Sustainable IT and Climate Tech News 18 November 2024: Blancco CEO, BT Carbon Network Dashboard, IBM Maximo, More Sustainable Tech Partner

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Here is today’s sustainable IT services and climate tech news, research and analysis — written for technology partners, green IT service providers, CIOs, chief sustainability officers (CSOs) and climate accounting professionals.

1. Circular IT Services — Executive Leadership: Blancco Technology Group has named Lou DiFruscio to succeed Matt Jones as CEO. The company offers circular IT and data erasure solutions that align with ITAD (IT asset disposition) services. Private equity firm Francisco Partners acquired Blancco in 2023.

2. Managed Energy Services: IBM Maximo Renewables is now generally available. This solution can help customers to “manage and maximize the efficiency of their renewable energy assets,” IBM said. Related: IBM’s overall sustainability strategy.

3. IT Networks and Energy Consumption Monitoring: BT is promoting a Carbon Network Dashboard, which allows customers to track and forecast energy consumption for network equipment globally…

4. Nvidia AI Chips Overheating?: Nvidia’s new Blackwell AI chips apparently are overheating some servers, The Information reported. We’ll listen for a potential Nvidia response during the company’s November 20 earnings call. Related: Nvidia’s energy efficiency and sustainability strategy.

5. Retail: IKEA parent INGKA Group has committed €1.5 billion (USD$1.6 billion) towards the acceleration of the phasing out of the use of fossil fuels for heating and cooling its stores, ESG Today reported. The effort involves investments in energy efficiency improvements and renewable heating and cooling technology, the report said.

6. Layoffs – Fuel Cell Businesses: Two fuel cell companies have announced job cuts. First up, FuelCell Energy layoffs will impact roughly 75 employees or 13% of staff, MarketWatch reported. This is the company’s second round of layoffs in 2024, the report said. Next up, HyAxiom will cut 67 employees in Connecticut, Hartford Business Journal reported. Related: All layoffs involving sustainability and climate tech companies.

1. M&A – Data Center Cooling Technologies: Flex has acquired JetCool Technologies, a liquid cooling company for data centers. Ahead of the M&A deal, the two companies inked a partnership at the 2024 OCP Global Summit.

2. Complete M&A List: Here’s our database of all M&A deals involving green IT and renewable energy buyers, sellers and investors.

1. Research – Technology Adoption: The world has only deployed only 10% of the climate technologies it needs to achieve net zero, McKinsey research asserts.

2. United States – Energy Secretary Selection: Donald Trump’s pick for energy secretary — Chris Wright — previously called net zero a “sinister goal” and was once censored by LinkedIn for posting a video of his views on climate policy, The Telegraph reported.

3. United States – Trump and Self-Driving Cars: President-elect Donald Trump may ease rules for self-driving cars, Bloomberg reported.

4. G20 Meetings: The U.N.’s climate chief called on G20 leaders to signal support for global climate finance efforts when they meet in Rio de Janeiro next week, Reuters reported.