April, 2024

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Why climate disclosure policy is critical to corporate sustainability

GreenBiz

There are 3 primary reasons why disclosure rules can help accelerate climate policy progress.

Policy 426
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Researchers develop sodium battery capable of rapid charging in just a few seconds

TechXplore

Sodium (Na), which is over 500 times more abundant than lithium (Li), has recently garnered significant attention for its potential in sodium-ion battery technologies. However, existing sodium-ion batteries face fundamental limitations, including lower power output, constrained storage properties, and longer charging times, necessitating the development of next-generation energy storage materials.

Batteries 363
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Europe installed 10GW of energy storage in 2023, EU policies to drive major growth this decade

Energy Storage News

Europe has seen its first year when energy storage deployments by power capacity exceeded 10GW in 2023, according to consultancy LCP Delta.

Europe 361
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Call for clarity on DEFRA plan to withhold air quality funding

Envirotec Magazine

The Environmental Industries Commission’s Air Quality Taskforce has called for greater clarity on the future of the Air Quality Grant scheme following the news on 17 April that DEFRA will withhold local council grants for air quality improvement projects. After being notified about their successful Local Air Quality Grant scheme applications only two months ago, the decision from DEFRA means that several cash-strapped local authorities may halt their progress on improving air quality in their ar

Health 282
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How to Modernize Manufacturing Without Losing Control

Speaker: Andrew Skoog, Founder of MachinistX & President of Hexis Representatives

Manufacturing is evolving, and the right technology can empower—not replace—your workforce. Smart automation and AI-driven software are revolutionizing decision-making, optimizing processes, and improving efficiency. But how do you implement these tools with confidence and ensure they complement human expertise rather than override it? Join industry expert Andrew Skoog as he explores how manufacturers can leverage automation to enhance operations, streamline workflows, and make smarter, data-dri

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Southeast at a Crossroads: Bad Gas Bet or Clean Energy Boon?

NRDC onEarth

The Southeast is facing a spike in electric load growth projections. Utilities are proposing a massive gas buildout to meet it—we can do better.

Energy 213
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How To Yield Results From Your Cleantech Award

Michael Grossman

Climate solutions are a new frontier. That’s why third-party validation is critical to scaling a cleantech company. It’s a sign to potential investors and beta testers they should give your company a second look if they haven’t already found you. Time Magazine and Biofuels Digest recently named their most impactful and promising greentech companies and industry influentials.

Education 162

More Trending

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An ultralow-concentration electrolyte for lithium-ion batteries

TechXplore

Lithium salts make batteries powerful but expensive. An ultralow-concentration electrolyte based on the lithium salt LiDFOB may be a more economical and more sustainable alternative. Cells using these electrolytes and conventional electrodes have been demonstrated to have high performance, as reported by a research team in the journal Angewandte Chemie International Edition.

Lithium 337
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BESS noise has ‘exploded as a concern’ recently

Energy Storage News

The noise of battery energy storage system (BESS) technology has "exploded" as a concern in the last six months, an executive from system integrator Wartsila ES&O said.

Batteries 356
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Scotland’s recycling rate hits all-time high

Envirotec Magazine

Terry A’Hearn, CEO of SEPA, in a 2023 publicity shot. Scots are recycling more than ever before as the nation’s recycling rate hits an all-time high in data released by Scotland’s environment watchdog, SEPA. The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) published the Scottish Waste From All Sources 2022 Official Statistics on 26 March, which provide details on waste from Scottish households, businesses and public services.

Recycling 279
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Hidden Fossil Fuels: Plastic Production Drives Climate Change

NRDC onEarth

Study shows that plastic production could be nearly one third of the global carbon budget and emits four times more greenhouse gases than the airline industry.

Plastics 207
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The Key to Sustainable Energy Optimization: A Data-Driven Approach for Manufacturing

Speaker: Kevin Kai Wong, President of Emergent Energy Solutions

In today's industrial landscape, the pursuit of sustainable energy optimization and decarbonization has become paramount. ♻️ Manufacturing corporations across the U.S. are facing the urgent need to align with decarbonization goals while enhancing efficiency and productivity. Unfortunately, the lack of comprehensive energy data poses a significant challenge for manufacturing managers striving to meet their targets. 📊 Join us for a practical webinar hosted by Kevin Kai Wong of Emergent Ene

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Big oil privately acknowledged efforts to downplay climate crisis, Senate report finds

The Guardian: Energy

Internal documents revealed by committee show companies lobbied against climate laws they publicly claimed to support Big oil has privately acknowledged its efforts to downplay the dangers of burning fossil fuels, a US Senate committee has found. Major fossil-fuel firms have also pledged support for international climate efforts, but internally admit these efforts are incompatible with their own climate plans.

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The week ahead in climate policy

GreenBiz

This week’s most important ongoing climate policy stories.

Policy 363
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Plasma treatment enhances electrode material for fuel cells in industry, homes and vehicles

TechXplore

Researchers from Skoltech and their colleagues have improved the properties of a carbon-based electrode material by exposing it to air plasma. Such treatment turned out to enhance electrode performance, which is the limiting factor for high-tech energy sources—particularly fuel cells.

Carbon 337
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Natron Energy starts manufacturing ‘50,000+ cycle-life’ sodium-ion batteries at Michigan factory

Energy Storage News

Natron Energy has started commercial-scale operations at its sodium-ion battery manufacturing plant in Michigan, US, and elaborated on how its technology compares to lithium-ion in answers provided to Energy-Storage.news.

Batteries 353
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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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New approach to monitoring freshwater quality can identify sources of pollution, and predict their effects

Envirotec Magazine

Yu Huang sampling for freshwater health analysis in Brighton (image credit: Jeremy Fonvielle/ University of Cambridge). The source of pollutants in rivers and freshwater lakes can now be identified using a comprehensive new water quality analysis, according to scientists at the University of Cambridge and Trent University, Canada. Microparticles from car tyres, pesticides from farmers’ fields, and toxins from harmful algal blooms are just some of the organic chemicals that can be detected using

Pollution 264
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Flint Water Crisis: Everything You Need to Know

NRDC onEarth

After officials repeatedly dismissed claims that Flint’s water was making people sick, residents took action. Here’s how the lead contamination crisis unfolded—and what we can learn from it.

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Six projects named to start feasibility studies for Australia’s first offshore wind farms

Renew Economy

Big day for Australia's offshore wind ambitions with six potential projects awarded feasibility licences and another six to follow. Altogether, a potential 25GW of new capacity. The post Six projects named to start feasibility studies for Australia’s first offshore wind farms appeared first on RenewEconomy.

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Climate policy outlook: Ottawa plastics talks wrap up

GreenBiz

This week’s most important climate policy stories.

Policy 350
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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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A flexible and efficient DC power converter for sustainable-energy microgrids

TechXplore

A new DC-DC power converter is superior to previous designs and paves the way for more efficient, reliable and sustainable energy storage and conversion solutions. The Kobe University development can efficiently interface with a wide range of energy sources while enhancing system stability and simplicity at an unprecedented efficiency.

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‘World’s largest’ compressed air energy storage project connects to the grid in China

Energy Storage News

A compressed air energy storage (CAES) project in Hubei, China, has come online, with 300MW/1,500MWh of capacity.

Energy 354
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Chitty-chitty-pop-bang! Are noise cameras ready to tackle UK traffic?

Envirotec Magazine

Speed cameras: Lessons learned in this space are informing the roll-out of noise cameras Noise camera technology is ready to be deployed for monitoring urban traffic, according to a number of firms developing it. Envirotec looks at how different groups propose to do it. While modern cars may be all too easily modified to produce ear-splitting bangs, pops and other eruptions, a growing hazard for the modern city dweller (at least if they value being able to sleep or concentrate on a task), the te

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Protecting Biodiversity Means Saving the Bogs (and Peatlands, Swamps, Marshes, Fens…)

NRDC onEarth

Wetlands cover just 6 percent of the planet’s land area but provide habitat for 40 percent of wildlife.

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How to Drive Cost Savings, Efficiency Gains, and Sustainability Wins with MES

Speaker: Nikhil Joshi, Founder & President of Snic Solutions

Is your manufacturing operation reaching its efficiency potential? A Manufacturing Execution System (MES) could be the game-changer, helping you reduce waste, cut costs, and lower your carbon footprint. Join Nikhil Joshi, Founder & President of Snic Solutions, in this value-packed webinar as he breaks down how MES can drive operational excellence and sustainability.

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Coalition’s O’Brien prompts walkout at solar event after claiming renewables will lead to blackouts

Renew Economy

Opposition energy spokesman Ted O'Brien prompts walkout at solar events after claiming Australia's renewable energy plans lead to regular blackouts. The post Coalition’s O’Brien prompts walkout at solar event after claiming renewables will lead to blackouts appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Energy 145
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Protecting forests through better forest management

GreenBiz

Understanding sustainable forestry practices can lead to more responsibly made products.

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Greater access to clean water, thanks to a better membrane

TechXplore

Water scarcity around the world is a bigger problem than ever, and desalination is critical to solving it. The best available technologies for separating salt from seawater, though, are costly and require a great deal of maintenance.

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California: ‘Energy storage revolution is here,’ says governor as US leader state surpasses 10GW

Energy Storage News

California now has more than 10GW of battery storage, with Governor Gavin Newsom hailing the state’s “energy storage revolution,” which is underway.

Energy 350
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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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Beyond the Stockholm Convention: new regulations targeting forever chemicals

Envirotec Magazine

A proposal to ban the manufacture, import and use of PFAS in Europe, with a few exceptions, is currently being debated at the European Commission. Sona Dadhania of market intelligence firm IDTechEx offers a brief look into the global regulatory landscape of PFAS, including findings from the group’s new report “ Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) 2024: Emerging Applications, Alternatives, Regulations ”.

Health 218
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Calling New York to break up with toxic PFAS this Earth Day

NRDC onEarth

New York Legislature has a real opportunity to address upstream sources of PFAS contamination

Earth Day 186
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“Simply astounding:” Australian coal mine methane emissions may be twice offical data

Renew Economy

Australia's coal mine methane emissions are being vastly underreported and are damaging the nation's credibility on climate change, economist Professor Rod Sims has warned. The post “Simply astounding:” Australian coal mine methane emissions may be twice offical data appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Methane 145
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The week in climate policy: 4 updates you need to know

GreenBiz

Permitting reform holds up renewable energy transmission in the West; the EU is getting serious about ocean conservation.

Policy 344
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Versatile fibers offer improved energy storage capacity for wearable devices

TechXplore

The latest wearable devices, such as Samsung's Galaxy Ring and Apple's Vision Pro, are taking health care a step further and even enabling people to work virtually. Given the characteristics of wearable devices that require them to be small and lightweight, there is an inevitable limitation on battery capacity, still presenting a technical barrier to incorporating a variety of functions.

Energy 307