144. Bill Gates and Energy (2/2) – the Investments / Breakthrough Energy Ventures

144. Bill Gates and Energy (2/2) – the Investments / Breakthrough Energy Ventures

In episode 143, Gerard, Laurent and Michael have discussed the philosophy of Bill Gates when it comes to the Energy Transition, and the root causes of his flawed thesis. Let see now if this transpires in his main investment vehicle, Breakthrough Energy Ventures (BEV).

Michael Barnard is quite blunt: “To be clear, Gates is still highly resistant to the reality that we have almost all of the solutions we require, and that Breakthrough Energy Ventures is mostly invested in distractions.”

As we are about to celebrate the 10th anniversary of BEV, we dive into its successes and failures. And it is a complex picture. BEV has invested in more than 100 companies which is a feat in itself. For a 3.5bnUSD portfolio, that’s an average of 40mUSD/ticket.

When you dig into the portfolio, you will get the Good, with promising ventures (such as Antora, Rondo, Boston Metals, Brimstone, TS Conductor, Fervo, Natel, Pachama, Kobold), the bad with ginormous boondoggles (nuclear, carbon, Hydrogen planes, LDES…), and the Ugly, when BEV (but they are not alone) manage to offload failed ventures via SPACs (Heliogen, QuantumScape, ESS) or Public Money (Carbon Engineering).

So, Breakthrough or Break down? Glass half full or half empty? A lot of Silicon Valley billionaires have emulated BEV, with absurd amount of money chasing impossible or totally uneconomic ventures. To name a few, Sam Altman, Khosla Ventures, Patrick Collinson (CEO Stripe) Bezos, Benioff. So, Bill is definitely not alone.

And BEV, with a string of smart choices, is probably the least bad, or best of them all.

Michael Barnard unleashed in Cleantechnica https://cleantechnica.com/2024/07/04/breakthrough-energy-ventures-has-bad-investment-theses-therefore-bad-investments/

Jaksot(175)

136. Special Eurelectric with PPC’s CEO Georgios Stassis

136. Special Eurelectric with PPC’s CEO Georgios Stassis

Laurent interviews Georgios Stassis, PPC’S CEO, during Eurelectric Power Summit 24.PPC, the Greek Utility, is a remarkable turnaround story: from a soviet-style dinosaur a few years ago, PPC has becom...

10 Kesä 202417min

135. 2024: A pivotal year for the Energy Transition in China - Jun24

135. 2024: A pivotal year for the Energy Transition in China - Jun24

In April, we did Ep129 Minutes about China and announced the interview with a real expert. Here it is. With David Fishman, an American based in Shanghai, we dig deep into China’s Energy Transition. We...

3 Kesä 202430min

134. EcoSummit Preview

134. EcoSummit Preview

Last week, Laurent was in Athens for the spectacular Eurelectric Summit (we will talk more about it in 2 weeks’ time, with a special Episode) meanwhile, we bring in our friend Jan-Michael Hess, organi...

27 Touko 20248min

133. AI, Datacenters and Energy - May24

133. AI, Datacenters and Energy - May24

"McKinsey, BCG and S&P Global Commodity Insights project electricity demand tied to data centers to increase at a CAGR of 15% through 2030." “Booming AI demand threatens global electricity supply (FT)...

20 Touko 202429min

132. Ember’s Global Electricity Review 2024

132. Ember’s Global Electricity Review 2024

We bring in the star of the week, Ember’s Dave Jones, to discuss the Global Electricity Review 2024, published last week.Main take aways (thank you Nat Bullard): Renewable sources (hydro, wind, solar,...

13 Touko 202411min

131. The future of distribution grids - May24

131. The future of distribution grids - May24

Distribution grids are facing new challenges. On the one hand, they experience a growth of local demand, with EV charging, heat pumps and datacenters. On the other, they must accommodate with the fast...

6 Touko 202431min

130. EVs: Has Tesla lost its Mojo?

130. EVs: Has Tesla lost its Mojo?

We hear conflicting messages regarding the status of the EV market. On the bright side, IEA predicts 17mEV to be sold this year, EV and Hybrids reach 50% market share in China for Q1, more than 500 EV...

29 Huhti 202411min

129. Should the West fear or emulate China?

129. Should the West fear or emulate China?

Laurent and Gerard have a rapid overview of what’s going on regarding the Energy Transition in China and its political implication in the West.Record production of this, record production of that, ove...

22 Huhti 20249min

Suosittua kategoriassa Liike-elämä ja talous

sijotuskasti
mimmit-sijoittaa
psykopodiaa-podcast
rss-rahapodi
rss-draivi
rss-seuraava-potilas
rss-sami-miettinen-neuvottelija
oppimisen-psykologia
rss-rahamania
pomojen-suusta
rss-porssipuhetta
rss-lahtijat
rss-inderes
inderespodi
taloudellinen-mielenrauha
ostan-asuntoja-podcast
kasvun-kipuja
rss-h-asselmoilanen
herrasmieshakkerit
rss-bisnesta-bebeja