Emerald Capital Partners

Private Equity is Going All-In on Data Centers—Are We in a Boom or a Bubble? The pace of M&A in the data center sector is accelerating, and investors are piling in at an unprecedented rate. Blackstone is in talks to acquire parts of DigitalBridge’s data center portfolio, Brookfield just secured a major AI power deal with Microsoft, and firms like KKR, EQT, Macquarie, and Stonepeak continue to expand their digital infrastructure portfolios. The trend is clear: institutional capital sees data centers as one of the most compelling investment opportunities of the decade. Why Now? Several forces are driving this surge in investment: AI and cloud computing growth?are creating an insatiable demand for infrastructure, forcing hyperscalers and enterprises to secure capacity faster than ever. Power constraints and supply chain bottlenecks?are making existing facilities with secured energy access significantly more valuable. In markets like Northern Virginia and Phoenix, power availability is now a critical factor in determining where new projects can even be built. Stable, long-term cash flows?make data centers an attractive asset class for private equity and infrastructure funds, particularly in a market where other real estate sectors face uncertainty. Regulatory and permitting challenges?are limiting new development, adding a scarcity premium to well-positioned assets. At the same time, rising energy costs, tightening lending conditions, and the sheer pace of speculation raise an important question:?Are we in a sustainable boom, or are we heading toward a bubble? This isn’t the first time the industry has seen a surge in investment. The early 2000s saw a data center crash following the dot-com bust, and while today’s fundamentals are much stronger, the risk of overbuilding—or mispricing risk—remains. Are current valuations justified, or is this another cycle of excessive optimism? On the lighter side…

This panel on nuclear development is going to be a banger. All of these experts are phenomenal and — even better — very clear-eyed about both the challenges and opportunities ahead. You won’t want to miss it! Sign up here: https://hubs.la/Q02HfWKD0

The rise of artificial intelligence and the rapid expansion of data center development represents one of the most seismic shifts the energy industry has seen in decades. As companies search for an answer, more developers and utilities are exploring the promise of next-generation nuclear reactors—including small modular reactors and micro-reactors—to meet surging power demand. Join us for a free panel discussion on July 25th at 11 AM EDT featuring nuclear energy, policy, and development experts as they discuss what's next for the industry with Emerald Strategy Partners general manager Bryan Brownlie. Sign up here to learn from experts including: Edward M. Davis: Edward Davis is the founder of the Pegasus Group and a senior nuclear industry consultant with over 40 years of industry experience in senior management roles, including engineering, business development, project finance, marketing, strategic planning, and governmental affairs. Duane Olcsvary: Founder and CEO of Next Nuclear LLC, Duane Olcsvary is a commercial nuclear power executive with expertise in large and small modular reactors and microreactor technologies. He previously served as the Vice President of Commercial Affairs at Westinghouse Electric Co. Zach Wamp: Former Congressman Zach Wamp served as a U.S. Congressman from Tennessee for 16 years. He played a pivotal role on key congressional committees, including Appropriations and Budget, where he championed initiatives driving national energy, defense, and healthcare reforms. Bryan Brownlie: Bryan Brownlie is the general manager of Emerald Strategy Partners, leading its energy transition and growth strategy advisory practice for Fortune 100 businesses and private equity firms. He previously served as the general manager of the Electro-chlorination business unit at De Nora and as VP of Project Management for Water Purification at Severn Trent Water. #nuclear #smr #datacenter #greenindustry #decarbonization #AI #artificialintelligence

The rise of artificial intelligence and the rapid expansion of data center development represents one of the most seismic shifts the energy industry has seen in decades. As companies search for an answer, more developers and utilities are exploring the promise of next-generation nuclear reactors—including small modular reactors and micro-reactors—to meet surging power demand. Join us for a free panel discussion on July 25th at 11 AM EDT featuring nuclear energy, policy, and development experts as they discuss what's next for the industry with Emerald Strategy Partners general manager Bryan Brownlie. Sign up here to learn from experts including: Edward M. Davis: Edward Davis is the founder of the Pegasus Group and a senior nuclear industry consultant with over 40 years of industry experience in senior management roles, including engineering, business development, project finance, marketing, strategic planning, and governmental affairs. Duane Olcsvary: Founder and CEO of Next Nuclear LLC, Duane Olcsvary is a commercial nuclear power executive with expertise in large and small modular reactors and microreactor technologies. He previously served as the Vice President of Commercial Affairs at Westinghouse Electric Co. Zach Wamp: Former Congressman Zach Wamp served as a U.S. Congressman from Tennessee for 16 years. He played a pivotal role on key congressional committees, including Appropriations and Budget, where he championed initiatives driving national energy, defense, and healthcare reforms. Bryan Brownlie: Bryan Brownlie is the general manager of Emerald Strategy Partners, leading its energy transition and growth strategy advisory practice for Fortune 100 businesses and private equity firms. He previously served as the general manager of the Electro-chlorination business unit at De Nora and as VP of Project Management for Water Purification at Severn Trent Water. #nuclear #smr #datacenter #greenindustry #decarbonization #AI #artificialintelligence

Private investment into the #nuclear industry is rising as governments look to remove regulatory barriers to deploy next-generation fission reactors and new fusion energy systems. A cursory survey of PitchBook data into the nuclear energy space reveals rising dealflow with companies like Westinghouse Electric Company, X-energy, and TerraPower attracting significant capital from private equity and fund managers. The trajectory of investments indicates that commitments from national governments to subsidize nuclear development are drawing more capital to the industry. Still, advanced economies in the U.S. and EU have a long way to go before they can match plans from China to spend $440 billion over the next 15 years (according to Bloomberg News). What are your thoughts on the state of nuclear development? #climatefinance #climateaction #nuclear

Fewer deals with larger dollar values look to be the defining characteristics of the climate tech market in 2024, according to a new survey by Net Zero Insights. The size of investments, buoyed by over $6 billion in financing raised in May alone, may be rising, but the capital requirements of energy and climate technologies may be forcing investors in the sector to be more judicious. Investors are also paying more attention to debt and project finance as non-dilutive sources of funding begin to play a larger role in investor assumptions for future growth. At Emerald Capital Partners, we invest in the technologies tackling the hardest to abate industrial emissions. Click the link in the comments to learn more. #climateaction #climatefinance #decarbonization #greenindustry #energystorage

Most companies looking to build a lasting legacy through the energy transition will need to rely on some external #innovation. Identifying technologies outside of an organization that can transform businesses sustainably and profitably is key. That's why Emerald Capital Partners exists -- to offer a window into the innovation ecosystem and find and support the most promising new technologies offering a path to #decarbonization. Investments in companies like the #longduration #energystorage business Storelectric put Emerald at the forefront of the #energytransition. Find out more at the link in the comments.

According to a recent survey from PitchBook. These are the world's top startup hubs based on a number of factors. Innovation from these cities is changing the technology landscape with new advances in #AI, #manufacturing, #health, #finance, and #climate. When it comes to the #energytransition trillions of dollars will flow over the next decades into products, services, and equipment enabling a reduction in #emissions and #pollution. What are your favorite innovations in #climatetech coming from these cities? What will the next wave of #cleantech startup innovation bring?

North American investors have a voracious appetite for backing data center development, with investments rising to $4.8 billion in 2023 -- a 29% jump. Their hunger is matched only by the incredibe demand and incredibly deep pockets of the industry's hyper scalers like Alphabet Inc. Amazon Apple Meta and Microsoft A new survey and analysis from CBRE points to the exactly how robust the demand is for new data centers. The growth was a result of bigger ticket spending from investors with price tags rising even as deal values decliend by 33% over the year-ago period. And investors expect their commitments to rise in 2024. For insights into how the data center industry can meet this rising demand #sustainably, join our free webinar featuring industry experts from Meta, Cummins Inc., and Arcadis on June 13th at 11 EDT. Sign up here: https://hubs.la/Q02BmzKB0 And read more insights into the data center investment space here: https://hubs.la/Q02BmJbr0 #datacenters #decarbonization #privateequity #greenindustry

Moving on the path to #decarbonization and successfully navigating the #energytransition will require innovation on an unprecedented scale. That's why Emerald Capital Partners exists. We connect the world's largest industrial conglomerates with the companies making the next generation of climate solutions possible. Learn more about our work alongside the biggest names in private equity and industry. https://hubs.la/Q02B4KJ40 #climatefinance #climateinnovation