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In the vast and varied landscapes of East Nusa Tenggara (Nusa Tenggara Timur or NTT), innovation doesn’t just mean new technology. It means survival. For many communities across this archipelagic province, daily life is shaped by scarcity: of water, electricity, and reliable infrastructure. But it’s also shaped by resilience, creativity, and a deep sense of adaptation.
This is where Kuantek, short for Kuan Timor Technology (Teknologi Kampung Timor), is planting its roots and building climate solutions that emerge not from abstract theory, but from the lived experiences of the people they aim to serve.
Co-founders Ben Vasco Tarigan, Abraham Talluta (CEO), and Abdi Nenotek (CTO) do not claim to have all the answers to NTT’s struggles. But they do have one thing that many technology companies overlook: they listen.
Kuantek Co-Founders: Abraham Talluta (CEO), Abdi Nenotek (CTO), and Ben Vasco Tarigan.
“We always ask our users: Apa yang paling menyakitkan? What’s the most painful part of your day?” says Ben. “We design our products from there.”
To Kuantek, listening isn’t just a design principle – it’s their business model.
Three years after its founding, Kuantek connected with New Energy Nexus Indonesia through the IKEA Foundation-funded Smart Energy Incubation Program and the [RE]Spark Hackathon. At the time, they had a clear target – addressing NTT’s lack of access to clean water. Their solution was to build an affordable seawater desalination system to produce drinkable water for coastal communities.
From this one idea, Kuantek kept evolving. They began developing a range of environmental technologies designed to address the needs of rural and remote populations, from preserving produce with little energy cost to making water out of air.
The three innovators weren’t siloed in labs. Instead, they co-created their products with the very communities that will reap the benefits. Each innovation started with a simple premise: Making life easier, using what the community already has.
One of Kuantek’s most talked-about products is their low-power dehydrator, a tool that’s now helping farmers in Timor dry and preserve chili and vanilla crops for longer shelf life and higher selling prices.
Getting dehydrators is a smart economic move for farmers. It allows farmers the option to dry and store fresh produce, instead of having to sell it quickly to avoid spoilage. This gives them more control over pricing and market timing.
However, commercial dehydrators often require up to 1000 watts to operate, and in rural areas such as those in Nusa Tenggara Timur, the power capacity per household only reaches up to 500 watts. That’s where Kuantek came in.
“We designed ours to run at just 270 watts,” says Ben. The secret is a combination of energy-efficient lighting systems and localized materials. “It’s not just about being energy-efficient. It’s about making sure people can actually use it.”
Kuantek’s low-watt food dehydrator
Another of Kuantek’s solutions is a system that converts humidity from the atmosphere into potable water, using solar energy. This technology is particularly suited for some areas in NTT, where air humidity is high, but water sources are often inaccessible or unsafe.
Ben envisions installing these atmospheric water systems in schools and highland tourism areas, especially in places where groundwater is either unavailable or requires expensive and unsustainable drilling.
“We want to eliminate the need for groundwater wells in hard-to-reach areas,” he said. “Instead, let’s use what we already have: heat, air, and sunlight.”
In a pilot project, they installed a solar thermal-powered water station in a coastal village. Three months later, the local pastor reported something profound: for the first time, they had no trouble getting clean water. “That’s when we knew we were doing something right,” Ben said.
Solar-powered water harvesting system
While their ideas may be bold, implementation is often difficult, as NTT’s geography presents a host of logistical barriers.
Some islands can only be accessed by small boats that can’t carry heavy machinery. Roads are narrow, winding, and poorly maintained. In many villages, bridges don’t exist, and rivers swell during the rainy season, cutting off access altogether.
This makes even the most well-designed product a challenge to deliver. Kuantek had to rethink their seawater desalination system when they realized the original version was too large for local transport networks.
“So we redesigned the whole thing to be smaller, but with the same capacity,” Ben explains. “It wasn’t just about making it small, it was about making the technology mobile, modular, and manageable.”
For Kuantek, the job doesn’t end at innovation. Often, it begins long before product design, and continues well beyond delivery.
Their team frequently plays the role of advocate, helping villages navigate complex systems like reporting power outages to PLN, the state-owned power company. They also introduce basic feedback mechanisms so that communities feel empowered to ask for improvements or raise concerns.
“Sometimes our work is as simple as showing people how to talk to PLN,” Ben said, laughing. “Other times, we’re advocating for completely new systems to be built.”
They are also aware of the challenges of behavior change. Many people in rural NTT have adapted to unreliable electricity and limited water access, often without realizing it. That makes introducing new technologies tricky.
“It’s incredibly difficult to ask someone to adopt new behaviors,” Abraham said. “So instead, we look at the things they’re already doing, and we design from there.”
This empathetic approach ensures that technologies don’t feel foreign or intrusive, but intuitive.
When it comes to criticism of their business, Ben sees it as very valuable insight. Rather than resisting feedback, they see it as an invitation to collaborate.
This philosophy has allowed Kuantek to keep improving, even with limited resources.
“Disagreements and pushback are something I see as gifts. When people tell us what’s wrong, they’re actually helping us make the product fit better,” he reflects. “It’s our job to listen, iterate, and make it real.”
Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara
Looking to the future, Kuantek is embarking on an ambitious initiative: mapping the infrastructure, climate, and behavioral patterns of every district in NTT.
They want to build a data bank – a library of regional insights that can guide future innovations and help them develop tailored, low-emission technologies suited to each community’s unique needs.
“Some areas are hot, dry, and windy. Others are humid or rich in seawater. Every place is different,” says Ben. “But if we know the conditions, we can create the right solutions.”
Beyond the benefit to their business, Kuantek wants the database to be an open reference point for governments, entrepreneurs, universities, and other innovators who want to build effective, community-centered technology in rural Indonesia.
Their dream is to make technology accessible and replicable. “Even if it’s simple, if people understand how it works, they can build it themselves,” Ben says.
Kuantek sums up their entire approach in five words: “Datang, Duduk, Diskusi, Design, Diseminasi (5D),” which translates to “Come. Sit. Discuss. Design. Disseminate.
More than a method, it’s a mindset that values patience over speed, trust over disruption, and purpose over profit.
“Where there are a thousand problems, there are also a thousand solutions,” says Ben. “Our job is to figure out how to tackle them.”
For all the challenges NTT presents, the people soldier on every day to live on to the next. They are what inspires each small invention at Kuantek. In turn, the company’s technologies seek to ease their burdens and build a cleaner future, in NTT and beyond.
Want more clean energy stories and opportunities in Indonesia? Check out New Energy Nexus Indonesia here.
Ten pioneering startups from across the lithium battery value chain presented their vision of Australia’s battery sector to an engaged audience of investors, policymakers, and industry participants at the inaugural Supercharge Australia Incubator Pitch Day.
After three months of tailored support from EnergyLab and New Energy Nexus, these founders now stand poised to accelerate the country’s battery manufacturing capabilities – with solutions ranging from raw material innovation, marine applications, embedding safe energy storage into our living spaces, to cell reuse and repair.
Here are the participating startups and their lithium battery value chain focus:
The completion of the first Incubator marks a key milestone in Supercharge Australia’s broader mission – to support over 150 startups in the lithium battery value chain and catalyse a thriving, interconnected lithium battery innovation sector – by adding a second program focused on supporting earlier-stage startups. The new program provided mentorship, expert advice, pilot opportunities, early customer connections, investor engagement, and international exposure, helping the teams to build the foundations of Australia’s battery future. We thank all of the experts for their generous contributions.
Launched in 2022, Supercharge Australia has now completed two Innovation Challenges. With the addition of the Incubator, it is now supporting 31 startups that have raised over AU$71 million in funding since they participated in its programs.
Australia has a generational opportunity to move beyond exporting lithium ore and build a competitive, homegrown battery value chain. The startups in this year’s Incubator show how this is already taking shape: connecting technologies across the life cycle of a battery, from production to application to reuse. Their innovations don’t just solve isolated problems; they strengthen each link in the chain, multiplying impact along the chain to make the entire system cheaper, cleaner, and more efficient. This is how Australian batteries can compete.
Together, they demonstrate what a circular, high-value battery ecosystem could look like:
With coordinated support, these early-stage innovations can accelerate Australia’s transition from resource supplier to battery technology leader.
Australia remains the world’s leading lithium producer, supplying over one-third of global demand. With the global lithium battery market still forecast to be significantly undersupplied by 2030, Australian producers are seeking efficiency improvements and are investing in downstream opportunities to secure vertical capacity and greater profitability.
Each startup in the Incubator cohort is developing a critical piece of the emerging ecosystem and the kinds of investment opportunities the sector is seeking. Their solutions highlight the scale of opportunity when early-stage innovation is backed with intent, speed, and coordinated support.
While early traction for the cohort members was strong – from prototypes to paid pilots – the startups were all facing the same uphill challenge: securing capital, facilities, and support to go from validated concepts to scalable commercial impact. The Incubator addresses this gap by de-risking particularly early innovation, reducing barriers to commercialisation, and helping Australia retain its battery IP rather than lose it offshore.
As global warming trends continue toward a 3°C pathway, and the risks of overshoot, consequent tipping points, and heavy reliance on unproven carbon capture and storage technologies rise, building a high-functioning cleantech sector that can dramatically accelerate decarbonisation becomes a strategic, global imperative.
Batteries power the clean energy transition, making it an important piece of this response – and battery startups have tremendous potential to pave the way, especially when supported early.
To further develop this economic opportunity, Australia can adopt proven models like our CalTestBed program in California, which turned US$22 million in early-stage testing access into over US$438 million in follow-on investment by offering non-dilutive, non-matching grants to startups solving big climate problems. If a similar system were applied here, it would rapidly increase the volume and readiness of battery startups ready to attract private capital or integrate into gigafactory supply chains.
“Building Australian lithium battery capability begins with supporting innovation at its earliest stages — with non-matched and non-dilutive funding to produce prototypes, pilots and real-world testing opportunities,” said Kirk McDonald, Project Manager at Supercharge Australia.
Australia has a generational opportunity to do the same: Supercharge Australia is calling for new initiatives to:
To continue building the momentum for this sector, our next program is launching now. This will be our third Supercharge Australia Innovation Challenge – applications are open.
Rooftop solar panel. Stock photo
A recent study by Ateneo de Manila University, published in Challenges in Sustainability, sheds light on the persistent barriers preventing the widespread adoption of rooftop solar power (RTSP) in Metro Manila and nearby provinces. Led by Professor Rosalina Palanca-Tan, the study surveyed 403 respondents to understand why households remain hesitant to invest in solar technology despite its clear economic and environmental benefits.
The study’s findings were recently featured in the Philippine Daily Inquirer, sparking a public discussion on its Facebook post, which highlighted several recurring concerns: high upfront costs, lengthy return on investment (ROI) periods, bureaucratic hurdles, technical challenges, and a lack of government support. Let’s look into the key challenges raised around rooftop solar adoption, and explore potential solutions.
A word cloud generated from people’s responses on the Facebook post.
1. High cost of installation and ROI concerns
Many consumers cited the high initial cost of installing solar power systems as a major barrier. The upfront investment often matches several years’ worth of electricity bills, making it difficult for households to justify the expense. Additionally, long return-on-investment (ROI) periods discourage adoption, particularly in the absence of accessible financing options.
2. Lack of financing options
Access to financing remains a significant barrier to rooftop solar adoption. With limited options for low-interest loans or flexible payment schemes, households struggle to afford the initial investment, making solar installations less accessible to the broader public, especially to residential consumers.
3. Regulatory and bureaucratic hurdles
The slow and complex application process for net metering was another major concern. Many consumers reported waiting over six months and encountering excessive requirements that hindered their ability to connect their solar systems to the grid.
4. Service and maintenance issues
Some consumers highlighted issues related to improper system sizing, inefficiency, and high maintenance costs. Concerns included roof leaks due to poor installation, the lifespan of batteries, and the disposal of solar panels. These barriers make the transition to solar more challenging for prospective users.
5. Quality of solar technologies & local manufacturing
The absence of local solar manufacturers results in reliance on expensive imported components. Concerns about substandard or inefficient technologies make consumers hesitant to invest.
6. Lack of government support and incentives
Unlike countries such as Australia and Canada, which offer tax breaks, subsidies, and no-interest loans, the Philippine government provides minimal financial incentives for residential RTSP. This lack of support further discourages households from making the switch to solar energy.
7. Limited competition in the market
The industry is still dominated by a few major players, limiting consumer choices and competitive pricing. More players entering the market could drive innovation and lower costs through competition.
At New Energy Nexus Philippines, we recognize that overcoming these barriers requires a multi-faceted approach—one that not only enhances technical expertise but also builds trust within communities. This is why it’s important to empower the solar industry, especially smaller players, with the right tools and knowledge to drive solutions forward. Our programs, particularly the Solar Innovation Program (SIP) and Solar Community Meetups, are designed to do just that.
Strengthening the Solar Industry
SIP provides targeted support for solar PV installers, engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) companies, and solar equipment suppliers to improve their competitiveness in the market. Through learning sessions and workshops, participants gain essential knowledge in:
By empowering solar entrepreneurs, SIP tackles concerns related to business growth, financing gaps, and limited competition in the market. A stronger and more competitive solar industry ultimately leads to better installation quality, reduced costs, and more accessible financing options for households.
SIP 2024 graduates during the culminating activity in Cebu City.
Building Trust in the Industry
Beyond technical training, shifting public perception is crucial for accelerating RTSP adoption. Our Solar Community Meetups serve as a bridge between solar entrepreneurs, technical experts, policymakers, and consumers by fostering collaboration and knowledge-sharing. These gatherings provide a space for entrepreneurs to exchange insights and share best practices, address bureaucratic challenges with government stakeholders, streamline net metering processes, and advocate for stronger policy support. Additionally, they highlight success stories from early adopters, encouraging more households to consider solar power.
By fostering an ecosystem of collaboration and trust, Solar Community Meetups contribute to addressing skepticism and misinformation surrounding RTSP. The insights gathered from these discussions also help inform future policy recommendations, ensuring that the needs of solar entrepreneurs and consumers are effectively addressed.
DOE Assistant Secretary Mylene Capongcol presenting the Department of Energy’s renewable energy plans at the SCM in Davao.
The concerns raised in the Facebook post reflect the frustrations and aspirations of many Filipinos when it comes to solar energy adoption. While challenges such as high costs, bureaucratic red tape, and technical difficulties persist, programs like the SIP and Solar Community Meetups provide platforms that empower solar entrepreneurs to drive industry-wide improvements.
Panel discussion during the SIP 2024 culmination featuring Hon. Nestor Archival (Cebu City Government), Engr. Titus Ragrario (Jinko Solar), Engr. Richard Alfafara (Visayan Electric Company – VECO), and Engr. Woodrow Pino (Woodrow Solar Power), sharing insights on accelerating rooftop solar adoption. Photo
Ultimately, expanding the adoption of RTSP in the Philippines requires a collective effort from businesses, the government, private companies, and Filipino communities. By equipping solar entrepreneurs with knowledge and resources, and by fostering trust through community engagement, we can create a more inclusive and resilient solar industry that benefits both consumers and the environment.
Want to get more involved in the Filipino clean energy space? Learn more about our programs in the Philippines here.
Japan has long been recognized as a global leader in precision engineering and advanced manufacturing. Yet in the race to decarbonize, its climate tech startup ecosystem is only beginning to accelerate. While government support is growing and university spinouts are gaining traction, Japanese climate innovators often face a key barrier: access to international markets, capital, and deep networks to support their growth.
At the same time, the U.S.—and California in particular—remains a global hub for climate innovation. With its dense investor networks, policy leadership, and cutting-edge R&D institutions, California offers fertile ground for scaling climate technologies that can help the world meet net-zero goals.
To unlock this potential, New Energy Nexus, Third Derivative, and Japan Energy Fund have partnered with JETRO to launch the Global Startup Acceleration Program (GSAP). This initiative is more than an exchange—it’s a bridge between two ecosystems with complementary strengths. By bringing Japan’s deep tech ingenuity into conversation with California’s fast-moving entrepreneurial culture, we aim to accelerate climate solutions that the whole world needs.
Below, meet 10 startups selected for the inaugural GSAP cohort. Each brings a unique approach to decarbonization—from fusion to algae, electronics to rare metal recycling. Together, they represent a new wave of Japanese climate innovation ready to go global.
The inaugural GSAP cohort of startups.
Planet Savers
Planet Savers is Japan’s first Direct Air Capture (DAC) startup, spun out of the University of Tokyo. They’re developing a scalable CO₂ adsorbent-based DACCU system, aiming to lower capture costs to around $100–400 per ton. The team recently secured a significant NEDO grant to pilot their high-efficiency DAC technology, supporting their goal to “halt climate change and leave a beautiful Earth for the next generation.”
miibio
miibio develops light-switchable protein technology that allows precise optical control of biological processes. Based in Tokyo and rooted in synthetic biology research from the University of Tokyo, the company is commercializing this technology for use in research reagents and biomanufacturing, offering greater control over protein behavior.
Aqua Theon
Aqua Theon creates seaweed-based biomaterials for use in food, packaging, and medical products. By working with marine biomass, the company is developing renewable, circular alternatives that reduce reliance on conventional plastics.
Helical Fusion
Helical Fusion is working on fusion energy systems with new reactor designs aimed at delivering safe, scalable, and low-carbon power. The company’s approach focuses on making fusion a practical part of the future energy mix.
Rhinoflux
Rhinoflux develops bioenergy systems that capture carbon while generating power. By extracting CO₂ from biomass, their technology enables simultaneous energy production and carbon removal—useful for industries seeking low-emission, resilient energy solutions.
Atierra
Atierra uses microalgae bioreactors to remove atmospheric CO₂. Their systems convert carbon into algal biomass, offering a biotech-driven, nature-based approach to climate mitigation at scale.
E‑Thermo / Gentek
E‑Thermo Gentek captures industrial waste heat and converts it into electricity using thermoelectric technology. Their systems help industries recover energy that would otherwise be lost, improving efficiency and reducing emissions.
Emulsion Flow Technologies
Emulsion Flow Technologies provides rare metal recycling for batteries and electronics. Their proprietary emulsion process enables the recovery of valuable materials in a more sustainable way, contributing to circularity in fast-growing supply chains like EVs.
Sun Metalon
Sun Metalon integrates CO₂ reduction into metal recycling processes, with the goal of lowering emissions in heavy industry. Their approach combines carbon capture and resource reuse to support more sustainable industrial practices.
Elephantech
Elephantech manufactures printed circuit boards (PCBs) using a metal inkjet printing process. Their additive method cuts down on material waste and lowers environmental impact, offering a more efficient path for electronics production.
Co-hosted by New Energy Nexus, Third Derivative, and Japan Energy Fund, JETRO’s GSAP program supports 10 Japanese climate tech startups through a multi-phase program:
June (Tokyo Kick-off): Orientation, mentorship, and peer learning to shape business models and go-to-market strategies.
July–September (Virtual Acceleration): Group sessions and one-on-one mentoring with investors and industry leaders to refine pitches and partnerships.
October (US Immersion Week): In-person programming in San Jose, including curated business meetings, investor matchmaking, and participation in the VERGE Climate Tech Conference.
Nov 2025–Early 2026 (Follow-up Support): Ongoing mentoring and strategic guidance to deepen market entry, secure partnerships, and scale growth.
By building long-term connections between Japanese founders and global innovation ecosystems, the program aims to catalyze real, scalable climate impact.
Stay tuned as we follow these founders on their journey—from Tokyo labs to California boardrooms—and help usher in the next generation of global climate solutions.
The clean energy transition is our chance to build a fairer future, yet women are still missing from the table. Around the world, only 15% of clean energy leadership roles are held by women.
Even in Thailand, a leader in the Asia Pacific region when it comes to women’s leadership in the energy sector, women occupy just 23% of leadership positions.
But when women are at the helm, the impact speaks for itself.
Salinee Hurley. Photo from SunSawang
Salinee Hurley is proof that inclusive leadership powers inclusive solutions. A mechanical engineer specializing in solar, she founded SunSawang: a social enterprise bringing solar home systems and lanterns to off-grid villages along the Thailand–Myanmar border. She is also the Project Director at the Border Green Energy Team (BGET), an organization advancing clean energy access in the region.
Salinee’s journey into solar began when she pursued further studies in solar engineering in the United States. Returning to Thailand, she initially implemented solar projects through an NGO model, using grant funding to provide free installations in remote areas. Over time, she realized the approach lacked long-term sustainability.
To address this, Salinee transitioned to a social enterprise model, offering long-term payment plans that support both ongoing maintenance and local ownership.
“Free installations may help in the short term, but the real goal is to empower people to access energy independently in the long run,” she said.
Solar installation at Maw Poe Kay High School. Photo from SunSawang
SunSawang now trains and hires local technicians and sales agents to serve their own communities. This localized model not only keeps systems functioning, but also supports economic activity—access to reliable electricity allows for evening work like weaving, increasing household income.
Salinee’s work also highlights the systemic barriers that persist in Thailand’s solar landscape: high upfront costs, inconsistent regional regulations, and limited financing options for low-income households. Recent steps, including draft laws to simplify rooftop solar permitting and new green loan products, are promising, but access remains uneven.
Last year, she joined New Energy Nexus Thailand’s SolarSTEP initiative, where she shared her expertise and connected with other women leading the shift to a cleaner energy future.
Solar installation at Maw Poe Kay High School. Photo from SunSawang
SolarSTEP is designed to build skills and leadership among solar technicians and entrepreneurs, with a focus on women, to help accelerate Thailand’s clean energy transition.
This work is spurred on by Thailand’s ambitious target to reach 12,139 MW of solar capacity by 2037, as outlined in its Alternative Energy Development Plan (AEDP). Hitting this target will take more than policy; it requires investing in people, empowering women, and expanding access to rooftop solar across the country.
This is where SolarSTEP comes in. The program has already delivered seven trainings across Thailand’s Central, Northern, and Southern regions, reaching over 200 participants. These efforts have been strengthened through collaboration with key partners, including PEA Encom Smart Solution, PEA Encom International, and LONGi.
Photo of the SolarSTEP 2024 Training program participants, including Salinee Hurley.
Looking ahead, we’re focused on scaling impact, broadening solar access, and building a sector that mirrors the diversity of the communities it serves.
If we want a just and resilient clean energy future, we need to break down the barriers that keep women on the sidelines and back those already leading the way. Empowering more women to participate and lead in clean energy isn’t just the right thing to do—it’s the smart thing to do.
Want to be part of building an inclusive clean energy sector in Thailand? Learn more about our work here.
Australia is charging ahead in the race to build a battery-powered world—and the timing couldn’t be better.
The nation’s growing role in the global battery supply chain took center stage at our recent webinar, Australia’s Time to Charge: Powering the Battery Future. The hour-long session, part of our Just Batteries initiative, explored how battery innovation, mass EV retrofitting, and smart policy could transform Australia into a clean energy powerhouse.
These industry experts led the discussion, held virtually on June 19, 2025:
Why this conversation matters
The battery supply chain is the backbone of the energy transition, and Australia’s unique mix of critical minerals, renewable energy resources, supportive policies, and skilled workforce positions it to lead the way.
This is what we’re backing through Supercharge Australia, a collaboration between New Energy Nexus and EnergyLab. The program aims to support 150+ local startups, empowering them with mentorship, funding pathways, and global connections to expand Australia’s lithium battery value chain.
6 key insights from the webinar
1. Australia’s global opportunity is now
Australia is well-positioned to become a significant player in the battery-powered electrical transformation. Here’s why:
There are signals from state and federal governments that they want to move away from a fossil fuel-based export economy, such as:
2. Mass EV retrofits could boost battery demand 20-fold
Retrofitting existing vehicles—especially commercial fleets—is a faster, cheaper, and lower-carbon way to scale EV adoption. Our second Supercharge Australia Innovation Challenge spotlighted 12 startups electrifying everything from mining trucks to boats.
The current projection of a 65GWh demand for stationary storage by 2030 could be massively higher with mass EV retrofits. Multiplying Australia’s vehicles by their estimated battery capacity, turning half of Australia’s vehicle fleet into EVs could multiply local battery demand 20-fold to over 1.3TWh, enough to justify domestic cell production and build a full onshore value chain (more here).
3. Startups like Veepower are leading the way
Kyle Van Berendonck, founder of Veepower and Retrofit Nation challenge winner, introduced Veepilot: a drop-in EV brain that lets large garages and re-manufacturers, through to individual garages, convert vehicles to electric with professional and supportable software — a key concern of retrofit solutions.
After a tour of California’s thriving clean energy ecosystem with New Energy Nexus, Veepower is now raising AU$500K from climate-focused investors to scale in Australia.
4. Smart policy can unlock big impact
The discussion emphasized the need for policies to support battery retrofits, including:
These interventions could support thousands of upskilled ICE workers (such as mechanics and automotive electricians) and create a more circular, cost-effective battery and transportation economy.
5. Startup support is critical
Through tailored workshops, mentorship, and investor-readiness training, the Supercharge Australia Incubator aims to help founders bridge key gaps in prototyping, lab access, and commercialization. As Kirk McDonald and EnergyLab project lead Derick Gyabeng said in the webinar, early-stage startups need consistent, generous support to grow from an idea to an investment-ready solution.
Moreover, Supercharge Australia is leading a push to bring learnings from California’s best practice startup testing program, CalTestBed, to Australia. As part of the CalSEED-CalTestBed pair offering US$1M in non-matching and non-dilutive support to founders, startups can receive vouchers up to US$300K in value to use at the University of California and National Labs testing facilities across the state.
CalTestBed has supported over 150 startups with $45M in vouchers, with over 40% being received by women and under-represented founders.
6. Australia’s Leadership Can Power the Region
The country’s battery innovation doesn’t stop at its borders. With Southeast Asia on the path to rapid electrification, Australia’s EV retrofitting industry can serve a region set to reach 770 million people by 2050.
Supporting Australia’s battery supply chain at this stage could play a huge role in the region’s clean energy transition.
Why ‘Just Batteries’
Batteries are the linchpin of the clean energy transition. But how we build this industry matters as much as how fast we scale it.
At New Energy Nexus, we believe battery innovation must be just, inclusive, and community-led. Today, the battery supply chain is dominated by a few countries and companies, with little accountability to communities, workers, or the environment. Battery recycling and reuse are underinvested solutions. And left unchecked, the race for minerals and manufacturing could replicate the injustices of the fossil fuel era.
This is what our Just Batteries initiative addresses. We have supported 116 startups across the battery value chain—from extraction to recycling—while shaping an innovation ecosystem rooted in equity, access, and sustainability.
Our work spans the full ecosystem, from startup accelerators and testbeds to international market access, because building a clean energy future means backing entrepreneurs at every stage.
Join us, invest in these startups, and let’s supercharge the transition in Australia and beyond. Check out how you can support this initiative and more here.
Michael Burz, EnZinc co-founder and president.
Advanced batteries are the linchpin of the energy transition, from stabilising energy grids to powering electric vehicles. But the critical minerals needed to produce them are sourced with limited transparency or accountability to workers, communities, or the environment. Recycling and reuse remain vastly underdeveloped, risking a repeat of fossil fuel-era harms through excessive extraction and mounting waste. Imagine if every battery were designed for maximum efficiency, reused before it was recycled, and re-entered the supply chain without ever becoming waste. By turning to circular solutions, we could reduce resource pressure and avoid the looming bottlenecks threatening this booming sector. The good news: entrepreneurs are embedding circularity throughout the battery lifecycle. This is what we’re building at New Energy Nexus. Our Just Batteries initiative has supported 116 startups across the battery value chain—from extraction to recycling—while shaping an innovation ecosystem rooted in equity, access, and sustainability. Here’s a closer look at some of the solutions we’re surfacing around the world.
1. Batteries aren’t designed for circularity
Solution: Upstream tech making batteries safer and recyclable
Most batteries today are built for cost and performance, not for reuse, disassembly, or recycling. This design blind spot leads to costly, waste-heavy end-of-life challenges. GRST presented its solution at our Thai team’s Decarbonize Thailand Symposium 2025: a water-based binder replacing toxic PFAS in lithium-ion batteries, which enables clean disassembly and water-based recycling without sacrificing performance or cost. Their tech has been proven at 1 GWh commercial scale, making it a practical upgrade for manufacturers and recyclers alike.
2. Second-life opportunities go untapped
Solution: Modular systems that extend battery life
Used EV batteries still hold significant energy, but most are retired prematurely. Without clear reuse pathways, valuable materials are lost too early. Norwegian startup Evyon gives these batteries a second life. Their modular energy storage systems repurpose EV packs into plug-and-play units for buildings and grids, already deployed in six countries and reducing emissions by over 90% compared to using new batteries. Evyon won 2024 LGES Battery Challenge, co-hosted by LG Energy Solution and NEX China—along with one other enterprise we’ll talk about later.
3. Recycling is inefficient and environmentally risky
Solution: Clean recovery of critical materials without toxic waste
Traditional recycling methods rely on high heat or harsh chemicals and generate hazardous byproducts like black mass. It’s costly, emissions-heavy, and difficult to scale. Renewable Metals, led by Luan Atkinson, developed an alkali-based process that recovers over 95% of battery minerals without generating toxic waste. Presenting a safer, cleaner, and more economically viable system for the future of battery recycling, Renewable Metals won the first Supercharge Australia Innovation Challenge, our collaboration with EnergyLab.
4. Battery lifespan is too short
Solution: Smarter charging that prevents degradation
Premature degradation drives up demand for raw materials and puts pressure on manufacturing and disposal systems. Thus, extending battery life is one of the most immediate ways to reduce resource consumption. US-based Iontra came up with a charging technology that adjusts in real time to battery conditions, significantly reducing wear and tear. Their solution extends battery life and improves performance, helping keep batteries in use longer and out of landfills. Iontra shared the win with Evyon at the 2024 LGES Battery Challenge, both receiving cash prizes and support from LG Energy Solution in their pilot projects.
5. We rely too much on critical minerals
Solution: Mineral-free storage that complements batteries
Building more batteries isn’t the only answer. To stabilize clean energy systems long-term, we also need alternative storage options that reduce pressure on mineral supply chains. California-based Sperra, which earned a US$500,000 grant from the CalSEED Prototype Awards, is developing subsea pumped hydro storage using 3D-printed concrete spheres. Deployed on the ocean floor, their system stores and releases energy without using a single battery cell, offering a durable, scalable complement to electrochemical storage. Also in the Golden State, Enzinc is rethinking battery chemistry altogether. Instead of lithium or cobalt, they’re developing high-performance batteries using zinc: a material that’s safer, more abundant, and fully recyclable. Their technology is designed to power everything from e-bikes to home storage, expanding access to affordable, sustainable energy storage without deepening reliance on critical minerals.
Powering the shift to circularity
There are more entrepreneurs around the world who could make battery circularity a reality, but they need a strong ecosystem backing them up and scaling their impact. We’re proud to support them, and we invite you to join us in powering what’s next. If you’re a clean energy entrepreneur with a unique battery solution, check out our programs. For potential partners and investors interested in getting involved, find out how.
Photo by Cory Mus
The clean energy transition is stalling where it matters most. Emerging markets and developing economies (EMDEs) receive just 20% of global clean energy investment—and only 12% of mitigation finance flows reach EMDEs, excluding China [IEA, 2021; CPI, 2024].
Climate innovation isn’t scarce, but access to capital, coordination, and visibility still are. That’s the reality facing thousands of climate entrepreneurs across the Global South, and it’s the challenge that brought 50 investors, entrepreneurs, ecosystem enablers and policy leaders together at the 2025 Global Climate Finance Forum (GCFF) in Montego Bay, Jamaica.
Hosted in a region that exemplifies both climate vulnerability and entrepreneurial resilience, GCFF was unlike most climate convenings. It wasn’t a stage for panelists; it was a platform for co-creation. Founders from across Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean shared how they’re repowering communities, whether through distributed solar, agroforestry, or second-life batteries. Investors listened. And crucially, they rolled up their sleeves to ask: what’s stopping us from backing more of this?
Today’s climate finance architecture is not designed to serve the small and growing businesses building climate solutions in high-need, high-potential markets. Less than 15 cents of every climate finance dollar crosses a national border, as host Marilyn Waite mentioned, and just 12% of mitigation finance reaches emerging markets outside of China.
Worse still, clean energy entrepreneurs in the Global South face interest rates as high as 27%, currency swings of 300% or more, and investor mandates that demand “anchor” deals before deployment can even begin. These systemic distortions aren’t just barriers, they’re missed opportunities. And there are entrepreneurs brimming with ideas and already delivering results, from GridAfrica’s distributed energy systems in Zambia, to Swap Energy’s EV battery swapping stations in Bali, to SolarKita’s residential solar expansion across Indonesia.
Limited track records, gaps in financial literacy, and lack of exposure to global capital markets mean they often fall outside traditional investment criteria. And support systems—such as accelerators, impact measurement frameworks, and governance mentoring—are less accessible than for their Global North counterparts. Meanwhile, climate finance ecosystems and policy frameworks often skew toward larger, established firms, leaving SMEs underrepresented on global stages like COP and at investor convenings.
Participants at GCFF agreed that unlocking finance for climate SMEs demands:
These priorities echo the International Energy Agency’s findings: that unlocking clean energy in developing countries is twice as cost-effective as in advanced economies and requires seven times more investment than they currently receive.
At New Energy Nexus, we have provided that scale and expertise to ease the connection between investors and SMEs. Over our 20-year history, we’ve supported nearly 10,000 entrepreneurs across 12 countries through our locally-led incubators, accelerators and convenings—mobilizing over US$4.7 billion in follow-on investment with just US$84 million in catalytic capital.
Through our Financial Innovation programs, we structure and incubate catalytic structures like the Indonesia Fund I and our EV Guarantee Facility in India, to bring tailored approaches to mobilize private capital into Global South climate ecosystems. Our Financial Innovation focuses on three things:
The message from Montego Bay was clear: climate entrepreneurs across the Global South are ready. What they need now is finance that meets them where they are—structured for risk, region, and reality.
As the world moves toward COP30, the priority must be shifting more capital—faster—into the hands of local innovators. That means:
New Energy Nexus is one of many ecosystem actors already building these pathways. But to meet the moment, we need aligned action from funders, governments, and investors willing to back innovation—not just in technology, but in finance itself.
Let’s ensure the next wave of climate finance reaches the people and places where it matters most. Reach out to partner with us!
Jennifer Wang, Director of Financial Innovation at New Energy Nexus
