This week’s ten biggest climate innovation stories — 16 June

Posts 15 Jun 2017

Which three technologies are on track to reach a sustainable energy transition? How is Heineken trying to reduce its carbon footprint? And which European countries are planning a five-fold increase in offshore wind power?

This, and more, in the week’s ten biggest climate innovation stories.

1. New self-driving electric RoboBuses are launching in Finland this year

In autumn, Helsinki will launch a new autonomous electric RoboBusLine. The city says the line “represents a shift from an experimental phase to regular, scheduled public transit service with self-driving buses.” The vehicles will reduce the costs of transportation and improve access to public transit, reducing the amount of cars on the road and slashing emissions”.

2. New appliance energy labels for consumers

The European parliament has approved the introduction of new energy labels for household appliances, which MEPs and industry experts said should enable consumers to save money and cut energy consumption while helping the bloc reduce overall carbon emissions. The parliament also backed the Paris climate goals, agreeing to share emissions reductions.

3. Scientists unveil first printable and stable perovskite solar cell for up to 10,000 hours

The mineral perovskite has been touted as the next big thing for renewable energy, giving solar cells up to 31 per cent efficiency. However, it’s water-soluble and tends to degrade quickly in the real world. Scientists at Swiss and Italian institutions may have finally achieved a stable one.

4. A new way to insulate your house: chicken feathers

Currently waste feathers end up as landfill, grist for incinerators, or protein powder fed to other animals. But two entrepreneurs from London have another potential use case: turn the feathers into building insulation.

5. Germany and California team up to tackle climate change

Germany is teaming up with California to tackle climate change as part of the “Under 2 Coalition,” a commitment by sub-national governments to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions toward net-zero by 2050. China Dialogue has also written this week about whether an EU-China alliance could carry forward the Paris Agreement.

6. Germany, Denmark and Belgium plan five-fold increase in offshore wind power

Germany, Denmark, and Belgium have entered into an agreement that will increase the amount of offshore wind power in the world five-fold. The three governments have pledged to work with more than 25 private companies to increase investment in offshore wind and reduce costs.

7. European floating offshore wind ready for the big time

Floating offshore wind energy is a viable technology and ready to be brought up to industrial scale, according to a new report from WindEurope.

8. Heineken cruises ahead with low-carbon barge transport pilot

The beer company has teamed up with food distributor Netcargo and marine biofuels firm GoodFuels to demonstrate low carbon inland barge transportation. Heineken is set to begin transporting its beer for export along Dutch canals as part of a joint project aimed at demonstrating the benefits of using low carbon barge transportation.

9. France launches website to lure foreign brainpower on climate change

The French president launched a website to lure international scientists, engineers and entrepreneurs to France. The website, makeourplanetgreatagain.fr, uses the phrase coined by Macron recycling Trump’s campaign slogan, allows teachers, businessmen and NGOs to find the relevant contact details to help them settle in France.

10. Clean energy technologies not accelerating transition fast enough

The International Energy Agency (IEA) have said clean energy technologies are not de-carbonising the global energy system fast enough to meet a 2°C target by 2025.

IEA found only three of 26 technologies are on track to reach a sustainable energy transition: onshore wind and solar photovoltaics, electric vehicles, and energy storage, which are rapidly scaling up as their costs decline to become mainstream low-carbon solutions.

This week’s ten biggest climate innovation stories — 16 June

1.

New self-driving electric RoboBuses are launching in Finland this year

2.

New appliance energy labels for consumers

3.

Scientists unveil first printable and stable perovskite solar cell for up to 10,000 hours

4.

A new way to insulate your house: chicken feathers

5.

Germany and California team up to tackle climate change

6.

Germany, Denmark and Belgium plan five-fold increase in offshore wind power

7.

European floating offshore wind ready for the big time

8.

Heineken cruises ahead with low-carbon barge transport pilot

9.

France launches website to lure foreign brainpower on climate change

10.

Clean energy technologies not accelerating transition fast enough

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