Breakthrough Energy Catalyst

Breakthrough Energy Catalyst

Backs first-of-a-kind clean energy projects in hydrogen, storage, aviation fuel, and direct air capture.

Eligibility · Global — open worldwide

Breakthrough Energy Catalyst is the deployment-stage programme of Breakthrough Energy, the climate technology organisation backed by Bill Gates, and is distinct from the earlier-stage Fellows and Ventures programmes. Catalyst is specifically designed to fund large demonstration and first-of-a-kind (FOAK) commercial-scale projects in emerging climate technologies — sectors where the underlying science exists but where commercial deployment has been blocked by high capital costs and first-mover risk. Its stated mechanism is to reduce the 'Green Premium' — the cost differential between clean alternatives and incumbent carbon-intensive technologies — by co-investing in projects that prove commercial viability at scale.

Catalyst raised over $1 billion in direct deployment capital and aims to mobilise up to $10 billion in commercial-scale project investment. It deploys capital through a mix of grants, project equity, and concessional debt structured on a project-by-project basis, with individual project commitments documented as high as $40 million (Deep Sky, direct air capture). Technology focus areas include green hydrogen, long-duration energy storage, sustainable aviation fuel, direct air capture, and low-carbon manufacturing. A formal EU-Catalyst partnership targets €820 million ($1 billion) of mobilised investment between 2022 and 2027. Anchor corporate partners include Bank of America, Microsoft, General Motors, ArcelorMittal, HSBC, and BlackRock Foundation. Eligible applicants are commercial-stage project developers or companies at TRL 7–9 operating in these technology sectors, with a demonstrated path to displacing a carbon-intensive incumbent.

As of mid-2026, Catalyst operates primarily through direct deal origination with public and private partners rather than open public RFPs. The first public RFI (covering hydrogen, SAF, DAC, and LDES) was issued in 2021; subsequent EU and US RFPs followed in 2021–2022. Applicants seeking engagement should reach out directly through Breakthrough Energy's programme contacts, as no open competitive call was active on the website at the time of research. Catalyst is most relevant to companies or project developers with a commercially credible FOAK project requiring large concessional or blended capital to reach financial close.