Cleantech Insights

Climate Resilience – Sector Watch 20 September 2019

Holly Stower
Posted on by Holly Stower
AttractivenessThe 2019 World Economic Forum Global Risks Report lists extreme weather, climate-change mitigation/adaption failure, and natural disasters as the three most likely and impactful global risks. In 2017, overall losses from world-wide natural catastrophes totaled $350 billion, with $24 billion in losses due to the California wildfires alone in 2018.Although there are significant risks, this new environment also represents an opportunity, with estimates putting the climate resilience economy at around $316 trillion. Recent reports highlight increasing demand for climate-related opportunities,... Read More »

Recent Deals – 20 September 2019

Holly Stower
Posted on by Holly Stower
From new investment into robotic farming to the latest funding round into autonomous vehicle technology, we’ve put together recent deals from across the cleantech ecosystem to give you a clear picture of where the market is headed and what investors are interested in. Transportation & Logistics: Voyage raised $31 million in a Series B round, bringing its total capital raised to $52 million. Voyage develops autonomous vehicle technology and delivers autonomous mobility services, and it is currently focused on retirement villages in the US. This... Read More »

Intelligent Traffic Systems and V2X Communication – If Cars Could Talk

Cassidy Shell
Posted on by Cassidy Shell
High-speed, widespread coverage of cellular networks and WiFi along with the proliferation of IoT devices has ushered in a new era of communication: connecting devices with each other and their surrounding infrastructure, or Machine-to-Machine (M2M) communication. In the context of transportation, this trend will enable the widespread adoption of Intelligent Traffic Systems (ITS) and support the development of Level 5 autonomous vehicles.When applied to Intelligent Traffic Systems (ITS), M2M communication includes:Vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V)Vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I)Vehicle-to-network (V2N)Vehicle-to-pedestrian (V2P) communication.Collectively, these technologies are referred... Read More »

ATEC Biodigesters: A Case Study in Renewable Energy for Rural Farmers

Nakul Sharma
Posted on by Nakul Sharma
ATEC provides high-quality and pre-fabricated biodigesters to rural farming families. Biodigesters collect and treat manure, human, kitchen and green waste which are converted to biogas that powers the twin cookstove attached. In addition, organic fertilisers are also produced for farming use. ATEC’s recent initiative to launch the world's first PAYGO model for biodigesters will increase access to renewable energy technology for rural farming families by improving the affordability of a biodigester system.To learn more about ATEC Biodigesters, continue reading below... Read More »

Recent Deals – 6 September 2019

Louis Brasington
Posted on by Louis Brasington
Agriculture & Food: FreshtoHome, a developer of a fresh meat and fish home delivery service, raised $20 million in a Series B round from Iron Pillar and Joe Hirao, the founder of Japan’s ZIGExn. The India-based start-up was founded in 2015 and has built its own supply chain network, giving it control over quality and delivery of the food items. It uses trains and planes to move inventory and has become one of the biggest clients of several local airlines. The company will use the funds to... Read More »

Grid Software – Sector Watch 6 September 2019

Louis Brasington
Posted on by Louis Brasington
As multi-megawatt flexible distributed energy resources are brought online, there is growing evidence that actively managed distribution software systems can deliver lower-whole system costs to customers and other grid stakeholders. Advancements in AI, edge processing and real-time data control, combined with cloud-based asset management architecture is allowing energy assets to offer increased value onto the grid; such as automated demand response, frequency response and prescriptive control. These advancements are, in turn, creating the rationale for new market participants to enter... Read More »

Energy Disaggregation and NILM – If You Can Measure It, You Can Improve It

Po-Yu Wang
Posted on by Po-Yu Wang
.Non-Intrusive Load Monitoring (NILM), also referred to as Energy Disaggregation, is a technology using either sensor-based or Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) solutions to identify granular energy consumption data at appliance-level from whole-home energy data. The Home Energy Management Systems market has been valued at $7.7 billion in 2019 and is expected to grow to $26.9 billion in 2025 with a 23.3% CAGR.AttractivenessNILM’s real-time appliance-level monitoring of energy consumption is extremely beneficial for energy efficiency and demand response. It provides more agile grid... Read More »

Is Profitable Reforestation Possible? Land Life Company Makes the New 50 to Watch List

Jules Besnainou
Posted on by Jules Besnainou
In the face of the climate crisis, we are seeing a new generation of innovators rising to the task and developing high-impact solutions to tackle the world’s most pressing challenges. These entrepreneurs are creating new technologies and business models that could change every aspect of how we live - from what we eat to how we consume, from how we build our homes to our relationship with Nature. After a decade of success with our Global Cleantech 100, we are... Read More »

Welcome to the Chaos of the 2020s: Urgent Actions, Unusual Strategies, Unexpected Allies

Richard Youngman
Posted on by Richard Youngman
Our 2020 Cleantech Forum San Francisco theme Welcome to the Chaos of the 2020s: Urgent Actions, Unusual Strategies, Unexpected Allies is inspired by what we expect to prepare for in the 2020s.        We do not foresee business as usual, we foresee an abnormal and chaotic next decade ahead.   Meager Progress What is unique about this decade, what makes it unprecedented in history, is the inconvenient challenge that, if we are to  respond responsibly to global climate scientists’ warnings and... Read More »

Bio-fertilizers – the Natural Way to Feed the Planet

Chris Sworder
Posted on by Chris Sworder
The fertilizer industry will be unrecognizable in 30 years’ time. Currently, nitrogenous fertilizer production contributes 3% of worldwide GHG emissions and uses 3% of global methane supplies. Global overuse of synthetic nitrogen and extractive phosphate fertilizers have created over 500 environmental deadzones through run-off. To compound this, yields of key crops are stagnating or declining where soil health is degrading, while at the same time the planet requires a 2.2% increase in global yield year-on-year in order to feed its... Read More »