Breakthrough Energy - accelerating innovation for a carbon-free economy

Breakthrough Energy accelerates the clean energy transition by advancing (the) solutions needed to build a carbon-free economy: supporting research and development, investing in companies developing clean products, and advocating for policies that accelerate innovation speed from lab to market.

With support from a global network of partners, Breakthrough Energy’s initiatives fund, develop, commercialise, and scale technologies needed for a net-zero economy. Achieved through investment vehicles, philanthropic programmes, policy and advocacy efforts, and other initiatives.

Founded by Bill Gates, its mission to help the world to go from 51 Billion tons of emissions per year to Zero by 2050.

1. Breakthrough Energy Ventures (BEV): is an investment firm seeking to finance, launch, and scale companies that will eliminate GHG emissions in global economy. BEV has already raised more than $2 billion in committed capital to support more than 90 companies: BEV I: $1 B; BEV II: $1.25 B; BEV EUROPE: €100 M.
BEV invests in companies that can: a) Create technologies with the potential to reduce GHG by at least a half a gigaton every year, i.e. 1% of current CO2 emissions; b) attract other investors; c) fill critical gaps in climate technology.

2. Breakthrough Energy Catalyst: is a platform that funds companies utilising technologies that reduce emissions. By investing in these opportunities, Catalyst accelerates their adoption worldwide and reduces their Green Premiums. With over $1 B raised, Catalyst focuses on projects that can displace carbon-intensive technologies.
These could include: a) Clean Hydrogen to decarbonise industry and transportation; b) Long Duration Energy Storage; c) Sustainable Aviation Fuel; d) Direct Air Capture to remove CO2 from the atmosphere; e) Manufacturing to decarbonise cement, steel, and plastics.

3. Breakthrough Energy Fellows (BE Fellows): programme to support the world’s brightest innovators as they develop new technologies that significantly reduce carbon emissions. A full-time programme for early-stage entrepreneurs working on ground-breaking scientific solutions to have the R&D funding, educational resources, and network to realise the full potential of their technology.
There are two types of BE Fellows: a) Innovator Fellows: world-leading scientists and engineers who enter the programme with a critical climate technology to commercialise; b) Business Fellows: experienced professionals who have complementary skills and support the Innovator Fellows in accelerating their technology to the market.

4. Policy & Advocacy: Breakthrough Energy’s U.S. Policy and Advocacy (USPA) team develops, advocates, and lobbies for smart policies that public- and private-sector leaders can implement to get to zero by 2050. These include: Research and Innovation, Hydrogen, Transmission, Other Emerging Technologies.

5. Breakthrough Energy Europe: Breakthrough Energy Europe works with partners across Europe and the UK to support research and innovation. Priorities include: Green Hydrogen; Industrial Decarbonization; Long-Duration Energy Storage; Other Emerging Technologies and Infrastructure; A New Generation of Public-Private Partnerships.

My Recommendation: for the businesses is to consider partnering with Breakthrough Energy in piloting technologies that will help you accelerate your decarbonisation ambitions.



Sources and an opportunity to find out more:
- Breakthrough Energy website: https://breakthroughenergy.org
- Fortune: https://fortune.com/2021/02/16/bill-gates-breakthrough-energy-climate-change/
- Forbes: https://www.forbes.com/sites/kerryadolan/2016/12/12/bill-gates-launches-1-billion-breakthrough-energy-investment-fund/?sh=3e218f1f5b7d