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Dutch Climate Tech Firm Dexter Energy Raises €23 Million to Boost AI-Driven Renewable Energy Services

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Dexter Energy, a climate technology company based in Amsterdam, announced on Wednesday that it has secured €23 million (approximately $27.1 million) in a recent funding round. The investment will support the expansion of its AI-powered services focused on renewable energy and battery trading.

The funding round, led by financial services firm Alantra, also included participation from notable investors such as France’s Mirova, ETF Partners, Newion, and Klima. These investors share Dexter Energy’s vision of AI as a critical infrastructure component for electricity grids increasingly reliant on renewable energy and storage solutions.

Founded in 2017, Dexter Energy uses artificial intelligence and data-driven models to optimize trading in power markets. Its advanced price forecasting tools integrate over a dozen external data sources, including weather forecasts and market information. According to the company, its AI-backed trading solutions can boost wholesale market revenues by up to 30% for renewable energy producers.

The injection of new capital will enable Dexter Energy to expand its services further within the Netherlands and across broader European markets, supporting the continent’s transition to cleaner energy sources amid volatile renewable markets.

Climate Tech Firms Receive $80 Million to Capture Carbon from Paper Mills and Sewage Plants

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A group of climate-focused companies, including Google, H&M, and Stripe, are set to purchase $80 million worth of carbon credits from companies using innovative technologies to capture carbon emissions. These technologies target two industries: paper mills and municipal sewage treatment plants.

Carbon Capture Technologies in Action

The deals, facilitated by the Frontier coalition, involve the purchase of carbon credits from CO280 and CREW, two firms utilizing oil industry technology and natural processes to remove carbon from the atmosphere.

  • CO280 is using carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology developed by SLB, a major oil field services company, to capture carbon emissions from paper mills. This process captures carbon initially absorbed by trees and emitted during paper production.
  • CREW, a startup from New Haven, Connecticut, employs a limestone-based method to capture carbon from wastewater at municipal sewage plants. By adding carbon-attracting limestone to water, CREW can calculate the amount of CO2 it traps as the water goes through treatment.

Financial Commitments for Carbon Removal

The Frontier coalition, which is composed of major players in the tech and finance sectors, including Google, H&M, and Stripe, aims to support emerging carbon capture technologies by purchasing carbon credits from firms that show promise in reducing atmospheric CO2.

  • The coalition has agreed to pay $48 million for 224,500 metric tons of emissions reductions from CO280, at a cost of $214 per metric ton.
  • Additionally, they will pay $32.1 million for 71,878 metric tons of emissions reductions from CREW, at a higher cost of $447 per ton.

These investments reflect the growing commitment of companies to support climate tech and scale carbon removal technologies, with the hope that costs will decrease over time, eventually making carbon capture more accessible.

A Push for Cost-Effective Carbon Removal

Although carbon removal technologies are still in the early stages, the Frontier coalition is betting on their potential to lower costs to $100 per ton or less in the future. Hannah Bebbington, Head of Deployment at Frontier, emphasized that the deals are part of efforts to retrofit older industries with newer carbon technologies. She expressed excitement about the possibility of scaling these technologies to make carbon removal more cost-effective and impactful.

The growing interest from major tech and finance companies is a signal of confidence in the potential of such technologies, even as the world grapples with the challenges of large-scale carbon emissions reduction.

 

Climate Startup Range Energy Pioneers Electrified Trailers to Compete in Big Rig EV Market

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In the race to electrify heavy-duty trucks, California-based startup Range Energy is focusing on a unique solution: electrifying the trailer instead of the tractor. While companies like Tesla, Volvo, and Freightliner have launched electric tractor-trailers, this segment remains inefficient, with charging and infrastructure challenges. Big rigs make up only 10% of all vehicles but are responsible for almost 30% of carbon emissions, emphasizing the need for innovation in this space.

Range Energy’s approach involves retrofitting trailers with their own battery and motor systems, designed to reduce the load on the tractor. “By electrifying the trailer itself, we’re tackling the problem from a new angle,” says Range Energy CEO Ali Javidan. The Range system includes a battery, a motor powering one of the trailer’s axles, and a “smart kingpin” that helps the trailer adjust to the tractor’s movements, effectively making it feel “weightless” for the driver.

The electrified trailer is also capable of powering its refrigeration, communication, and security systems—tasks that typically require costly diesel. According to Javidan, a single fleet using Range’s technology could reduce emissions by up to 100 million pounds of CO2 annually and save $50 million in fuel costs.

Northern Refrigerated Transportation, piloting Range’s trailers in California, sees this setup as a promising alternative. Traditional electric tractors pose challenges for the company due to their lengthy charging times, which can delay operations. With Range’s trailers, the units can be charged overnight at loading docks, minimizing downtime and addressing a major barrier to full-fleet electrification.

Despite the advantages, hurdles remain. Northern Refrigerated Transportation notes that scaling up requires addressing infrastructure issues, such as upgrading power access at properties, and weighing the initial costs of the trailers. Range Energy has raised $31.5 million in funding from backers like R7, UP.Partners, Trousdale Ventures, and Yamaha Motor Ventures, which believe in the potential for these electrified trailers to revolutionize the freight industry.

R7 founder Tyler Engh highlights the startup’s potential, emphasizing that electrifying trailers could accelerate adoption of hybrid and electric systems even in diesel fleets. While charging infrastructure is still evolving, Range Energy’s technology allows trucking companies to use the power available at loading docks, enabling a more flexible and cost-effective transition to electrification.