Renewable energy
In order to power the end-to-end process to convert basic raw materials to final polymers, the manufacturing of plastics, as with other industrial processes, requires energy. Provided as electricity, gas or heat, this energy is currently sourced mainly from conventional fossil carbon-based resources (such as natural gas, petrol, or coal).
Improvements are always sought in the energy intensity of the manufacturing processes for virgin polymer production and plastics recycling, through a more efficient use of power consumption. However, moving towards the objective of a climate neutral Europe by 2050 will also require the energy needs to be increasingly met by renewable low-carbon energy, such as renewable electricity or green hydrogen.
2 min read
Invisible Solar: a photovoltaic clay roof tile
It’s now possible to cover your roof with solar panels that look just like traditional clay tiles. Transitioning to green energy has never been more topical. This has pushed Dyaqua, a small family business based in Vicenza, Italy, to develop an innovative tile solution involving embedded solar panels that are invisible to the naked eye.
2 min read
Urban Canopee: cooling down the city by greening up
The start-up Urban Canopee has set itself the challenge of greening cities to cool the air and limit the urban heat island effect. To do this, it has developed an innovative, modular and autonomous urban furniture system incorporating climbing plants, called “Corolle”.
2 min read
WindTree, the tree that turns wind into electricity
Supplying urban areas with electricity in a way that takes its inspiration from nature: that is the stylish and sustainable solution proposed by New World Wind.
2 min read
100% recyclable wind turbine blades
Today, 90% of the world’s trade in goods is carried out by maritime transport, which accounts for 3% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. This environmental footprint is expected to increase to 17% by 2050. The IMO (International Maritime Organisation) objective is to reduce the sector’s GHG emissions by 50% compared to 2008 by 2050.
2 min read
An XXL sail to tow cargo ships
Today, 90% of the world’s trade in goods is carried out by maritime transport, which accounts for 3% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. This environmental footprint is expected to increase to 17% by 2050. The IMO (International Maritime Organisation) objective is to reduce the sector’s GHG emissions by 50% compared to 2008 by 2050.
2 min read
Little Sun, the little solar lamp all grown up
In an article published in 2013 under the title “Sunshine and plastics: bright ideas for a better world”, we talked about Little Sun, a small sun-shaped solar-powered lamp designed by two Scandinavians, artist Olafur Eliasson and engineer Frederik Ottesen, which was intended for people living without electricity in Ethiopia.
6 min read
Global warming: plastics cool things down
Tackling global warming is the challenge that humanity must take on as soon as possible to prevent the problem from getting out of hand. It is no longer time for debate; it is time for action. Fortunately, solutions, some of which are based on the properties of polymers, are emerging.
2 min read
The Novartis Pavilion with zero-energy media façade
In Basel (Switzerland), you’ll find a strange building in the shape of a yurt. The Novartis Pavilion is an exhibition space dedicated to pharmaceutical sciences, which stands out for its innovative architecture and light-up media façade that illuminates the building at night. This media façade is powered by solar panels, in accordance with its 100% […]
2 min read
Kites to generate electricity
At a time when many companies are looking into developing a new generation of wind turbines, Dutch start-up Kite Power, a pioneer in the field of airborne wind energy, has developed an innovative and cost-effective alternative to traditional wind turbines.
2 min read
A solar sail for producing green electricity
The French start-up Héole has come up with the idea of developing organic photovoltaic sails to produce green energy to power boats. And it intends to make this dream a reality during the next Route du Rhum, which will start in November.
5 min read
“By 2030, we hope that every building will have an independent source of green electricity.”
An interview with Stephan Kube, Head of Marketing at Heliatek, a German start-up that has developed flexible, self-adhesive organic solar panels.
