Pittsburgh Climate Tech & Decarbonization
Our commitment and leadership in clean climate tech is a point of pride for the Pittsburgh region. We’ve moved well beyond our industrial history to advance best practices and smart solutions to achieve a better and more sustainable future for our world. With the looming threat of climate change and rising methane and greenhouse gas emissions, we understand the importance of the next generation of climate innovation.
Top companies and climate tech startups have found their home in Allegheny County and southwestern Pennsylvania. Pittsburgh is becoming a hub for climate technology and decarbonization research and for fundraising with an ecosystem of top talent, resources, and universities. Read on to learn more about the region’s high-quality climate tech support and success.
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Mike Henderson
Senior Director, Business Investment
THE ECOSYSTEM
Our corporate and civic leaders, in partnership with our world-class academic institutions, are fully committed to accelerating early-stage strategies and tools that promote climate tech region-wide.
70+
Cleantech Companies
Top 5
CleanTech Ecosystems to Watch (Startup Genome, 2022)
$1.2 Billion
in venture capital funding for CleanTech from 2018-2022 (Pitchbook)
6%
clean energy job growth since 2017 in Pennsylvania
We boast one of the greenest office buildings in the world: The Tower at PNC Plaza. The sustainable business building is a LEED Platinum building that is a 33-story landmark in the city’s center.
Pittsburgh International Airport is the first airport in the world to be completely powered by natural gas and solar energy thanks to its unique microgrid, which increases resilience and maximizes public safety. The airport also uses 8,000 solar panels to assist with power resilience and reducing emissions.
Climate Tech Talent
We are leading the charge in a new economy powered by sustainability.
86,000
people employed in manufacturing
#1
Best Places to Move After College (Porch 2021)
#5
Best Cities for Young Professionals (Insurify 2021)
Nearly 42,000
degrees conferred annually, including roughly 5,000 technology degrees and certificates
4,100
annual grads in manufacturing-related fields
Community College of Beaver County offers the Shell Center for Process Technology, which trains existing and new workforce for careers in the process technology field.
The Energy Innovation Center provides tenant space, workforce development, training, and education for clean and sustainable energy markets.
Critical Infrastructure Workforce Academy supports the region’s workforce development, training, and certification needs in energy, utility, and related construction industries.
Ecosystem Support
Climate stabilization is a far-reaching issue requiring a wide variety of available resources to create effective solutions. Here is a snapshot of what our region has to offer.
The UNECE Centre of Excellence on High-Performance Buildings
brings together Pittsburgh’s climate tech stakeholders and entrepreneurs to advance best practices in green building and sustainability performance.
Sustainable Pittsburgh
convenes more than 40 C-suite leaders via its CEOs for Sustainability network to advance organizational sustainability goals. The nonprofit organization is committed to making a better future and improving social equity in the Pittsburgh region.
The City of Pittsburgh
implemented a 2019 city ordinance requiring all new and existing city facilities to be built or retrofit to net-zero energy.
MetroLab Network
develops Smart City solutions for critical challenges facing urban areas. Both Carnegie Mellon University and the City of Pittsburgh are founding members.
RenewElec
is sponsored by the National Energy Technology Laboratory, Electric Power Institute, local foundations and Carnegie Mellon University’s Department of Engineering & Public Policy to assist the nation in transitioning to cost-effective, reliable electric generation that is equitable and high environmental quality.
Center for Climate and Energy Decision Making
develops insights on the intersection of climate and energy as well as the transformation of the energy system.
Company Success Stories
EOS ENERGY ENTERPRISES, INC.
Eos, a manufacturer of zinc-based batteries, is a leader in creating commercially proven, long-duration energy storage solutions for companies, utilities and municipalities. Its technology is safer, easier to build and more cost-efficient and sustainable than lithium-ion batteries which currently dominate the market.
The Efficiency Network (TEN)
This subsidiary of Duquesne Light leverages innovative technology, engineering, finance and cost-effective construction to help customers deliver energy projects that save money on utilities and reduce environmental impact. Recent wins include a contract to enhance energy efficiency at the Pittsburgh Steelers’ football stadium and a $16.8 million agreement with Greater Johnstown Career and Technology Center that includes a 1 MW solar project to contribute to powering the center.
Long Ridge Energy
This Canonsburg-based company recently completed construction on one of the most energy efficient power plants of any type in the world. The compact, low-impact facility has the capacity to deliver 485 megawatts into the PJM grid and plans to transition the combined-cycle power plant to run on carbon dioxide-free hydrogen.
Momentum
Seven companies — EQT Corp., Shell Polymers, U.S. Steel, Mitsubishi Power, Equinor, GE Gas Power and Marathon Petroleum Corp. — have formed an alliance as part of a broad bipartisan coalition of energy, industry, organized labor and nonprofits to apply for one of four Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs funded by $8 billion in the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
Hubs would develop clean hydrogen as well as carbon capture and sequestration technologies.
Wind power: Since 2012, South Chestnut Wind Farm has put 23 wind turbines online. Owner Iberdrola Renewables is in the midst of a 20-year agreement to send the renewable energy generated by the farm to Washington, D.C., where it provides about 35% of the electricity needed to power municipal buildings. Elsewhere in Fayette County, Mill Run Wind Farm operates 10 turbines.
Energy storage is also an important part of the region’s renewable profile. Eos, a manufacturer of zinc-based batteries, operates a plant in Turtle Creek. Recently Eos assumed full ownership of HI-POWER, a joint venture it founded with Holtec International to expand production and improve the supply chain.
R&D
Resources and examples of the Pittsburgh region’s thriving cleantech community:
Startup & Entrepreneurial Support:
- Innovation Works
- Energy Innovation Center
- AlphaLab and AlphaLab Gear
- Carnegie Mellon University
- University of Pittsburgh
Sustainability & Ecosystem Partners:
- Sustainable Pittsburgh
- Pittsburgh Technology Council
- Andy Warhol Museum
- Green Building Alliance
- City of Pittsburgh
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