Eco Innovation
Partnership to launch vertical farm in the midlands
High-growth technology company specialising in controlled-environment-agriculture (CEA), Vertical Future, has partnered with newly established Northamptonshire based vertical farming company, Syan Farms. Launching with Vertical Future’s proprietary production systems, Syan Farms will also be brought on board as a research partner as part of Vertical Future’s wider research activities, focused on seed breeding, genetics, and ...
Researchers make greenhouse energy breakthrough
A team of researchers at North Carolina State University, working with Organic Photovoltaic Cell (OPV) company NextGen Nano, has demonstrated how adding semi-transparent Organic Solar Cells (OSCs) to greenhouses allows growers to generate electricity and simultaneously cultivate lettuce, reducing greenhouse energy demands. The results will lay the groundwork for power generation in sustainable greenhouse cultivation.
Tech for a smarter, sustainable planet accelerated
Semtech has announced that it is amplifying its mission to make the planet a smarter, more connected and sustainable planet by providing an innovative Internet of Things (IoT) platform. With solutions deployed globally, Semtech’s LoRa devices and the LoRaWAN protocol help reduce environmental impacts and remedy challenges facing the global community spanning wildlife protection, sustainable farming, combating COVID-19, water conservati...
Consortium to advance knowledge of oceans and climate change
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) and Analog Devices have launched the Ocean and Climate Innovation Accelerator (OCIA) consortium. ADI has committed $3m over three years towards the consortium which will focus on advancing knowledge of the ocean’s critical role in combating climate change as well as developing new solutions at the intersection of oceans and climate.
Engineering a circular food economy
With Earth Day 2021 just around the corner, and manufacturers increasingly held accountable for their carbon footprint, a UK engineering firm has its sights set on developing a more circular food economy.
The key technologies winning the fight against climate change
Each year April 22nd marks Earth Day, a worldwide event that aims to diversify, educate and activate the environmental movement. Since the first Earth Day in 1970, activists across the world have used to occasion to push for an increased awareness over environmental issues and lobby for policy changes. The theme of this year's Earth Day is 'Restore Our Earth', with the event focusing on natural processes, emerging green technologies and inno...
Digital portal for green technology launched
UK Power Networks has launched a new digital portal that is making it quicker and easier for installers to connect clean technologies to homes and businesses. Smart Connect will give many technology companies an instant decision on whether they can connect domestic electric vehicle charge points, heat pumps, battery storage or solar PV, to the local electricity network. It removes the need for multiple paper forms and streamlines the process.
Polycarbonate solar vehicle success
Photovoltaics is now a key enabling technology for land solar vehicles and boats. The favourite type is single crystal silicon which is even viable on the sides now. On boats, it used to be protected by an acrylic sheet on either side, making it bendable when being fitted, but that has strength and weathering issues. Now, much stronger, long-life polycarbonate is taking over. For further information, see the IDTechEx report, ‘Solar Vehicles...
Solar power for crop cultivation
According to experts, growers of greenhouse crop in the US spend approximately $600m per year on electricity needed to power lighting, heating, cooling and irrigation systems. This high energy consumption and the increased awareness of the consequences of burning fossil fuels have triggered a surge in demand for solar energy as a green and sustainable alternative.
IoT network piggybacking on wind turbines
When the Port of Moerdijk had a large wind farm installed at the Southern Netherlands municipality in 2020, operated by Vattenfall, one of the European leaders in green energy, officials realised the turbine towers could serve an additional purpose: hosting an IoT network that provides key sensor data to the bustling port 120m below. Kerlink was selected to provide the gateways for the LoRaWAN project.