Oklo, one of the top advanced nuclear companies, and Switch, pioneering in the data center and AI eco-system have signed a historic corporate power agreement to deploy 12 gigawatts of Oklo Aurora powerhouse projects through 2044. Considering its scale, they call it the “Master Power Agreement” which builds the framework for collaboration. Both companies will finalize the binding agreements after achieving the project milestones.

Jacob DeWitte, Co-Founder and CEO of Oklo expressed his sentiments by noting,

“We are excited to collaborate with Switch on this historic agreement,” “Rob Roy and the Switch team share the vision we have for nuclear energy’s role in powering artificial intelligence and providing the world with energy abundance. Oklo expects to benefit enormously from Switch’s record of turning visions into reality. The lifespan of this Master Agreement will allow us to iterate and evolve with Switch, from development to deployment to scaling. We believe that working with Switch will not only accelerate our early powerhouses but also accelerate our ability to scale by demonstrating customer demand for decades to come.”

• READ MORE: What Does the U.S. Need to Triple Its Nuclear Capacity by 2050? DOE Explains…

Unlocking the Oklo-Switch Master Power Agreement

The press release highlighted that since January 2016, all Switch data centers have run on 100% renewable energy, totaling nearly 984 million kilowatt-hours yearly. The Master Agreement with Oklo will help Switch create a sustainable infrastructure and boost the market for renewable energy.

Now talking about Oklo, the nuclear giant, is aptly showcasing its business model through this Master Agreement. It aims to simplify access to clean energy by selling power and not power plants. The outcome will be customers getting a direct, flexible pathway to clean, reliable, and affordable advanced nuclear energy.

 Rob Roy, Founder and CEO of Switch said, 

“The relationship with Oklo underscores our commitment to deploying advanced nuclear power at a transformative scale for our data centers, further enhancing our offerings of one of the world’s most advanced data center infrastructures to current and future Switch clients. By utilizing Oklo’s powerhouses, we aim to ensure that Switch remains the leader in data center sustainability while supporting our vision of energy abundance.”

Switch: Redefining Data Centers with Innovation and Sustainability

Switch, founded in 2000 by CEO Rob Roy, is a game-changer for top design, infrastructure, and operator of advanced data center campuses. The company is creating modular, scalable, and sustainable data centers that support AI, cloud, and enterprise clients.

Their advanced solutions range from liquid-cooled AI systems to hyperscale cloud and ultra-secure enterprise data centers. One of their blueprint systems includes the Switch EDGE which is the world’s first and only Class 4 system + system, air-transportable edge data center platform. These designs sustain low-latency performance and unmatched reliability.

The Switch MOD®: Customizable and Scalable Solutions

Another prototype is Switch’s Modular Optimized Design (MOD®) data centers. They are built with the same high standards as its colocation facilities. These data centers can be customized to meet specific client needs and are scalable for future growth.

The MOD® design incorporates Rob Roy’s patented innovations, including 100% Hot Aisle Containment Chimney Pods and Multi-Mode HVAC Units. These features ensure optimal efficiency, reliability, and security. Switch also manufactures these components through exclusive license agreements, making them uniquely available to its clients.

GREEN Initiatives

The company is committed to sustainability and helps clients achieve their environmental goals through its Switch GREEN initiatives. Notably, all Switch data centers run on 100% renewable energy, giving clients instant credibility for their ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) strategies. Clients also receive 100% green Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) that support their sustainability efforts.

Switch believes that through their innovative designs and green energy solutions they can power the future of data centers while protecting the planet.

Source: SWITCH

Oklo’s Nuclear Edge: Revolutionizing Clean Energy

Oklo, the California-based nuclear tech powerhouse, is revolutionizing clean energy with its innovative nuclear technology. The company is developing advanced nuclear power plants that run on nuclear waste to provide reliable, affordable, and scalable energy solutions.

The company received clearance from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and Idaho National Laboratory (INL) to proceed with site characterization for its first commercial fission power plant in Idaho.

Earlier, it had secured a site use permit from the DOE to access fuel material from INL and submitted the first custom combined license application for advanced fission to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Expanding Innovation with Atomic Alchemy

Recently Oklo announced plans to acquire Atomic Alchemy Inc. in an all-stock transaction. Atomic Alchemy has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Zeno Power Systems, a leader in Radioisotope Power Systems (RPSs).

In this partnership, Atomic Alchemy plans to provide Zeno Power with radioisotopes like strontium-90 (Sr-90) and americium-241 (Am-241). These materials are essential for powering Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generators, also known as “nuclear batteries.” These systems are ideal for remote or off-grid locations, including space and underwater missions. The radioisotopes can be produced as byproducts from Oklo’s recycling process units.

Thus, Oklo’s mission to lead in delivering clean, sustainable energy by harnessing advanced nuclear technologies is clear. With sustainable partnerships like that with SWITCH, nuclear energy can revolutionize the AI and datacenter universe. 

More Power per Punch: Nuclear Energy Outshines Fossil Fuels

• CHECK OUT: Unplugging The Energy Crisis… Fueled by Uranium

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Combating climate change has become a significant agenda in all nations’ developmental pathways. To address this challenge, Canada has set a new greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction target for 2035, aiming to slash emissions by 45–50% below 2005 levels.

This reformed target modifies its existing 2030 climate goals, which entailed reducing GHG emissions by at least 40–45% below the same baseline. Through this announcement, the Canadian Government wants to maintain continuity and momentum in its climate efforts. Significantly, it also demonstrates the country’s commitment to tackling the climate crisis while aligning with the emerging global carbon markets and fostering economic growth.

Crafting Canada’s 2035 Climate Blueprint

Canada’s 2035 emissions target was shaped by expert insights, scientific research, and collaboration. The government relied on the latest science, international climate agreements, Indigenous knowledge, and advice from the Net-Zero Advisory Body to guide its decision.

To ensure the target reflected the needs of all Canadians, the government sought input from provinces, territories, Indigenous communities, and other stakeholders. Furthermore, the government allowed Canadians to share their thoughts on climate action and the level of ambition needed through surveys and submissions.

The news release noted that approximately 11,000 people shared their opinions through an online public engagement portal launched in spring 2024. The government also received over 23,000 comments and 100 written submissions. Insights from the Canadian Climate Institute further contributed to shaping this decision.

Throughout the process, household affordability remained a key priority, ensuring the target was both practical and achievable.

Two Laws Driving Canada’s Net-Zero Journey

Canada’s journey to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 is guided by two key commitments, the Paris Agreement and the Canadian Net-Zero Emissions Accountability Act (CNZEAA).

Internationally, the Paris Agreement requires Canada to set ambitious Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). These targets aim to keep global temperature rise well below 2°C compared to pre-industrial levels, with efforts to limit it to 1.5°C.

On the other hand, the CNZEAA ensures the government sets 5-year national emissions reduction targets, at least ten years in advance, along the roadmap to net-zero emissions by 2050. This means Canada’s next target must be established by 2025.

Source: Government of Canada

• READ MORE: Canada’s Emissions Cap for Oil & Gas: Will It Cut Carbon or Curb Production?

Bending the Emissions Curve: Canada’s Success Stories

Canada is progressing steadily in its journey to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. While challenges remain, the country’s climate strategy is showing promising results.

The government gives credit to its citizens who have been contributing to the economy that has become less carbon-intensive as compared to 2005. In 2015, projections indicated emissions would rise by 9% by 2030 compared to 2005 levels. However, the emission curve is seen to move downward due to initiatives like improving energy efficiency, transitioning to cleaner energy grids, and implementing carbon pricing.

The Green Municipal Fund

This program is an initiative of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities funded by Environment and Climate Change Canada and Natural Resources Canada and has enabled over 2,300 sustainability projects. Their efforts have avoided more than 2.9 billion tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions. Notably, the program’s impact was highlighted in a Senate report emphasizing the need for expanded initiatives to help municipalities adapt to climate challenges.

Carbon Pollution Pricing

Canada’s carbon pollution pricing is a proven tool for reducing emissions. Between 2019 and 2021, this approach reduced 18 megatonnes of emissions that would have otherwise been released. By 2030, carbon pricing is expected to contribute to one-third of Canada’s total emissions reductions.

Clean Jobs

In 2021, the environmental and clean technology products sector employed over 314,000 workers, marking a 6.5% increase from 2020.

Canada’s progress also includes core regulations like the Clean Electricity Regulations and the Electric Vehicle Availability Standard. Incentives such as the Canada Carbon Rebate and the Canada Greener Homes Initiative make adopting net-zero technologies more affordable for businesses and individuals.

Economic Opportunities in the Clean Transition

The shift to a clean economy offers significant opportunities and Canada is on the right track to lead in green innovation and attract investment.

• Canada ranks 2nd on the Global Cleantech 100 and 3rd in hydroelectricity production, hosting 20% of global CCUS projects.
• Achieved renewable energy growth with daily launches of hydro, wind, biomass, biofuel, and solar projects.
• Attracted $71B in FDI since 2013 and has funded 177 clean energy projects, creating 28,000 jobs.

Furthermore, Canada’s clean electricity, known for being reliable and affordable, is a major competitive advantage. Businesses and industries worldwide recognize its value, drawing investors and creating jobs across the country. In 2021, Canada’s clean technology market was valued at $34 billion, with $9.1 billion in exports.

Supporting Workers and Communities

The new 2035 target report has stressed that the government will ensure Canadians have the tools and support needed to sustain this economy. Core programs, such as the Canada Greener Homes Initiative, help individuals and businesses transition to sustainable technologies. Although these technologies may have higher upfront costs, they offer long-term savings and significant emissions reductions.

As Canada advances sectoral transformation, workers will benefit from new opportunities in clean energy and technology. The transition will position the country as a global leader in green innovation.

A Pledge to Protect and Lead

By 2025, Canada will submit this target as its NDCs under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Within the following year, the government will outline the key actions required to meet the goal. By December 2029, a detailed 2035 Emissions Reduction Plan will lay out the specific policies and initiatives to achieve the target.

It is now evident that the 2035 emissions reduction target is a bold commitment to drive real change. It’s a pledge to protect Canadians from climate threats like wildfires, floods, and extreme weather. Simultaneously, it strengthens Canada’s global leadership in clean energy and paves the way for a more resilient net zero future.

• MUST READ: Can Canada’s Uranium Reserves Transform it into a Nuclear Superpower?

The post Canada’s 2035 Emissions Reduction Goal: Everything You Need to Know appeared first on Carbon Credits.

The Frontier coalition, comprising companies like Google, Stripe, H&M, and Shopify, has committed $80 million toward innovative carbon removal technologies. This investment supports two pioneering startups that generate carbon removal credits: CO280 and CREW. 

Notably, the deal highlights the premium price paid to incentivize innovation:

• CO280: $48 million at $214 per metric ton, securing the removal of 224,500 metric tons of CO₂ between 2028 and 2030.
• CREW Carbon: $32.1 million at $447 per metric ton, capturing 71,878 metric tons of CO₂ using limestone filtration.

While these carbon credit prices far exceed the target of $100 per ton, they reflect the coalition’s strategy to support early-stage technologies and drive costs down over time, ultimately making carbon removal scalable and affordable.

Why Frontier’s Model Matters

If the world continues to take its current path in carbon emissions, achieving the critical 1.5°C temperature limit is impossible. 

To avert the worst impacts of climate change, reducing emissions alone won’t suffice. Most climate models emphasize the need to permanently remove gigatons of carbon dioxide already present in the atmosphere and oceans. 

While methods like planting trees and soil carbon sequestration help, they are unlikely to scale adequately. A gigaton-scale portfolio of innovative, permanent carbon removal solutions is essential to meet this challenge. This is where the Frontier coalition comes in.

Frontier is an advance market commitment (AMC) established to accelerate the development of permanent carbon removal technologies by guaranteeing future demand. Founded by Stripe, Alphabet, Shopify, Meta, and McKinsey, and supported by tens of thousands of businesses using Stripe Climate, Frontier aims to purchase over $1 billion of carbon removal between 2022 and 2030.

How Frontier Works

Frontier operates by aggregating demand from participating buyers to set an annual maximum spend on carbon removal. Suppliers of carbon removal technologies apply for consideration through regular requests for proposal (RFP) processes. 

Frontier’s team of technical and commercial experts evaluates these suppliers and facilitates purchases on behalf of the buyers. For early-stage suppliers, agreements may involve low-volume pre-purchases, while larger suppliers ready to scale may enter into offtake agreements to purchase future tons of carbon removal at an agreed price upon delivery.

The coalition prioritizes carbon removal solutions that are:

• Durable: Capable of storing carbon permanently (over 1,000 years).
• Cost-Effective: With a pathway to affordability at scale (less than $100 per ton).
• High Capacity: Potential to contribute significantly to carbon removal efforts (over 0.5 gigatons per year).
• Net Negative: Maximizing the net removal of atmospheric carbon dioxide.
• Verifiable: Employing scientifically rigorous and transparent methods for monitoring and verification.
• Safe and Legal: Adhering to high standards of safety, compliance, and environmental outcomes. 

The coalition’s AMC approach de-risks innovation by pre-purchasing carbon offset credits. This provides startups with financial certainty to scale technologies and lower costs. 

While in early development, carbon capture technologies are critical to addressing climate change. Unlike nature-based solutions like reforestation, these solutions directly remove emissions from industrial processes.

Frontier’s goal is to make carbon removal both scalable and affordable, fostering long-term decarbonization strategies. Its recently announced $80 million investment involving CO280 and CREW will support the deployment of innovative carbon capture technologies. These investments aim to reduce carbon removal costs and deliver scalable solutions.

• RELATED: Frontier Fund Closes $53M Carbon Removal Deal With Charm

Let’s take a closer look at each of these carbon removal startups’ technologies.

CO280: The Carbon Negative Developer

CO280 empowers businesses with innovative tools to tackle carbon emissions and align with net-zero goals. Its advanced platform simplifies carbon footprint assessments, emissions tracking, and offsetting strategies, offering real-time insights for decision-making. Here’s how the company tackles the carbon dilemma:

The carbon capture startup is using the oil industry’s carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology. By focusing on transparency, CO280 ensures that businesses can make measurable progress toward sustainability while adhering to global standards.

With a blend of data-driven solutions and strategic partnerships, CO280 is shaping the future of the voluntary carbon market, making it a vital ally for organizations seeking actionable climate impact.

CREW Carbon: Redefining Wastewater Management

CREW Carbon is at the forefront of climate innovation with its cutting-edge technology that enhances wastewater treatment while capturing greenhouse gases permanently using limestone. The company’s systems transform the environmental impact of wastewater management, making the process safer and more efficient.

By integrating advanced carbon removal solutions, the startup addresses two critical challenges simultaneously: 

1. Reducing emissions from wastewater and 
2. Preventing harmful gases from entering the atmosphere. 

The image shows how the company’s technology seamlessly integrates into wastewater treatment.

The carbon capture startup also supports projects focused on reforestation, clean energy, and carbon removal, ensuring each initiative meets rigorous sustainability standards. The company prioritizes accessibility and transparency, simplifying the carbon offset process with tools and education for users at all levels.

Beyond the Target: A Broader Vision for Carbon Markets

Frontier plays a crucial role in shaping the future carbon credit market by supporting these innovative removal companies. It helps startups raise additional funds through purchase commitments, enabling large-scale deployment.

With backing from major companies like Stripe, Alphabet, and Shopify, Frontier drives innovation that aligns with global decarbonization targets, aiming for 1,500 GW of storage capacity by 2030.

Initiatives like Frontier show how private-sector collaboration can transform carbon removal into a cornerstone of the global energy transition. It offers opportunities for both buyers and suppliers to participate in accelerating carbon removal technologies. Buyers can join the commitment to create demand, while suppliers can apply to have their technologies evaluated and potentially funded.

By fostering collaboration between credit buyers and suppliers, Frontier aims to drive innovation and scale in the carbon removal industry, contributing to global efforts to mitigate climate change.

• READ MORE: Trafigura Bets Big, $600M, on Carbon Credits Market Revival

The post Google, Stripe, H&M, Shopify of Frontier Invest $80M in Carbon Removal Credits appeared first on Carbon Credits.

As the global energy landscape evolves, one material has emerged as a cornerstone for both renewable energy and defense sectors: antimony. This versatile mineral is pivotal in solar technology, battery advancements, and military applications. 

However, recent geopolitical tensions have highlighted vulnerabilities in its supply chain, emphasizing the need for nations to secure sustainable sources. Companies like Military Metals Corp are stepping up to bridge the gap, ensuring antimony’s availability in an increasingly resource-scarce world.

Renewable Energy’s Secret Weapon

The transition to renewable energy relies heavily on advanced materials, and antimony is no exception. In solar panels, this mineral enhances the efficiency of perovskite solar cells by improving light absorption and charge transport. This results in higher energy conversion rates, making solar panels more effective at capturing sunlight. 

Additionally, antimony compounds increase thermal stability, allowing panels to endure extreme conditions without frequent replacements.

Energy storage is another area where antimony shines. Liquid-metal batteries, a promising solution for storing solar energy, depend on antimony’s unique properties. These batteries enable efficient capture and distribution of excess solar power, addressing the intermittency challenges of renewable energy sources. 

With solar installations projected to grow exponentially, antimony’s role in making this energy transition feasible cannot be overstated. The EIA projects solar capacity to reach over 300 GW by 2030 and around 700 GW by 2050.

The Silent Shield: Antimony’s Role in Defense Systems

Beyond renewable energy, antimony is indispensable to national security. The Department of Defense (DoD) uses this critical mineral in 200+ types of munitions, including percussion primers, stab detonators, and armor-piercing rounds. 

Moreover, antimony alloys enhance the durability and reliability of lead-acid batteries used in military vehicles and equipment.

Antimony’s role in flame retardants further underscores its importance in defense. Military uniforms, equipment, and vehicles rely on antimony-based compounds for fire resistance, ensuring the safety of personnel in combat scenarios. Furthermore, antimony-containing semiconductors are critical for infrared sensors and night-vision devices, key technologies for modern warfare.

Breaking China’s Grip: Global Efforts to Secure Antimony Supplies

China controls nearly 50% of global antimony mining and 80% of processing, creating a bottleneck in the supply chain. Recent export restrictions by China, citing dual-use applications of the mineral for both civilian and military purposes, have exacerbated this dependence. 

These restrictions pose significant challenges for countries like the United States, which relies on imports for over 80% of its antimony consumption.

China’s export controls also affect antimony’s availability for renewable energy technologies. The U.S. solar industry, a critical player in the clean energy transition, faces potential disruptions due to limited access to the material for solar panel production. 

As trade tensions escalate, securing alternative sources becomes a strategic imperative. Antimony is one of the critical minerals that China restricted export more recently in October this year. 

• RELATED: US-China Trade War: Can the US Beat China’s Critical Minerals Grip?

Diversifying Antimony: The Key to Supply Chain Resilience

Countries worldwide are taking steps to reduce reliance on Chinese antimony. 

Over two years, global antimony drilling activity totaled 625 holes, with 88 yielding significant intervals. Australia dominated with 444 holes, including 65 significant finds, reflecting its active exploration sector. The USA followed with 44 holes and 10 significant intervals. 

Other contributions came from Canada, New Zealand, and Namibia. Emerging interest in regions like Bosnia, Indonesia, and Slovakia highlights a global push to secure antimony resources, driven by rising demand in energy and defense sectors. 

This data underscores strategic exploration efforts amid tight global supply chains and geopolitical tensions impacting mineral accessibility.

• In the U.S., the Department of Defense awarded $15.5 million to Perpetua Resources to explore antimony production from the Stibnite Gold Project in Idaho. 

Similarly, Spearmint Resources in Canada has doubled its acreage at the George Lake South Antimony Project, recognizing the mineral’s strategic value.

Moreover, international collaboration is gaining momentum. Nations like Australia, Belgium, and India are investing in antimony processing facilities. Meanwhile, African countries such as Mozambique and Tanzania are emerging as alternative mining hubs. These efforts aim to create resilient supply chains that can withstand geopolitical shocks.

Antimony’s dual role in solar technology and defense highlights its unique importance. This underscores the need for a balanced approach to resource allocation, ensuring that both renewable energy goals and national security needs are met.

The escalating U.S.-China trade war further complicates this balance. Tariffs, export restrictions, and retaliatory measures threaten to disrupt global markets, making it imperative for industries to innovate and adapt.

Surging Prices and Market Outlook

The global antimony market is under intense pressure due to surging demand and constrained supply. In December 2024, antimony trioxide prices soared by almost 232% compared to last year, reaching $38,000 per metric ton. This is largely driven by China’s export restrictions and heightened geopolitical tensions. 

The mineral’s critical role in defense, solar panels, and battery technologies has made it a highly sought-after resource.

Global demand for antimony is expected to rise sharply in the coming years, particularly as renewable energy and defense sectors expand. Analysts predict that its market value could grow significantly, driven by advancements in solar technology, energy storage, and defense applications.

Demand for this critical mineral is forecasted to reach $3.5 billion by 2030. However, the market remains vulnerable to supply chain disruptions, with China’s dominance continuing to exert influence on global prices.

Efforts to address these challenges include investments in alternative sources and recycling initiatives. Countries like the U.S. and Canada are accelerating domestic production, while companies like Military Metals Corp are spearheading exploration projects to tap into previously untapped reserves. 

Military Metals Corp: Leading the Antimony Revolution

Military Metals Corp is an emerging key player in ensuring a stable antimony supply. The company’s strategic assets in Slovakia and Canada aim to reduce dependency on Chinese imports by revitalizing historical mining sites with untapped potential.

Trojarova, Slovakia: Military Metals has identified significant antimony-gold mineralization at this site, with historical estimates indicating high-grade deposits. By extending underground adits and exploring deeper veins, the company plans to unlock valuable resources for both defense and renewable energy applications.

West Gore, Nova Scotia: Once Canada’s largest antimony producer, this site holds immense potential for modern exploration. Historical data suggests significant quantities of this mineral and gold in waste dumps and tailings, providing a cost-effective avenue for resource extraction.

Military Metals’ commitment to sustainable practices and strategic exploration ensures a reliable supply of antimony, bolstering both energy independence and defense readiness.

What Comes Next for Antimony?

To meet antimony’s growing demand, a multi-faceted approach is essential:

• Investment in Domestic Mining: Expanding mining operations in countries like the U.S. and Canada can reduce reliance on imports and strengthen supply chain resilience.
• Technological Innovation: Developing alternative materials and recycling methods can alleviate pressure on antimony resources.
• International Cooperation: Collaborative efforts among nations can diversify supply chains and ensure equitable access to critical minerals.

Antimony is more than just a mineral; it is a linchpin for renewable energy and national security. As the world navigates the complexities of the clean energy transition and geopolitical tensions, ensuring a stable supply of this critical resource is paramount. The time to act is now, and antimony’s story is one of resilience, innovation, and opportunity.

• READ MORE: Trump’s Tactic to Make America Great Again: Expanding Domestic Oil, Gas, and Critical Minerals

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