229. Climate Tech reinvented: from green molecules to green electrons - May26

229. Climate Tech reinvented: from green molecules to green electrons - May26

From Redefining Energy by Laurent Segalen and Gerard Reid

May 18, 2026 · 33 min

About this episode

The episode discusses the evolution of Climate Tech, focusing on new narratives and funding shifts in the sector.

Where is Climate Tech heading? Certainly not dead — but constantly reinventing itself. So much so that you begin to wonder whether the label itself has outlived its original meaning. Laurent and Gerard welcome Kim Zou, co-founder and CEO of Sightline Climate , the data and research platform mapping the climate-tech economy, and author of some of the sector’s most influential newsletters, including CTVC and the newer Powerstack. Sightline has become essential reading for investors, utilities, corporates, and policymakers trying to understand where capital is flowing and how the energy system is evolving. Together, they explore how Climate Tech has transformed over the past decade. Decarbonisation alone is no longer the central narrative. Today, AI, energy security, and industrial resilience dominate the conversation — often pushing sustainability itself into the background. The discussion traces how funding has shifted from venture capital toward infrastructure and large-scale project finance. The spotlight has also moved away from “green molecules” — hydrogen, SAF, and carbon management — toward “green electrons”: virtual power plants, grid-enhancing technologies, and the race to…

People in this episode

Hosts: Laurent Segalen, Gerard Reid

Guest: Kim Zou

Topics covered

  • Climate Tech
  • decarbonisation
  • AI
  • energy security
  • industrial resilience
  • funding shifts
  • innovation models

Keywords

  • Climate Tech
  • decarbonisation
  • AI
  • energy security
  • green molecules
  • green electrons
  • infrastructure finance
  • innovation models

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Sightline Climate, CTVC, Powerstack, BYD, CATL

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