In 2024, China solidified its position as a significant player in the global energy sector by featuring two prominent companies in renewables and battery technology. The country accounted for the top four wind turbine manufacturers worldwide, with Envision Energy ranking second, having added 19.3 gigawatts of new capacity in the previous year. Envision’s initiatives extend beyond wind energy as it aims to supply power to heavy industries, such as steel and chemicals, by developing technologies like green hydrogen.
China is also advancing in the battery industry, moving beyond the lithium-ion technology commonly used in electric vehicles and energy storage. HiNa Battery Technology, a leading startup in this area, is focusing on sodium-ion batteries, which could be more cost-effective alternatives. These batteries are currently being utilized in electric mopeds and grid energy storage.
Additionally, there is growing concern regarding the increasing energy demands from data centers and artificial intelligence (AI) in the United States. The energy requirements for massive dedicated facilities to support AI models have drawn significant attention. Companies, regardless of their direct relation to data centers, are seeking to demonstrate their relevance in this climate of rising energy demand. Some are establishing partnerships with major technology firms to secure funding that will facilitate the market introduction of their products.
One example is Kairos Power, which is developing next-generation nuclear reactors. The company has entered into an agreement with Google, which will allow Google to purchase up to 500 megawatts of electricity from Kairos’s initial reactors through 2035. This collaboration reflects the broader industry trends regarding energy consumption and technological innovation.
Source: https://www.technologyreview.com/2025/10/09/1125302/3-takeaways-about-climate-tech-right-now/