*could we change heal to ‘restore’? – Heal reminds me more of HealthTech
What is Clean Technology?
Clean Technology, used interchangeably with Green Technology (GreenTech) and Sustainable Technology, defines a set of technologies that either reduce or optimize the use of natural resources. From relatively new sustainable energy sources like wind and wave power to improved traditional energy production systems like smart electric grids, examples abound.
As governments and world leaders realize the need to act in the fight towards avoiding a climate catastrophe is now, a wave of ingenious founders are bringing trail-blazing technology to fruition. CleanTech companies like these have not only built a solid foundation but have paved the way for a more stable climate and healthier earth for all.
Lured by these impressive upsides, an increasing number of startups are riding the CleanTech wave. Storm4, the award-winning CleanTech Recruitment agency, reveal who these CleanTech companies are and their remarkable achievements in restoring the world and accelerating a sustainable future.
The CleanTech Companies making significant energy efficiency improvements
- Fuergy
Intending to be the Airbnb of renewable energy sharing, this Slovakian CleanTech company has developed an AI-powered device, ‘brAIn’, that changes the way electricity is used and distributed. The concept is simple; if a consumer’s solar panels produce more energy than can be stored, energy can be sold to members of the community, such as schools and hospitals.
Unlike the existing sharing economy, such as Uber and Airbnb, sharing energy involves much more data, which is where Fuergy’s software comes to play. It learns about the energy consumption habits of the consumer and assists in determining how much energy can be shared with others – and when.
Commenting on when household energy sharing will become a reality, is COO, Branislav Safarik: “Green energy is highly weather-dependent, and therefore, it is very hard to predict how much energy they will produce throughout the day. So, first of all, we need to get renewables under control. This can be done with the help of batteries or other kinds of energy storage. We can store the green energy and use it when needed. This must be done at the level of energy supplier.”
- Carbon Engineering
Unlike capturing emissions from industrial flue stacks, Vancouver-based Carbon Engineering captures CO2 directly from the atmosphere. This can help mitigate today’s inevitable CO2 emissions and address the vast amounts of CO2 emitted in the past that remains trapped in the atmosphere.
Its Direct Air Capture (DAC) technology offers a variety of cost-effective climate solutions to assist businesses in meeting crucial emissions reductions targets. Most recently, the CleanTech company partnered with BeZero Carbon, to provide individual and corporate customers with a platform to pre-purchase carbon removal from DAC facilities. Shopify was Carbon Engineering’s first customer, pre-purchasing the removal of 10,000 metric tons of CO2.
Its commercial facility is expected to be the world’s first DAC plant to capture 1 million metric tons of carbon dioxide per year. The captured CO2 will be stored underground in the Texas Permian basin, where construction is set to begin in 2022. Airline giant, United Airlines, has invested millions of dollars in the project as part of its plan to become carbon neutral by 2050.
- BrainBox AI
Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) is the single largest opportunity for emissions reductions in buildings. At present, heating and cooling buildings are incredibly energy-intensive, accounting for roughly half of all energy consumed by buildings.
Montreal-based BrainBox AI is one of the handfuls of startups seeking to develop HVAC optimization solutions for buildings. By making precise, localized and real-time micro-adjustments to the building’s heating and cooling settings, it claims its software can reduce a building’s carbon footprint by 20% to 40%. To date, BrainBox AI has helped real estate asset owners accomplish their aggressive net-zero goals by transforming over 100 million sq ft of building space across five continents.
The company’s next phase of innovation will allow buildings to collaborate and optimize new power sources by returning energy and capacity back to the grid, contributing to cleaner and more efficient consumption.
Commenting on the impact of its technology on cities is President of BrainBox AI, Sam Ramadori: “With buildings producing 28% of the world’s total carbon emissions, it is more critical than ever to bring scalable clean technology to our cities. Overlaying autonomous artificial intelligence on existing infrastructure in the built environment is not only a rapid and impactful means to energy efficiency but also a crucial step towards future grid-interactive buildings.”
As fears of climate change grow and funding into the industry increases, the next wave of CleanTech companies are predicted to be bigger and even more inspiring in restoring the world as we know it for future generations to enjoy.
Company bio:
Storm4 are leaders in global GreenTech recruitment, connecting organisations with senior talent to drive their mission of a sustainable future. With institutional backing from Puffin Point Investments, the company has over $3m in Series A funding to disrupt the GreenTech recruitment market. Their highly specialised teams cover key GreenTech skillsets across C-Suite in Product Management, Engineering, Sales, Marketing and Data & Analytics. They are a leading provider of GreenTech-focused information to clients for market compensation and best practice in Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, hiring and retention.
