Spotted: Fungi are a type of organism that can cause enormous agricultural losses. And many plants weakened by climate stress are more susceptible to fungal infection. Conventional techniques for treatment and prevention involve toxic fungicides, which can have a detrimental effect on the environment and human health. As a result, there is an urgent need for alternative methods of control. One promising approach has been provided by researchers at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT). The approach involves an environmentally safe alternative that tricks the pathogens’ chemical communication with plants. The goal is to biologically ‘hack’ the process – disrupting the pathogen’s ability to infect the plant and cause disease.
The aim of the project is to develop a new generation of highly specific and effective crop protection products based on reactivating plants’ immune responses. This could help to reduce the use of synthetic pesticides and increase the sustainability of agriculture. In addition, these new methods provide an effective way to combat harmful fungi without causing harm to the environment.
During the study, researchers found that fungi detect specific stress signals from plants and then use their own signal substances to suppress the plants immune system.. The team then identified molecules that could be used to reactivate the immune response, allowing the plant to fight off the infection. To develop the method, about 20,000 fungus strains and 6,000 plant species were used.
The project featured an interdisciplinary research network of botanists, fungal genetic scientists, microsystem technologists, chemists, and professionals in agricultural science. Additional participants included the Universities of Freiburg, Strasbourg, the Institute of Biotechnology and Drug Research (IBFW), and the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) in Switzerland. Funding was provided by the “Interreg Oberrhein” cross-border EU program.
Other innovations spotted by Springwise that combat the negative effects of fungi include non-toxic emulsions and smart wrapping papers capable of killing E.Coli and various fungus species.
The future Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne station is part of the European train line connecting Lyon to Turin. It will be one of the link of this new connection which will be at the center of the north-south and east-west axes of Europe. The site of this future station take place in a strong duality between the very present mountains and the rail infrastructure.
The project is articulated in an « in-between » and follows this subtle dichotomy in its conception._Morphology and shapeThe proposal is built like a rocky extraction, a sculpted volume to give it a dynamic and formal link with the landscape and his context.This mass is percied in a relevant way, creating framing on the landscape and offering natural light in spaces of great heights.Posed on a transparent based, the volume maintains a strong link between the interior and the exterior of the station.
A tension is generated between the lightness of the base and the massiveness of its upper part pierced by the train._General accessibility, readable streams, clear thresholdsThe multi-oriented station is designed with several levels of forecourt which allow to identify the uses. A high forecourt to the south in connection with the city center, a lower forecourt for the train and bus station.
This public space is open to everyone, a connection forecourt, passage and waiting, which creates a direct link between two parts of the city._Ecological transitionThe prismatic volume is built like a rock from a local, ecological and noble material : the rammed earth with a dark color. A natural and biobased material from the nearby mountains.
Its atypical form orients part of the roof that can absorb natural light to create energy. A passenger building for the city, economical in surface area, material and energy..
Spotted: As the world industrialised, cement became the glue that held civilisation together. It was used to build the homes we live in, the roads we travel on, and the bridges that connect us. However, cement production is carbon intensive and is responsible for approximately 8 per cent of total greenhouse gas emissions worldwide. As nations continue to urbanise and industrialise, the demand for cement is only expected to grow. As part of the effort to find a way to meet this demand while reducing the strain on the environment, researchers at Washington State University and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory have added nanoparticles from shrimp shells to cement.
The research, which was published in the journal of Cement and Concrete Composites, describes the process of putting nanoparticles extracted from the shells of shrimp waste into cement paste. The result is a material that is significantly stronger than traditional cement. By increasing the strength of cement, it is possible to reduce the amount needed. Less cement needed means less made, and thus fewer carbon emissions.
The shells of crustacean arthropods are made up of 20 to 30 per cent chitin. Chitin nanocrystals are what allowed the research team to change some of cement’s properties, such as its consistency, setting time, strength, and durability. The researchers reported an increase of 40 per cent in strength and a 12 per cent increase in resilience to compression.
Next up, the researchers are hoping to scale up their work.
Springwise has spotted a number of innovations aiming to decarbonise the cement industry. These include a research team at the University of Colorado Boulder who have created a cement made using microalgae. Springwise has also spotted cement made from fruit and vegetable scraps, and a vaulted floor design that minimises the cement used.
Spotted: Today, significant energy is spent on keeping buildings warm or cool. In fact, nearly half of the greenhouse gas emissions associated with buildings are the result of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC). Buildings, in turn, account for 39 per cent of energy-related global greenhouse gas emissions. In response, buildings are increasingly fitted with thermal energy storage systems that smooth and optimise heating and cooling throughout the day. Traditionally, these systems work by changing the temperature of water in huge tanks that are expensive and inefficient. This could be set to change, however.
Instead of water, the HeatTank system developed by Hungarian startup HeatVentors, uses phase changing materials—substances that absorb and release heat energy when they solidify or melt—to store the heating or cooling energy from a building’s HVAC system. If the system is being used for heating, excess heat is stored, melting the phase changing materials (PCM). When the heat energy is needed later on, it is discharged and the PCM solidifies. The process is exactly reversed if the system is being used for cooling. Cold air solidifies the PCM, with the cooling energy later discharged when the PCM melts. The temperature range for solidifying and melting the PCM is much narrower than for water – 20 degrees Celsius for solidifying, and 40 degrees Celsius for melting.
By storing energy when it is most abundant and releasing it at more expensive times, the HeatTank system helps organisations reduce their carbon emissions while also saving money on energy costs. In essence, the system allows organisations to bypass the most expensive times of day or night for buying or producing energy. In addition, by more steadily regulating interior temperatures, the technology reduces the overall amount of energy an organisation consumes.
Rectangular in shape, the storage unit is 90 per cent smaller than current, water-based versions, making it suitable even for relatively small buildings. What is more, the system is 20-40 per cent more efficient than others on the market.
The company currently focuses on data centres, district heating and cooling networks, commercial buildings, and gas engines, all of which rely heavily on HVAC throughout much of the year. For data centres, a gap of cooling power for even five minutes can result in significant damage, something HeatTanks can help to prevent by providing immediate backup energy in case of emergency.
Energy storage remains one of the most significant challenges in transitioning entire economies to renewable energies. Innovators are seeking myriad solutions, from reusing old EV batteries for energy storage units to using captured CO2 for long-term energy storage.
Reflecting our global Springwise readership, we explore the innovation landscape and freshest thinking from a new country each week. Ahead of St. Stephen’s Day, we are celebrating three exciting innovations from Hungary…
Climate targets: A 40 per cent reduction in domestic greenhouse gas emissions compared to 1990 levels by 2030 , achieve climate neutrality by 2050
Sustainability issues
Air pollution– Hungary has among the highest levels of particulate matter air pollution in the OECD. In 2021, the EU’s top court found that Hungary has systematically breached EU limits on particulate matter pollution, for as long as 12 years in some regions. And the European Environment Agency attributed 13,100 premature deaths in Hungary to air pollution in 2018.
Water pollution – Hungary is home to Lake Balaton – the largest lake in Central Europe. It is an important site for migratory birds and has become a major tourist destination in recent years. However, one academic believes might become unfit for bathing in 10-15 years due to deteriorating water quality. Although, today, the waters are relatively clean, the most polluted parts of the lake are prone to frequent algal blooms.
Energy security – Hungary is heavily dependent on Russian natural gas imports. It is therefore vulnerable to price hikes and dislocations caused by the current conflict in Ukraine. In response, the government has loosened restrictions on logging in order to meet surging demand for firewood, sparking protests in the nation’s capital.
Many towns, villages, and cities don’t have the infrastructure in place to manage a community-wide composting system. Food therefore continues to end up in landfill, especially in areas where room for gardening is scarce. Hungarian startup Compocity’s solution is to bring composting indoors with a smart system called the CompoBot. Read more
A THERMAL ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEM REDUCES ENERGY COSTS AND EMISSIONS
Nearly half of the greenhouse gas emissions associated with buildings are the result of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC). Buildings, in turn, account for 39 per cent of energy-related global greenhouse gas emissions. In response, buildings are increasingly fitted with thermal energy storage systems that smooth and optimise heating and cooling throughout the day. Traditionally, these systems work by changing the temperature of water in huge tanks that are expensive and inefficient. This could be set to change, however. Read more
RE-PURPOSING NATURAL GAS PIPELINES TO TRANSPORT HYDROGEN
Natural gas will be phased out of the energy mix as the world transitions to renewable energy. But what is to be done with all the gas infrastructure once this happens? At the same time, hydrogen, one of the most promising clean fuels for the future, currently lacks infrastructure for storage or transportation. This raises an intriguing possibility – what if existing natural gas infrastructure was used to transport hydrogen? Hungary’s natural gas network operator FGSZ, is exploring this option with risk and assurance company DNV Group. Read more
Words: Matthew Hempstead
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Spotted: All the complexities of the digital world we see today are ultimately based on a system of ‘bits’ – switches that can be either on or off, 1 or 0. And to date, the equation for increasing computing power has been simple: fitting more and more switches (in the form of transistors) onto smaller and smaller microprocessors. But this will not be the case for much longer.
According to the counter-intuitive laws of quantum physics, on the subatomic scale, particles like electrons, photons, and ions can exist in more than one state at any time, and it’s this strange fact that forms the basis of quantum computing. The foundation of a quantum computer is no longer a bit but a ‘qubit’ (quantum bit). A qubit is not bound to being 1 or 0 – instead, it can be 1, 0, or both 1 and 0. This means that a quantum computer can perform multiple processes at once, massively increasing the speed and accuracy with which it can solve complex calculations. Today’s quantum computers remain embryonic but the technology is rapidly improving.
Quantum computing has long been dominated by Chinese and American giants such as Huawei, Baidu, Google, and IBM. But now, UK-based Oxford Quantum Circuits (OQC) has become the latest startup to receive funding to enter the market. The company has developed hardware that addresses one of the key challenges when it comes to scaling quantum computers up to a level of processing that is commercially useful. As you add qubits onto a 2D silicon chip, increasingly complex control wiring is required to support those qubits. In a ‘traditional’ quantum system, complicated engineering is required to fit all that wiring onto the chip alongside the qubits. This added complexity reduces the quality of each qubit while increasing the probability of engineering mistakes, creating a trade-off between scale and quality.
OQC’s solution is to use a 3D rather than a flat structure. Using a 3D structure means that a lot of the control wiring can be taken off the chip, increasing simplicity and flexibility. The company claims this removes the need to compromise on quality to achieve scale.
OQC’s technology is far from an academic exercise. It has potential applications in financial services, pharmaceuticals, and logistics, and, since February, the company’s latest machine—called ‘Lucy’—has been publicly accessible via the cloud using Amazon Bracket, the quantum branch of Amazon Web Services. The company also offers what it calls ‘Quantum-Computing-as-a-Service’ via a private, tailor-made platform. The startup’s first client is Cambridge Quantum, which is using the platform to generate superior cryptographic keys for use in advanced cybersecurity.
Quantum computing, is a sometimes esoteric but increasingly important issue. Springwise has previously produced a Tech Explained article on the topic, and has spotted several other quantum computing innovations such as quantum algorithms for startups aiming to harness quantum computing power.
Spotted: As concern for the climate increases, businesses everywhere are working on innovative ways to become carbon neutral. Recently, beverage giant Diageo announced plans to invest €200 million to build Ireland’s first carbon-neutral brewery. The new brewery will brew lagers and ales on a greenfield site in Newbridge, County Kildare. When complete, the brewery will have the capacity to brew 2 million hectolitres of beer, making it Ireland’s second-largest brewing operation.
The new facility will be powered entirely with renewable energy, as well as using the latest process technology to minimise energy and water consumption. The brewery will save an estimated 15,000 tonnes of annual carbon emissions compared to what a similar-sized standard brewery would produce. Construction is expected to begin this year, with brewing operations starting in 2024.
The new brewery is also positive news for the economy of Newbridge and surrounding areas in Kildare, with up to 1,000 jobs created during the construction of the site and 50 permanent positions once it is up and running. Both Diageo and the Irish government hopes the brewery will serve as an inspiration for other businesses.
In going carbon neutral, Diageo is joining a growing number of businesses and industries that are using innovative design and building techniques to save on carbon emissions and water use. Some recent developments in this space include carbon-negative cement production and even carbon-neutral headphones.
Spotted: Rather than huddle around a single point of heat waiting for the entire room to warm up, people can now bask in full room heating supplied by ceiling, wall, and floor panels. Made by startup NexGen, a thin film of graphene uses far infrared rays and convection to project heat. The process distributes warmth evenly throughout a space, thereby using less energy to reach the desired temperature in less time.
The rising costs of living are affecting everyone, with particularly dire effects on those with fixed incomes. The Welsh Government is trialling the graphene heat system in a number of social housing buildings to help reduce the high cost of fuel. Capable of being installed under materials such as plaster, carpet, and vinyl, the graphene films help residents better manage their heat use. For some, heating their entire living space all day is unnecessary, so a room-by-room set-up helps to more efficiently manage expenses by using only what is needed.
Installation requires a few days of work, and the system plugs into traditional electrical sockets. Solar panels and a smart battery further increase the sustainability and affordability of the system. And far infrared rays have also proven beneficial to general health.
Springwise is spotting a number of innovations seeking to make more efficient use of available heat sources, with geothermal panels in underground car parks heating the building above and disused coal mines being used to create regional heat networks.
The multi-faceted challenges facing the world today must be tackled collectively. And it will only be possible to achieve the SDGs if everyone commits to collaboration, both within and between societies.
In particular, developing countries that have not reaped the economic benefits of industrialisation need to be supported as they transition to a greener, healthier, and more prosperous society. This support must, in turn, tackle the inter-related issues of debt relief and access to finance, communications technology, and global markets.
Action on the SDGs is not the sole preserve of governments. Businesses, NGOs, and citizens themselves all have a role to play, and building partnerships between these societal actors is essential.
SDG 17 focuses on this partnership building, and, in many ways, underpins all of the other SDGs. But how can innovators help deliver on SDG 17? Their role is twofold: they can facilitate partnerships, and they can act as inspiring examples of what partnership can achieve. And of course, innovators exist in all corners of society, not just in startups, but in governments, universities, social enterprises, and communities of all kinds.
Building exports in developing countries
One of the issues raised in SDG 17 is the access of developing countries to global markets. Today, only one per cent of exports in the global merchandise trade come from the world’s least-developed countries, and this percentage has remained flat since 2011. As a result, target 17.11 within SDG 17, which called for the least-developed countries’ share of exports to double by 2020, has not been met.
Despite this lack of overall progress, individual innovators continue to work hard to develop new sustainable and exportable products in developing countries. For example, one startup is hoping to acquire disused land to create a bamboo industry in Jamaica that will export the sustainable crop for use in paper-making. And, in Kenya, an entrepreneur is hoping to turn the overlooked croton nut into a sustainable cash crop.
Mobilising finance
Target 17.3 within SDG 17 calls for the mobiliation of finance from multiple sources to support developing countries. Innovation in finance has come from both the public and private sector. In 2017, supported by the International Finance Corporation and the World Bank, Fiji made history by becoming the first nation to issue a sovereign green finance bond. Proceeds from the bond sale were earmarked for initiatives to improve crop resilience, bolster flood management in sugarcane fields, support reforestation, and rebuild schools to better withstand extreme weather.
In the private sector, one startup in Chile has developed a platform that makes it easy for small businesses to manage their business and quickly apply for loans. Such a service is crucial as the company points out that only 5 per cent of companies in all Latin American countries have access to recurring financial services.
Cross-sector partnerships
Partnerships across the different sectors of society will be crucial to achieving the SDGs, as is highlighted in target 17.17. And innovators are developing new ways for organisations of all kinds to tap into the broad range of skills embodied within communities.
One exciting example of this principle in action comes from South African startup Zindi. Presented with data-centred challenges by companies, NGOs, and government institutions, the company invites its community of data scientists to take part in a number of solution-finding competitions. Each winning solution bags its creator a cash prize.
Information and communications technology
Target 17.8 highlights the importance of enabling technology, particularly ICT equipment, for building effective partnerships. Yet this technology is not always readily available in developing countries – only 1.4 people per 1,000 inhabitants have a fixed broadband subscription, for example. Innovators are therefore working hard to improve digital access.
In Benin, one startup offers workshops that teach people how to build their own computers from jerrycans. The training is offered for free, but participants must find the components to build their own computers themselves. These can come from old or broken computers that are being recycled, or purchased. Over the long term, however, access to top-of-the-range communications equipment is essential. In South Africa, telecom giant Vodacom is hoping to make smartphones accessible to everyone with a ‘Good as New’ programme that offers used Apple iphones for sale at a fraction of the cost of a new model.
Dissemination of clean technology
At present, annual clean energy investment in emerging and developing economies needs to increase more than sevenfold to put the world on track to reach net zero by 2050. And the dissemination of clean technologies must be done in a way that ensures they are affordable for developing countries.
In Peru, a social enterprise is making it easier for off-grid households to acquire solar-powered lights and other cleantech solutions. Using a pay-as-you-go model, users can buy one week’s worth of solar energy at a time. To make the financing option viable, the enterprise is working with a range of partners to provide larger solar arrays from which communities can buy power. In Tanzania, EDFI ElectriFI, the EU-funded electrification financing initiative, has invested in Simusolar, a startup that develops affordable solar-powered water pumps and fishing lights for off-grid communities.
Words: Matthew Hempstead
Looking for inspiration on sustainability? Why not visit our SDG hub page for more articles on green innovation that matters.
Reflecting our global Springwise readership, we explore the innovation landscape and freshest thinking from a new country each week. Ahead of independence day, we are celebrating three exciting innovations from India…
Climate targets: A 45 per cent reduction in emissions intensity from the 2005 level by 2030, net zero by 2070
Sustainability issues:
Coal use – Only the US and China have higher greenhouse gas emissions than India, and the country is the world’s second-largest producer, consumer, and importer of coal. India is particularly reliant on coal for power generation, with the fossil fuel accounting for 75 per cent of annual electricity generation.
Cooking fuels – Despite government initiatives to promote the use of liquified petroleum gas, many rural Indian’s lack access to modern, clean cooking fuels, relying instead on solid fuels. The smoke created by burning solid fuels for cooking and other household activities is the largest source of ambient air pollution in India, contributing to ill-health and early death.
Water pollution– As India’s population grows and the country becomes increasingly urban, waterways are being put under unprecedented strain. And the situation is becoming critical with estimates suggesting that 70 per cent of the country’s surface water is not fit for human consumption.
Each year, millions of tonnes of flowers are left as offerings at Indian temples. For religious reasons, these offerings can’t be thrown into landfills, so they end up in rivers. The flowers are often covered in pesticides, toxic metals, and insecticides, and once they reach the water, the chemicals wash off, creating toxic compounds that suppress oxygen levels and threaten marine life. Startup Phool is addressing this problem by turning the discarded temple flowers into incense and other products, providing hundreds of jobs for local women. Read more
Most of the acoustic materials that can cancel out sound are made from plastic foams that aren’t easily recycled. Moreover, current alternative options are made from plant fibres that don’t effectively dampen noise in the most useful range of sound frequencies, or are too thick or unwieldy to fabricate. Now, researchers have created a biodegradable seaweed-derived film that effectively absorbs sounds. Read more
Unlit, unused, dirty, and often unsafe locations are almost always easy to find in a city. Imagine, instead, how much beauty could be brought into the world if those underutilised spaces were multi-use community hubs. Mumbai architects StudioPOD, along with Dutch designers MVRDV, turned that idea into reality with the One Green Mile development directly below the Senapati Bapat Marg flyover in Mumbai. Read more
Words: Matthew Hempstead
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