Keeping cleantech investment alive | With technological, economic and policy challenges mounting, how can we keep energy innovation on track?
The Energy Gang
Wood Mackenzie
4.6 • 1.3K Ratings
🗓️ 15 April 2025
⏱️ 53 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
These are hard times for investment in low-carbon energy. The lack of progress in international climate negotiations, threats to policy support, and an increased awareness of the challenges of decarbonization, have created some strong headwinds. Everyone agrees that more breakthroughs in innovative emissions-reducing technologies are essential for tackling climate change. So how can innovative energy companies raise the capital they need to scale?
Catalytic capital can provide long-term investment in clean energy and accelerate early-stage climate technologies. To find out how it can make a difference, host Ed Crooks welcomes back to the show Amy Duffuor. Amy is the co-founder and general partner at Azolla Ventures, a $300 million VC firm dedicated to having an impact on emissions. They do it through catalytic capital, which is still looking for a return, but can be more patient and flexible than conventional investment.
In challenging times for investment in decarbonization, cleantech startups need to be able to explain their broader significance for the energy system and the economy, as well as their impact on emissions. “For climate tech to succeed it's not just about the innovation itself, but about understanding the narrative that surrounds it," Amy says.
Also joining the show is Melissa Lott, partner general manager at Microsoft.* Together they look at the geopolitical tensions and US policy frameworks that are influencing investor confidence and support for innovation. And they ask the question: with the world clearly not on track to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees C, how can we get investment to flow into adaptation strategies to build long-term resilience. Can it be done? Listen to find out.
*Melissa’s opinions in this episode are her own and do not reflect the opinions of Microsoft.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Hello and welcome to The Energy Gang, a discussion show from Wood Mackenzie about the fast-changing world of energy. |
| 0:08.4 | I'm Ed Crooks. And on today's show, we're going to be talking about the future of low-carbon technologies. |
| 0:14.4 | And we're going to be raising the question of if we're not on course to hit net zero emissions by 2050, what then? |
| 0:22.5 | To talk about those questions, I'm John by Melissa Lott, who's a partner general manager for energy technologies at Microsoft. Hi, Melissa, how are you? |
| 0:27.5 | Doing great. My voice is back, Ed. You know, I lost it last week, so it's almost 100%. It's |
| 0:32.7 | getting very close, but doing well. Yeah, no, no, you said absolutely great. I'm sure it will be |
| 0:37.4 | fine. |
| 0:38.2 | Glad you're recovered from last week when you did really sound very terrible. I'm afraid. |
| 0:43.9 | I've got a huge team for today, Ed. Crack me up. That's hilarious. |
| 0:49.6 | And as usual, of course, we have to note for you, Melissa, your standard disclaimer. |
| 0:53.7 | Anything you say in this show. |
| 0:55.1 | Strictly your own opinion doesn't represent corporate views of Microsoft or anything like that. |
| 0:59.3 | That's correct. |
| 1:00.4 | And it's also a great pleasure to welcome back after a long time away, Amy D4. |
| 1:04.6 | Amy is a co-founder and general partner at Zola Ventures, which is a venture capital firm focused on climate impact. |
| 1:10.8 | Hi, Amy, great to see you again. How are you? at Zola Ventures, which is a venture capital firm focused on climate impact. |
| 1:12.2 | Hi, Amy, great to see you again. How are you? |
| 1:16.6 | It is great to be back with you all again. I'm pretty good. It's been a long week, |
| 1:21.0 | but spring has finally sprung in Boston, so that's putting me in a bad mood. |
| 1:26.0 | Very nice. Yeah, that definitely makes the difference. As you know, we've been saying, |
| 1:31.2 | we've been trying to get you back on the show for a long time. It's great to get the schedules to line up. Very happy we could make that work. Because it's been quite a while, and also I think because it's relevant to the discussion |
| 1:36.6 | we're about to have, I wonder if you could just remind listeners about Azola and explain what you do. |
... |
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