While large-scale batteries being used in EV’s and grid energy storage systems continue to garner attention, what innovation is happening with small-scale batteries? Common technologies include lithium coin cells, pouch cells, and solid-state batteries - all of which carry their own detriments, including use of scarce resources and higher safety risks. What’s the scalable alternative? Zinc.
Read MorePeople have made use of geothermal energy in the form of heat for hundreds of years, but it wasn’t until 1904 that the first geothermal power generator was developed. Since then, geothermal systems have rapidly developed, but traditionally have been restricted to locations with specific subsurface conditions.
Read MoreFood waste comprises more space in landfills than anything else in the U.S. and is proven to be a major source of the most powerful greenhouse gas: methane. Alternative waste disposal methods like composting and anaerobic digestion have been gaining traction, however these methods require food waste to be transported long distances, increasing transportation emissions costs and city traffic.
Read MoreAre grid-scale energy storage solutions truly sustainable if they are made with non-renewable resources through a carbon intensive process? There are many inherent issues associated with traditional, metal based batteries, as they use both scarce and toxic materials sourced in unethical and unsustainable ways.
Read MoreThe global COVID-19 pandemic has fueled the need for disinfection while simultaneously increasing the exposure to hazardous chemicals and large amounts of medical waste. Effective UV-C disinfection systems have gained traction due to their ability to not only mitigate the waste produced from manual disinfection…
Read MoreCarbon trading and credit exchange programs create economic incentives that many corporations have begun to take advantage of in recent years. As increasing carbon emissions fuel the onset of global warming, environmental regulations enforce a new wave of transparency…
Read MoreThe first recorded use of pesticides was about 4500 years ago by Sumerians who used sulphur compounds to control insects and mites. Over the past several millennia, humans have continued to invent new ways of controlling unwanted pests in agriculture, to great benefit to society at large…
Read MoreEnergy storage is still largely dependent on fossil fuel-powered electricity. The high demand and uncertainty of the renewable energy supply puts a strain on the power grid. In order to reduce this strain, storing excess renewable energy during low-demand hours is critical…
Read MoreGlobally, 1.6 billion tires per year are disposed of improperly, including over 300 million scrap tires generated in the United States every year. Luckily, entrepreneurs have been hard at work to turn the tide on this immense problem…
Read MoreConcerns over environmental impact and personal health have caused rapid growth in the plant-based protein market. The meat alternative section of the supermarket is no longer just for vegetarians and vegans…
Read MoreOver 100 years ago, Thomas Edison was granted a patent for a nickel-zinc (NiZn) battery. Unfortunately, numerous technical problems prohibited the commercial success of utilizing this type of technology…
Read MoreOf all the methods emerging for measuring impact, climate impact analysis is arguably gaining the most importance in the investment world.
Read MoreThe increasing world demand for food and feed proteins has spurred the search for unconventional protein sources that meet protein requirements. Microbial protein in various forms has attracted particular attention because it is amenable to controlled intensive cultivation and is less dependent on variations in climate, weather, and soil.
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