In 2023, the carbon and emissions technology sector has shown remarkable resilience and growth, securing a record $17.7 billion in venture capital (VC) investments, according to an industry overview, published by financial data provider Pitchbook’s Institutional Research Group.
The 2024 Carbon & Emissions Tech Overview, dated July 1, reveals the latest trends, technological advancements, and market dynamics shaping the carbon and emissions tech landscape.
The investments were spread across 1,133 deals last, surpassing 2022, highlighting the growing investor confidence and the critical importance of sustainable technologies in addressing climate change.
While the figures do include more “emission-focused” technologies like lithium batteries, it is one of the most comprehensive when it comes to carbon tech. The technological landscape there is categorized into several key areas: Direct Air Capture (DAC), Point Source Carbon Capture, Biological Carbon Capture, Carbon Utilization, Carbon Accounting & Analytics, Voluntary Carbon Market (VCM) Infrastructure, and Carbon Fintech & Consumer Tech.
These categories reflect the diverse approaches and innovative solutions being developed to tackle carbon emissions.
Relevant: New Analysis Finds Carbon Tech Startups Reached Record $7.6B VC Funding Raise In Q3 2023
Median pre-money valuations for companies remained stable, varying between $13.6 million and $15.0 million from 2021 to 2023. The Q1 2024 median deal size was $4.2 million, indicating continued investor interest.
However, the VC deal value for Q1 2024 was $2.7 billion, marking the lowest quarterly value since Q1 2021.
Exit activity in the sector peaked at $3.8 billion in 2021 but declined to $1.9 billion in 2023, reflecting overall market conditions and the cyclical nature of VC investments and exits.
Key drivers of investment in carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) technologies include tax incentives, government funding, and market shifts towards high-integrity carbon credits.
The report also details sector segmentation and investment trends, focusing on carbon tech, industry applications, built environment, and land use.
As for the top VC investors in the carbon and emissions tech sector since 2018, these include Climate Capital, Lowercarbon Capital, and SOSV.
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