Month: March 2025

by Skya Ducheneaux, Akiptan

Akiptan began lending in 2019 and has since committed over $31M in loans to producers and nearly $1M in grants. Additionally, we have created several financial literacy books, tools and resources. Our programmatic side curates programs and initiatives that enhance the impact our direct financing does. Our pipeline of applications is constantly oversubscribed, which speaks to the true testament and value of our products and how we deliver our services. The staff at Akiptan has an impact that goes a mile deep with each producer. The focus on the relational side of lending is crucial to the transformative impact of our capital. It allows us to be proactive rather than reactive, educational, thoughtful and goal oriented.

A core piece of our mission is to change the lending paradigm. We know that this innovative style of financing can be applied to other areas for equally deep success. Our model has been applied to production, processing/value added, and retail and has been extremely successful. We are eager to share our best practices and model with other financial institutions to help carry forward the work.

When it comes to investors working in this space, it is critical to also show up in a partnership role, not a transactional role. Relationships are the core of Native culture. Take time to get to know each other. Be a thought partner who is collaborative, not prescriptive. Indian Country has had “solutions” prescribed to it since colonization; none of that panned out well. It is time for us to have a seat at the table so we can bring our own solutions and dictate what our success story looks like. Just like with the Monopoly board, success looks different to everyone who is playing the game, but with collaboration, innovation and patient capital, we can all succeed.

Read Skya’s full article here and check out their video too at- https://greenmoney.com/change-the-lending-paradigm-a-model-of-success-in-native-ag-finance/

The electric mobility (eMobility) revolution is rapidly accelerating, which presents both opportunities and challenges for a sustainable future. A recent study by Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), the TCS Future-Ready eMobility Study 2025, offers valuable insights into the trends, challenges, and opportunities shaping the future of eMobility.

“The electric vehicle (EV) industry is at a defining crossroad, navigating the complexities of scale and transformation. While nearly two-thirds of consumers are open to choosing electric for their next vehicle, manufacturers face challenges like advancing battery technology, complex vehicle designs, and production economics,” said Anupam Singhal, President of Manufacturing, TCS.

The study surveyed over 1,300 anonymous respondents across North America, the United Kingdom & Ireland, Continental Europe, and Asia Pacific (APAC), including transport manufacturers, charging infrastructure players, fleet adopters, consumers, and EV adoption influencers. The research offers a comprehensive understanding of the EV industry’s current state and its potential future impact.

Sustainability and Cost Savings Drive EV Adoption, Fueling a Greener Future

The study underscores that sustainability and lower operational costs are the primary drivers of EV adoption. Consumers are increasingly aware of the environmental impact of traditional vehicles and are actively seeking greener alternatives. This heightened awareness places significant pressure on manufacturers to minimize their carbon footprint across the entire value chain, from raw material sourcing to more sustainable processes and end-of-life management.

The TCS study reveals “almost two-thirds (63%) of EV influencers say their primary motivation for EV adoption is to achieve net-zero goals/environmental sustainability and reduced carbon footprint.” This highlights the growing importance of circular economy principles, such as battery recycling and remanufacturing, in achieving true sustainability and minimizing environmental impact.

Innovation and Collaboration Essential for a More Sustainable eMobility Ecosystem

Technological advancements in battery technology, charging infrastructure, and vehicle design are essential for improving performance, reducing costs, and enhancing overall user experience. A significant majority (74%) of EV manufacturers identify the lack of adequate charging infrastructure as the primary barrier to market growth. However, many (55%) are already investing in battery technology innovation, and even more (78%) are working to lower vehicle costs to meet the rising demand for EVs.

To accelerate the transition to a sustainable eMobility ecosystem, collaboration between automakers, technology companies, energy providers, and government agencies is imperative. This collaboration can focus on deploying innovative solutions such as expanded charging infrastructure (both public and private) and addressing range anxiety to encourage wider adoption of electric vehicles.

Other key findings from the study include: 

90% EV manufacturers and 84% of EV Influencers said battery technology improvements to optimize range and charging speed will have a large impact on design and performance of EVs, contributing to a more efficient and sustainable transportation system.74% of manufacturers believed charging infrastructure remains the biggest obstacle limiting EV market growth, highlighting the need for increased investment in sustainable charging solutions.72% of EV charging infrastructure players are expecting significant mergers in the EV space driven by financial viability and scaling challenges.63% EV influencers said their primary motivation for EV adoption is to achieve net-zero goals and reduce carbon footprint, demonstrating the growing demand for environmentally responsible transportation options.

TCS: A Partner in Building a More Sustainable EV Future

For more than 20 years, TCS has been a key partner to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), guiding them in their transition from traditional combustion engines to electric vehicles. To date, TCS has supported the deployment of Battery Management Systems (BMS) software in over 500,000 EVs worldwide and assisted OEMs in establishing EV charging infrastructure in 75 countries.

TCS brings innovative technology, strategic partnerships and extensive knowledge to empower EV manufacturers and stakeholders to both navigate change and build a more sustainable future. From vehicle design and battery production to digital platforms and customized customer experiences, TCS aims to collaborate with clients and partners in shaping a bold and sustainable future.

For more information, visit: TCS Future-Ready eMobility Study 2025

About Tata Consultancy Services

Tata Consultancy Services is an IT services, consulting and business solutions organization that has been partnering with many of the world’s largest businesses in their transformation journeys for over 56 years. Its consulting-led, cognitive powered, portfolio of business, technology and engineering services and solutions is delivered through its unique Location Independent Agile™ delivery model, recognized as a benchmark of excellence in software development.

A part of the Tata group, India’s largest multinational business group, TCS has over 607,000 of the world’s best-trained consultants in 55 countries. The company generated consolidated revenues of US $29 billion in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2024, and is listed on the BSE and the NSE in India. TCS’ proactive stance on climate change and award-winning work with communities across the world have earned it a place in leading sustainability indices such as the MSCI Global Sustainability Index and the FTSE4Good Emerging Index. For more information, visit www.tcs.com.

The global energy transition to a low-carbon future poses many challenges. There’s no silver bullet and a diverse range of technologies, some of which have yet to be created, will need to be deployed – globally. While some technologies are already maturing (e.g. solar, wind), others, like carbon capture and storage (CCS), need rapid acceleration to achieve scale.

Current global CCS capacity is 49 million tons of CO2 annually, and this must increase 100-200 times to create a viable path to achieving net-zero targets.

“We are in a momentum-building phase,” says Gavin Rennick, president of New Energy at SLB. “But to decarbonize and accelerate the energy transition requires the full value chain to work at scale, for each specific industry.” This includes investing in new technologies, customizing these to specific use cases, proving techno-economics, securing appropriate financing for large-scale projects, reducing regulatory barriers, and increasing collaboration along the value chain. As a global energy technology company that is driving energy innovation for a balanced planet, we are uniquely positioned in this effort, leveraging our ability to develop, industrialize and deploy technologies at scale.

Gaining momentum

To gain momentum requires leading companies to complete the first “flagship” projects successfully.

Large-scale decarbonization projects are complex, and require complex project structures and partnerships, significant innovation, collaboration across a broad range of stakeholders — and perseverance to first achieve FID, then successful startup and operation. We are constantly working with customers to ensure the technical and economic feasibility of projects involving our technology across industrial decarbonization, renewables and energy efficiency, and critical minerals development.

Industrial decarbonization

SLB is committed to driving industrial decarbonization. “In the next few decades, many high-emissions industries must adopt CCS, alongside other process changing technologies, in order to credibly decarbonize,” says Rennick.

In June 2024, we closed our SLB Capturi joint venture with Aker Carbon Capture, which combines our companies’ technology portfolios to enable wider adoption of carbon capture technologies.

SLB Capturi is already playing a key role in unlocking the full value chain for CCS by building modular carbon capture plants at industrial sites across Europe. These sites represent the first emitters that will store CO2 in Northern Lights, the world’s first “open-source” CO2 transport and storage infrastructure, making their CCS model accessible to be replicated across Europe. Key projects include the Ørsted Kalundborg CO2 Hub in Denmark, which will capture up to 430,000 metric tons of CO2 annually from biomass power stations; Heidelberg Materials’ cement facility in Brevik, Norway, which will capture up to 400,000 metric tons of CO2 annually; and Hafslund Celsio’s waste-to-energy plant in Oslo, Norway, which will capture up to 350,000 metric tons of CO2 annually.

In addition, we have completed commissioning and handover of an SLB Capturi modular carbon capture plant at Twence’s waste-to-energy facility in Hengelo, Netherlands. The plant at the Twence facility has the capacity to capture up to 100,000 metric tons of CO2 per year, which will be used in applications for the horticulture and food and beverage sectors.

These projects represent just one component of our commitment to driving industrial decarbonization. We also continue providing technology and services for new carbon storage sites globally, exemplified by our partnership in the Jubail CCS hub in Saudi Arabia: one of the world’s largest, with a capacity to store up to nine million metric tons of CO2 annually in its first phase. Beyond CCS, SLB is developing solutions like low-carbon hydrogen through investments and collaborations with companies like John Cockerill Hydrogen, and Genvia, a joint venture with the CEA (French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission) and other partners.

Renewables and energy efficiency

Geothermal energy offers a significant opportunity for the energy transition, providing clean, baseload renewable power. SLB leads in geothermal and geoenergy, collaborating with customers, governments and industry and technology partners.

For example, we are collaborating with Ormat Technologies to develop and deliver integrated geothermal projects, aiming to reduce risk, improve economics, and ensure long-term performance and reliability. We’re also working with Star Energy Geothermal, a subsidiary of Indonesia’s largest renewable energy company, Barito Renewables, to deploy technologies that improve the economics of conventional geothermal projects and enhance recovery rates.

To enable geothermal power adoption in areas where it has not been feasible, we are collaborating with DEEP Energy on a next-generation project in Canada to open new frontiers for geothermal power generation in Canada and beyond.

“The key to unlocking the future of geothermal lies in deep technical understanding, efficient execution, and close collaboration with partners and customers, ensuring our technological developments directly address the key economic use-cases,” said Rennick. “Together, we are redefining the landscape of geothermal energy, making it a more accessible and attractive option on a global scale.”

SLB’s Celsius Energy innovates in geoenergy, a technology that provides virtually carbon-free thermal energy to buildings year-round in certain geographies such as Europe and the northern U.S. Recognized with a BNEF Pioneer award, Celsius Energy inaugurated its first UK installation in 2024, expanding its European reach beyond its French origins.

Building on this momentum, in 2024, Eversource, an energy provider in Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire, deployed SLB’s Celsius Energy for the first utility-owned networked geothermal heating and cooling system in the U.S., connecting 140 customers across nearly 40 buildings in Framingham, Massachusetts.

Critical minerals

The enablement of electrification requires energy storage, which in many cases around the world also requires the use of lithium as a key battery material. SLB is accelerating the adoption of a technology system that produces lithium from subsurface brine assets in a highly sustainable manner, minimizing environmental impact.

This past year, we proved our technology solution for producing lithium more sustainably at scale at our demonstration plant in Clayton Valley, Nevada. To further support lithium resource development, we launched a commercially available 3D basin model report of the Smackover trend, a geologic formation across Arkansas and Texas believed to contain massive amounts of lithium-rich saltwater brine. SLB also supports new lithium entrants in de-risking their projects with advanced subsurface expertise and workflows, such as our collaboration with Pantera Minerals to advance the Smackover lithium asset in Arkansas and the LithiumBank asset development project in Alberta, Canada.

“The development of more sustainable lithium production technologies is intrinsically linked to the acceleration of new energy solutions,” says Gavin Rennick. “SLB’s innovations in critical minerals will play a vital role in supporting a low-carbon energy future.”

Where we go from here

SLB is actively working and proving high-impact technologies and solutions across these key areas within the energy transition space. Market adoption must now accelerate. De-risking innovation for industrial decarbonization depends on close collaboration with end-users to deliver impactful, scalable solutions. To achieve a low-carbon future, we must continue building momentum by investing in new technology that improves economics, streamlining regulations, building and fostering partnerships across the value chain, and removing barriers to on-the-ground projects.

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