Green technology trends: The rise of ‘cleantech’

Even though green technology is nothing new, the revolution of green technology today, is.

However, as resources are becoming scarcer, particularly land to grow crops and farm with animals, there is a rethink of how to use water more responsibly and finding more innovative ways of dealing with agriculture.

Some of these innovation trends and sustainable green technologies were presented at the Consumer Electronic Show (CES) earlier in this year. This happened against the backdrop of the current American government’s anti-stance towards the Paris accord on environmental affairs. Ironic indeed.

However, even though the thoughts were that coal would be cheaper to produce energy, the general consensus is that investing in green technology is important for nations and corporations to remain competitive.

Hence cleantech. This term, which refers to clean technology, and is based on the work of the founders of Cleantech Group, Keith Raab and Nick Parker. This term is an umbrella term that describes different processes and services, but also products that have the aim of reducing waste by using some non-renewable resources. But the focus is on the use of solar, water remediation, and fuel cells, all geared to find innovative ways of producing food on ever reducing land.

However, it is predicted that there will be a growth of additional green tech startups, particularly in Europe, with around $12 billion injected into the sector by mostly American investors, in 2016 alone. At the end of 2017, the investment might reach $13.6 billion.

The areas of investment are:

The water-energy nexus

As urbanization increases, the need for clean work also increases. Many investors have found this a gold mine, as people have to find innovative ways to solve this problem. 

Some of the solutions are smart water networks, desalination plants, and manufactured water.

One country that is breaking the lead with water management is Israel. The country has a water crisis. In fact, Israel uses manufactured water (i.e. recycling wastewater and desalination of brackish and sweater water) to supply two-thirds of the country with water. By using manufactured water, the country is able to preserve its natural water sources like its lakes and rivers.

With nearly two-thirds of the nation’s water supply being manufactured by advanced technologies including the recycling of wastewater and the desalination of brackish water, Israel is able to preserve its rivers, lakes and aquifers.

But as the water is recycled energy can also be produced.

But still, as countries such as America are finding themselves in a water crisis, innovation to treat water is needed. This as much of the groundwater is contaminated. This contamination was mostly the effect of fracking.

While the United States, as well as most of the other countries around the world, depend highly on the pulling of groundwater in order to supply population needs, the future availability of this source of water is bleak.

Circular economy

Turning organic waste into bioplastic: This is how some companies are dealing with carbon. It is a trend that will grow. An example of a successful bioplastic company is 3PLW, based in Israel. This company produced an anaerobic digestion process and can turn municipal waste into a useful material within 72 hours. Another example is Looptworks, located in Pittsburgh. It a company that reuses items and turns them into apparel and bags.

Food security

With an increase of people, particularly in urban areas, there is a need for food (especially alternatives to meat) as most are not producing for themselves. The question is how to produce more with even less space, and ideally producing food in urban areas. An increasing trend is urban farms, located in warehouses and multi-storey buildings. 

Transportation is reduced and the food can be sold to merchants sooner, thus being fresher.

It is not just farming in urban areas, but there is a rise in aquaculture (i.e. fish farming), especially since 2016. These farms are either offshore or within pens. This industry will develop even more as people are searching for sources of protein.

The use of technology

A trending concept is the Internet of Things or IOT. IOT is focused on using resources more efficiently, and a greenhouse is a focus. In fact, CNBC stated that 2017 would be the focus would be on smart houses. More so, there is an increase predicted for the uptake of smart homes.

Ghostwriter of article. Published in thesouthafrican.com. [Text altered].