful. Involving youth in these processes means we have to equip them with the knowledge and skills needed to be effective participants. Through educational programs, mentorship opportunities, and platforms for dialogue, we can empower young people, especially the ones who have just begun their careers and considering being involved in governance. They become not just passive recipients of policy decisions, but active shapers of them and preparing them to be future energy leaders.
At New Energy Nexus Indonesia, we believe that empowering youth with the knowledge and tools to engage in policy-making is essential for a sustainable future. This is why we’re hosting Indonesia’s first youth-driven policy hackathon—it’s an opportunity for young Indonesians to step up, put their minds into action, and lead the charge towards a cleaner, more sustainable future. By bringing together diverse groups, fostering innovation, and providing transparent, accessible information, we can ensure that today’s youth are not just prepared for the future—they are the ones deciding what it should look like.
Enda Grimonia is the Policy Analyst Manager at New Energy Nexus Indonesia. Before joining NEX Indonesia, she served as the Head of the Renewable Energy Division at the Laboratory of Energy and Environmental Engineering at the Department of Engineering Physics, Sepuluh Nopember Institute of Technology (ITS), and as the Head of Competency Development at the Society of Renewable Energy ITS, the largest youth-led renewable energy organization in East Java, Indonesia.
ConNEX Workshop: Securing Working Capital & Advanced Financial Planning
August 6, 2024
Speakers at the ConNEX Workshop: Securing Working Capital & Advanced Financial Planning
On July 25, 2024, we hosted a virtual workshop on Advanced Financial Planning, attended by entrepreneurs from all over California and as far as Ethiopia. The event provided insights into the unique financial landscape for clean energy startups and featured the following speakers:
Harris delved into the shifting landscape of clean energy funding. She highlighted the necessity for startups to communicate their intrinsic value beyond their technology and look for additional revenue and collateral options. Harris discussed blending public and private capital to transition projects from the research phase to viable businesses.
Harris also highlighted the importance of doing product market fit work before the product is ready. She encouraged entrepreneurs to ask:
“Who’s started to think about earmarking money for the specific problem you’re solving, and if they haven’t done that yet, how do you get them to?”
Scott Pitts: Creative Funding and Cash Flow Management
Scott Pitts shared insights on creative funding solutions, emphasizing the importance of finding financing partners who are open to innovative approaches. He provided the example of how his financing partner bought equipment and resold it to the startup, using collateral to secure more funding. Pitts discussed the need for high-fidelity cash flow forecasts and building strong relationships within the industry – before needing to ask for money.
“If you only manage your business based on the money you have in the bank, you have a capacity issue,” explained Pitts. He encouraged leveraging incubators and local venture/angel groups to find supporters passionate about clean energy.
“Find lovers with money.”
He urged entrepreneurs to find people who are excited about their technology and have the resources to invest.
Erin Davis: Simplifying Equity Raises and Financial Maturity
Davis encouraged founders to use SAFE notes (Simply Agreement for Future Equity) using the Y-combinator template. She stressed the importance of securing non-dilutive capital quickly and bridging funding gaps with loans. Davis highlighted the significance of maintaining well-organized financial records and building a robust pro forma. She encouraged companies seeking early-stage financing to visit Enduring Planet’s website and apply.
Strategic Advice for Startups
The session concluded with strategic advice for startups. Pitts emphasized the importance of having a backup plan and advised being prepared for potential capital crunches. Harris encouraged treating regulatory requirements as drivers of innovation and leveraging networks to increase funding access.
3 lessons for clean energy entrepreneurs from someone who has helped back a thousand!
July 26, 2024
As I leave my role as CEO of New Energy Nexus, people have been asking me what advice I can give or what lessons I have learned from all the support we’ve provided to clean energy entrepreneurs.
I am loath to say my top three things or drop some pearls without getting to know the person and what part of the entrepreneurial journey they are on. It is not really my style to pretend there are generic truths out there for every startup or person getting on the solar coaster as we make clean energy happen.
However, it is incumbent on us to try to tease out the things that make sense to teach – that’s why we run accelerators. So, when pressed, I did think of three important realities that I don’t think get stressed enough with founders.
From right: Danny Kennedy (CEO of New Energy Nexus) and Megan Fisher (CEO of EnergyLab)
1. Cash is kind
This is a play on the cliché that “cash is king” because, of course, it is important to have enough funding on hand to cover expenses.
This will be especially so in the US market as we enter a long winter of funding from other sources in the coming six months or so (uncertainty about politics is enough to chill the investment community, and if the wrong side wins the US federal election then government funding will be harder to come by too).
Cash is not just there to cover outgoings but to create opportunities, and to allow you to maneuver as an entrepreneur, as you inevitably pivot, to a variation on the initial theme of the business you thought you were starting. I have seen too many (hundreds!) businesses just run out of runway. It’s a very stressful feeling to know you have a good thing, the right team, and the right stuff, but just not enough cash to get there. And then if you go to some vendor of the commodity known as cash, like VCs, they often take advantage of you.
Be kind to yourself, your team, your vision and keep enough cash on hand to avoid that fate.
File photo from New Energy Nexus
2. Money matters more
Money matters more than you realize (and more than just cash to cover shortfalls).
Tech is key. Talent too. But the capital strategy of companies is where I have seen most fail or fail to fulfill their dreams. Too often, founders are focused on their own technical brilliance and do not develop a sophisticated understanding of the way they will pay for it to manifest IRL. It is often debt, or some combination of debt and grant, or gift capital that gets tech across the line. But we have all been brainwashed to think we can only sell equity to get capitalized.
This will become all the more important now that the energy transition has largely shifted from one of de novo invention to innovation around the deploy, deploy, deploy dilemma facing humanity. This is especially true as we aim to triple wind, solar, and battery installations as the main game of the energy transition and double the bog standard adoption of widely known energy efficiency solutions).
Clean energy companies are not tech companies in the end. They are development companies. DevCos as opposed to TechCos live and die on the creativity of their financial engineering. How they set up SPVs, adopt new instruments at low legal cost, and lever themselves smartly to build a first, second, fiftieth of their thing is what matters.
Our New York program at The Clean Fight’s summit with Cohort 1 startups in 2021
3. EQ > IQ
Finally, EQ is more important than IQ.
As a white man, I can say that I and a lot of other entrepreneurs out there are pretty enamored with our intelligence. What I have learned the hard way with my own startup stories, as well as supporting several thousand more, is that “people practices” are about feelings.
Emotional support for a cohort of founders, employees, and customers who are all probably suffering pre-traumatic stress from what they think they know about climate change and the paucity of their solutions is critical in our work. If you are not addressing how your stakeholders feel then you’re only dealing with the tip of an iceberg.
The act of active listening to team members does more for talent retention and iteration of your products than all the AI you can muster. And if you don’t take a moment to take care of yourself along this journey, you may not make it through the solar coasters and stress machines that are part and parcel of small businesses growing large. Even worse, you may miss an opportunity to build something of significance, by which I mean a legacy of which you can be proud.
You don’t want to look back on an apparent success at people you dropped along the way – and if you do you’ll probably be looking at a trainwreck of something that had so much promise but lost its way in the egoism of an individual.
We’ve seen that a lot at NEX with investors and others coming in to take over a profound vision from some technical founders only to lose their way on the true transformational potential.
At the end of the day, we all are passing on a better world to future generations by bringing clean energy generation in this generation! Be aware it’s a long haul and a lot harder than you think it should be.
Have cash to navigate your liquidity, a plan to stay more than solvent but able to choose your financial future, and enough humility to know that people matter more than any tech or brilliant ideas.
Thanks for playing. Shine on! ☀️
Danny Kennedy is the outgoing CEO of New Energy Nexus. After eight years of service, Danny shaped New Energy Nexus into the world’s leading organization supporting clean energy entrepreneurs. Social impact expert Henri van Eeghen will assume the CEO position effective 15 August 2024 (see here for more).
The climate tech startups decarbonizing Thailand’s economy
May 24, 2024
The Decarbonize Thailand Symposium we co-hosted with True Digital Park is one of the year’s most significant clean energy meetings in Thailand. It’s also a unique opportunity to showcase local global climate tech startups, and build partnerships with some of the country’s biggest corporations.
Now in its second year, we teamed up with Denso and Mitsubishi Thailand to focus on four arenas: e-mobility, decarbonization, agritech, and energy.
New Energy Nexus showcased over 20 startups at the symposium, with an additional 37 expressing interest from both Thailand and abroad, spanning countries like India, Japan, the Philippines, and Singapore. Here are a few of them…
Algal Bio (Japan)
Algal Bio is revolutionizing industries with their ‘Algae Biofoundry Platform’. Their tech licensing service unlocks the power of algae, identifying top strains and cultivation methods for everything from wellness to carbon neutralization.
Masahiro Kida, Team Leader for International Business Development, Algal Bio
Gideon One (Thailand)
Gideon’s platform offers complete carbon accounting and energy trading capabilities, making it easy for SMEs and non-technical users to track and trade carbon emissions. Specializing in scalable, emission tracking, and simulation digital platforms, they’re leading the way towards a greener future.
Chosen Energy (Thailand)
Chosen Digital is leading the charge in future energy innovation. Partnering with PEA, they’re pioneering the next-gen energy landscape with cutting-edge EV charging and beyond. From energy trading to virtual power plants, they’re transforming the game with plans for regional expansion.
Worapoj Ruenrerngwong, Founder & CEO, Chosen Group
Meds Venture (Singapore)
Multi Energy Decarbonized Solutions (MEDS) is unlocking sustainable energy solutions. As leaders in scalable energy modeling, they harness cutting-edge platforms, empowering businesses with actionable strategies to offset and slash carbon emissions, driving sustainable operations forward.
Alternō (Vietnam)
Alternō Air is revolutionizing green energy with sand batteries! Their Thermal Energy Storage (TES) system is changing the game, offering efficient and eco-friendly energy storage for zero-emission heating in agriculture and industry.
“For the last 20 years, we have supported 1,200 companies working in this energy and climate space across 13 different countries. Our mission is to build hundreds of companies in each country, helping our industry leaders to decarbonize their businesses.”
–Stanley Ng, Global Partnerships Director at New Energy Nexus.
Stanley Ng, Global Partnerships Director at New Energy Nexus
New Energy Nexus Thailand has supported clean energy innovators since 2017, and fostered a thriving ecosystem for startup teams dedicated to tackling rising energy demands and climate change. Our programs empower entrepreneurs to drive innovation in the clean energy sector, with corporate partnership a critical strategy to decarbonising the broader economy.
6 principles we apply to empower Bali’s women entrepreneurs
March 8, 2024
I have been involved in many climate and sustainability projects, but The Bali Women Climate Entrepreneurs project (which has now evolved into The Matangi Bali Project) has been both humbling and exhilarating, unlike any other. Discussions on women, climate, and entrepreneurship has been a journey of discovery – gradually revealing new perspectives and cultivating an atmosphere where trust and empowerment flourish.
“Matangi” directly translates to “wake up” and embodies the essence of reviving Balinese communities and their symbiotic unity with nature. The Matangi Bali Project aims to develop an innovative and entrepreneurial approach to sustainable growth in Bali.
When thoughts turn to Bali, visions of its mesmerizing azure skies, enchanting oceans and stunning architecture immediately come to mind. Indeed, Balinese culture has embraced the ethos of harmonious coexistence with nature. Renowned for its deeply ingrained and rich cultural heritage, this ethos permeates every facet of its community.Despite being entrenched in patriarchal norms and cultural favoritism towards men, the lasting impact of Balinese culture and its identity, which has fuelled a tourism-driven economy to the island, owes much of its influence to the women. Balinese women, who play pivotal roles in various spheres of life – be it within the family, in economic pursuits, or in upholding traditions, are often overlooked. Their culture places the responsibility of shaping the nation’s next generation squarely on the shoulders of mothers to instill cultural values such as moral integrity, spirituality and environmental consciousness.
How will these women, deeply rooted in community values yet constrained by a strong patriarchal system navigate the path towards climate entrepreneurship? It’s a question that invites exploration.
Here are six valuable learnings that have shaped my perspective on this project.
1. Admitting and embracing the unknown
The first and most crucial lesson learned is admitting our own limitations. Rather than succumbing to preconceptions, we chose humility and opted to inquire. We met the women entrepreneurs where they are, seeing the world through their eyes. Understanding the context and cultural nuances has been essential in tailoring our program to the unique challenges women in Bali face.
Navigating the intricacy of Bali’s patriarchal landscape comes with challenges. Setting realistic expectations has been crucial. Our goal was never about changing millenia-old cultural beliefs. Instead, it has always been about recognizing that men and women are capable of equality and that entrepreneurship is a pursuit open to both genders.
For generations, Balinese culture has embraced the ideals of a circular economy. Amid rapid urbanization and burgeoning tourism, these concepts seem to have been overlooked.
Our goal is to shed light on the untapped economic potential inherent in these principles, fostering a diverse range of economic activities across Bali. The profound impact of COVID-19 pandemic, particularly with the cessation of tourism, has understored the urgency of our mission.
We are steadfast in our commitment to position entrepreneurship as a key catalyst for economic resurgence in Bali. While the path might be bumpy, the commitment to progress remains unwavering.
4. Beyond ‘preaching to the choir’
It’s not enough to preach to the perfect-sounding choir. Instead, we orchestrate concerts, inviting others to listen and sing along.
Choosing to become an entrepreneur is a career path that is often frowned upon by many Balinese. Countless individuals have expressed that it can be a solitary journey, which frequently acts as a barrier to actively participate in climate efforts. This applies even more for mothers, who may only find time for such pursuits once everyone else is asleep.
This can compound issues such as diminished self-esteem, resulting in a lack of competitive drive, especially amidst existing biases against local products and services in a landscape heavily influenced by foreign perspectives on sustainability, often perceived as superior or even ideal.
Creating inclusive spaces where diverse voices are heard and valued is crucial for fostering a supportive environment for women entrepreneurs.
5. Respecting women’s agency
We strive to unlock a path where every woman can chart their own course. Empowering these entrepreneurial spirits goes beyond mere encouragement; it’s about honoring their autonomy and granting them the reins to shape their own stories.
Picture this: women juggling countless responsibilities, squeezed for time, and stretched thin by limited budgets. Yet, amid these challenges, they persist, prioritizing the needs of others while silently battling the stigma of environmental indifference. In the northern reaches of Bali, an economically disadvantaged region where meeting basic needs takes precedence, these women are unfairly scapegoated for their plastic usage, despite it being a convenient and affordable option for them.
And did you know? In the realm of waste management education, it’s the women who consistently bear the brunt of blame, their shoulders weighed down by the burden of societal expectations.
These stories form the basis of our understanding for running this critical project . Our role is simple yet important: to stand beside them, offering support as best as we can, to navigate their entrepreneurial journeys with confidence and resilience.
6. Meeting halfway
By continuously assessing the program’s needs, we ensure that we are making a tangible difference in the lives of women entrepreneurs. The impact goes beyond economic success; it extends to personal transformation, newfound confidence, and a deepened sense of belonging within their community.
At each twist and turn, we encounter multiple challenges. It’s a voyage that demands patience, empathy, and a whole lot of collaboration. Despite these challenges, we remain committed to being responsive and resilient. We’re ready to transform the insights gleaned from the grassroots levels to innovative solutions, ensuring we always meet those we support.
As we embark on the second phase of the program, these learnings will serve as our guiding light, propelling us towards innovative solutions despite gender barriers within the climate sector in Bali.
The Matangi Bali Project
The Matangi Bali Project aims to develop an innovative and entrepreneurial approach to sustainable growth in Bali.
Our journey in Bali began in 2021, where we extended capacity building support to women climate entrepreneurs, fostering innovative solutions despite gender barriers within the climate sector. Recognizing the limitations of solely empowering one group, we have pivoted our approach to encompass broader participation, encouraging all stakeholders – including men, women, youth, government, and communities – to embrace and cultivate leadership organically. This effort ensures that diverse voices contribute to sustainable solutions addressing climate change effectively.
This project is initiated by New Energy Nexus Indonesia as part of the Bali Net Zero Emissions Coalition with CAST Foundation, IESR & WRI Indonesia. Matangi Bali is supported by ClimateWorks Foundation and ViriyaENB.
6 startups that could shape California’s clean energy transition
February 14, 2024
From more aerodynamic trucks, through to non-flammable batteries, we’re proud to announce the six winners of the CalSEED program’s sixth annual Prototype Awards.
Funded through the California Energy Commission’s US$130 million-a-year EPIC program, these awards aim to surface some of the most cutting edge clean energy technologies being developed in California, and ultimately help them commercialize faster.
The awardees were selected through a rigorous business plan competition, closely coordinated with Cleantech Open (CTO), where companies demonstrated the commercial promise of their innovations. Each winner will receive US$500,000 to bring their technology closer to market.
“The companies selected for these awards not only showed commercial promise, but they demonstrated how scaling their technology could result in other benefits that go beyond reducing emissions and cutting costs. There is something about each of these innovations that is easier to install, easier to manufacture, and easier to deploy, and these things can increase access and resilience.”
Joy Larson, Director of CalSEED at New Energy Nexus
Community Energy Labs: simplifying building control systems
Community Energy Labs (CEL) has developed a cheaper and simpler building control system, which can increase energy savings by up to 23%, reduce peak demand by up to 30%, and drive adoption of renewables through load shifting. Due to the low up-front costs, customers pay back their initial investment in months, not years.
Building control systems are the systems that typically automate centralized control of a building’s HVAC, electrical, lighting, shading, access control, and security systems. CEL’s solutions can be installed in under a week (as opposed to months or years for transitional Building Automation Systems), requiring minimal intervention or engineering.
“With the CalSEED Prototype Aware we plan to build support tools that smooth customer acquisition and onboarding in a friendly, consistent, and scalable way. The proposed enhancements are central to supporting CEL’s go-to-market strategy and ability to convert pilots and demonstrate scalability to potential investors.”
Tanya Barham, CEO at Community Energy Labs
Tyfast: more efficient, robust batteries
Tyfast is building high-performance Lithium-ion batteries (LiBs) in heavy duty, construction, and military vehicle applications.
Tyfast has developed a proprietary vanadium-based anode called LVO, which delivers 10-times faster charging (in less than 10 minutes) resulting in shorter downtimes, and increasing the lifecycle 10-fold. It can also be charged at sub-zero temperatures (-40C).
“With the CalSEED Prototype Award, we aim to fabricate and deliver >5 Ah Li-ion cells to our diesel OEM customers for evaluation of this breakthrough technology at the cell and early module/pack level.”
GJ la O’, CEO at Tyfast
Solvari: ready-to-install residential solar
Solvari SR is a ready-to-install, all-in-one residential solar panel that ships as a single unit with everything needed to install it. It installs four-times faster than current options, reducing cost by as much as 25%.
Rooftop solar typically has an average of 425 individual parts for a typical 7kW residential solar system. Solvari has simplified this to only 22 modules, resulting in a 50% reduction in operation and installation costs.
“Solvari plans on completing two key automation manufacturing stations of the Solvari SR product to reduce manufacturing costs. We will also complete certification of the Solvari SR module to close out its final market requirement.”
Samuel Truthseeker, Founder and CEO at Solvari
Ariya: developing non-flammable batteries
Ariya Energy is developing a proprietary, low-cost, non-flammable battery for stationary storage. The team estimates that this battery can save commercial and industrial ratepayers up to 25% on their electricity bill, and residential ratepayers up to 20%.
Ariya’s battery uses a water-based electrolyte and zinc, making the battery both non-flammable much more robust. A lower cost is achieved with readily available (inexpensive) materials that can easily be recycled. The low battery price could enable a “Energy Storage as a Service” (eSaaS) that provides storage as a guaranteed service for a monthly fee. Little or no upfront payment is required, and the monthly fee never exceeds the ratepayer’s monthly savings.
“With the Prototype Award, we will perform further technical development of our low cost stationary energy storage battery. Specifically, we plan to increase the storage capacity of our prototype battery to bring it closer to commercialization.”
Arthur Kariya, Founder at Ariya
Aeromutable: making trucks more aerodynamic
Aeromutable is developing more aerodynamic trucks, with a simple, low-profile device added to the back of trucks. It could improve the energy efficiency of the trucking industry by up to 16%.
The design changes the aerodynamic signature of a tractor trailer to minimize drag and reduce energy consumption and emissions by injecting air into the back of the trailer in a unique way.
Unlike the static technologies on the market today, this technology provides dynamic, real-time aerodynamic optimization.
“To accelerate our entry to market, Aeromutable is proposing to develop a faster testing method. By leveraging additional testing platforms that will allow us to work both on in-house development and advancing our on-road testing through commercial developmental pilots we can demonstrate performance improvements our device provides for heavy vehicles.”
Sandra Manosalvas-Kjono, Co-Founder and COO at Aeromutable
Climformatics: localized near-to-long term prediction of extreme weather events
Climformatics builds models to simulate the global climate using state-of-the-art, Nobel-Prize winning algorithms. It predicts with a high degree of certainty the climate and weather state for long-term timescales at specific geographic locations.
Climformatics has developed innovative technology using climate and weather models together with machine learning that can anticipate the extreme climate events well before they are imminent (beyond a week or two). This data empowers utilities to prepare and protect their installations.
”… the “CALSEED Prototype award will help Climformatics build an innovative decision support tool for energy utilities and grid operators to help them decide how to meet the increased energy demand for cooling and at the same time mitigate the fire-risk ignition.”
Subarna Bhattacharyya, Co-Founder and CEO at Climformatics
About CalSEED
CalSEED is funded through the CEC’s EPIC program which invests approximately $120M annually for innovative clean energy technologies and approaches benefiting the ratepayers of California’s three largest electric investor-owned utilities. Through the CalSEED initiative $25M will be deployed to back over 80 startups in coming years. CalSEED is administered by New Energy Nexus.
Reflecting on 12 years of battery innovation, from CalCharge to Just Batteries
February 6, 2024
The California Clean Energy Fund (CalCEF) realised over a decade ago that batteries play a critical role in the energy transition. Since its inception, CalCEF, which evolved into New Energy Nexus in 2016, has been at the forefront of global initiatives to foster a robust and inclusive advanced battery ecosystem.
Reflecting on the end of the CalCharge program that started it all, New Energy Nexus CEO Danny Kennedy shares insights into the role the organization played in connecting the dots between energy storage technology, innovation, and policy.
Batteries are the secret ingredient to unlocking the potential of renewable energy, but it wasn’t always inevitable that this nascent technology would take off as it has this decade. CalCEF – the organization I led back in 2106 and which later became New Energy Nexus – had seen the importance of lithium-ion batteries for electric mobility potential; in fact, it had even invested in a fledgling company called Tesla, that some of you may know, around 2005. Several CalCEF board members and staff, who included long time solar and utility executives, knew that grid storage would become “a thing” as the penetration of variable renewable energy increased on the grids.
Fast forward to 26 January this year, the UN’s first ever International Day of Clean Energy, and I’m at the groundbreaking of California’s first commercial lithium production facility, and the world’s first “fully integrated lithium facility and clean energy campus”. Picture this: John Podesta is leading the groundbreaking with a Congressman, Assembly member, and union heads. Senior officials from Sacramento have trekked down to this side road off Highway 111 near Niland (look it up on Google Maps – we’re not in Kansas nor the California many know) along with former Secretary of Transport, Rod Slater. Rod Colwell, the CEO of Controlled Thermal Resources, the startup commissioning this billion dollar facility, is beaming from head to toe after years of talking about getting this thing going.
Key to the story of Lithium Valley is the buy-in of the traditional custodians of the place, the Torres Martinez tribe of the Cahuilla Bands of Indians, who live throughout this part of desert California and northern Mexico. Councilman Butcher was present at the ceremony and his community are working to host energy projects to power some of the Lithium processing that will ensue from commercial production of the powder. Questions remain about the footprint of all this industrial activity and as Eduardo Garcia, the local representative, said the skeptics have to be given a hearing, which they will. But the prospect of a green Lithium battery supply chain, powered by renewable electricity throughout the manufacturing, which could provide enough batteries for all the cars in America, is tantalizingly close. Even a pundit who has long poo-poo’ed this possibility is changing his tune in the LA Times.
Living the CalCharge dream: 2012-2016
This was always the dream of CalCharge: to engender a soup-to-nuts, next-gen technology based on the brains and clean resources of the Golden State, rich with good, so-called “high road” jobs capable of paying family-supporting wages while ushering in climate solutions.
There was no certainty batteries would even be a big part of the mix, given the hype cycles that ensued about everything from a nuclear renaissance to hydrogen. Solar and wind were far from streaking ahead as they are now. As such, storage on the grid wasn’t perceived to be that important and people thought cars would be “fueled” forever. But CalCEF’s founders had also seen the green shoots of effort by entrepreneurs in California doing creative things with an alphabet soup of chemistries (Li, Zn, Br, Na) and their job was to support these entrepreneurs, which they did systematically.
In particular, in 2012 we formed a new trade association for energy storage companies called CalCharge around a cluster of around 18 startups. The mandate was to create a “center of gravity” for the California energy storage sector that enables diverse stakeholders to collaborate, identify barriers to emerging technology success, and develop solutions that help clear the path to commercialization.
In the early years of Calcharge the main event was literally an event known as the “Bay Area Battery Summit”. This gathering of geeks and scientists and journalists covering new tech was held each year at one of the Bay Area’s three national labs – Lawrence Livermore, Lawrence Berkeley or SLAC, the Stanford Linear Accelerator. It became the place “to be” if you were in batteries in the United States of America. I remember the first BABS (as it became known) that I attended in 2015. It was thrilling in only the way that a lecture theater behind the high security fence line of one of the US’ national labs can be!
We were discussing information that seemed critical for national and dare I say it, planetary security. Speaker after speaker talked of the potential of breakthroughs in energy density and other improvements in battery storage that would allow renewables to take up more than 100% of power demand by pairing wind and solar with the right storage. That their energy density could also move cars, bikes and all modes of transport quickly and cheaper became clearer as well. But challenges for this fledgling industry were also clear.
Supercharging the work: 2017-2021
This is when the CalCharge board decided to supercharge the information-sharing. We made a proposal to the federal government to develop a national networked manufacturing initiative on advanced batteries called Supercharge. This NNMI was supposed to bring together all of the interests, not only in California but across the country, including the American Jobs Project, many labor unions, some of the automobile industry, and New York’s Battery Energy Storage Technology (BEST). Over the course of 2016 we put together a powerful coalition of state agencies and industry, unions and universities and presented to the Department of Commerce our proposed strategy. In October 2016 we were deemed to be worthy of federal support and approved for a US$70 million grant to build out the vision.
As you might remember a month later a new government was formed in the United States, which did not seem interested in the energy transition or promoting new technologies with industrial strategies. We were never awarded the actual funds from the grant despite winning the bid, and instead the United States went into a period of uncoordinated effort around these issues.
There was a small grouping inside the federal government known as the Federal Consortium on Advanced Batteries (FCAB) that kept the light on for such thinking and of course many entrepreneurs and scientists and others in nonprofit and for-profit sectors, who pursued better batteries for those four years of the Trump administration. In parallel, the European Union, China and many other nations really stepped up their efforts in the formation of their own industrial strategies for batteries.
Back to the future: 2021-now
By the time Trump lost his second election the United States was behind, and in some ways had had a sort of “Sputnik moment” – bested in its own tech. Lithium-ion chemistries in particular, which American companies and scientists had contributed to more than any, were now being made at scale mostly in China and in a value chain that mostly left America out except as the buyer of these batteries.
On the first day of the Biden administration an executive order was put out to work out the problem of dependency that America had on a number of critical supply chains including pharmaceuticals, semiconductors and batteries. CalCEF, now known as New Energy Nexus, was asked along with the NY BEST and NattBatt, the national battery industry association, to support the government in its quest to solve this problem.
New Energy Nexus was engaged a number of times by LG Energy Solutions, at the time the top battery maker in the world, to find the best and brightest chemists and startups in the battery space. These “Battery Challenges”, which we went on to develop for Kia and Hyundai as well, have helped keep the Korean battery industry abreast of the cutting edge in chemistries.
We also grew our programs in California to support energy storage companies because so much of the state’s climate and energy mandate required more storage on the grid. We developed support for dozens of startups including Cuberg, Coreshell, Sepion and SparkZ. In New York we teamed up with Stan Whittingham’s lab and our old friends at New York BEST and others upstate to pitch to the Department of Commerce again a vision called New Energy New York. And in Australia we built a program to decarbonise the upstream production of raw lithium from spodumene resources through our innovation challenge with our partner, EnergyLab.
Bringing it home
In a little known corner of the country, literally where Arizona and Mexico meet California there is a nationally significant resource of lithium coming out of the geothermal brines that also produce about 5% of California’s electricity. If this resource were turned into reserves and a productive capacity, which has been the focus of many startups since 2010 with a company called Simbal, then America could provision its own batteries with a no-carbon source of lithium. As incredible as that sounds this is the prospect facing California and in particular Imperial County with its Lithium Valley now that CTR has begun building a Li powder and power production facility.
Lithium Valley is the name that has been given to this potential eco-industrial precinct that could grow up around the geothermal power plants already operating by the Salton Sea. Here in the poorest county in California there is an opportunity to produce clean lithium and turn it into precursor chemicals, active cathode materials, battery cells and ultimately battery packs. We published a report “Building Lithium Valley” in 2020, which became the basis for consideration by a Blue Ribbon Commission of the California Legislature and other efforts around the vision of a clean industry hub in the southern Californian inland counties. The local indigenous community have taken a lead in advancing this vision, governed by their values and long-term commitment to the place. Watch this space for more on this concept soon.
New Energy Nexus now stands ready to work with the Torres Martinez and the Cahuilla Indians, on whose land this potential could be achieved. Our aim is to do this right, by which we mean include communities who have historically been taken advantage of by extractive industries at the design phase of the industrial development.
If lithium is recovered from the geothermal sector at scale and gigafactories spring up in and around Imperial County it will be important that the tribal communities as well as farm workers and others who live in the area are at the table. To enable this, we are working with the Torres Martinez on a tribal innovation accelerator proposal, as well as with young people interested in STEM education on a Youth Entrepreneurship Accelerator (YEA!) last year.
Youth Entrepreneurship Accelerator (YEA!)
Just Batteries
Across the globe, New Energy Nexus teams are looking for ways to advance this linchpin technology – batteries – in ways that are just and equitable. Our impact reports have started to track our progress with the cohorts of entrepreneurs who we train and introduce to partners and capitalise each year. We call this updated vision Just Batteries and look forward to keeping you posted on our progress.
The exciting prospect is that we imagine a world just a few decades hence wherein sufficient lithium and other battery metals have been recovered from the earth’s crust or its brines and need never be extracted again as virgin raw material. Instead, by the ‘40s we could be in a fully circular economy, recovering sufficient material for our energy storage needs from an urban mining process which will be much more economic than new mines or geothermal recovery of lithium. If this is to be realized it is important that those communities this decade and next, from whose land lithium and other battery metals will be recovered, are involved in the full cradle-to-cradle value chain of better batteries.
As for CalCharge, we have wound it up (as of late January 2024, I am resigning as President and we have mothballed the entity and its CRADAs with the national labs). Entrepreneurs looking for support from New Energy Nexus in California for battery-related technologies can apply to our CalSEED and CalTestBed programs. These offerings have all of the advantages and many more than Calcharge provided. Moreover we think we have come to a time that requires global collaboration – not just national – in order to both advance advanced batteries and ensure that they do not become the plaything of geopolitics. Charge on!
Meet the pioneering entrepreneurs bringing clean energy to rural Uganda
February 6, 2024
In Uganda, only 19% of rural communities have access to electricity, and less than 2% enjoy modern cooking facilities. Instead of leaning into fossil fuels, these communities have an opportunity to leapfrog to safe clean energy.
New Energy Nexus has championed clean energy entrepreneurs longer than any other accelerator in Uganda. ENVenture, a program run by New Energy Nexus Uganda, has significantly contributed to addressing the energy access gap in off-grid communities.
These last-mile communities form an integral part of our global network of clean energy entrepreneurs, working towards achieving 100% clean energy for 100% of the population. Our mission also includes reducing the depletion of Uganda’s forest cover, which has decreased at a rate of 13% since 2000. This is achieved by supporting last-mile energy entrepreneurs who promote the adoption of various clean cooking technologies.
In Uganda, we’re empowering hundreds of Community Based Organizations (CBOs) through financial support, skill development, and innovative mobile technology solutions. Since 2016 we’ve supported:
190+ Community Based Organizations and VSLAs
benefiting127,000people
creating1,000+jobs
and saving income of US$4 million.
Our award-winning model harnesses the untapped power of Community Based Organizations (CBOs) and Village Savings and Loans Associations (VSLAs) to incubate clean energy entrepreneurs. These CBOs provide many essential services – supporting better health, education, sanitation and work for local people. Since we started operating in Uganda in 2016, we learned very quickly that these organizations have the networks, trust, and community reputation to bring new technologies, such as solar lighting, water filters, briquettes and clean energy cookstoves to rural villages.
Hundreds of entrepreneurs are part of the quiet clean energy transition taking place in Uganda’s last-mile and refugee communities. Let’s meet some of them…
Beatrice Kitaliraba is an enthusiastic shopkeeper hired by Utopia, a Community-Based Organization(CBO) in Kyenjojo. Beatrice educates potential customers how solar lamps can be beneficial for their businesses.
Utopia, backed by an energy startup loan from our ENVenture program, aims to enhance access to affordable clean energy products in their communities. The CBO is actively promoting the adoption of these products, particularly to extend working hours for rural women entrepreneurs who rely on affordable lighting for their businesses. Utopia’s clean energy store offers a range of products, including solar lanterns and improved cookstoves.
Meet David Kamoomo, a 46-year-old entrepreneur who runs a poultry business in Nsinde. In the past, he faced challenges in providing adequate light for his birds, resorting to kerosene lamps, flashlights, and candles as the only available options. Recognizing the potential dangers and high costs associated with these methods, David sought an alternative solution.
Kitara Community Seed Bank, one of our entrepreneurial partners, offered David a solar loan product. This alternative not only addressed the safety concerns but also proved to be a cost-effective and sustainable solution for illuminating his poultry house. David, now equipped with solar-powered lighting, has experienced significant energy savings, allowing him to reinvest in and expand his poultry business.
Meet Karungi Annet, a 36-year-old homemaker and mother of three, demonstrating the use of a Lorena stove. Trained by Utopia, a startup from our ENVenture program, Karungi was inspired by the success of their cookstove business. Responding to numerous requests from the community for an alternative cookstove suitable for preparing local dishes, Utopia introduced this improved traditional outdoor cookstove. Efficient and safe, it aims to address the specific cooking needs of the community.
Karungi attests to the positive impact, noting a reduction in her cooking time and experiencing less coughing compared to when she used her traditional three-stone cookstove.
In Kyenjojo, Kizia Janet stands out as a local entrepreneur, catalyzing positive change through her flourishing solar business that specializes in solar lanterns and panels. Utopia provided essential support for her solar venture. Kizia embodies the impactful collaboration between local entrepreneurs and Community-Based Organizations. The solar products she offers serve as a clean and sustainable energy source, reducing reliance on traditional, environmentally harmful alternatives and elevating the overall quality of life for residents.
Well-lit homes, students studying after sunset, and businesses extending their operating hours are just a few of the tangible benefits. Moreover, Kizia’s solar business contributes to local economic empowerment by not only generating income but also fostering financial resilience within the community.
What energy access looks like in off-grid communities.
Meet John Male at his rural home, where he utilizes solar power to illuminate his living space. The lanterns he proudly owns were purchased from Utopia, a beneficiary of our ENVenture program in Nsinde, Kyenjojo, Uganda. In this photo, you can see John Male tending to his small farm at his rural home in Nsinde. In the background, a solar panel can be spotted on his roof.
Christine Kimera uses the improved cookstove from Safeplan Uganda for her meals. She highlights the stove’s speed and efficiency, noting a significant reduction in the use of firewood. Christine also utilizes a solar lamp from Safe Plan Uganda to read the Bible to her grandchild in Katagurukwa, Masindi, Uganda. Her commitment to clean cooking and sustainable lighting reflects her dedication to a healthier and more environmentally conscious lifestyle.
New Energy Nexus is proud to be backing these entrepreneurs. Through affordable loan terms and hands-on support from our expert team on the ground, these entrepreneurs have successfully expanded their businesses, created jobs, boosted their income, and contributed to Uganda’s transition to clean energy.
Bristling with pride after 8 great years at New Energy Nexus
December 11, 2023
After eight years leading New Energy Nexus’ incredible global team, I have decided to transition away from my role as CEO in 2024 (see press release).
I’m bristling with pride and excitement about the work in the world that NEX is doing. If you didn’t see how we helped shine a light on startups as key drivers of solution at the COP28 then check out our news here, here and here.
All over the world, our team is doing fantastic work from food service decarbonization to continuing to upskill electricians in the Philippines, Thailand and elsewhere to sell solar and storage. Thousands of entrepreneurs trace their success to the support they received from our awesome network (check out our impact to date!).
There’s no organization in the world like New Energy Nexus. Our laser focus on the things that are turning the dial – solar, wind and batteries with which the world needs to electrify everything – combined with our commitment to justice and equity in the energy transition are profound. I feel honored to have worked with such a dedicated crew, on such a mighty mission for all these years.
We did that!
There are many things as listed in the press release announcing my transition and on our website that make me smile and think – wow, we did that. And there are many more not listed there nor getting the kind of credit I think we deserve – whether it’s building South East Asia’s first dedicated early stage venture fund for climate solutions, or the climate diplomacy we have long supported between China and California to keep hope alive that these great powers on either side of the Pacific will collaborate to defeat our common enemy of climate change. For all the extra effort by our team, Board and donors I am grateful.
I know from our team doing the work in the field that our programs will entail ever more inclusive and just forms of support. One of the things that warms my heart the most as I look back on our last eight years is the work we’ve done back in California around the advanced battery supply chain. From being a very technologically driven startup cluster, to now being a fully blown program bringing together tribes, labor groups, student and community leaders, our work in the Salton Sea is a profound model for more Just Batteries.
There are plenty of other examples from Vietnam to Uganda I could regale you with (and may yet). Suffice to say, I am confident that with the great executive team and managing directors in the markets that matter – as well as the new partners and places we hope to take our brand of can-do curriculum and capital connections – NEX will replicate these and many more good efforts in years to come.
I feel a huge responsibility to do a thorough job handing over the wheel of this good ship to someone great to take it on its next adventures.
The depth and character of our work has changed as we’ve moved from a California-centric sense of the entrepreneurship needed, to the reality of what will answer the call in this critical decade on climate change. As many have noted, it’s a “time to build” – or deploy, deploy, deploy – especially in the growing energy demand markets of South East Asia, India, and the 54 countries of Africa. I’m a startup guy from the Bay Area and I hope we can add depth to our team with someone more versed in the work needed now.
In many ways, I feel like a ship pilot who has taken what was the California Clean Energy Fund through some easy sailing (plus a couple of tricky runs) down a river towards the sea to which we’re all headed. There is a big blue ocean of good work in the energy transition that our team of 150 can do for the 100,000 entrepreneurs in the coming years, especially in the economies of Asia and Africa. And it is going to be someone hopefully from there, steering the ship towards maximum positive impact we can create for stakeholders there.
I plan to support NEX in many ways in the future and as well as the entrepreneurs I have had the good fortune to meet while on deck for this go around. Shine on, me hearties, shine on!
