What to build (climate edition)

I was inspired by Marc Andreessen’s fantastic piece called It’s Time To Build this weekend. Give it a read. It’s great.

But then there’s this bit:

Solve the climate crisis by building — energy experts say that all carbon-based electrical power generation on the planet could be replaced by a few thousand new zero-emission nuclear reactors, so let’s build those. Maybe we can start with 10 new reactors? Then 100? Then the rest?

There’s a strain of nuclear idealism that permeates parts of Silicon Valley. I’ve never quite been able to explain it, but I think it displays the limitation of first-principles thinking. If you’re outside the sector and you see a (theoretically) low-cost, (effectively) infinite zero-carbon resource, you think you’ve solved the climate change problem. But the reality is far more complex, and nuclear’s destiny in decarbonization is more likely to be a tool in a fairly large and varied toolkit.

This is not to malign nuclear power — I’m all for it. It’s just not the panacea that the statement above implies.

Not to fear: Marc knew that pedants like me would take issue with the details of his otherwise-grand and sweeping call to action. He also wrote:

I expect this essay to be the target of criticism. Here’s a modest proposal to my critics. Instead of attacking my ideas of what to build, conceive your own!

So, in that spirit…

What to build (climate edition)

Start with a zero-carbon electrical grid. Build:

• A fleet of GHG-free generation: solar, wind, geothermal, hydro, and (yes) nuclear
• A massive network of HVDC transmission to move those electrons around
• Lots and lots of grid flexibility: batteries, pumped hydro, smart thermostats, water heaters, etc.

Turn renewable intermittency into an asset. Build:

• At-scale green hydrogen production via electrolysis
• Infrastructure to support hydrogen storage and transportation
• Demand via natural gas infrastructure, industrial uses, & some transportation

Make sure that grid is resilient. Build:

• Backup generation for critical facilities (hospitals, grocery, nursing homes, etc.)
• Microgrids for communities and remote areas
• Underground power lines
• Distribution grid monitoring, intelligence and automation

Reinvigorate public transportation. Build:

• Expansion of both inter- and intra-city transit networks: bus, rail
• Expansion of access to transit via new modes: dynamic last-mile routing, micromobility, autonomous
• Redesign of street network for safety, equity & dynamism

Electrify, electrify, electrify. Build:

• New electric vehicle models in every class, from scooters to semi-trucks (and airplanes!)
• Charging infrastructure to eradicate range anxiety and provide universal access
• Electricity-based homes, buildings, ports

Decarbonize industry. Build:

• Additive manufacturing capacity
• Admixtures & alternative chemistries for cement
• New materials & processes for steelmaking
• Bioplastics & improved chemical processes

Decarbonize agriculture. Build:

• Meat alternatives
• Systems for reduced food waste & ag supply chain efficiency
• Silvopasture
• Managed grazing, intercropping, agroforestry

Remove carbon from the atmosphere. Build:

• Point-source carbon capture capacity
• Direct air capture systems at scale
• 1 trillion trees
• Storage/sequestration capacity
• Carbon-to-value infrastructure. Turn CO2 into useful products (cement, CO, carbon black, etc.)

Never forget energy efficiency. Build:

• Low material use/lightweight products
• Universal energy audit & retrofit system
• Financing tools to enable as-a-service mode of sales w/ immediate customer benefit
• Ultra-high efficiency buildings with sustainable materials

Ensure carbon transparency. Build:

• Ubiquitous, transparent carbon accounting framework
• Carbon labeling on products
• Carbon visibility & optionality on purchase decisions
• Supply chain GHG reduction tools
• Robust corporate ESG reporting (emphasis E)

Point to any one of these ideas and I’ll show you a multi-billion dollar opportunity. To once again quote Marc Andreesson:

“The problem is desire. We need to *want* these things. The problem is inertia. We need to want these things more than we want to prevent these things.”

Let’s go.

Shayle Kann (@shaylekann) is Managing Director at Energy Impact Partners, the leading venture capital fund investing in the future of energy and infrastructure. Get in touch: decarb@energyimpactpartners.com.