- Ports and coastal infrastructure worldwide have a huge unrealised opportunity to become ‘energy gateways’ – unlocking growth in offshore renewables and its supply chain, while embracing new business modelsin energy storage and clean fuels.
- Gateway Zero, led by renewables stalwart João Metelo, will bring significant capital and expertise to the challenge of reimagining ports and infrastructure for the energy transition.
San Diego, California, 16th January 2024 — Gateway Zero, a developer and investor focused exclusively on next-generation energy ports infrastructure, today announces its launch. Its mission is to unblock the path to net zero through the continued expansion of global offshore wind, and by harnessing new economic opportunities for ports and coastal infrastructure in decarbonisation, energy storage and green fuels.
It is projected that offshore wind development alone will drive more than $15 billion dollars of investment in ports and vessels in Europe and the US by 2030 – with further tens of billions required to reach 2040 energy goals. But limitations in existing port infrastructure are quickly becoming a bottleneck to deployment of both fixed and floating offshore wind projects.
Additionally, the wider decarbonisation effort will require large capital deployment into coastal infrastructure dedicated to energy transition propositions. There is an urgent need to connect asset owners with the capital and expertise they need to build the next generation of energy ports infrastructure.
Gateway Zero has been launched to address this need. The company is led by João Metelo, an experienced leader in renewable energy, offshore and onshore, with decades of experience unlocking breakthrough clean energy business models, including as CEO of Principle Power, CFO of EDP Renewables North America, and more recently, as Chief Investment & Financial Officer of Skyborn Renewables.
The business is actively pursuing opportunities to develop and invest in projects alongside ports, public authorities, and other value chain partners, offering them a bridge to the clean energy sector and crowding in big capital as required. With the flexibility to participate as a developer, co-investor, or both, Gateway Zero will act as an enabler for existing asset owners seeking to harness the economic opportunity of the energy transition.
João Metelo, Founder & CEO, Gateway Zero, said: “Ports have a pivotal role to play in enabling the global energy transition, with the potential not only to act as critical supply chain hubs for offshore renewables, but also in the longer term to become centres for the decarbonisation of the maritime sector and deployment of co-located clean energy and green fuels infrastructure. “We are an early mover and intend to become a global leader in our field. Our aim is to play a meaningful role in building out a new asset class with enormous long-term strategic value - becoming the partner of choice for asset owners and capital providers opening up the world’s energy gateways.”
Gateway Zero is actively engaged in conversations with multiple sources of capital as it builds a diversified portfolio, spanning the EU, UK and US. This includes opportunities throughout the lifecycle of project development and a range of project maturities and risk profiles.