Deep Tech Briefing #38: 🌱Clean Energy Uncertainty Post-Election; 🚀 Moon Mining, 🧠 OpenAI new Agent; 🧱3D-Printed Concrete; 💡Physical Intelligence Hits $2B; and more...

An insider’s update on Deep Tech Ventures: Your dose of tech innovations, startups, exponential industries, policies, and market moves to stay ahead and capitalize on it.

Welcome to issue #38 of Deep Tech Briefing, our Sunday column where we break down the week's standout developments in Deep Tech Startups and Venture Capital.

Here, you’ll gain unique insights to keep you ahead, competitive, and ready to seize new opportunities—and, why not, spark fresh ideas for thought-provoking conversations. :)

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This Week’s Deep Tech Briefing: What’s Inside

• How the new Trump administration could reshape the future of renewable energy

• Space innovation heats up with advances in satellite maintenance, lunar resource development, and global competition.

• Advances in autonomous systems, hyperspectral imaging, and naval deterrence signal a new era in defense technology.

• OpenAI’s latest agent technology, smarter healthcare solutions, and innovations in government AI adoption.

• AI-powered tools optimizing nuclear plants and bold advances in fusion technology.

• Carbon fiber reimagined and the emergence of 3D-printed concrete reshaping construction.

• From Waymo’s robotaxis to humanoid robots transforming warehouse logistics.

• Alternative proteins and sustainable solutions navigating a complex global landscape.

• Northvolt’s recalibration and Lyten’s bold vision for the future of energy storage.

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🍃 The Uncertainty of Clean Energy under the New Trump Administration

At the financial heart of New York, during the SuperReturn Energy conference, a sense of caution is palpable among clean energy investors… The election of Donald Trump in 2024 has raised a host of questions that could redefine the dynamics of the US energy sector.

According to The Wall Street Journal, the prospect of new tariffs of up to 60% on solar panels imported from China could significantly impact an industry that has seen an average annual growth rate of 20% in recent years.

Bill Sonneborn, president of Generate Capital, emphasized that such tariffs could "profoundly alter the economics of solar projects" forcing developers to rethink their supply chains.

China currently supplies over 70% of solar panels globally, and potential tariffs could push companies to look to other markets, such as India or North America, to avoid cost increases. This scenario demands advanced planning and strategic flexibility that not all industry players may be able to afford. At the same time, the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), enacted in 2022 with a $370 billion budget allocated for clean energy, might be subject to revision or repeal.

Kate Townsend, a partner at Qualitas Energy, noted that "Interestingly enough, a number of Republican states have benefited from the IRA, so it may not be as threatening whether or not the Trump administration has a negative view on clean-energy markets,"

The potential removal of tax incentives could put an estimated $150 billion worth of projects at risk. Despite these uncertainties, the sector is showing signs of resilience.

Alena Solonina, co-founder of CurvePoint Capital, pointed out that "the declining costs of renewable technologies have made these projects competitive even without government subsidies."

According to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), since 2010, the cost of solar photovoltaic energy has dropped by 85%, while onshore wind costs have decreased by 56%.

A concrete example is Intellihot, an Illinois-based company specializing in high-efficiency tankless water heaters. By offering solutions that reduce energy consumption by up to 40%, they are gaining traction with hotels and residential complexes, regardless of federal incentives.

While discussions in New York revolve around tariffs and investments, COP29 in Baku is making strides with a significant agreement: the adoption of quality standards for carbon credits. According to the International Emissions Trading Association, this market could generate transactions worth $250 billion annually by 2030. Fundable projects range from mangrove cultivation, which absorbs CO2, to distributing clean cookstoves in rural communities.

In essence, we are approaching a period of imminent rebalancing, where established strategies must be recalibrated to align with new developments. Currently, insights from leading sector figures reported by the WSJ and Reuters indicate that what they find most valuable is not so much subsidies, but a stable regulatory framework that fosters investment.

🚀 The Space Industry: Orbital Debris and New Lunar Frontiers

The race for commercial space exploration is accelerating, driven by strategic investments and technological innovations that are redefining the industrial landscape. This week, NASA allocated $11.5 million to groundbreaking projects