MIT Technology Review has released its fourth annual list of 10 Climate Tech Companies to Watch, featuring a geographically diverse set of firms working on everything from long-duration energy storage to mobile flood barriers. The list includes repeat honorees like Form Energy and Brimstone, as well as newer names such as Kenya-based EV maker BasiGo and Dutch flood-barrier startup WaveSave.
The accompanying methodology article explains that the selection process involved nominations from reporters, experts, academics, and investors, followed by vetting of patents, literature, and business track records. The editors aimed for a slate representing multiple industries, stages of development, and regions. Both sources agree that the world must drastically cut emissions and adapt to climate impacts, and that technology alone is not enough.
A notable shift, detailed in the methodology piece, is that the US is no longer seen as a climate-tech leader due to deregulation and reduced federal incentives. As a result, most of the 2026 list is based outside the US, with China highlighted as a hotspot. Two Chinese firms appear: WeLion, which makes semi-solid-state batteries for EVs, and Envision Energy, which deploys wind and storage at scale.
Energy storage stands out as a key theme this year, tied to surging electricity demand from AI data centers. The list includes three storage-focused companies: Energy Dome, using compressed CO2; Form Energy, with iron-based multi-day batteries; and Moment Energy, which repurposes EV batteries for grid storage. The sources do not conflict, but the methodology article adds crucial context about why these choices were made and how the political landscape shaped the final roster.