Green cement - there are solutions
The production of concrete, or more accurately cement, accounts for between 5-8% of global GHG emissions. This is a similar scale to the GHG emissions of passenger cars. There are solutions - and not all revolve around new technologies.
Software based electricity grid stability
The software based solutions that will make our electricity grids fit for purpose for the coming decades are a massive investment opportunity, that will also enable countries to have a realistic chance of hitting their decarbonisation and net zero targets.
Hardware based electricity grid stability
What supporting investments will we need to make to allow the electricity grid to run with a higher percentage of renewables. Without them our green electricity targets will not be met.
Precision agriculture, producing more with less?
There are ways of growing more with less, and precision agriculture is an important contributor to this. We need to focus more on these “easy” wins, but we also need to do so in a way that respects the financial reality faced by many farmers.
Electric trucks - the future of freight?
While it might appear from recent news stories that the debate about what will power the trucks/HGV’s of the future is ongoing, in reality it's actually pretty much already decided. Short of any surprises in the next couple of years, it's going to be electricity.
The good stuff in wastewater - part 1
In a world of increasingly scarce resources, wastewater can provide us with heat (for our buildings) plus raw materials for fertiliser and for energy. It now makes sense to better use the good stuff in our waste water - that we are currently just wasting.
If only markets were long term, our sustainability problems would be fixed?
What if financial markets were not focused on short term gain? What if markets are actually long term focused, but that they believe that the pace of the sustainability transitions will be so slow that the business as usual scenario is still financially optimal.
Battery storage - the next transition boom industry?
Battery storage has an increasingly important role to play as we build out an electricity grid dominated by renewables. But, current revenues from filling the generation gaps left by variable renewables are actually small, with the main income stream being from the smaller grid stability market.
All that glitters is not gold
Gold Mining: as well as being the largest global artisanal mining activity, also faces a number of sustainability challenges. One is where it comes from, and another is how it's processed.
Is gas flaring a solvable problem?
Gas flaring is part of the wider methane emissions challenge. It gets a lot of attention, in part because its highly visible. How easy is it to fix ? Part solutions seem easy, and financially viable, full solutions look tough.
The cyber threat to our key infrastructure
Smart grids are making our electricity systems more responsive and reliable, better able to handle the addition of more renewable generation, and they are contributing to reducing costs. But they also bring cyber risks.
Reducing electricity demand and still staying cool
For many in the world, staying cool in the heat of summer is as important as staying warm in the winter is to those of us who live in the the northern latitudes. And yet it often gets a lot less attention in the electricity security and supply debate.