SAF, Agroforestry credits, Green Steel, Chile Climate investments - Top news from January 22
Greenlyte Carbon x Düsseldorf Airport partner for SAF; A bot to clean microplastics; New green steel project in Italy; Underground Ammonia Production;
Chile's 2024 Investment: Record US$56.2 Billion, Green Hydrogen Leads
(January 21)
Chile Government’s InvestChile agency reported a record US$56.2 billion in foreign investment projects in 2024, a 68% increase from 2023. Green hydrogen projects accounted for US$25.6 billion of this total. The energy sector led with US$36.8 billion in investment, followed by mining (US$8.6 billion) and global services (US$5.4 billion). The United States was the leading source country with US$20.5 billion in investment.
EIB funds energy-efficient housing in Malmö, Sweden
(January 21)
Sweden: The European Investment Bank (EIB) has lent the City of Malmö SEK 2.6 billion (€225 million) to construct 13 residential buildings with 1,547 energy-efficient apartments. The project, led by MKB Fastighets AB, exceeds Sweden’s energy efficiency benchmarks and will be completed by 2029. This aligns with EU and Swedish climate and energy efficiency goals.
uHoo secures US$3.7M for sustainable building solutions
(January 21)
Singapore-based uHoo, a smart indoor environmental quality (IEQ) monitoring solutions provider, secured US$3.7 million in funding. The funding round was led by Wavemaker Ventures and Menarco Development Corporation, with participation from Undivided Ventures and others. uHoo will use the funds to expand its B2B offerings and develop new hardware and software products. Menarco reported 8% energy savings using uHoo’s technology.
Greenlyte Carbon and Düsseldorf Airport partner for SAF
(January 21)
Germany’s Greenlyte Carbon has announced a partnership with Düsseldorf airport for an integrated DAC-to-SAF facility. The project will
enable direct air capture of CO₂ and, through Greenlyte's technology, simultaneously produce green hydrogen and convert it into sustainable aviation fuel all on-site at the airport.
Green Carbon and ASHAS Partner for Haitian Agroforestry Carbon Credits
(January 22)
Japan-based Green Carbon and Haitian non-profit ASHAS signed an MOU to create carbon credits through agroforestry in Haiti. The 20-year project aims to generate approximately 5 million tons of credits, restoring Haiti’s ecosystem and boosting the local economy.
Switzerland requires corporates to develop net-zero roadmaps with milestones
Switzerland has published additional guidance on its Climate and Innovation Act that requires all non-agricultural companies to implement corporate net-zero roadmaps with a linear ramp-up of CDR (carbon dioxide removal) in the roadmap. Good read from Robert Höglund on this.
PackUK Launched: UK Packaging Waste Scheme
(January 21)
The UK Government has launched PackUK, a new scheme to manage household packaging waste, shifting costs from taxpayers to businesses. The scheme aims to generate over £1 billion annually to support recycling, incentivize businesses to reduce packaging, and create 21,000 jobs in England. It will reduce landfill emissions by an estimated 32 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent by 2037.
Abu Dhabi's AI-Powered Digital Government Strategy 2025-2027
(January 20)
The Abu Dhabi Government has launched the Abu Dhabi Government Digital Strategy 2025-2027, with plans to invest AED13 billion through 2025-2027 to foster innovation and technology adoption. The strategy aims to achieve 100% adoption of sovereign cloud computing and digitization of processes, develop a unified digital ERP platform, and implement over 200 AI solutions. It is anticipated to contribute over AED24 billion to Abu Dhabi’s GDP by 2027 and create more than 5,000 employment opportunities.
Metinvest to build green steel plant in Italy
(January 21)
Ukraine-based Metinvest Group plans to build a green steel plant in Italy with support from Italian partners, including SACE and Cassa Depositi e Prestiti. The plant will produce 2.7 million tonnes of green steel annually using electric arc furnaces and raw materials from Kryvyi Rih, Ukraine. This project aims to strengthen ties between Ukrainian and European industries and promote sustainable industrial development. The project was first announced in November 2024.
Kyoto Fusioneering gyrotron system adopted for UK fusion project
(January 21)
Japan-based Kyoto Fusioneering’s gyrotron system has been adopted by Tokamak Energy’s ST40 spherical tokamak fusion experimental device in the UK. Tokamak Energy is supported by the UK Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) and the US Department of Energy (DOE). The gyrotron system, based on Japanese gyrotron technology, delivers 1MW of high-frequency microwave power for plasma heating and current generation/sustainment.
Sustainable Soy Production in Brazil: A Collaborative Financing Strategy
(January 21)
Brazil: The World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), through its Soft Commodities Forum (SCF) and Forest Investor Club (FIC), is developing a financing strategy to make deforestation-and conversion-free (DCF) soy production attractive. A US $7.2M pilot program (Farmers First Clusters) has conserved over 5,000 ha of native vegetation. WBCSD is launching a Brazil Landscape Accelerator (LAB) to address systemic bottlenecks and embed regenerative agriculture models into policy and finance.
The World Business Council for Sustainable Development
Executive Order: Unleashing American Energy Resources
(January 20)
The United States has issued an executive order to unleash American energy resources, prioritizing domestic energy production and reducing regulations on oil, natural gas, coal, and other energy sources. The order revokes previous executive orders focused on climate change and the Green New Deal, and aims to streamline permitting processes for energy projects.
Calucem Funds Microplastic-Cleaning Robot
(January 21)
Croatia-based Calucem supported the development of Jadranko, a robotic boat designed to collect microplastics in the sea. The project, led by Associate Professor Dr. Vedrana Špada and involving six students from the Istrian Polytechnic, received over €50,000 in funding from Calucem. Jadranko v2.0 will expand to collect macro-plastics and v3.0 will enable continuous sampling and real-time analysis.
MIT Develops Underground Ammonia Production Method
(January 21)
A team of researchers at MIT has developed a new method for producing ammonia underground using Earth's natural heat and pressure, reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The process involves injecting water with nitrogen and a catalyst into iron-rich rocks, generating hydrogen that reacts with nitrogen to form ammonia. This could reduce global CO2 emissions by up to 1 percent.
