Teymour Bourial
@teymour.me
I write about energy and circularity.
Partner at ExoPeak.
Based in Paris.
Partner at ExoPeak.
Based in Paris.
One thing I've noticed in China, is that many startups are founded by university professors, working with their students and labs to commercialize their research.
This seems far less common in Western academia – why?
This seems far less common in Western academia – why?
October 13, 2025 at 7:03 PM
One thing I've noticed in China, is that many startups are founded by university professors, working with their students and labs to commercialize their research.
This seems far less common in Western academia – why?
This seems far less common in Western academia – why?
Excellent piece by the @financialtimes.com on the formidable expansion of battery storage capacity globally.
With costs continuing to drop, BESS will likely scale faster than renewables did, as their rollout is less constrained by grid stability concerns.
With costs continuing to drop, BESS will likely scale faster than renewables did, as their rollout is less constrained by grid stability concerns.
October 13, 2025 at 7:34 AM
Excellent piece by the @financialtimes.com on the formidable expansion of battery storage capacity globally.
With costs continuing to drop, BESS will likely scale faster than renewables did, as their rollout is less constrained by grid stability concerns.
With costs continuing to drop, BESS will likely scale faster than renewables did, as their rollout is less constrained by grid stability concerns.
Honored to be featured in yet another @restofworld.org article.
This one discusses the growing dominance of Chinese battery makers, at the expense of Korean firms, and how this shift came about.
You can read it here: restofworld.org/2025/china-e...
This one discusses the growing dominance of Chinese battery makers, at the expense of Korean firms, and how this shift came about.
You can read it here: restofworld.org/2025/china-e...
China charges ahead as South Korea’s battery giants lose their spark
South Korea’s top battery makers are losing ground as Chinese firms dominate with cheaper technology, factory scale, and state backing.
restofworld.org
September 30, 2025 at 1:31 PM
Honored to be featured in yet another @restofworld.org article.
This one discusses the growing dominance of Chinese battery makers, at the expense of Korean firms, and how this shift came about.
You can read it here: restofworld.org/2025/china-e...
This one discusses the growing dominance of Chinese battery makers, at the expense of Korean firms, and how this shift came about.
You can read it here: restofworld.org/2025/china-e...
I had the opportunity to contribute to this article which discusses Midong - the world's largest PV installation, located in China's Gobi desert.
Worth reading for anyone involved in energy. There is much to learn from how China executes those mega-scale projects.
www.powermag.com/solar-by-the...
Worth reading for anyone involved in energy. There is much to learn from how China executes those mega-scale projects.
www.powermag.com/solar-by-the...
Solar by the Numbers: Midong Is China's Latest Mega-Marvel
A solar power project in the Gobi Desert has moved the needle on the size and scope of global photovoltaic installations, aided by innovation in equipment and construction. The numbers tell much of th...
www.powermag.com
September 3, 2025 at 1:11 PM
I had the opportunity to contribute to this article which discusses Midong - the world's largest PV installation, located in China's Gobi desert.
Worth reading for anyone involved in energy. There is much to learn from how China executes those mega-scale projects.
www.powermag.com/solar-by-the...
Worth reading for anyone involved in energy. There is much to learn from how China executes those mega-scale projects.
www.powermag.com/solar-by-the...
China now runs the world's largest BESS farm (Kashgar, 2 GWh), wind farm (Gansu, 8-20 GW) and solar farm (Midong, 3.5 GW)
China switches on its largest standalone battery storage project
With a capacity of 2 GWh, the four-hour storage system is described as the largest lithium iron phosphate energy storage project in the country.
www.pv-magazine.com
July 28, 2025 at 11:11 AM
China now runs the world's largest BESS farm (Kashgar, 2 GWh), wind farm (Gansu, 8-20 GW) and solar farm (Midong, 3.5 GW)
I had the opportunity to weigh in for this article, which dives deep into the key drivers behind China’s EV and battery manufacturers - highly recommend giving it a read.
While all eyes were watching BYD overtake Tesla, a set of smaller Chinese EV makers quietly slipped into the global top 10. Chinese automakers now control 70% of global EV production.
Our latest story: restofworld.org/2025/chinese...
Our latest story: restofworld.org/2025/chinese...
July 22, 2025 at 2:09 PM
I had the opportunity to weigh in for this article, which dives deep into the key drivers behind China’s EV and battery manufacturers - highly recommend giving it a read.
This is great - more penetration to come as EU ramps up its storage infrastructure, and continues to phase-out coal assets in Poland, Germany, Bulgaria and Spain.
Nuclear☢️ has been consistently the EU's biggest source of electricity for around a decade..
That changed in June, as solar became the #1 source of EU electricity.
Sure, it's summer, but this is a big milestone for just how far solar has come, pushing coal to an all-time low💪
That changed in June, as solar became the #1 source of EU electricity.
Sure, it's summer, but this is a big milestone for just how far solar has come, pushing coal to an all-time low💪
July 11, 2025 at 1:14 PM
This is great - more penetration to come as EU ramps up its storage infrastructure, and continues to phase-out coal assets in Poland, Germany, Bulgaria and Spain.
Ongoing price spikes will get worse as US renewable power projects continue to be canceled due to shrinking subsidies, lost grants, and revoked permits.
Trump Has an Electricity Price Problem #Climate
Trump Has an Electricity Price Problem
heatmap.news
June 12, 2025 at 7:15 AM
Ongoing price spikes will get worse as US renewable power projects continue to be canceled due to shrinking subsidies, lost grants, and revoked permits.
This is good news on all fronts.
More affordable, cleaner energy for all - especially developing countries - and less demand for oil and gas, hopefully driving prices and extraction down.
More affordable, cleaner energy for all - especially developing countries - and less demand for oil and gas, hopefully driving prices and extraction down.
World Bank lifts ban on funding nuclear energy in boost to industry
Lender’s president says it would support projects extending the life of existing reactors
www.ft.com
June 12, 2025 at 7:01 AM
This is good news on all fronts.
More affordable, cleaner energy for all - especially developing countries - and less demand for oil and gas, hopefully driving prices and extraction down.
More affordable, cleaner energy for all - especially developing countries - and less demand for oil and gas, hopefully driving prices and extraction down.
The current state of the UK's power market shows how fossil fuel dependency hurts industrial competitiveness and resilience.
Norway shows what's possible instead: 98% renewable power mix (hydro & wind), and some of the lowest prices in Europe.
Norway shows what's possible instead: 98% renewable power mix (hydro & wind), and some of the lowest prices in Europe.
Why are the UK’s industrial electricity prices so high?
Businesses call for measures to help shelter manufacturers
www.ft.com
June 10, 2025 at 3:20 PM
The current state of the UK's power market shows how fossil fuel dependency hurts industrial competitiveness and resilience.
Norway shows what's possible instead: 98% renewable power mix (hydro & wind), and some of the lowest prices in Europe.
Norway shows what's possible instead: 98% renewable power mix (hydro & wind), and some of the lowest prices in Europe.
Many great points in this piece - both on why US/EU cooperation with China on battery production is essential, and on the safeguards needed to avoid becoming China’s assembly plant.
www.ft.com/content/baed...
www.ft.com/content/baed...
Europe should abandon efforts to rival China’s battery industry, bosses say
Leaders of Eramet and Umicore call for region to seek co-operation with Asian groups
www.ft.com
May 27, 2025 at 1:01 PM
Many great points in this piece - both on why US/EU cooperation with China on battery production is essential, and on the safeguards needed to avoid becoming China’s assembly plant.
www.ft.com/content/baed...
www.ft.com/content/baed...
The @iea.org just released its 2025 Global Minerals Outlook report - here are my main take-aways.
I encourage everyone to take a look at the report for themselves. It is, as usual, a goldmine of insights.
I encourage everyone to take a look at the report for themselves. It is, as usual, a goldmine of insights.
May 21, 2025 at 9:33 AM
The @iea.org just released its 2025 Global Minerals Outlook report - here are my main take-aways.
I encourage everyone to take a look at the report for themselves. It is, as usual, a goldmine of insights.
I encourage everyone to take a look at the report for themselves. It is, as usual, a goldmine of insights.
One unintended benefit of the financial struggles of China’s PV manufacturers is that it will likely drive an even faster push by the government to expand domestic solar projects as a lifeline
NEW DATA: China's wind+solar overtakes thermal capacity🙌
39GW of solar added in Jan-Feb - a million solar panels per day🤯+ 9GW of wind
Thermal generation still dwarfs wind+solar, but new wind+solar (+nuclear+hydro) is broadly meeting elec demand growth, halting further rises
39GW of solar added in Jan-Feb - a million solar panels per day🤯+ 9GW of wind
Thermal generation still dwarfs wind+solar, but new wind+solar (+nuclear+hydro) is broadly meeting elec demand growth, halting further rises
March 22, 2025 at 5:34 PM
One unintended benefit of the financial struggles of China’s PV manufacturers is that it will likely drive an even faster push by the government to expand domestic solar projects as a lifeline
20 years ago, China produced ≈5% of PV panels. Today, they dominate with >80% in all manufacturing stages.
Despite this growth, the outlook seems gloomy for Chinese players.
A few thoughts on what sparked this growth, what's happening now and how the West is pushing back amid rising tensions.
Despite this growth, the outlook seems gloomy for Chinese players.
A few thoughts on what sparked this growth, what's happening now and how the West is pushing back amid rising tensions.
March 7, 2025 at 1:21 PM
20 years ago, China produced ≈5% of PV panels. Today, they dominate with >80% in all manufacturing stages.
Despite this growth, the outlook seems gloomy for Chinese players.
A few thoughts on what sparked this growth, what's happening now and how the West is pushing back amid rising tensions.
Despite this growth, the outlook seems gloomy for Chinese players.
A few thoughts on what sparked this growth, what's happening now and how the West is pushing back amid rising tensions.
Lithium-ion batteries contain large amounts of valuable materials such as lithium, cobalt, nickel and copper.
By design, those batteries are ≈95% recyclable, yet less than half is currently being recycled.
A few thoughts on why that is, and why it should change.
By design, those batteries are ≈95% recyclable, yet less than half is currently being recycled.
A few thoughts on why that is, and why it should change.
February 13, 2025 at 11:11 AM
Lithium-ion batteries contain large amounts of valuable materials such as lithium, cobalt, nickel and copper.
By design, those batteries are ≈95% recyclable, yet less than half is currently being recycled.
A few thoughts on why that is, and why it should change.
By design, those batteries are ≈95% recyclable, yet less than half is currently being recycled.
A few thoughts on why that is, and why it should change.
The next European energy crisis could come from extreme climate events, rather than geopolitics.
Intensifying droughts, floods, and water shortages put energy systems under pressure.
Investments are required to make infrastructure more resilient and avoid widespread disrputions and blackouts.
Intensifying droughts, floods, and water shortages put energy systems under pressure.
Investments are required to make infrastructure more resilient and avoid widespread disrputions and blackouts.
February 12, 2025 at 7:14 AM
The next European energy crisis could come from extreme climate events, rather than geopolitics.
Intensifying droughts, floods, and water shortages put energy systems under pressure.
Investments are required to make infrastructure more resilient and avoid widespread disrputions and blackouts.
Intensifying droughts, floods, and water shortages put energy systems under pressure.
Investments are required to make infrastructure more resilient and avoid widespread disrputions and blackouts.
I sat down with Quartz to discuss the implications of BYD's rollout of autonomous driving features to its mid-tier and entry-level EVs at no extra cost.
Read it here: qz.com/byd-tesla-go...
Read it here: qz.com/byd-tesla-go...
Tesla stock is tumbling. Blame BYD
The Chinese automaker backed by Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway announced it's rolling out new autonomous driving capabilities on all models
qz.com
February 12, 2025 at 6:27 AM
I sat down with Quartz to discuss the implications of BYD's rollout of autonomous driving features to its mid-tier and entry-level EVs at no extra cost.
Read it here: qz.com/byd-tesla-go...
Read it here: qz.com/byd-tesla-go...
About half of all water supplied by utilities gets lost, primarily because of leaks across networks.
This number keeps getting worse every year, and so do droughts and water scarcity. Water network modernization can no longer wait.
This number keeps getting worse every year, and so do droughts and water scarcity. Water network modernization can no longer wait.
January 3, 2025 at 12:22 PM
About half of all water supplied by utilities gets lost, primarily because of leaks across networks.
This number keeps getting worse every year, and so do droughts and water scarcity. Water network modernization can no longer wait.
This number keeps getting worse every year, and so do droughts and water scarcity. Water network modernization can no longer wait.
Water pollution is an often overlooked aspect of coal use. Burning coal releases mercury into the atmosphere, which eventually returns to the ground with rainfall.
In the EU, 70% of surface water is contaminated by chemical pollutants; without mercury from coal, this figure would drop to just 20%.
In the EU, 70% of surface water is contaminated by chemical pollutants; without mercury from coal, this figure would drop to just 20%.
December 17, 2024 at 5:26 AM
Water pollution is an often overlooked aspect of coal use. Burning coal releases mercury into the atmosphere, which eventually returns to the ground with rainfall.
In the EU, 70% of surface water is contaminated by chemical pollutants; without mercury from coal, this figure would drop to just 20%.
In the EU, 70% of surface water is contaminated by chemical pollutants; without mercury from coal, this figure would drop to just 20%.
With Black Friday around the corner, let these 2 charts serve as a reminder that buying less stuff is the #1 way you can contribute to tackling the climate crisis.
November 25, 2024 at 9:41 AM
With Black Friday around the corner, let these 2 charts serve as a reminder that buying less stuff is the #1 way you can contribute to tackling the climate crisis.
A few thoughts on the EU's very first Biennial Transparency Report on Climate published yesterday.
Read it here: climate.ec.europa.eu/document/dow...
Read it here: climate.ec.europa.eu/document/dow...
November 22, 2024 at 12:30 PM
A few thoughts on the EU's very first Biennial Transparency Report on Climate published yesterday.
Read it here: climate.ec.europa.eu/document/dow...
Read it here: climate.ec.europa.eu/document/dow...
Reinsurance data offers one of the best proxies of the worsening climate crisis.
This chart shows the evolution of insured losses related to natural disasters - from almost none, to a significant amount every year.
This chart shows the evolution of insured losses related to natural disasters - from almost none, to a significant amount every year.
November 21, 2024 at 8:03 AM
Reinsurance data offers one of the best proxies of the worsening climate crisis.
This chart shows the evolution of insured losses related to natural disasters - from almost none, to a significant amount every year.
This chart shows the evolution of insured losses related to natural disasters - from almost none, to a significant amount every year.
The EU ETS continues to succeed.
In 2023, sectors targeted by the scheme saw reduced their emissions by 16.5% in 2023, while generating €44bn revenue to support climate action among members states.
See the full 2023 report published today: climate.ec.europa.eu/document/dow...
In 2023, sectors targeted by the scheme saw reduced their emissions by 16.5% in 2023, while generating €44bn revenue to support climate action among members states.
See the full 2023 report published today: climate.ec.europa.eu/document/dow...
November 20, 2024 at 10:34 PM
The EU ETS continues to succeed.
In 2023, sectors targeted by the scheme saw reduced their emissions by 16.5% in 2023, while generating €44bn revenue to support climate action among members states.
See the full 2023 report published today: climate.ec.europa.eu/document/dow...
In 2023, sectors targeted by the scheme saw reduced their emissions by 16.5% in 2023, while generating €44bn revenue to support climate action among members states.
See the full 2023 report published today: climate.ec.europa.eu/document/dow...
Here are some of my all-time favorite books about climate change, grouped by theme (not exhaustive). Reply with yours so I know what to read next!
November 20, 2024 at 4:37 PM
Here are some of my all-time favorite books about climate change, grouped by theme (not exhaustive). Reply with yours so I know what to read next!
Rich nations should rather put their own house in order. Yes, China's emissions are high - because they support a 1.4bn population and the manufacturing of a third of global goods. Yet, per capita, they emit 30% less than the US and are moving away from fossil fuels at a faster pace.
China has now passed Europe and is approaching the U.S. in its historical contribution to global warming. At climate talks in Baku, rich nations say China should chip in more aid to address the problem. nyti.ms/3ZdQ5vt
November 20, 2024 at 1:58 PM
Rich nations should rather put their own house in order. Yes, China's emissions are high - because they support a 1.4bn population and the manufacturing of a third of global goods. Yet, per capita, they emit 30% less than the US and are moving away from fossil fuels at a faster pace.