144. Bill Gates and Energy (2/2) – the Investments / Breakthrough Energy Ventures
Redefining Energy4 Aug 2024

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/

Avsnitt(174)

207. E-Mobility and V-2-X - dec25

207. E-Mobility and V-2-X - dec25

Gerard is on stage with Adele Zhao - Trina Solar and Thomas Raffeiner- The Mobility House at the Smarter E Conference.In a conversation hosted by Jonathan Gifford, they discuss about the future for th...

8 Dec 202529min

206. Renewables Repriced: Hedge Funds and Algo power trading - dec25

206. Renewables Repriced: Hedge Funds and Algo power trading - dec25

For much of the past two decades, renewable energy investment was viewed as a core infrastructure play—favoured by funds and long-term capital seeking predictable, government-backed cash flows. Yet th...

1 Dec 202531min

205. Elexon: The Hidden Engine of Britain’s Power Market - nov25

205. Elexon: The Hidden Engine of Britain’s Power Market - nov25

Running a power market isn’t just about generating electricity—it’s about making sure every kilowatt is accounted for. Someone has to calculate who owes what, make sure the rules are fair, and keep th...

24 Nov 202529min

204. Live from COP30 – WTFFF and Other Tales from the Amazon

204. Live from COP30 – WTFFF and Other Tales from the Amazon

Laurent sits down with Bruce Douglas, CEO of the Global Renewable Alliance, for a live conversation from COP30 in Belém, Brazil.They explore how COP30 is structured, the role of the Global Renewable A...

17 Nov 202519min

203. Peak Solar - nov25

203. Peak Solar - nov25

Solar energy has experienced explosive growth over the past five years — doubling in capacity outside of China and quadrupling within China. But with this rapid expansion come new concerns: Are we sca...

10 Nov 202529min

202. The US Power Industry Mismatch: Large Load Growth vs. Investment Capital - Nov25

202. The US Power Industry Mismatch: Large Load Growth vs. Investment Capital - Nov25

Laurent and Gerard have an explosive conversation with Bryan Long, Executive Director in JPMorgan’s Commodities Group.They explore why U.S. energy market signals are failing to support new capacity in...

3 Nov 202528min

201. Battery Boom or Policy Bust? The Big EV Divergence - Oct25

201. Battery Boom or Policy Bust? The Big EV Divergence - Oct25

We are in the middle of a battery boom, for EVs and even more for BESS. What's really happening in the electric vehicle (EV) market? Is China dominating the field, or are serious alternatives emerging...

27 Okt 202528min

200. “200 slides, Energy, AI, and the End of ESG” with Nat Bullard - Oct25

200. “200 slides, Energy, AI, and the End of ESG” with Nat Bullard - Oct25

For our 200th episode, we had the pleasure and privilege of speaking with Nat Bullard, one of the sharpest minds in the energy world. A leading analyst in climate and energy, Nat is known for his clea...

20 Okt 202529min

Populärt inom Business & ekonomi

badfluence
framgangspodden
rss-jossan-nina
varvet
rss-borsens-finest
uppgang-och-fall
avanzapodden
bathina-en-podcast
fill-or-kill
svd-tech-brief
lastbilspodden
borsmorgon
rss-inga-dumma-fragor-om-pengar
rss-kort-lang-analyspodden-fran-di
rss-den-nya-ekonomin
dynastin
affarsvarlden
rikatillsammans-om-privatekonomi-rikedom-i-livet
market-makers
rss-borslunch