Five green technologies changing the world
1 October 2024
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As the world starts to see the effects of climate change, the development of green technology (greentech) is becoming increasingly crucial. These innovative solutions aim to reduce environmental impact, conserve resources, and promote sustainability.
At RL360 we believe in investing responsibly for a more sustainable future (see our Responsible Investing fund range) and we have a natural interest in greentech initiatives.
Here we take a look at five innovative green technologies taking great strides to tackle the issue of climate change.
1. Carbon capturing
Carbon capture is the process of capturing carbon dioxide (CO2) to either be stored underground or to be processed into other chemicals. There are two variations to carbon capturing. One is to capture carbon dioxide (CO2) released from industrial processes and energy production plants before the CO2 reaches the atmosphere and the other is to directly capture the CO2 that is already in our atmosphere.
Many countries are turning to carbon capturing as a method to achieve their 0% carbon emission goals. However, experts at the Global Carbon Capture and Storage Institute in Australia think that just reaching 0% emission is not enough as the damage has already been done and to reverse the effects of climate change, it is imperative to reducing the CO2 that is already in the atmosphere.
2. Cotton-based batteries
PJP Eye, a Japanese firm, made cotton based batteries as a sustainable alternative to graphite and lithium batteries, although they are keeping their process a secret. Cotton, a natural and renewable material, can be processed into a form of carbon that acts as an efficient and low-cost electrode material in batteries. These cotton-based batteries offer several advantages over traditional lithium batteries, including biodegradability, reduced environmental impact, and the potential for lower manufacturing costs.
These batteries have shown promise in terms of high energy density and durability, potentially making them a viable option for portable electronics and renewable energy storage.
3. Plastic roads
The experiment of using plastic to build roads was pioneered in 2001 by Rajagopalan Vasudevan, a professor of chemistry in India. With landfills globally overflowing with plastics, repurposing discarded plastic as a material to make roads is a good way to manage the plastic waste crisis. According to the BBC, the first plastic road built by Rajagopalan less than 15 years ago still has no pot holes and has proven to be durable and cost effective – many countries are also looking into the science of incorporating plastic into their roads.
According to an article from Yale School of Environment, the low cost of plastic roads might make it possible for some rural and poorer regions around the world to finally have paved roads – allowing them to have better access to important facilities like hospitals and schools.
4. Solar-powered water production
With climate change bringing about long and unexpected drought, accessing clean accessible water can be a struggle for almost 50% of the world’s population.
Founder and CEO of Zero Mass Water, Cody Friesen used the science of moisture capturing to create water even in very dry conditions. He built panels with desiccants – a substance used to absorb moisture from the air. The moisture captured by the desiccants is then heated to gas molecules using solar energy and is released from the desiccants. When the gas cools down, liquid is generated from the vapour and after adding minerals, it becomes drinkable water.
There are many startup companies working on this technology around the world. However, they are unable to fund a large scaled version of this technology to be able to provide daily clean water to a whole community as of yet.
5. Sustainable aviation fuel
According to the World Economic Forum, about 100,000 flights take off and land around the world every day and these flights use petroleum jet fuel which releases polluting emissions, including CO2.
To combat the CO2 emissions, sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) was created using biomass from animals and plants. According to the World Economic Forum, to qualify as sustainable, the fuel must cut greenhouse emissions by at least 50% and researchers are optimistic that SAF will reduce greenhouse emissions by over 80% in the future.
The SAF must also be compatible with current plane engines without them having to be modified. Currently, SAF still has to be mixed with traditional fossil fuel but researchers are optimistic for 100% use of SAF by 2030.
The UK Government is one of the first countries to legislate the use of SAF in the aviation industry. The SAF mandate in the UK will start in 2025 with SAF replacing 2% of the jet fuel need in the UK.
These five greentech innovations highlight the diverse ways in which technology can address environmental challenges. By leveraging these and other sustainable technologies, we can move towards a greener, more sustainable future.
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