Posts

Collagen

Sustainability-in-Tech : UK Startup Makes ‘Lab’ Leather

Cambridge-based startup ‘Pact’ has raised £9 million in (seed round) funding to expand its factory space and scale-up production of its “world-first” biomaterial – a skin made from collagen that’s a convincing alternative…

Rapidly Growing Water Demand For Data Centres

Information recently obtained (by the Financial Times) has revealed that a huge spike in water consumption by dozens of facilities in Virginia’s “data centre alley” likely means new initiatives to replenish or conserve water resources…

New Device Could Reduce AI Energy Consumption By 1000 +

Engineering researchers at the US University of Minnesota Twin Cities claim to have demonstrated a state-of-the-art hardware device that could reduce energy consumption for artificial intelligent (AI) computing applications by a factor of at…

Floating Solar Panels Could Power Entire Countries

New research has concluded that floating solar panels could have the potential to meet the entire electricity needs of certain countries.  Helping To Decarbonise National Economies  The findings of the research (from Bangor…

Marvellous Microplastics Magnets

UK startup ‘The Tyre Collective’ has developed a tyre-dust magnet to attach to electric vehicles (EVs) to tackle the often-overlooked problem of tyre-dust microplastic pollution.  The Problem – The Dangers Of Tyre-Wear  As…

Amazon’s Energy Success

Amazon recently boasted reaching its 100 per cent renewable energy goal seven years earlier than the 2030 goal. However, with Microsoft and Google disclosing an increase in greenhouse gasses due to infrastructure expansion, we look at whether…

New Bioplastic Straw Degrades Faster Than Paper

Massachusetts-based Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute (WHOI) research scientists, in partnership with bioplastic manufacturing company Eastman, have reported developing a new a prototype bioplastic straw that degrades even faster than paper.   The…

New Apps Tackle World’s Fishing Sustainability

With the world facing challenges like tackling overfishing while trying to support those in local communities who rely on fishing for a living, a South Africa-based company has developed apps to address both issues and more.  What Are…

China Set To Dominate World Green-Energy Budget

New research from the International Energy Agency (IEA) has revealed that even though Europe may outspend the US on clean energy this year, China’s clean energy spending plans will massively surpass that of Europe and the US combined.  China…

Finns Finally Fabricate Fungus Fodder

Finish company Enifer is bringing back a protein made from fungus (a microprotein) that was first developed and used in the 1970s for animal feed but could now work as a sustainable protein source for the human diet.  Pekilo ®  Enifer’s…

Underwater Data-Centres Vulnerable to Soundwaves

A study by cybersecurity and robotics researchers at the University of Florida and the University of Electro-Communications has revealed how powerful sound waves could disrupt the operation of underwater data-centres.  Why Underwater…

World’s Largest Carbon Vacuuming Plant Opens

The world’s largest direct air capture (DAC) plant, dubbed ‘Mammoth’ (which can suck polluting carbon from the air to help tackle global warming) has started operating in Iceland.  Mammoth  Started on the 28th June 2022…

Designer-Material Absorbs Carbon Faster Than Trees

Scientists at Edinburgh’s Heriot-Watt University have published details of the discovery of a new material that can absorb carbon faster than trees, giving hope to efforts to tackle the climate crisis.  Can Absorb The Most Potent…

New 3D Printer Automatically Identifies Different Sustainable Materials

There’s an increasing range of renewable and recyclable materials now available yet 3D printers have historically been limited by the need to create new parameter sets for each one. However, MIT researchers have now made a 3D printer that…

Ultra-Fast Charging Sodium Battery Developed

Research by a team of doctoral candidates, supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea, has resulted in the development of an ultrahigh-energy density and fast-rechargeable hybrid sodium-ion battery.  Why?  As highlighted…
Sugar cane

Why Sugarcane’s Genome Mapping Matters

Following a decade of research, it’s thought that the recent decoding of the complex genome of sugarcane could pave the way for advanced breeding techniques, more agricultural sustainability, and perhaps for developing a cost-effective…
Solar panels

Prototype Means Solar Farms In Space Getting Closer

Oxfordshire-based Space Solar has reported a world first with the development of a UK Prototype for space-based solar panels that could mean a constant, sustainable energy supply to the planet.  Solar Farms In Space  Space Solar’s…

600% Data-Centre Electricity Increase In a Decade

In a speech shared on LinkedIn, National Grid Chief Executive, John Pettigrew, highlighted how demand for electricity from commercial data centres will increase six-fold, within just ten years.  Double The Demand On The Grid By 2050  Comparing…

World’s First Bio-Circular Data Centre

French data centre company, Data4, says its new project will create a world-first way of reusing data centre heat and captured CO2 to grow algae which can then be used to power other data centres and create bioproducts.  Why?  The…

First For Energy-Saving Magnetic Levitation Train

Italian firm IronLev has claimed to have completed the first-ever magnetic levitation (maglev) test on an existing train track.  Energy Saving Potential  The use of maglev technology for trains is particularly valuable because,…

How Cheese Helped Extract Gold From E-Waste

ETH Zurich researchers have reported discovering an effective method for recovering gold from e-waste with the help of by-products from the cheesemaking process.  Protein Fibre Sponge  The group of researchers, led by ETH Professor…
Factory

New £4 Billion EV Battery Factory in Somerset

Tata Group’s global battery business ‘Agratas’ has confirmed previous announcements that it will invest £4bn in a brownfield site near Bridgwater in Somerset to make it the UK’s biggest electric vehicle (EV) battery manufacturing facility.  Somerset…

‘Gasification’ of Waste Tea Powers Factories

The ‘gasification’ of waste tea pruning's is being used to both provide free energy for factories in Kenya and to decarbonise the tea sector.  Gasification  UK-based waste-to-energy company Compact Syngas Solutions (CSS) has…

Dirt-Powered ‘Forever’ Fuel Cell

Researchers at Northwestern University in the US have created a fuel cell that harvests energy from microbes living in soil so that it can potentially last forever (or as long as there are soil microbes).  Why?  As Bill Yen…

Promising Lithium Breakthrough For EV Market

Stanford researchers have discovered a simple way to boost the range of lithium metal batteries to twice the range of conventional lithium-ion batteries which could provide a massive boost to the EV market.  Lithium-Ion Batteries  Rechargeable…
Astronaught

First 3D Metal Printer in Space

With the world’s first metal 3D printer being sent to the International Space Station (ISS), we look at what impact being able to print metal parts in space could have on space-travel plus potential environmental considerations and more.  3D…
data centre

Data-Centres Using One-Third Of Ireland’s Electricity By 2026

A report from the International Energy Agency (IEA) forecasts that almost one-third of electricity demand in Ireland is expected to come from data-centres by 2026.  Doubling Of Electricity Demand  The IEA’s ‘Electricity 2024…
Google
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Google’s AI Discovers 380,000 New Materials

A new AI tool called GNoME from Google’s DeepMind artificial intelligence lab has reportedly discovered and contributed nearly 380,000 new compounds to the Materials Project, the open-access database founded at the Department of Energy’s…
charge point
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Green BT Street Cabinets To Become EV Charging Points

In line with the government’s aim to increase the number of electric vehicle (EV) charging points from 50,000 to 300,000 by 2030, the BT Group has announced that it will be repurposing its old, green street cabinets to EV charging points.  60,000…
London 2050

Map Shows UK Areas Under Water By 2050

An online map from non-profit climate science organisation ‘Climate Central’ shows which areas of the UK could be underwater due to climate change by 2050.  Sea Level Rise  As highlighted in a 2021 report by Benjamin H Strauss…
Fix phone

Austria’s Tech Gadget Repair Scheme

Austria’s Repair Bonus voucher scheme sees the government pay citizens up to €200 (£173) towards getting old electrical appliances, devices and tech gadgets fixed.  Why?   The Austrian government scheme, financed through the…
sapling

Tree-Planting Gen-AI Search/Chatbot Released

Berlin-based green search engine company Ecosia has released a chatbot with a “green answers” option and ploughs all its advertising profits into tree-planting.  Ecosia AI Chat   The not-for-profit company, which…
windows

Dynamic Window Breakthrough

Researchers at North Carolina State University in the US have developed a new dynamic window material that can tune out certain wavelengths of light and block heat to suit the conditions.  Three Modes Now Possible  The Dynamic window…
battery

Friendlier Alternatives To Lithium-Ion Batteries

In this article, we look at what the issues around lithium-ion batteries are, why we need more sustainable alternatives, then we’ll look at some examples of the latest, environmentally-friendly alternatives.  What Are Lithium-Ion…
Kite

Tidal Energy ‘Kite’ That Can Power A Town

Swedish startup Minesto has developed a subsea ‘kite’ style mini power plant that generates renewable energy from tidal streams and ocean currents.  How It Works  The ‘wing’ technology, described by Minesto as a kind of “subsea…
Datacenter

London Data Centres To Heat New Homes 

A new £36 million UK government project is to use data centre waste heat to provide heating and hot water to 10,000 new homes and 250,000 square metres of commercial space in London.  Using Heat From Data Centres  Data…
house EPC

New AI Model Classifies Energy-Wasteful Homes

A new deep-learning AI algorithm, developed as part of a study by the University of Cambridge, can identify and classify ‘Hard to Decarbonise’ houses (energy-wasting homes) with 90 per cent accuracy.  What Are ‘Hard-to-Decarbonise’…
wind farm

Fossil Fuels Peak as Solar & Wind Rise

Independent energy thinktank Ember’s Global Electricity Review 2023 reports that fossil fuel power generation has peaked for the half the world and that clean energy sources now account for nearly 40 per cent of the world’s electricity…
solar panels

Giant Solar Space Farm By 2035

Oxfordshire based Technology firm, Space Solar, says that giant solar panel farms could be in orbit and operational above the Earth by 2035.  The Challenge  There are significant energy and environmental challenges facing everyone,…
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AI Energy Usage As Much As The Netherlands

A study by a PhD candidate at the VU Amsterdam School of Business and Economics, Alex De Vries, warns that the AI industry could be consuming as much energy as a country the size of the Netherlands by 2027.  The Impact Of AI  De…
Datacenter
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Microsoft’s Green Concrete In Data Centres

As part of its commitment to be carbon negative by 2030, Microsoft is trialling cement containing microalgae-based limestone in its data centre builds.  The Issue For Microsoft  The main issue for Microsoft is that it needs to decarbonise…
Street Lamp

Smart 5G Street Lamps Trial

Six areas across the UK will receive funding to trial a new multi-purpose smart street lamps that house EV charging hubs and boost wireless coverage including 5G.  Funding  As part of The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology…
Coral

‘Cobots’ To Restore Reefs

With many of the world’s coral reefs being damaged by heat and acidification, one startup has developed a system to restore reefs at scale with the help of trained AI robots. Coral Reefs Struggling  The world’s coral reefs only cover…
seaweed

Disappearing Packaging Made From Seaweed & Plants

London-based Notpla Ltd makes sustainable, biodegradable, and home compostable packaging from seaweed and plants.  Naturally ‘Disappears’  Notpla Ltd, a start-up founded in 2014, manufactures different sustainable packaging…
wind farm
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Offshore Wind Makes Green Renewable Hydrogen

German company Lhyfe is showing how the challenges of producing green hydrogen can be met by using offshore floating wind-to-hydrogen turbines and electrolysers.  The Advantages of Hydrogen  The great advantages of hydrogen as a…
cargo ship
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Cargo Ship Sails Help Reduce Pollution

The recently launched Pyxis Ocean cargo ship uses giant foldaway ‘WindWings’ to help supplement engine power and could cut lifetime carbon emissions by 30 per cent.  The Cargo Ship  A Mitsubishi Corporation cargo ship is currently…
EV Car Battery

World’s First “Superfast Charging” EV Battery

China’s Contemporary Amperex Technology Limited (CATL) has announced the launch of world’s first 4C superfast charging LFP battery.   The ‘Shenxing’ EV Battery  CATL says the ‘Shenxing’ battery can deliver 400…
Solar Panels

‘Zero-Bills’ New-Build Properties

A new partnership between Octopus energy and sustainable housebuilder Verto aims to develop new homes across two south-west sites that will have no energy bills because all their energy and heating will come from with solar, battery and heat…

Aviation Fuel From Farm Waste

International Airlines Group (IAG) has announced another “significant” investment in Nova Pangaea Technologies (NPT), a company that makes aviation fuel from non-food agricultural waste and wood residues.  IAG & NPT  International…
datacenter

Data Centres May Have Their Water Restricted

The recent announcement by Thames Water that it may restrict water flows to London data centres and charge them more at times of peak demand may be the shape of things to come.  Thames Water Ltd – Considering Restrictions  The…

Buildings Made Of Re-Usable Parts

Dutch architecture firm MVRDV and start-up Madaster have taken sustainable design to new levels by creating a whole office building that’s made of 90 per cent re-usable parts.  Matrix One – Made of Re-Usable Components  The…

Hydropanels Produce Pure Drinking Water From The Air

Hydropanels are an innovative and sustainable way to extract clean, reliable drinking water from the air off-grid.  How Hydropanels Work  Hydropanels (such as those made by Arizona-based SOURCE®) work by using a solar panel to…

Art Solar Panels That Are Practical And Beautiful

A group of solar panel start-ups is producing panels that enhance the look of buildings by combing them with art or making them as coloured cladding, facades, or roof tiles.  Solar Panels That Blend In  A group of Dutch…
cultivated seafood

Sustainable Seafood … Cultivated Codswallop?

According to German-startup ‘Bluu Seafood’, its range of cultivated seafood is a way to protect oceans and animals as well as ensuring a high-quality, sustainable supply of nutritious food. What Is ‘Cultivated Seafood’ ? Cultivated…
Hard Disk

Millions Of Hard Drives Being Scrapped Is Preventable

The Circular Drive Initiative (CDI) has reported that millions of usable hard drives are being unnecessarily destroyed, adding to the growing pile of e-waste.  How Big Is the Problem?  According to reported comments to the BBC from…

‘Try Before You Buy’ Wind Turbine At Glastonbury Festival

A huge pink, purple and crucially temporary wind turbine that was erected to help provide Glastonbury Festival with green energy will also act as a ‘try before you buy’ promotion for similar turbines to be set up in other UK sites.  Turbine…
solar panels

Huge Global Demand For Green Skills

New LinkedIn research has highlighted a shortage within the kind of green skills that are needed to help develop green industries and help it achieve it climate ambitions.  Green Skills Shortage In The Workforce  LinkedIn’s Global…
Drink

Paper Packaging … Vodka Be Better?

Absolut Vodka has begun a 3-month trial of its first commercially available single-mould, paper-based bottle.   Trial – 22 Tesco Stores In Greater Manchester   As part of what it describes as its “journey…
satelite

Wood-Based Satellites That Stop Atmospheric Pollution

Japan’s Kyoto University, working with Nasa and the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (Jaxa), plan to launch wood (rather than metal-based) satellites into orbit from next year.  LignoSat  As part of the LignoSat Space Wood…
car
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Artificial Leaf Makes Petrol Alternative

University of Cambridge researchers have developed an ‘artificial leaf’ that uses sunlight to convert water and carbon dioxide into ethanol and propanol that could be used as a low-emissions petrol alternative to power car engines.  Inspired…
Pipes

Low-Cost Underground Heating For 4,000 Homes

£22 million of the UK government’s £91 million Green Heat Network Fund will be used to build a geothermal heating network that could provide low-cost heating for nearly 4,000 homes in Cornwall.  Drilling Near Truro  The…
plastic polution

Solar-Powered Aquatic Drone Purges Plastic In Waterways

The ‘WasteShark’ solar powered aquatic drone from Dutch company RanMarine removes floating pollution like plastics, algae and biomass from lakes, ponds, waterways, and harbours.  The WasteShark  The WasteShark is a mini-robot…
CO2

Green Code To Reduce Software Emissions

Cloud-based CRM company Salesforce has announced the launch of its ‘Green Code,’ a new initiative which it says will help reduce carbon emissions associated with the software development lifecycle. The Software Development Lifecycle…
solar panels

Pioneering Power: Solar Panels Float In The North Sea

Dutch start-up ‘Oceans of Energy’ has been awarded the contract for installing and operating an offshore solar farm inside the Hollandse Kust Noord offshore wind park by CrossWind, a joint venture between Shell and Eneco. World First Oceans…
solar panels

UK’s First Co-Owned Solar Park

Ripple Energy has announced that it is creating the UK’s first co-owned solar park, allowing those who buy shares to benefit from green electricity and money-off bills, plus the feelgood factor of the climate/environmental benefits.  Where?  Ripple…
Magnet

Sustainability-in-Tech : Quantum Magnetic Material Discovery Could Deliver Ultrafast Sustainable Devices

The discovery of new quantum materials with magnetic properties could bring ultra-fast, more energy efficient, and sustainable computers and mobile devices.  Quantum Breakthrough In Sweden  A research team at team at Chalmers…
underground water

Could ‘ATES’ Be The Green Future For Heating and Cooling Buildings?

A new study has shown that using underground water to maintain comfortable temperatures could reduce consumption of natural gas and electricity in this sector by 40 per cent, thereby offering a green heating and cooling solution.  The…
car engine
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Electric Roads Promise 70% Smaller Car Batteries

Researchers at Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden say that if an electric car charges while driving, the size of the battery can be reduced by up to 70 per cent.  Aim Of The Study?  The aim of the Chalmers University study…
Equinix

Waste Data Centre Energy Powers Rooftop Farm

Equinix, the largest global data centre and colocation provider for enterprise network and cloud computing, has installed a rooftop farm at one of its sites that uses waste datacentre power to grow fruit and veg.  Paris Rooftop Greenhouse  As…
Swimming Pool

Heating Swimming Pools For Free With Digital Boilers

UK data centre startup Deep Green is using servers submerged in mineral oil as “digital boilers” to turn server heat into free heating for hot-water for swimming pool owners, distilleries, and large apartment blocks.  Digital Boilers  Harnessing…
footprints

How Businesses Are Cutting Their Website’s Carbon Footprint

In this article, we look at how slimming-down and optimising websites is yet another way that businesses are helping to cut their carbon emissions.  Websites And Carbon Emissions  According to the Eco-Friendly Web Alliance, the…
Oranges

How Edible Food Packaging Could Reduce Plastic Waste

With eco-friendly packaging being considered as part of the green product decision-making process of today’s customers, here we look at food packaging that could save on plastic waste because it is edible!  Edible Food Packaging  The…
IT

Sustainability-in-Tech : Bacteria Ink Gives Bonelike 3D Printed Structures

Researchers at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL) have developed a way for using a 3D-printing ink that contains calcium carbonate-producing bacteria, giving a result similar to mollusc shells or bone.  ‘BacktoInk’…
somke

Sustainability-in-Tech : Search Engine Sustainability Shock

With the integration of large language models (LLMs) into search engines, some people are predicting that the massive increase in computing power needed could mean huge carbon emissions.  What Are Large Language Models?  Large language…
Wall

Sustainability-in-Tech : Will Warm Wallpaper Really Replace Radiators?

Hull-based company iHelios has developed a system of using temperature controlled, energy-efficient electric infrared ‘wallpaper’ to heat homes and businesses which may have the potential to replace traditional central heating systems.  Heating…
car
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Sustainability-in-Tech : Hydrogen Hybrids

Engineers at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) say they have modified a conventional diesel engine to run (mostly) on hydrogen which could lead to CO2 emissions being cut by up to 85 per cent.  Engine Converted  The UNSW…
water

Sustainability-in-Tech : Clean Water From Thin Air – No Power Required!

Researchers at ETH Zurich have developed a zero-energy condenser that can harvest drinking water from the humidity in the atmosphere 24/7.  Could Solve Shortage Challenges  In some parts of the world, fresh drinking water is scare.…
Data Center

Nuclear-Powered Data Centre

CumulusData has announced the completion of a key milestone in the construction of Phase 1 of its 475-megawatt zero-carbon “Susquehanna” data centre that’s directly connected to 2.5-gigawatt nuclear power stations.  First Phase…
Building

Window-Film Cools Buildings

Scientists from Kyung Hee University in Seoul have developed a clear window film that can cool the inside of buildings, thereby reducing the energy consumption from air conditioning in hot cities.  Why?  Cooling buildings in hot…
plant
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Sailing Towards Sustainability

Here we look at the new technologies which could lead to a more environmentally friendly and ‘cleaner’ shipping industry, plus we look briefly at promising clean tech innovations for air freight.  The Challenge  With 90…
energy

Fuss Over Fusion

US scientists have announced a major breakthrough in their efforts to create nuclear fusion energy after they were able to produce more energy from a fusion experiment than was put in, for the first time, ever.  What Is Nuclear Fusion?  Whereas…
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Hydrogen Aircraft Fuel & 2050 Net Zero

FlyZero’s and UK Aerospace Technology Institute’s (ATI) study has concluded that green liquid hydrogen powered aircraft could deliver the net-zero 2050 target for aviation. Two Technologies The 12-month study results suggests that…
Electric Car
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Report Questions Benefits Of Electric Cars

A report which shows huge sales of EVs in the US only resulted in only a 0.54 per cent fall in gasoline consumption in 2021 has led to disappointment and questions about the beneficial impact of EVs so far.  EV Sales  A recent Argonne…
Printed HouseUniersity of Maine

World’s First 3D-Printed 100% Bio-Based House

The University of Maine Advanced Structures and Composites Center (ASCC) in the US has unveiled the first 3D-printed house made entirely with bio-based materials.  BioHome3D  The 600-square-foot prototype ‘BioHome3D’ has 3D-printed…
sustainability

How Investment In Sustainability Could Protect Against Disruption

After a new report published which says that most business leaders plan to increase investment in sustainability initiatives to protect against disruption, we look at what this means.  Report  A recent Gartner report highlighted…
patch panel

Data Centres In Space?

A feasibility study is to be carried out into whether solar powered data centres could be put into orbit to reduce their carbon footprint.  Who And What?  The European Commission has chosen Thales Alenia Space, a joint venture between…
meat

Environmental Benefits Of Lab-Grown Meat

With lab-grown, cultivated meat looking as though it could tackle environmental and animal welfare issues, we look at the Dutch origins of this new produce, its benefits, and how tech has played an important role in creating the product.  What…
robofish

Microplastic-Eating Robot Fish Takes To The Water

A prototype of an award-winning robotic fish design that filters water to trap microplastics has now been tested in lakes as well as the lab.  Gilbert Wins  Eleanor Mackintosh’s design for the glow-in-the-dark, water-filtering…
chemicals

An End For Forever Chemicals

In what could be a huge step forward for environmental clean-ups, a team of researchers from the University of Washington has created a new technique for destroying so-called ‘forever chemicals’.  What Are Forever Chemicals?  ‘Forever…
solar cells

Potentially Endless Power For Gadgets

The ‘Powerfoyle’ mini, screen printable solar cells produced by Swedish startup Exeger could be a breakthrough in providing a renewable, sustainable, potentially endless power source for all kinds of gadgets and devices.  What Is…

Venue Uses Human Heating for Renewable Energy

Glasgow arts venue SWG3’s innovative new heating and cooling system uses the captured body heat emitted from its visitors to provide a renewable energy source.  The BODYHEAT System  As part of its drive to become a net zero…
underwater camera

Noise-Powered Camera Could Help Climate Change Science

The development of a battery-free, wireless underwater camera by MIT engineers could help to build more accurate climate models and help scientists to better understand how climate change impacts the underwater world.  Challenges  A…
Fracking

Fracking Up

With the UK’s ban on fracking for shale gas in England that has been in place since 2019 now formally lifted, we look at the technology involved and how fracking fits in with the idea of sustainability. What Is Fracking? Fracking is…
etherium
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Environmental Ethereum?

The most popular altcoin and second-largest cryptocurrency by volume, Ethereum, has switched to a new operating model which uses 99.95 per cent less energy!  The Merge  ‘The Merge,’ which the change is being called, and which…
Electric boat

Stockholm’s E-Ferry : World’s Fastest Electric Passenger Vessel

The Candela P-12 Shuttle electric ferry, recently unveiled and due to enter service in between Stockholm city and the Ekerö suburb next year, can dramatically cut journey times. Faster Than Stockholm’s Cars and Subway? The makers of…
wind turbine

Are Wind Turbines Really All That Green?

A study by the University of South Australia’s Future Industries Institute has revealed that with no plans in place for the recycling of end-of-life wind turbines has meant that they are causing a waste problem that looks set to get worse.  What’s…
Train
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World-First All-Hydrogen Train Just Emits … Water!

French company Alstom has announced a renewable energy world-first by operating a 100 percent hydrogen train which only emits steam and condensed water while operating with a low level of noise.  Replacing Diesel Trains  The train…
quadcopter
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Last-Mile Drone Deliveries Offers Sustainability Benefits

Researchers from US Carnegie Mellon University have concluded that quadcopter drones produce much less greenhouse gas emissions than traditional alternatives for last-mile delivery.  The Problem  The point of the research was to…
Phone
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All iPhones To Be Powered By Renewable Energy By 2030

Apple’s Vice President of the environment, Lisa Jackson, has announced that all iPhones will be powered by renewable energy by 2030.  Acquiring Renewable Energy From Wind Farms  The announcement was made in Australia while celebrating…
Graphene

Sustainability-In-Tech : Graphene For Greener Business?

In this article, we look at how super-strong Graphene can be used to make projects and products more environmentally friendly.  What is Graphene?  Graphene is a one-atom-thick layer of carbon atoms arranged in a two-dimensional…
cement

Algae-Grown ‘Limestone’ For Cement Could Be Sustainable Solution

Researchers at the University of Colorado in Boulder have developed a net carbon neutral (or even carbon negative) method of producing Portland cement by substituting quarried limestone with limestone produced by microalgae.  The…
sand

Sand Battery For Year-Round Heat

Finnish engineers, Markku Ylönen and Tommi Eronen have made a giant battery which stores heat from green energy within sand that can be used as an all-year-round energy supply.  Sand Battery  The Finnish engineers’ company, Polar…
escooter

EScooter Rentals – Not Everything They’re Touted To Be?

Nipping along the road on an EScooter sounds like a perfect way to get around which is touted as being easily-accessible, cheap and pollution-free. So, it should be a no-brainer, right? However, with some research now showing that rental Escooters…
co2

UK’s Largest Carbon Capture Facility Opens In Cheshire

Tata Chemicals Europe has opened the UK’s largest industrial-scale carbon capture facility at its chemical plant in Cheshire to convert carbon dioxide into food and pharmaceutical-grade sodium bicarbonate.  Capturing 10% Of The Carbon…
water

New Ultrafast Saltwater Purification Device

Researchers at the University of Tokyo have developed a device that can desalinate water at least one thousand times faster than existing methods.  A Membrane Made From Tiny Fluorine-Based Nanoscopic Rings  Scientists…
cement

Sustainability-in-Tech : Renewable Cement Made Entirely From Waste Materials

Scientists at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) have created renewable, sustainable ‘biocement’ made entirely from waste materials, making it a greener and more sustainable alternative to regular cement.  How?  The…
Meeting

IT INDUSTRY’S SUSTAINABILITY ACTION-GAP

A report by datacentre energy management company Schneider Electric has highlighted a sustainability action gap between the statements of intent and actions of IT companies.  The Research  The research for the report, carried…
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FIRST U.S. MORATORIUM ON CRYPTO-MINING PASSED

New York state lawmakers have passed a two-year ban on energy-hungry ‘proof-of-work’ crypto mining that uses carbon-based fossil fuel power plants.  Energy-Hungry Crypto-Mining  One of the big environmental challenges of cryptocurrency…
Nio
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SWAPPABLE BATTERIES

Rather than EV drivers waiting for 40 minutes to re-charge the car battery at a charging station, could the solution be stations where drivers can quickly swap their battery for a fully charged one?  Swap Battery Rather Than Wait To…
ship in dock
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All At Sea For Carbon Capture

With container ships being bigger greenhouse gas producers that aeroplanes, London-based company ‘Seabound’ has developed technology that reduces up to 95 per cent of CO2 emissions per ship.  The Problem  The shipping…
plastic waste

Using Bubbles To Fight Plastic Pollution

A fast-growing Amsterdam-based start-up, The Great Bubble Barrier, has created a barrier (as the name suggests) that uses bubbles to stop plastic waste from entering waterways and to remove plastic from them.   Most Plastic Travels…
batteries

THE IMPACT OF LITHIUM MINING

With our devices using lithium-ion batteries and with Electronic Vehicles (EVs) currently dependent on lithium for their rechargeable batteries, we look at the environmental impact of lithium mining, and what the possible alternatives could…
woman watching tv

Sustainability-In-Tech : Switch Off ‘Vampire’ Devices And Save An Average Of £147 Per Year

New research by British Gas (Centrica) has revealed that UK households could save an average of £147 per year on their electricity bills by switching off their ‘vampire electronics’.  What Are Vampire Devices?  So-called ‘vampire…