The Impact Innovator | Issue 314
In this week's The Impact Innovator edition:
What is it: ?A new mandate by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) requires US grid operators to engage in long-term transmission planning for the first time. The ruling, known as Order No. 1920, sets specific requirements for transmission providers in the lower 47 states for long-term planning and financing of regional transmission facilities. The article highlights the importance of this rule in improving grid resilience, accommodating more renewable energy, and promoting advanced transmission technologies.
Why it's important: ?This new rule is designed to enhance the resilience, efficiency, and capacity of the US grid, encouraging the use of advanced technologies and facilitating the integration of renewable energy sources. The move represents a proactive approach to grid management and infrastructure development, which is crucial for the country's energy future.
Key takeaways: ?The rule encourages grid innovation by requiring providers to consider advanced transmission technologies that reduce costs. The move is seen as a shift from reactive to proactive planning, making the grid more resilient and capable of handling more renewable energy. However, the ruling is expected to take years to fully implement.
What is it: The inaugural Africa Clean Cooking Summit, held in Paris, aimed to address the health and environmental impacts of traditional cooking methods in Africa, where over 1 billion people rely on fuels like charcoal and wood. The summit brought together over 1,000 delegates from nearly 60 countries, resulting in pledges totaling $2.2 billion from governments and the private sector.
Why it's important: Traditional cooking methods using open fires and basic stoves contribute significantly to premature deaths in Africa, particularly affecting women and children in sub-Saharan Africa. The summit highlights the urgent need to transition to cleaner cooking solutions to improve health, gender equality, education, and to reduce emissions and deforestation.
Key takeaways: Health and Climate Impact: Traditional cooking methods are the second biggest cause of premature death in Africa, with harmful effects on health and the environment. Financial Commitments: Norway pledged $50 million, and the African Development Bank increased its funding to $200 million annually over the next decade. The IEA will lead efforts to raise the $4 billion per year needed by 2030. Monitoring and Fulfillment: The IEA will ensure that pledges are fulfilled and monitor the process to ensure funds are spent effectively and reach those in need.
What is it: ?Rize, an agritech startup closed a $14 million Series A funding round. The startup aims to decarbonize rice cultivation in Asia by developing technology to reduce emissions and water usage, and increase farmer incomes. The funds will be used to enhance Rize's technology and expand its operations in Indonesia, Vietnam, and across South and Southeast Asia, with the goal of reducing 100 million tonnes of carbon emissions and improving the economic stability of farmers. Why it's important: ?The investment will enhance Rize's technology and support expansion into Indonesia, Vietnam, and across South and Southeast Asia. The company's initiatives aim to lower emissions by 50%, reduce water usage by 20%, and increase farmer incomes by up to 30%, demonstrating a practical path to environmental sustainability and economic improvement. Key takeaways: ?Rize is developing a platform to collect vital agricultural data to implement sustainable farming practices, aiming to make rice farming more environmentally friendly and economically viable. It also plans to expand its team of agronomists to over 100 by the end of 2024, reaching over 20,000 farmers.
What is it: ?Mycocycle, a biotechnology company that uses fungi to transform organic waste into reusable materials, has raised an oversubscribed $3.6 million Seed extension, bringing its total funds raised to $7.3 million. The company plans to use the funding to expand its waste-to-value chain, make key leadership hires, and deepen relationships with existing waste material partners. Mycocycle's circular waste-to-value system helps divert construction debris from landfills and reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with the construction material supply chain.
Why it's important: ?The company's innovative approach contributes to decarbonizing the construction material supply chain, embodying a circular economy and offering a sustainable solution for waste management.
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Key takeaways: ?The company's mycelium-based treatments have increased tenfold over the past year, transforming waste from the built environment into non-toxic, high-quality raw materials. This process diverts some construction debris from landfills and helps to decarbonize a sector responsible for nearly a third of annual U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. Mycocycle also aids in reducing Scope 3 emissions, contributing to zero-waste corporate responsibility programs. Article
What is it: :A study conducted by researchers from the Federal Technological University of Paraná in Brazil found that spent coffee grounds can be repurposed to absorb a toxic agricultural pollutant called bentazone.
Why it's important: Researchers found that coffee waste could remove 70% of this chemical from water samples, suggesting a promising, sustainable solution to mitigate the harmful effects of such pollutants on ecosystems and human health.
Key takeaways: The grounds are first transformed into a sponge-like material by drying at high heat, turning it into ash, and adding zinc chloride and nitric acid. This process activates the carbon in the coffee grounds, increasing its porosity and surface area. Tests also showed that the coffee grounds improved growing conditions for plants, such as onions, in water containing bentazone. However, further research is needed to understand how this waste product could be integrated into farms to curb waterway pollution.
What is it: :A study by University of Barcelona researchers found that volcanic ash has properties that make it useful as an energy storage medium. The ash, which is abundant and inexpensive, demonstrated excellent thermal conductivity and heat capacity, and remained stable even after being heated and cooled repeatedly. The researchers believe that the ash could be used in conjunction with molten salts in concentrated solar power systems, reducing the salts' corrosiveness and tendency to solidify, and offering a cost-effective solution for thermal energy storage.
Why it's important: This discovery is significant as volcanic ash, which is often abundant and low-cost, could offer a more efficient and less corrosive alternative to conventional materials such as molten salts, potentially leading to longer-lasting installations and cost savings in the thermal energy storage field.
Key takeaways: It can be used in conjunction with molten salts to mitigate their corrosive effects and tendency to solidify, providing a cost-effective solution for thermal energy storage. The study suggests that volcanic ash has significant potential for use in concentrated solar power applications.
What is it: ?The Ocean 14 Capital Fund I, a Luxembourg-based fund focused on the sustainable and regenerative 'blue economy', has raised €201 million to support its mission of funding solutions to improve ocean health. The fund recently closed with €201 million, bringing its total to over €240 million, and is dedicated to investing in sustainable solutions that improve ocean health, such as aquaculture, alternative proteins, reducing plastic waste pollution, protecting marine ecosystems, and ending overfishing. The fund has already made 14 investments, including Ava Ocean and Novelplast, and has attracted large institutional investors like Nestlé, HQ Capital, and The Green Earth Impact Fund. Why it's important: ?The fund invests in businesses that address issues such as aquaculture, alternative proteins, reducing plastic waste pollution, protecting marine ecosystems, and ending overfishing, making it a key player in the fight against marine degradation and the climate crisis. Key takeaways: ?Co-founder Chris Gorell Barnes emphasized the importance of healthy oceans for life on earth and the need for capital market overhaul to avert the climate crisis. Following its closing, the fund has attracted large institutional investors such as Nestlé, HQ Capital, and The Green Earth Impact Fund. The fund has so far made 14 investments and deployed over €6 million.
What is it: ?Robotics company Unitree has launched a new humanoid robot, the G1. The G1, priced at $16,000, is a more affordable alternative to its predecessor and rivals robots like Boston Dynamics' Atlas bot and Tesla's Optimus. Why it's important: ?The G1, priced at $16,000, is a more affordable and competitive option in the growing market of humanoid robotics, offering high articulation and multiple functionalities, which could potentially revolutionize domestic and commercial applications. Key takeaways: ?The G1 robot, smaller than its predecessor, the H1, is built with up to 43 joint motors for impressive limb articulation and can handle tasks requiring precision. It stands at four feet, two inches tall, can run at 4.5 mph, and has a two-hour battery life. The G1 will be available in a base model and a more advanced version, with the latter offering more joint freedom and hand dexterity. The base G1 models could potentially serve domestic purposes, like household chores.