Wed.Mar 15, 2023

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How Franchisees' Environmental Concerns Impact Business Decisions

GreenBiz

Franchise businesses are a critical part of the U.S. economy. Accounting for more than 10% of businesses, franchise establishments employ 8.5 million people and are forecast to generate $827 billion in 2022. Yet, whether a quick-service restaurant (QSR), retail chain, gym, or one of the countless other franchises out there, those who own or manage a franchise location know that they face unique challenges in today’s economy.

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Group distils wisdom on biochar for climate-smart agriculture

Envirotec Magazine

Burning biochar has been a traditional agriculture practice used by humans since time immemorial. A new study attempts to synthesize global data from nearly 600 studies on biochar to analyze its potential as a climate-smart agricultural practice. It is published in Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews. Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) is described as an integrative approach that goes further than sustainable farming methods.

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The debate over geoengineering is intensifying

GreenBiz

Is geoengineering the answer to climate change, just part of the answer or dangerous science?

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20-year research project reveals “devastating loss of British & Irish flora“

Envirotec Magazine

Harebells (image credit: Kevin Walker). The creators of the new Plant Atlas say it is “the most powerful statement ever produced on the state of our wild and naturalised plants“ Thousands of botanists from the Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland (BSBI) 1 have spent the last twenty years collecting data on changes in the British and Irish flora.

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Electrofuels Are the Future: The Driving Force to Decarbonizing Heavy Transport

Speaker: Ayesha Choudhury - Senior Vice President, Head of Capital Markets at Infinium

With the first wave of the energy transition, renewable energy sources (such as solar and wind) have begun replacing coal power generation. However, some sectors are lagging behind and struggling to decarbonize more than others, including large-scale transportation like commercial aviation, shipping, and rail transit. Electrofuels (aka eFuels) are the next generation of solutions to help the hardest-to-abate sectors pivot from their reliance on fossil fuels.

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Is sustainability becoming all about accounting?

GreenBiz

Finance and accounting professionals are increasingly being brought in to incorporate ESG considerations into decision-making processes and reports.

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Co-op extends tech recirculation offer

Envirotec Magazine

Image credit: Brookgardener / Shutterstock.com Co-op has expanded its trial with tech-recirculation start-up, Spring , with the introduction of new, reusable Pouches to help consumers cut e-waste and unlock the value in their old and unwanted phones and electronic devices. The new service, known as Spring Post, launches this week (12 March) in 45 Co-op stores located in towns and cities including: Birmingham; Brighton; Bristol; Cardiff; Leeds; London; Manchester and Swansea.

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Solar PV Accounts for Over 30% of Utility-Scale Renewables Projects Globally: EIC Report

altenergymag

Decreasing cost of solar PV materials, its versatility, and global shift towards greater carbon neutrality contributed to its increasing popularity as a renewable energy source.

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A conversation with the founders of Climate Founder

GreenBiz

Climate Founder is a one-stop shop for aspiring entrepreneurs in the climate tech field.

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Australia’s biggest solar farm powers up to help replace New South Wales coal

Renew Economy

The first stage of what will be the biggest solar farm in Australia - at least for the time being - has been officially opened near Uralla in NSW. The post Australia’s biggest solar farm powers up to help replace New South Wales coal appeared first on RenewEconomy.

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Webinar: How to successfully launch a connected battery gigafactory enabled by MES

Charged

Sponsored by Rockwell Automation. Maximize production with smart, flexible solutions. Launching a connected battery Gigafactory is no small undertaking. And when you’re focused on setting up an environment to deliver enough power for the world’s growing volume of electric vehicles, you need to feel confident that you can meet demand through a smart and scalable production strategy that allows you to build growth from the start.

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AR/VR Simulations for Sustainable, Regenerative, Circular Cities

Speaker: Nik Gowing, Brenda Laurel, Sheridan Tatsuno, Archie Kasnet, and Bruce Armstrong Taylor

With 191 country signatories to the Paris Climate Agreement now hard at work in the race to zero carbon by 2050, much of the heavy lifting in ecosystem sustainability falls on the shoulders of the world's densely populated urban centers. This conversation considers how today's AI-enabled simulation media, such as AR/VR, can be effectively applied to accelerate learning, understanding, training, and solutions-modeling to sustainability planning and design.

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There is no “gas shortage,” just a shortage of ethics and integrity from gas cartel

Renew Economy

We know the solution to the energy crisis, and it is not to pander to the demands of the war-profiteering, multinational gas cartel to create new supply. The post There is no “gas shortage,” just a shortage of ethics and integrity from gas cartel appeared first on RenewEconomy.

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Built Robotics Launches Piling Robot to Accelerate Solar Energy Transition

altenergymag

Built Robotics, inventor of the Exosystem™ and leader in construction autonomy, is announcing the RPD 35: the world's first fully autonomous solar piling system. With the RPD 35, utility-scale solar foundations can be constructed up to five times faster than with traditional means and methods, bringing the nation closer to net zero energy.

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HEVO to collaborate with Stellantis on wireless EV charging

Charged

Wireless charging provider HEVO is partnering with Stellantis to integrate wireless charging into Stellantis EVs. HEVO’s wireless charging technology is up to 95% efficient (grid-to-battery), and is compliant with SAE and UL wireless charging standards, according to the company. HEVO and Stellantis are initially demonstrating Level 2 wireless charging on a Chrysler Pacifica PHEV at the company’s office complex in Auburn Hills, Michigan.

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E8 is Hiring for the Executive Director Role!

E8 Cleantech Angels

Climatetech leaders, investors and advocates -- please consider and share our opportunity to help lead the E8 community! After 4 years of growth, Mike is moving on to co-found a startup of his own. We are all excited for where we've come to, and what comes next. Please see the attached description and the latest E8 Weekly has more context ( [link] ).

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How Digital Transformation will Bend the Curve of the Linear Economy Toward the Circular

Speaker: Bruce Armstrong Taylor, Co-Founder & Managing Director of SmartNations Foundation, Jimmy Jia, Venture Partner at Pi Labs, Fabienne Durand, Senior Advisor to the SmartNations Foundation, & Roger Strukhoff, Executive Director of the Tau Institute

The Climate 4.0 Economy. Climate change is here. We see it in many ways already. Weather catastrophes: Texas freezing over, the wildfires of California, the increasingly unpredictable violence and frequency of hurricanes, the rapid melting and disappearance of polar ice caps. Much more evidence all around us. What can we do in our corporate organizations, in our homes and communities, to change the current course?

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Mercedes-Benz announces plans for its new eSprinter electric van

Charged

Mercedes-Benz has announced that production of the electric version of its popular Sprinter van will start in the second half of 2023, in both North America and Europe. The new eSprinter is set to launch in the US and Canada in the second half of 2023, and the market launch in Europe will follow towards the end of 2023. The range, based on a simulation using the WLTP cycle, will be up to 400 kilometers.

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Seaweed trials to slash methane from cow burps win federal funding

Renew Economy

Three research projects aimed at reducing methane emissions from livestock will receive between $1 million and $3 million each in federal government funding. The post Seaweed trials to slash methane from cow burps win federal funding appeared first on RenewEconomy.

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VisIC shows a gallium nitride 3-phase traction inverter with an automotive-grade PMSM motor

Charged

VisIC Technologies says that a major automotive OEM has evaluated its 2.2 mΩ, 650 V half-bridge power module based on four parallel 8 mΩ power FETs , using a PMSM motor. At 400 V, the inverter phase current reached 350 A rms (500 A peak). Driving cycle testing showed comparable efficiency to commercial silicon carbide-based modules. Moreover, VisIC says its direct-drive D-Mode gallium nitride (D 3 GaN), based on a GaN-on-Si semiconductor process, outperforms SiC at a lower cost.

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Growatt Expands Presence in Europe with Launch of UK Website

altenergymag

The new website will make it easier for UK customers to access Growatt's innovative portable power solutions, while also expanding Growatt's European market reach.

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Airbus chooses Nidec Leroy-Somer to create electric motors for its hydrogen fuel cell engine

Charged

Airbus hopes to launch a zero-emission commercial aircraft by 2035. French electric motor maker Nidec Leroy-Somer will create an electric motor for its hydrogen fuel cell engine prototype. Airbus will test its fuel cell engine prototypes on ground benches. After certification and validation, in-flight testing will continue. “We have been selected by Airbus to provide our expertise in electric motors and contribute, through our innovative R&D teams and solutions, to this eco-friendly commerci

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Indigenous Group Fighting Emissions Cap Quietly Supported by Top Canadian Oil Company

DeSmogBlog

A national Indigenous group is fighting a proposed federal limit on oil and gas sector emissions by arguing it will harm First Nations, Métis and Inuit communities. But the group has a powerful non-Indigenous ally, according to corporate documents from Canada’s second-largest oil and gas producer. Cenovus, a Calgary-based oil sands company that last year had net earnings of $6.5 billion, says in those documents that it has paid for membership with the Indigenous Resource Network (IRN).

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Renewables help slash gas demand over British winter, avoid £15bn in energy costs

Renew Economy

Renewables and nuclear stepped up to power Britain through a difficult winter, slashing demand for imported gas by 66% and saving consumers billions. The post Renewables help slash gas demand over British winter, avoid £15bn in energy costs appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Demand 98
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Eternalplanet Energy Enters Japanese Consumer-Energy Market with EP Cube at World Smart Energy Week

altenergymag

The hybrid inverter makes it possible for the system to be connected to existing or new PV systems, and the stylish, streamlined design blends seamlessly with any decor. The stackable, modular system takes up less space in the home than a traditional storage system and ranges from 6.6kWh to 13.3kWh to meet various residential demands.

Energy 82
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Windy weather sets new renewable generation records across Europe

Renew Economy

Strong wind generation conditions help deliver what reports suggest is Europe's highest yet combined wind and solar hourly production peak. The post Windy weather sets new renewable generation records across Europe appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Europe 98
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Zendure Launches First Solar Energy Storage System for Balconies

altenergymag

Composed of a PV hub and up to four batteries, SolarFlow is compatible with common balcony solar panels, allowing apartment and condo dwellers the opportunity to store valuable solar energy during the day and use it at night. The capacity of up to 3,840Wh is sufficient to provide nighttime power for a family of four – and all their critical devices and appliances.

Energy 74
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Huge gigawatt scale solar and big battery project seeks approval in gas heartland

Renew Economy

Developer seeks approval to build a huge solar farm and big battery in southern Queensland's CSG heartland, opposite a black coal power plant. The post Huge gigawatt scale solar and big battery project seeks approval in gas heartland appeared first on RenewEconomy.

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EU power rejig may only solve tomorrow’s problem

Energy Central

Von der Leyen’s promised reform luckily shies away from the most radical calls for change. Under the current system, wholesale electricity prices are set by the most expensive energy source, which last year was ballooning gas. REUTERS BY LISA JUCCA, EDITING BY GERMÁN & CO MILAN, March 14 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Spooked by skyrocketing electricity prices, European.

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AEMO sounds warning as it manages tricky balancing act on gas generation

Renew Economy

Gas demand is falling quickly in Australia, but the market operator frets that not enough supply will be available when it is really needed. The post AEMO sounds warning as it manages tricky balancing act on gas generation appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Demand 98
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Will Lithium Follow The ‘Super-Cycle’ Of Mining?

R-Squared Energy

There’s an old adage for commodities that says, “the cure for high prices is high prices.” The inverse is true as well. In fact, I often heard this phrase when I worked in the oil industry. At the same time, I often heard people say “But this time is different. This time there is no easy cure.” I heard that in 2008 when oil prices first topped $100 a barrel.

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Voltage control to boost solar penetration and reliability for vulnerable rural towns

Renew Economy

University researcher gets grant to study voltage management that could boost solar uptake and lift reliability in vulnerable grids in regional areas. The post Voltage control to boost solar penetration and reliability for vulnerable rural towns appeared first on RenewEconomy.

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Ministers urged to reverse 'backward' plans to slash active travel budget

Business Green

British Medical Association among dozens of groups calling for government to reverse plans to slash budget for walking and cycling infrastructure More than two dozen public health and transport organisations have called on the government to reverse its planned cuts to England's active transport budget, arguing the plans are a "backward move for the economy, the climate and health".

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Silicon Valley Bank’s Fall Is a Passing Cloud Over Clean Energy

Energy Central

Japanese and European banks have traditionally been big clean-energy lenders, too SVB made about $1.2 billion of project finance loans to U.S. renewable energy projects in 2022. The Wall Street Journal By Jinjoo Lee, March 14, 2023 Silicon Valley Bank’s fallout has clearly spooked some investors in clean energy stocks. How worried should they really be?

Energy 59
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LG and Honda Make a Big Move with New Joint Venture EV Battery Plant

Green Living Guy

LG and Honda have joined forces to create a new joint venture EV battery plant in Ohio. This joint venture, announced in March 2023. For it is a big move for both companies. Those that could have a significant impact on the EV industry. The plant is also expected to produce up to 240,000 lithium-ion […] The post LG and Honda Make a Big Move with New Joint Venture EV Battery Plant appeared first on Green Living Consultants, Companies, Electric Car Expert, Green Living, Electric Car News.

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Four Reasons For Europe’s Record-Breaking Drop In Natural Gas Demand

Energy Central

WHAT HAS HAPPENED Natural gas consumption in OECD Europe fell by an estimated 13% in 2022, its steepest decline in absolute terms in history. In Europe’s industry, gas use fell by 25 bcm, or around 25%, in 2022, due to production curtailment and fuel switching, as the energy-intensive industries were the first to respond to the gas price shocks last year, WHY IT HAS HAPPENED.

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Sustainability: Fact vs Fallacy

Sustainability Consulting

Understanding what it means to live sustainably, and its relevance to our lives, is crucial in protecting our planet. The idea of sustainability can be the target of many myths and misconceptions. Despite its importance, many people are unaware of what sustainability really means, or worse, have fallen prey to various myths. In order to promote sustainable practices and protect our environment, it’s important to debunk these myths and misconceptions.