Alpesh Patel, a leading authority on investing and entrepreneurship, invests in renewable energy, such as wind farms, and contributes to the fight against climate change. As a UK Government Dealmaker, Alpesh sources global tech companies that provide climate change solutions, including carbon capture.
As he gears up to participate in the “Be The Change” panel on climate change, he shares how businesses can work towards operating sustainability and climate consciousness.
Can you share more about your investments in renewable energy projects? How do you measure the impact of your investments on combating climate change?
Regarding renewable energy projects, our company, Praefinium invests in wind farms in Romania through private equity. I often feel like Jeremy Irons' character from “Margin Call” when discussing renewable projects, relying on brilliant team members to handle the complex mathematics. We invested in wind farms in Romania because our investors, primarily pension funds, wanted us to. Saving the world was a bonus, not the primary motivation. Combating climate change can be straightforward in this context, as you can measure how many megawatts are generated from wind power and calculate the carbon dioxide savings. While our projects contribute positively to the environment, they were driven by commercial interests. If it were purely charitable, our investors might not have been allowed to invest.
In your work with global tech companies that provide climate change solutions, what are some of the most promising technologies you’ve encountered?
One of the companies I've helped bring over from India through my government connections is Carbon Clean Solutions. They continue their impactful work in India, but they've also established a significant presence here We can easily calculate the environmental impact of our investments, though we often don't because our investors are primarily concerned with returns. As a private equity company, we're not focused on publicising our positive environmental impact, although perhaps we should. Carbon Clean Solutions recently entered Deloitte's EMEA Fast 500, covering Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, which makes me very proud. It's now a British company as well. I believe this kind of technology will ultimately save us from global warming.
How do you incorporate sustainability into our overall business strategy?
When I'm investing in public companies like Microsoft, Apple, or Amazon, I cross-reference their environmental credentials. These companies face significant pressure to improve their sustainability practices. For instance, while Microsoft might generate a lot of carbon dioxide through its servers, its green credentials are impressive. The same applies to Amazon and Alphabet, which are well-positioned to make significant environmental impacts.
In my approach, I invest in these companies and use my platform to promote their sustainability efforts outside my business. This investment strategy not only pays my bills but also allows me to maintain a minimal carbon footprint beyond my basic needs. When these companies undertake great initiatives, I use various methods to spread the message. One way is through physical events, like those organised with Asian Voice and the Royal Air Force, leveraging my ability to host such events. Another way is through my TikTok channel, which has 370,000 followers, and traditional media appearances, such as the BBC and newspaper reviews.
This perspective helps me determine where I can make the biggest impact, whether through hosting events or utilising my social media presence and traditional media platforms like the BBC.
what advice would you give to other entrepreneurs, investors looking to make positive impact on the environment?
What I'd say to them is that you're part of a generation that wants to change the world, whether it’s for the environment or other causes. The generation before mine focused on getting a job, putting food on the table, and raising their families. The new generation, however, thinks about the whole world first, and family last. So, my advice is to live and breathe your values in everything you do. Even if you can’t make a direct impact on the environment, you can still make a difference in other areas. Regarding the environment, think about how you can use social media for messaging. You can do it from home, from your phone, at any time—there’s no friction to getting started. Encourage children to get involved too. My son often reminds me about environmental practices, saying things like, “Daddy, that would be bad for the environment,” or “Daddy, we need to recycle.” We’ve taught him from a young age, and now he’s always promoting these values. You can do the same.
