Future Cleantech Architects

What problem does Future Cleantech Architects work on?

The International Energy Agency (IEA) estimates⁠ that around 35% of the emission reductions needed by 2050 will come from technologies that are not yet on the market. Future Cleantech Architects (FCA) is a clean technology innovation think tank that aims to close the remaining innovation gaps to reach net-zero emissions by 2050, and to speed up innovation in critical industries where sustainable solutions are still at a very early stage.

FCA focuses on sectors that are hard to decarbonise, such as cement and steel production, high-temperature industrial heat, long-duration energy storage, clean firm power (including geothermal energy), hydrogen and low-carbon fuels, and aviation and shipping.

What does Future Cleantech Architects do?

Drawing on a strong network of experts, FCA:

• Identifies innovation gaps and advises on research and development, for example on how to support innovative renewable technologies in implementing the EU's Renewable Energy Directive (RED III)⁠.
• Writes publications and analyses, such as its factsheet series "The Basics & The Gaps"⁠, which sums up the key facts and figures on some of the hardest questions and technological innovations needed to reach net-zero emissions.
• Facilitates research in neglected, hard-to-decarbonise sectors, including by coordinating high-impact research and development consortia. For example, from 2021 to 2025 the CemSol⁠ consortium developed low-emission cement production together with the German Aerospace Center (DLR) and thyssenkrupp Polysius.
• Organises events in the clean technology ecosystem, such as the Future Cleantech Festival⁠ (formerly The ARC), most recently held in June 2026.

FCA also shapes the debate on energy innovation, promoting a pragmatic approach to effective technological solutions and urging policymakers to step up and better prioritise their research and development. For example, FCA has:

• Pushed at European and member-state level for legislation that supports high-impact clean technologies, for example in the rules for hydrogen⁠ and low-carbon fuels.
• Together with the UN climate secretariat, brought neglected technology sectors to the main stages of the UN climate conferences, from COP26⁠ and COP27⁠ to COP30⁠.
• In 2026, brought nearly 70 organisations together behind an open letter calling on the European Union to support next-generation geothermal energy.
• Brought technology sectors such as cement and green hydrogen production into expert journals and the mass media⁠. FCA estimates that its article series in the German business newspaper Handelsblatt reached more than 9 million readers in 2024.

Why is Future Cleantech Architects among our recommended charities?

The independent climate charity evaluator Giving Green has recommended FCA since 2024 and kept it on its Top Climate Nonprofits list for 2025 and 2026⁠. According to Giving Green⁠, FCA fills a critical gap in climate policy by linking its technical expertise in hard-to-decarbonise sectors to high-level policymaking. Because policymakers keep asking FCA for input, it has a strong track record of shaping EU and global policy debates in these sectors.

FCA has also been funded by the Founders Pledge Climate Fund⁠, most recently in 2026, and Vox has included it on its list of the best climate charities⁠ every year since 2022.