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Decarbonization Partners’ Inaugural Fund Launch: Bridging the Financing Gap to Net-Zero
Written by Tazmyn Gounden, Head of Investor Research, Energy Council
Published 21 May 2024
Decarbonization Partners, a collaborative initiative between BlackRock and Temasek, recently celebrated the successful closure of its inaugural fund, Decarbonization Partners Fund I, which raised $1.40 billion—exceeding its initial target by 40%. This fund is committed to propelling the global shift towards a net-zero economy by investing in pioneering decarbonization technologies. The fund commenced operations in 2022 and attracted contributions from over 30 global institutions, including notable investors such as Allstate, Total Energies, and Mizuho Bank Ltd.
To date, the fund has invested in seven companies, with a strategic focus on generating long-term financial returns through tangible, quantifiable decarbonization efforts. Decarbonization Partners plans to continue deploying capital and expanding its portfolio of leading decarbonization technology companies.
Navigating Capital Intensity in Climate Technology Investments
The successful launch of this fund is especially significant given the substantial capital demands inherent in climate technology investments. In sectors like carbon capture, use, and storage (CCUS), and the electrification of transport, early-stage venture capital often requires investments exceeding $25 million—five to six times higher than those typical in industries like fintech or quantum computing.1 As ventures progress, the financial needs increase substantially; for example, oil and gas decarbonization and sustainable fuels typically see later-stage venture capital ticket sizes averaging $31 million, while carbon management commands investments of around $41 million.(1) This underscores the crucial need for significant financial commitments to support technologies as they move toward wide-scale commercialization.
Climate tech sectors have significantly larger ticket sizes in later-stage venture capital then other high-growth, high-tech sectors.
Source: Pitchbook & McKinsey
Decarbonization Partners strategically positions itself to bridge this gap, focusing on companies that are at a critical inflection point—scaling from pilot-scale facilities to commercial production. The team emphasizes, “We believe there is still a lack of capital at this critical stage of the climate capital stack, in between traditional venture and traditional infrastructure.” Decarbonization Partners is dedicated to supporting businesses with clear pathways to achieving cost parity as they scale, without relying on credits and policy incentives.
Enhancing Traditional Energy Sectors Through Strategic Investments
Traditional energy companies are actively aligning their operations with decarbonization goals, necessitating significant shifts in capital towards low-carbon energy production. This strategic pivot leverages existing infrastructure and technological expertise in novel ways and aims to unlock new revenue streams while bolstering competitiveness in a dynamic energy market. As these traditional sectors undergo this transition, the initiatives of Decarbonization Partners play a vital role. The team highlights, “Many energy, transportation, and industrial companies are already investing in the same technologies we are evaluating, which provides both strategic and financial value.” Decarbonization Partners views corporate venture capital and strategic investments from these industries as crucial for scaling these technologies in their operations and business lines, often transforming them into customers as they execute their lower carbon strategies. This was particularly evident during a 15-month period from 2020 to 2021, where corporates participated in 45% of all climate tech deals, markedly higher than the 25% participation rate in the overall US venture capital industry.(2)
Strategic Selection and Prioritization of Investments
In 2023, PitchBook recorded 1,120 carbon/emissions tech venture capital deals globally, while the first quarter of 2024 saw 242 VC deals in the sector, underscoring the extensive range of investment opportunities.(3) Decarbonization Partners navigates the extensive field of climate technology by strategically focusing on technologies that show potential for scalability, and profitability and are poised for substantial decarbonization impact. Employing a dual-purpose investment strategy, the firm concentrates on a diverse range of sectors, including:
- Carbon Capture, Storage, and Utilization
- Bio and Low Carbon Products
- Next Generation Energy
- Advanced Mobility
- Carbon Management Services
- Digital Transformation
Decarbonization Partners has strategically positioned itself at the forefront of climate tech investment, demonstrating the essential role of substantial capital in advancing technologies from pilot to commercial scale. By focusing on de-risked, scalable innovations and aligning with the broader shift towards sustainability in traditional energy sectors, the firm not only furthers environmental goals but also capitalizes on emerging growth opportunities within the evolving energy market. As Decarbonization Partners plans to expand its portfolio and continue to execute impact-focused investment strategies, its commitment to merging financial returns with significant environmental benefits sets a high standard for future ventures in the decarbonization space.
Join Raluca Florea, a director and investor at Decarbonization Partners, on the Transition Panel at the New York Energy Capital Assembly in June. She will discuss pivotal strategies for balancing investments between traditional energy and emerging decarbonization technologies. This panel offers a unique opportunity to gain insights into effective sustainable scaling practices within the energy sector.
New York Energy Capital Assembly
Returning in 2025 to New York City
THE GO-TO MEETING FOR ENERGY FINANCIERS & INVESTORS TO DEFINE, REALIGN & EXECUTE THEIR ENERGY INVESTMENT STRATEGY.
References:
-
McKinsey & Company. (2024, January). A different high-growth story: The unique challenges of climate tech. Retrieved from https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/strategy-and-corporate-finance/our-insights/a-different-high-growth-story-the-unique-challenges-of-climate-tech
-
Climate Tech VC. (2021, September). Corporate Climate Venturing. Retrieved from https://www.ctvc.co/corporate-climate-venturing/
-
PitchBook. (March, 2024). Q1 2024 Carbon Emissions Tech Report. Retrieved from https://pitchbook.com/news/reports/q1-2024-carbon-emissions-tech-report
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Day Two saw the conversation move toward how the region will approach the developing role of natural gas and LNG in the energy transition, beginning with a keynote address from Wood Mackenzie’s Head of Asia Pacific, Gavin Thompson. Gavin’s address spoke to the rapid shift in appetite for the fuel, as it became the prime candidate for replacing oil and coal demand. read more
Asia Pacific Energy Assembly 2021: Day 3 Takeaways
The third and shortest day of our Asia Pacific Energy Assembly was by no means that least exciting, in fact the emerging role of ESG and the accelerated energy transition has revealed the deep passions and commitment by oil and gas players to develop a market that considers both energy access and the immediate climate concerns. read more
What does a comprehensive ESG programme look like; identifying the possible range of initiatives that work for your business.
To start; a business needs to identify and establish where and how their ESG-related weaknesses manifest. Once these weaknesses are established, a company should then identify, develop and utilize a strong ESG reporting framework, one that can challenge the business to improve their impact on society. read more
Achieving Consistent and Comparable Sustainable Reporting and ESG Metrics – Can It Be Done?
The emergence of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) policy has hit a roadblock with the inability to create comparable and standardised measurements across jurisdictions, or even within a particular industry. The Energy Council ask's "Can it even be done?" read more
The Role of Capital Markets in the Energy Transition
The need to decarbonise has initiated a holistic reconsideration of the role of capital markets; particularly how they can facilitate access to capital to stave off climate change, manifesting itself as a growing requirement for financiers to take responsibility for how and where they deploy their capital. read more
NorthAm Advisory Board Takeaways #1: Outlook for the Upstream Sector
At the end of May, the Energy Council hosted an advisory board with sixteen senior executives in the North American energy sector. The esteemed advisors reflect a diverse range of both E&P operators, investors, financiers, digital leaders, OFS players and traders across both the private and public spaces. read more
Nostradamus and Energy Council launch Bellwether Insights Programme measuring Energy Transformation
The partnership will provide a series of four major studies examining stakeholder sentiment towards energy majors and smaller players and measure their performance in the transition towards the provision of cleaner energy and stronger corporate governance. Read more. read more
Naftogaz Presentation: Opportunities in Ukraine
During the Energy Council's APAC Assembly, Naftogaz presented the international oil & gas community with investment opportunities in the Ukraine. View the presentation here. read more
Adapting to Change: The Emerging Role Of Traders In E&P
Financial activism has been a catalyst in shifting the approach to financing the oil and gas sector, with ESG demands creating risks that are often deemed unassailable to traditional lenders. As access to exploration finance dwindles, O&G traders have taken on the role of providing capital to E&P operations - jumping upstream to lower supply risk. Read more. read more
Podcast: Cary Meadow, Executive Chairman & Ben Mendes, Director, Anvil Channel Energy Solutions
Cary Meadow, Executive Chairman and Ben Mendes, Director at Anvil Channel Energy Solutions joins the Investor Series Podcast describing the paradigm shift seen in lenders’ appetites towards natural resources companies and the increasing regulatory restraints and rising ESG pressures. Listen here. read more
WECA Advisory Board #2: Key Takeaways
In anticipation for the Energy Council’s World Energy Capital Assembly (WECA) to take place in December, an advisory board of the industry’s leading figures was held to inform the agenda. Among the attendees were representatives from Petrobras, Morgan Stanley Energy Partners, BlackRock, Shell, Kongsberg Digital, Ecopetrol, The Carnrite Group, Hellenic Petroleum, Eco Atlantic Oil and Gas, Helios Investment Partners, Addleshaw Goddard, YPF, Reflex Marine and Axora. read more
WECA Advisory Board #1: Key Takeaways
In anticipation for the Energy Council’s World Energy Capital Assembly (WECA) to take place in December, an advisory board of the industry’s leading figures was held to inform the agenda. Among the attendees were representatives from INEOS Energy, BlackRock, Standard Chartered, Kerogen Capital, Lloyds Banking Group, ADNOC, Mizuho, Morgan Stanley, BP IST, Bluewater Energy, Wentworth Resources, Sector Investment Managers, Harbour Energy, NEO Energy and Jerset Oil and Gas. read more
Podcast: Chris Leary, Investment Partner, Orion Energy Partners
Chris Leary, Investment Partner at Orion Energy Partners joins the Investor Series Podcast to explain more about what they consider to be environmentally innovative and walks us through some examples of environmentally innovative investments that Orion have made over the past year. Listen here. read more
Podcast: Rusty Hutson, CEO & Eric Williams, CFO at Diversified Energy
Rusty Hutson, CEO & Eric Williams, CFO at Diversified Gas & Oil join the Investor Series Podcast to bring their perspectives from a company that has successfully managed to raise capital in recent years, when so many others have struggled. Listen here. read more
Interview with Kwaku Boakye-Adjei, Commercial Consultant, TEMA LNG
Following on from WECAX Jack Ingram sat down with Kwaku Boakye-Adjei to discuss Ghana’s Tema LNG project – find out more and read about Sub Saharan Africa’s first regasification facility read more
US Secretary of Energy, Jennifer Granholm – A Brief Biography
Jennifer Granholm has taken charge of the US Department of Energy, an appointment keenly watched as the country pivots toward a cleaner, greener future. read more
On Demand: Tech Innovation in the Minerals & Royalties Space
As part of the Minerals & Royalties webinar series we will be discussing Tech Innovation in the Minerals & Royalties Space. Register here to join the webinar debate (9 March 2021) read more
Podcast: Shaia Hosseinzadeh, Managing Partner & Founder, OnyxPoint Global Management
Shaia Hosseinzadeh of OnyxPoint Global Management, joins the Investor Series Podcast to talks about investing in cyclical industries, their differentiated approach, the need for financial innovation and more. read more
President Biden, First Month in Office
In his first month in office, President Joe Biden has placed the energy transition as a central pillar of his administration’s policy. What policies and effects may this have over the next four years? read more
On Demand: Fundraising in the Minerals & Royalties Space
As part of the Minerals & Royalties webinar series we discussed Fundraising in the Minerals & Royalties Space. Watch the discussion, now available on demand. read more
What do the changing energy markets mean for raising debt in the upstream oil and gas sector?
Vinson & Elkins RLLP discuss E&P companies and how they will continue to require financing to meet development and production needs, whether in the form of traditional RBL products, corporate loans, bonds, high yield issuances, project financing, trade finance, equity financing or other more innovative or hybrid structures. read more
Emissions Trading Schemes, A Global Perspective
The Energy Council takes a look at how Emissions Trading Schemes are being implemented to reduce the impact of emissions within big industry, in regions and countries across the globe. read more
Podcast: Angelos Damaskos, CEO, Sector Investment Managers
Angelos Damaskos, CEO, Sector Investment Managers joins us on the Investor Series Podcast. Angelos Damaskos reviews the events of 2020 and analyses current markets to explain investor sentiment for 2021 in Oil and Gas. Listen here. read more
Podcast: Nick Volkmer, Vice President – GHG & Renewables, Enverus
Nick Volkmer, Vice President - GHG & Renewables, Enverus joins us on the Investor Series Podcast. Nick shares his insights on how Enverus is pulling together all of the available data on EGC and GHG Emissions and cleaning it up to inform the investment community. Listen here. read more
Podcast: Griffin Perry, Co-Founder and Managing Director, Grey Rock Energy Partners
Griffin Perry, Co-Founder and Managing Director, Grey Rock Energy Partners, joins the Investor Series Podcast to discusses advantages of adopting a a non-op investment approach, the different ways in which investors are getting creative and more. Listen here read more
Financing Options for Marginal Fields, Nigeria
Advocaat Law Practice shares information on Financing Options for Marginal Fields in Nigeria. We look at regulatory & commercial frameworks, challenges & financing options for field operators. read more
Podcast: Dan Pickering, Founder & Chief Investment Officer, Pickering Energy Partners
Dan Pickering joins the Investor Series Podcast and walks us through where he sees future opportunities and why this is a great time to be building a business. read more
Webinar Summary: Impacts of a Biden vs. Trump Victory: What Next For the U.S. Oil & Gas Industry?
Read the summary of the webinar debate on what the implications might be for the U.S. Oil & Gas industry under the newly elected Biden Administration. read more
A flexible approach can help investors deliver bold projects for Africa
Even the most experienced investor will see 2021 as one of the most challenging investment environments that they have encountered. However, Africa still offers significant upside potential for projects that have a clear demand and are led by experienced operators. read more
Introduction to Carnrite – Dedicated, Practical Business Partner for an Industry in Transition
Ahead of WECA 2020, we spoke with Nick Carnrite, Managing Director at The Carnrite Group, on their entrance to the UK market, the challenges facing the Energy industry and how they are supporting the sector through these times. read more
Avik Dey – Head of Energy & Resources at CPPIB
Avik Dey of CPPIB, joins the Investor Series Podcast to talk about the secular change that is taking place across the industry read more
Vertis – On the Role of Voluntary Carbon Markets in the Energy Transition for Oil & Gas sector
We know what the target is as well as why we need to achieve it. The question is rather on the how. How do we transform our businesses and our life-styles without jeopardising the functioning of our society or global growth? read more
“Investors will go where the money is” – An Analysis of the Sentiment among Energy Investors
“Investors will go where the money is” remarked one of the Energy Council’s members when asked about the increased pressure on funds to be ESG driven and avoiding hydrocarbons altogether. read more
In The News: Institutional Investors Demand Greater ESG Adherence from Oil Majors, Can Independents Pick Up The Pieces?
Institutional funds have increased their pressure on the world’s largest oil and gas companies to further and hasten their commitments to meet a carbon output of net-zero by 2050. What happens to 'independents'? read more
Glenn Jacobson – Partner at Trilantic Capital Partners – Evolution of the Energy Investment Landscape
Glenn Jacobson, of Trilantic Capital Partners joins the Investor Series Podcast once again to talk about the evolution of the energy investment landscape. read more
In The News: Quality assets key in four major M&A deals this year
Mergers and acquisitions are heating up in the oil and gas sector as prices stabilise and quality assets enter the market. Over $20 billion in deals has been completed in recent months with more set to come. read more
Mark Viviano, Head of Public Equities, Kimmeridge Energy
Mark Viviano, Head of Public Equities, Kimmeridge Energy joins the Investor Series Podcast to discuss over the course of this episode, we explore what it will take to reform the public E&P sector and the importance of activism in bringing about the necessary changes read more
In The News: The United Kingdom's Path to Net-Zero in the North Sea
A report by the OGTC & Wood Mackenzie highlights the array of opportunities in the United Kingdom's path to decarbonisation & net-zero. The United Kingdom Continental Shelf in the North Sea has long been a prominent location for the exploration and production of oil and gas. However, as the nation pushes toward carbon neutrality by 2050, how will these competing industries develop? read more
In The News: OGCI Reports Significant Progress On Upstream Methane and Carbon Intensity Targets
The OGCI announced significant progress in reducing both carbon dioxide and methane emissions in the upsteam sector. Industry collective invests over a billion dollars into emissions reductions technologies. read more
U.S. Oil & Gas Companies Were Hanging On By A Thread, Is It Too Late For Restructuring?
US O&G Independents were already sitting on huge debt levels before the impacts of COVID-19 and the Oil Price War hit. They now face a dire road ahead. Read More read more
Impacts of a Biden vs. Trump Victory: What Next For the U.S. Oil & Gas Industry?
In this webinar debate, we discuss what the implications might be for the U.S. Oil & Gas industry under the newly elected Biden Administration. Watch on demand read more
Digital Dialogue: Exploring Gas Opportunities in Nigeria
As part of the Digital Energy Festival we explored Gas Opportunities in Nigeria with our panel of experts, moderated by Ola Alokolaro from Advocaat Law Practice. Read the discussion summary and watch on demand. read more
Digital Dialogue: Exploration & Production: is it too late for Africa to profit from its resources?
The second of eight Oil & Gas Council sessions, a digital dialogue, took place on October 29 boasting an exceptional panel of industry-leading speakers who have years of experience in industries ranging from upstream, legal and financial services. The speakers gathered to discuss and provide insights on whether or not it’s too late for Africa to profit from its E&P resources. read more
Investment Focus – What Next for African Oil & Gas?
The first of eight Oil & Gas Council sessions kicked off on October 27 and industry-leading speakers who have a total of over 100 years of industry and sector experience joined forces to discuss and provide insights on an investment focused dialogue around what’s next for African Oil and Gas. read more
Impact of the US Elections on the Oil & Gas Industry with Tom Petrie
Tom Petrie joins the Investor Series Podcast once again to discuss the upcoming US Presidential election & what impact it will have, either way, on the oil & gas industry. read more
Investors Are Leaving U.S. Shale And They Are Not Coming Back
With the US shale industry having been severely impacted by both the COVID-19 pandemic and the oil price war, US investors are beginning to screen opportunities elsewhere. Read More. read more
Nigel Jenvey – Global Head of Carbon Management, Gaffney Cline and Lewis McDonald – Global Head of Energy, Herbert Smith Freehills
In this episode, Nigel and Lewis join us to discuss some of the ESG & GHG related trends and policies in the Oil & Gas Industry and how they relate to company’s performance in the public markets as well as their ongoing ability to access capital. Listen here. read more
This Is The End Of U.S. O&G Independents; Only Supermajors Will Remain
The U.S. shale industry has been built up around a Private Equity model with a clear exit strategy. However, this model has become less and less economic in recent years and many independents are now thought to be sitting on illiquid assets. read more
Transcript: Brian Thomas, Prudential Private Capital
Read the transcripts of the Oil & Gas Council Investor Series Podcast with Brian Thomas, Managing Director – Energy Finance, Prudential Private Capital. read more
Brian Thomas, Prudential Private Capital
During the episode, Brian talks about how institutional investors like Prudential can provide capital for O&G companies in place of commercial banks who are pulling back on their lending through this downturn. read more
Tech and ESG are the ‘investment megatrends of the decade'
Technology and responsible investing will “inevitably be the top two megatrends” of the 2020s, affirms the CEO of independent financial advisory organisation deVere. read more
The energy sector of the future
Who will make money in the energy business of the future, and who will fade from the scene? Politics and regulation certainly matter, but how much? What will the global energy system of 2030 or 2050 look like? read more
Tom Petrie, Chairman, Petrie Partners
During the episode, Tom talks about the Rise of Putin, the US/China trade war, the competitiveness of US shale, and Middle Eastern geopolitics and their role in creating the current state of affairs in the O&G Industry. read more
APAC Crisis Response Report
Leaders from across the Upstream value chain met virtually to discuss how the current crisis compares to the crash of 2014 and what new challenges the industry faces in the current crisis. read more
An Alliance with Finance: Big banks and Insurance Companies join the Green Recovery Alliance
On 14th April, the Green Recovery Alliance was formed by members of the European Parliament together with ministers, CEOs, NGOs and trade unions from across Europe. The Alliance’s core aim is to ensure that the fight against climate change is central to the economic strategies that European countries adopt in their recovery after the COVID-19 pandemic. read more
Kenneth Hersh Retired CEO & Co-Founder, NGP
Ken Hersh, Retired CEO and Co-Founder of NGP joins us to discuss ESG, Geopolitics, Supply/Demand Dynamics, and Private Equity in a pre, current, and post COVID-19 world read more
Energy Storage in Mexico
Participants from the Energy Storage panel, that was due to take place at Mexico Assembly, met virtually to discuss the effects of COVID-19, what's important for energy storage in Mexico & the biggest opportunities. read more
Adam Waterous, CEO, Waterous Energy Fund
Adam Waterous shares his insights in this Investment focused podcast. Adam discusses his theory of “Peak Permian”, which describes current US production levels as unsustainable and grossly uneconomic. Adam explains how the emergence of unconventional fracking technology has caused a structural shift in the oil & gas industry.. read more
Investment in the Energy Transition
Energy transition will be at a crossroads when the world gets out of the current health crisis: will we base the recovery on a sustainable model or will we, once again, justify unsustainable policies and practices with the need to “get growth back on track”? read more
LNG pricing coals final death knell
Panellists described how the LNG “wave that has arrived” is heralding a final shift away from coal in the EU, which will lead to the final closure of coal-based power generation on the continent. read more