New Climate Funding And Policies
There's been an influx of new CLIMATE funding and policies, but which CLIMATECH categories show the most promise? Here's my Top 7.
1. Renewable energies: They're not new, but solar, wind, and hydropower still show the greatest potential for significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions and replacing fossil fuels as the primary source of energy. But they're attracting more attention now because they're unburdened by geopolitics in the same way that gas an oil are, offering greater energy independence and reducing the risk of energy weaponization.
2. Energy storage: The ability to store energy from renewable sources is critical for ensuring a reliable and stable energy supply. Technologies such as batteries and pumped hydro storage are becoming increasingly cost-effective and efficient.
3. Carbon capture and storage: Carbon Capture and storage (CCS) technology captures carbon dioxide emissions from industrial processes or power plants and stores them underground or repurposes them for other uses. CCS has the potential to significantly reduce emissions from heavy industry and power generation.
4. Direct air capture: Direct air capture (DAC) technology removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and stores it underground or repurposes it for other uses. While still in its early stages, DAC is showing a lot of potential and recently got a major financial boost from the Inflation Reduction Act.
5. Green hydrogen: Green hydrogen is produced using renewable energy sources and can be used as a fuel for transportation or as a source of clean energy for industry, mobility, and power generation. In the past few years, virtually every major country outlined a hydrogen strategy in an effort to boost production and establish a position in the emerging global marketplace.
6. Advanced materials: Advanced materials, such as nanomaterials and biodegradable plastics, have the potential to reduce emissions from industry and contribute to a more sustainable future. They also show significant promise in increasing the performance, durability, and lifetime of many common materials (concrete, steel, batteries!).
7. Carbon sequestration: Carbon sequestration involves storing carbon dioxide in natural systems such as forests and soils. This approach has the potential to help offset emissions from other sources and promote a more sustainable future.
While these technologies show great promise, they must be combined with policies and behaviors that promote sustainable practices and reduce emissions. We must also continue to invest in research and development to drive innovation and accelerate the adoption of these technologies.
Which climate tech solutions are you excited about?