This week’s ten biggest climate innovation stories — 27 July
Is the era of petrol and diesel coming to an end? Could we soon be producing zero-carbon protein from solar energy? And, how is a Dutch project making bike lanes and bottles from used loo roll?
This, and more, in the week’s ten biggest climate innovation stories.
1.
The ick factor: Dutch project making bike lanes and bottles from used loo roll
A pilot scheme in the Netherlands is sifting sewage for cellulose, in order to recycle into things like bike lanes or home insulation.
https://twitter.com/GuardianSustBiz/status/890512840154431490
2.
Schroders launches climate progress dashboard, tracks current course of four degrees celsius warming
Global asset manager Schroders has launched a Climate Progress Dashboard, designed to provide investors insight into global progress towards limiting global warming to 2°C and the transition to a low-carbon global economy.
Schroders Launches Climate Progress Dashboard, Tracks Current Course Of 4°C Warming https://t.co/PEaIHtNbTS pic.twitter.com/aFjgtXaZCp
— Zachary Shahan (@zshahan3) July 19, 2017
3.
How viable are floating offshore windfarms?
Earlier this week, the world’s first floating windfarm began installation off Scotland. The developers say the project aims to demonstrate the feasibility of future commercial, utility-scale floating windfarms.
NEW – Q&A: How viable are floating offshore windfarms? | @jloistf https://t.co/nWpd1X9EFa pic.twitter.com/xBAj6S2bO4
— Carbon Brief (@CarbonBrief) July 27, 2017
4.
UK poised to ban diesel and gasoline cars by 2040
The UK will ban sales of diesel and gasoline cars by 2040 to combat air pollution, becoming the latest European country to embrace the future of transportation as electric vehicles. The news comes in the same week as BMW announced a UK based vehicle electrification strategy and Britain launched a fund to boost electric battery technology.
Read more on Bloomberg New Energy Finance
https://twitter.com/Mdoai/status/890497566084931584
5.
Danish fund to track carbon dioxide, may exclude some firms from portfolio
Denmark’s biggest commercial pension fund will soon track carbon emissions by companies it invests in, and exclude those it finds breach the Paris climate accord, its CFO has said.
Danish pension fund @pfapension to track CO2, may exclude some firms from portfolio https://t.co/oyM5VpDT1r
— Teis Hald Jensen (@TeisHaldJensen) July 26, 2017
6.
The challenge of using biofuels to cut transport emissions
Liquid biofuels still have a significant role to play in meeting the UK’s climate change targets, a new report says.
In-depth: The challenge of using biofuels to cut transport emissions | @jloistf https://t.co/cWwmPs0viQ pic.twitter.com/IzY2feeXVN
— Carbon Brief (@CarbonBrief) July 26, 2017
7.
Protein from solar energy and carbon dioxide could slow the pace of climate change
Scientists in Finland have found a way to make protein in the laboratory from electricity and carbon dioxide. The process could reduce the effects of agriculture on a global warming while preventing famines.
Protein From Solar Energy & Carbon Dioxide Could Slow The Pace Of Climate Change https://t.co/lhVx6KfHYJ pic.twitter.com/AJIIeklhT1
— CleanTechnica (@cleantechnica) July 24, 2017
8.
Variable wind energy problems due to poor planning by European nations
A group of weather and energy researchers from ETH Zürich and Imperial College London have concluded that the variability of electricity from wind turbines in Europe is due not to any fault in the equipment, but rather to a lack of planning by individual countries.
Variable Wind Energy Problems Due To Poor Planning By European Nations https://t.co/DdYMvjt8JO pic.twitter.com/DJDpyey2cu
— Zachary Shahan (@zshahan3) July 25, 2017
9.
Caltech scientists speed up carbon sequestration process by 500 times
Carbon sequestration, or removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and storing it long-term, could help us fight climate change. It’s a complex chemical reaction, but a team of scientists led by the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) just made a breakthrough in speeding up a slow part of the reaction.
@Caltech scientists accelerate part of #carbon #sequestration process by 500 timeshttps://t.co/IoN8vc8xjs pic.twitter.com/glwl6Z8WJ2
— Inhabitat (@inhabitat) July 19, 2017
10.
European Investment Bank commits €4.3 billion to renewable energy
The European Investment Bank has this week approved new financing worth a total of €4.3 billion for new renewable energy and security of energy supply schemes.
https://twitter.com/cleantechnica/status/887683363292762112