Standard Gas features at JP Morgan’s Clean Tech Stars event
Standard Gas Chief Executive, David Whitmarsh, and Director & Co-carbon Lead, Richard Jackson, flew the Company’s flag at JP Morgan’s second annual Clean Tech Stars conference in London in early March. Focusing on technologies that support the energy transition, industrial decarbonisation, sustainable agriculture, and carbon management, the event gave 44 companies an opportunity to showcase their products and services in 15-minute presentations and subsequent ‘speed dating’ sessions.
“It was a great day. Really well hosted by JP Morgan” says David. “It’s a challenge to present our company and technology in just 15 minutes and the 1-on-1 investor sessions were fast and focussed. But the feedback on the day and after the event was really encouraging. Across the day we had a real sense that investors were there to do business and support the leading tech into commercial deployment. After my presentation, Richard and I had people queuing to speak to us. I think the fact that we are dealing with a market-ready, proven technology, that is primed for roll-out helped, and our carbon removing characteristics were definitely central to most of the interest. We’re already looking forward to next year’s event.”
“For me,” Richard commented, “It brought home that investors recognise the gap in the market as much as we do. They were genuinely excited that this sort of technology is on the brink of becoming a reality and I got the sense that they wanted to be part of that progression”.
In a post-conference podcast, JP Morgan’s event organizers, James Janoskey, Co-Head of Global Energy, Power, Renewables and Mining, and Chuka Ummuna, Head of Sustainable Solutions and Green Economy Investment Banking in EMEA, remarked on the significant increase in the numbers of companies presenting – up from 32 in 2023 – and investors attending.
James Janoskey noted that most of the technology companies were beyond proof of concept and how passionate and highly competent managements are focused on execution, securing capital for scale-up and growth, and realistic about the challenges they face and how to solve them. They also need to understand how best to present their bankability and investor-friendliness, he added.
With regard to investors, the JP Morgan executives noted the mix, from large global, strategic and smaller private groups to corporates looking to access technology. James also mentioned some were looking for topco equity opportunities while other were focused on project financing or both.
James and Chuka also highlighted UK and EU public policy issues, particularly planning and permitting, that need resolving if Europe is to compete with China’s clean tech sector, which does not face a similar delays and restrictions. However, Chuka Ummuna suggested there is an important role for targeted public investment in tandem with private funds to help the development and delivery of new technologies at scale for the Green, Circular Economy.
To listen to JP Morgan’s James Janoskey and Chuka Ummuna discussing the event with Rama Variankaval, Global Head of Corporate Advisory & Sustainable Solutions:
David Whitmarsh: “It was a great day. Really well hosted by JP Morgan.”
Richard Jackson, “It brought home to me that investors recognise the gap in the market as much as we do.”
TRANSITION TO NET ZERO WITH OUR CARBON-REMOVING TECHNOLOGY
Carbon Negative Energy: Each year, a single SG100 plant can generate up to 40,000 MW hours of carbon-negative power, enough for around 10,000 homes, offices or commercial properties, as well as for the transportation sector and wider industry.
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Carbon Capture: TheSG100 technology also generates ‘biochar’ and ‘carbon char’, a black, granular, dust-like co- product that can be sequestered in valuable agricultural, environmental, and industrial applications.