Energy & Climate

Alternative Energy and Clean Technology, Climate Strategy and Carbon Policy are the two areas of focus amongst Energy and Climate research area.

Clean Technology (cleantech) products and services improve operational performance, productivity, and/or efficiency while reducing costs, inputs, energy consumption, waste, or pollution. Cleantech business models offer competitive returns for investors and customers while providing solutions to global challenges. The concept of cleantech embraces a diverse range of products, services, and processes across industry verticals that are inherently designed to,

• Provide superior performance at lower costs
• Reduce or eliminate negative ecological impact
• Improve the productive and responsible use of natural resources

One of the most significant areas of cleantech products and investments involves alternative energy. Alternative energy is energy derived from sources that cause minimal harm to the environment, are carbon-neutral, and do not deplete the Earth’s natural resources. Examples of alternative energy sources include wind, solar thermal, photovoltaics, geothermal, and certain forms of hydro.

Climate change has become an increasingly visible business concern.  Supplier relationships, raw material procurement, shipping and transportation costs and the ultimate pricing of goods and services will all be affected.  Regulations are being developed that alter the price of carbon at all levels of the local and global economies, and more regulations are on the horizon.  New rules will affect energy pricing and availability, creating a ripple effect throughout  entire value chains.

The successful  business model will view climate change as a market transition, in the form of both systemic risksthat cut across the entire economy and regulatory, legal, physical, and reputational risks that hit at the sector, industry, and company-specific levels.