Crystal invented that can turn thin air into fuel and fight global warming
A “spongy” crystal that can turn thin air into fuel by extracting carbon dioxide has been developed by scientists.
The researcher said the light-activated material was a “critical step” towards making a high-value fuel while at the same time reducing the amount of the greenhouse gas in the atmosphere.
It works by turning carbon dioxide into carbon monoxide, which can be turned into a useful source of energy.
There is increasing concern that the world will not be able to restrict global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius – the target set out in the Paris Agreement on climate change to avoid the more dangerous effects.
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Source: Independent
Strategic Investment Helps Cleantech Company Build Out Electric Vehicle Charging Networks
The Electric Vehicle Outlook report for 2017 from Bloomberg News Energy Finance predicted that more than half of all new cars sold will be plug-in electric vehicles by 2040 and as a result, electricity demand from vehicles will surge 300-fold from 2016's consumption.
Cleantech company, Greenlots has secured an undisclosed strategic investment from Energy Impact Partners (EIP), a coalition of energy investors, to expand its work with municipalities and utilities to provide open standards-based electric vehicle charging and energy management solutions for storage, solar, demand response and fleet management. The investment is the first e-mobility investment by EIP.
Brett Hauser, CEO of Greenlots says the investment by EIP signals recognition by utilities around the globe that transportation electrification and the management of the resulting load is of utmost importance.
"Utilities will continue to play a critical role in furthering the interoperable integration of distributed energy resources like solar, wind, battery storage, and EV infrastructure, and this investment illustrates their plan for when extended range electric vehicles are ubiquitous," said Hauser.
Full story at http://bit.ly/2f1IBYU
Source: Forbes
California’s Extension of Cap-and-Trade Provides More Certainty to Cleantech
Late Monday night, California lawmakers approved a group of bills that extend the state’s landmark program capping greenhouse gas emissions. The news comes after months of rejected bills and aggressive negotiations by Governor Jerry Brown.
Before the vote last week, Governor Brown told lawmakers that the bill was “the most important vote of your life.”
“This isn’t about some cockamamie legacy. This isn’t for me. I’m going to be dead. It’s for you, and it’s damn real," he said.
Following the late-night approval on Monday, Brown tweeted: “Tonight, California stood tall and once again, boldly confronted the existential threat of our time. Republicans and Democrats set aside their differences, came together and took courageous action. That’s what good government looks like.”
Full story at http://bit.ly/2vnEoFi
Source: Greentech Media
The sustainable superpower? 5 reasons for China's clean tech boom
Rapid urbanization, a growing appetite for middle-class consumer goods and the not-so-enviable distinction of being the world's biggest carbon polluter.
These are a few of the traits often ascribed to China in the debate about which country will pick up the mantle of climate action in a post-Paris agreement world sans U.S. leadership.
One perk of the shifting global policy landscape, according to Qi Lu, who heads research at Beijing-based clean tech investment firm Tsing Capital: a spike in international interest in China's emerging sustainable technology sector.
"We have seen more and more clean tech companies from the U.S. turning to China for its vast market," Lu said in an interview, especially after U.S. President Donald Trump signaled his intention this spring to withdraw from the Paris deal. "In this sense, we have actually seen some positive signs."
Full story at http://bit.ly/2vnHJnI
Source: https://www.greenbiz.com
Smart city: Leeds to trial tech that switches engines to electric when air pollution spikes
The government's controversial air quality plan argued that cities should not introduce new charges for diesel vehicles until innovative alternative approaches to tackle air pollution had been tired first. But could that condition soon lead to UK cities embracing cutting-edge smart technologies and hybrid-electric vehicles that promise to switch to zero emission mode whenever pollution levels spike?
That is just one of the questions sparked by this week's news Leeds is to host a trial from a group of clean tech firms and research bodies that promises to demonstrate a new real-time emissions control technology.
Clean tech consultancy Cenex announced this week that it has teamed up with Leeds City Council to launch Project ACCRA, which will bring together the Transport Systems Catapult, Earthsense, Dynniq, and Tevva Motors Ltd to undertake the new trial.
The project promises to integrate real-time air quality data with electric hybrid engines, allowing them to automatically switch to zero-emission running in heavily polluted areas.
Full story at http://bit.ly/2uSY3sE
Source: https://www.businessgreen.com
Uk and Chinese firms join forces in clean tech alliance
Cambridge brains are set to collaborate with one of China’s biggest energy companies to help bring new clean tech ideas to market.
A memorandum of understanding has been signed between Shanghai-based SHEnergy and Cambridge Technology Capital Partners, a company established to enable cross border investment between UK and China.
The deal was signed in a ceremony held at The Guildhall to mark the culmination of a visit to Cambridge by SHEnergy executives, where they met with companies on the city’s science and innovation parks.
SHEnergy plans to plan to build an International Energy Innovation Centre (SIEIC) in Shanghai, which will be a hub for the development and testing of new green energy ideas, and the two companies are planning to work alongside Business Big Data (BBD), a Chinese firm that runs a business accelerator programme in London.
Full story at http://bit.ly/2uSodfg
Source: http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk
Prepared by @SydesJokes