Bill Gates’ Breakthrough Energy backs Terabase’s robot-built solar farms

Bill Gates’ Breakthrough Energy backs Terabase’s robot-built solar farms

Breakthrough Energy Ventures, a climate-focused VC firm linked to some of Earth’s wealthiest individuals, has joined a $44 million bet on solar startup Terabase Energy. Terabase aims to rapidly build new solar farms “at the terawatt scale,” CEO Matt Campbell said in a statement. The startup claims its automated, on-site factory can already speed up […]

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Climate-focused VC stays scorching as Buoyant Ventures targets $100M fund

Climate-focused VC stays scorching as Buoyant Ventures targets $100M fund

Like a groundhog and its shadow, many venture capitalists see a shrinking economy and burrow away, resting their check-signing hand for better days. But climate-focused VCs are on a tear lately, pumping well over a billion dollars per quarter into startups that strive to mitigate emissions as the Earth bakes. Buoyant Ventures is one such firm […]

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World Fund joins $128M bet that quantum can deliver climate breakthroughs

World Fund joins $128M bet that quantum can deliver climate breakthroughs

World Fund, a newcomer in climate-VC land, is taking the lead in a $128 million round for IQM, with hopes the Finnish quantum computing company will one day deliver carbon cuts by the megatonne. Quantum computing trades the bits of conventional computers for quantum bits, and in theory, quantum machines may be better suited for […]

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Tesla solar sees best quarter in 4 years, but ‘semiconductor challenges’ spell trouble

Tesla solar sees best quarter in 4 years, but ‘semiconductor challenges’ spell trouble

Tesla’s mythical solar roofs may be on ice right now, but its conventional solar business is a whole ‘nother story. This afternoon, the automaker said the division notched its “strongest” quarter in more than four years, with a total of 106 megawatts deployed in Q2 2022. “Although we continue to experience import delays beyond our […]

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Crop One, Emirate open ‘world’s largest vertical farm’ in Dubai

Crop One, Emirate open ‘world’s largest vertical farm’ in Dubai

Passengers on Emirates and other airlines will be able to eat the leafy greens, which include lettuces, arugula, mixed salad greens and spinach on their flights starting this month.

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Cryptominers defend gigawatt-scale energy usage called out by Congress

Cryptominers defend gigawatt-scale energy usage called out by Congress

Citing “disturbing” levels of power used by cryptocurrency miners, a group of Democrats led by Sen. Elizabeth Warren is urging the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy to crack down on the controversial industry. The letter, signed by four senators and two representatives, calls on regulators to compel cryptominers to disclose their carbon […]

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Tesla reportedly nowhere near goal of installing 1,000 solar roofs a week

Tesla reportedly nowhere near goal of installing 1,000 solar roofs a week

Five and a half years on (well, really 5.69), Tesla’s solar roofs are looking less like a revelation and more like a hobby. Though Elon Must set a goal of 1,000 solar roof installations per week, the company’s latest averages are reportedly a tiny fraction of that figure. Citing an anonymous source, Electrek reports that […]

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Fyto combines automation, robotics so aquatic ‘superplants’ can grow almost anywhere

Fyto combines automation, robotics so aquatic ‘superplants’ can grow almost anywhere

The company’s pilot program showed that farms are able to generate 10 to 20 times more protein per acre and use five to 10 times less water than other crops, like alfalfa.

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TechCrunch+ roundup: Overinflated valuations, equity crowdfunding, SCOTUS v. climate tech

TechCrunch+ roundup: Overinflated valuations, equity crowdfunding, SCOTUS v. climate tech

All valuations are hypothetical, so bear that in mind the next time you’re reviewing an offer letter.

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Micropyramid lenses triple the light that hits solar panels

Micropyramid lenses triple the light that hits solar panels

Stacks of teeny lenses that look like inverted pyramids could juice up solar panels, helping them capture more light from any angle on both sunny and overcast days. Solar panels perform best in direct sunlight, which is why some solar systems track the big fireball across the sky, turning to face it for maximum light. […]

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