This week’s ten biggest climate innovation stories — 16 June
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”.
New self-driving electric RoboBuses are launching in Finland this yearhttps://t.co/mRzYGF8TNR pic.twitter.com/4AanBcuxS9
— Inhabitat (@inhabitat) June 14, 2017
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.
New energy labels for appliances seen as boon for consumers https://t.co/l8MTXyTCTp pic.twitter.com/oT3MqKmWWU
— Euractiv Energy & Environment (@eaGreenEU) June 13, 2017
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.
Scientists unveil first printable, stable perovskite #solar cell good for 10K hourshttps://t.co/opIgu9wx8T#cleantech#innovation pic.twitter.com/7GFoaSSgvj
— Inhabitat (@inhabitat) June 12, 2017
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.
— AEROPOWDER (@aeropowder) June 13, 2017
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.
Germany, California to tackle climate change together https://t.co/ShLyfYApCO pic.twitter.com/qFUZWmgt34
— Reuters (@Reuters) June 10, 2017
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.
Germany, Denmark, & Belgium Plan 5-Fold Increase In Offshore Wind Power https://t.co/yFisdOzlID pic.twitter.com/fCE95SCdcM
— CleanTechnica (@cleantechnica) June 9, 2017
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.
European Floating Offshore Wind Ready For The Big Time https://t.co/5wdn4W7thY pic.twitter.com/Dy9nVzF7ls
— CleanTechnica (@cleantechnica) June 9, 2017
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.
.@Heineken_NL @Nedcargo & @goodfuelsmarine to #transport #beer using #lowcarbon: https://t.co/jOgMo9mNZu Would this work in #Exeter? #barge pic.twitter.com/eX3FZ1EJyB
— Exeter City Futures (@ExeCityFutures) June 10, 2017
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.
France launches website to lure foreign brainpower on climate change, view: makeourplanetgreatagain.fr https://t.co/62MtDkAJbz pic.twitter.com/Saod4qOyJT
— Svein Tveitdal (@tveitdal) June 10, 2017
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.
https://twitter.com/Forbes/status/872961694074634247