Kickstarting Climate Tech with Tencent's CarbonX Programme
The climate crisis calls for ground breaking technological innovations, and Tencent, China's tech behemoth, is determined to take on the challenge. With CarbonX, Tencent is looking to kickstart the production of technology that might be useful in the climate fight.
The thinking here is that many promising entrepreneurs, inventors and engineers never receive the backing they need to make real breakthroughs. Only time will tell, but this programme could help to foster innovation across the world by giving these creative thinkers the support they so desperately require.
What is Tencent’s CarbonX programme?
At its core, the CarbonX programme is designed to accelerate the maturation of immature technologies crucial for decarbonisation, addressing a gaping innovation gap. An overwhelming 75% of methods required for effective decarbonisation are still under development, highlighting a significant challenge in combatting climate change.
Dr Hao Xu, Vice President of Sustainable Social Value at Tencent, underlines the urgency and purpose of the initiative, stating, "Technology innovation serves as the driving force to accelerate our progress towards achieving carbon neutrality.
"Our CarbonX programme is aimed at fostering the growth of these technologies, driving positive impact across society, and laying the groundwork for a more sustainable future."
The world needs immediate solutions, and Tencent's project represents a proactive approach in the fight against climate change.
By expanding beyond China, where it initially focused, the programme now supports innovative global projects, particularly in areas like energy storage and carbon capture.
The key areas Tencent wants to invest in
Tencent is committing tens of millions of dollars to nurture early-stage technologies within four strategic areas, each crucial for reducing global carbon emissions. These focus areas include:
- Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR): Technologies that extract historical emissions from the atmosphere are in development, with pilot projects underway in Kenya.
- Long-Duration Energy Storage (LDES): Enhancing renewable energy's reliability in power grids, with 100-kilowatt pilot projects planned in the Maldives.
- Carbon Capture, Utilisation & Storage (CCUS) for the Steel Industry: Spearheading advanced carbon capture solutions specifically for the steel industry, a sector notoriously difficult to abate, with initiatives in Serbia.
- CarbonXmade (CCU): Incorporating captured carbon into chemicals and consumer products via a dedicated consortium.
Collaborating across the world
For its expanded initiative, CarbonX 2.0, Tencent has established a robust network of partners spanning various sectors. Industrial partners such as China Resources, Conch Cement, and HBIS Group are onboard, alongside consumer giants like McDonald’s China, PepsiCo, and Unilever as part of the CarbonXmade consortium.
Ecosystem and investment associates, including Africa Climate Ventures and Lightspeed China Partners, support this programme alongside institutions like the African Development Bank and the Global CCS Institute. Davis Lin, Senior Vice President of Tencent, emphasises the programme's global ambition, saying, "With the second iteration, we're aiming to foster an international ecosystem that accelerates progress towards net zero."
The application process for interested parties—from start-ups to academia—is now open, with a keen emphasis on identifying and nurturing promising technologies regardless of their regional or sectoral origin. The selection is two-phased; initially shortlisting 10 to 15 teams per scenario by September 2025, followed by a final selection of up to three winners per scenario by February 2026.
Professor Jerry Yan, Co-Chairman of the CarbonX Expert Committee, talks a lot about the importance of this inclusive and expansive search for solutions.
"Addressing climate change demands scaling solutions that are not bound by specific technologies but driven by their potential to make a global impact," he says.
All in all, this forward-thinking initiative from Tencent doesn't just bridge promising technologies with real-world applications. It also supports them in making a measurable impact towards the ambitious targets set by the Paris Agreement—a 45% reduction in emissions by 2030 and achieving net zero emissions by 2050.
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