Rapid emission reductions are needed in the global energy sector to prevent the worst effects of climate change. Renewable energy A key climate solution  Every year, there is a growing chorus of calls to lower greenhouse gas emissions globally, yet emissions are still too high to continue. In order to achieve net-zero emissions in the second half of this century, international climate targets require emissions to peak as soon as feasible and then quickly fall. The energy industry is primarily responsible for the bulk of global CO2 emissions, indicating the urgent need for a cleaner energy system. The COVID-19 problem is expected to produce a decrease in global CO2 emissions in 2020. However, this decrease will only last a short while unless the energy sector undergoes structural adjustments.

It will take a drastic change in how we supply, convert, and utilize energy to reach net-zero emissions. The promise of new clean energy technologies to reduce emissions has been demonstrated by the rapid expansion of electric, solar, and wind energy. In order to achieve net-zero emissions, these technologies must be implemented on a much larger scale, in concert with the development and widespread adoption of various other clean energy solutions that are presently in the early stages of development, such as the many uses for hydrogen and carbon capture. In order to achieve the global energy system’s net-zero emissions target by 2070, the IEA’s Sustainable Development Scenario, a pathway for achieving international climate and energy goals, calls for a significant overhaul of the architecture and technology of the energy system in addition to changes in behavior.

In order to determine what would need to happen in order for the world to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, this research evaluates over 800 different technological alternatives. The Sustainable Development Scenario is the main topic of the paper. Still, it also contains a Faster Innovation Case that investigates the technological ramifications of achieving net-zero emissions worldwide by 2050. The goal of the analysis is to evaluate the potential and problems related to a quick switch to clean energy. The whole energy system is included in the paper, including steel manufacturing, aircraft, fuel conversion, and electricity generation.

If the electricity industry were to undergo a complete transformation, the globe would only be one-third of the way to net-zero emissions.

Numerous countries have big plans in place to cut back on emissions from the energy industry. While some governments are debating their net-zero plans, some have already enacted legislation or proposed legislation with net-zero aspirations. Many businesses have also declared their goals to be Carbon neutral. There is reason for hope for companies and governments due to the success of renewable power technology. However, in order to meet these goals, the transportation, industrial, and construction sectors—which now produce more than 55% of the energy system’s CO2 emissions—will need to receive significantly greater attention.

The single biggest factor in achieving net-zero emissions is expanding the use of electricity across the economy. In the scenario of sustainable development, the ultimate demand for power more than doubles. The use of electricity to run automobiles, buses, and trucks, to make recycled metals, to heat industries, and to supply the energy required for cooking, heating, and other building appliances is driving this rise. To achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, low-carbon electricity production would need to be deployed far more quickly. According to the Faster Innovation Case, the amount of electricity generated in 2050 will be around 2.5 times greater than it is now, necessitating expansion at a rate equal to adding the whole US power industry every three years. On the other hand, the average annual growth in renewable power capacity would have to be around four times the current record set in 2019.

Entire economies cannot be decarbonized only by electricity.

Hydrogen expands the potential of power. Not only is there an increasing need for power from many sectors of the economy, but low-carbon hydrogen requires a significant quantity of new generation. In the Sustainable Development Scenario, the worldwide capacity of electrolyzes—which create hydrogen from water and electricity—increases from 0.2 GW to 3 300 GW. Two times as much power as the People’s Republic of China now produces would be needed for these electrolyzes to make the required low-carbon hydrogen to achieve net-zero emissions. This hydrogen serves as a link between the power industry and sectors that would find it difficult to use energy directly, including the shipbuilding and steel manufacturing industries.

Bioenergy and carbon capture have several uses. Reaching net-zero emissions requires the technology known as carbon capture and storage (CCUS), which allows CO2 emissions to be stored or used sustainably. In the scenario of sustainable development, carbon capture and storage (CCUS) is used to produce synthetic low-carbon fuels and remove CO2 from the environment. Additionally, it is essential to generate a portion of the low-carbon hydrogen required to achieve net-zero emissions, primarily in areas with inexpensive natural gas supplies and accessible CO2 storage. The usage of contemporary bioenergy triples from current levels in the same period. It is used to either directly replace fossil fuels (such as biofuels for transportation) or, when paired with CCUS, to offset emissions indirectly.

A safe and secure net-zero emissions energy system gives rise to a new generation of key fuels. The three major fuels that make up the majority of the world’s ultimate energy demand—natural gas, oil, and coal—have developed international markets that support the security of today’s global energy system. Under the Sustainable Development Scenario, the percentage of demand for electricity, hydrogen, synthetic fuels, and bioenergy ultimately equals that of fossil fuels at the moment.

Tomorrow’s renewable energy technology that we will require depends on modern innovation

To achieve net-zero emissions, a quicker rate of electrification, hydrogen, bioenergy, and CCUS innovation will be necessary. The Sustainable Development Scenario’s total emissions reductions amount to just over one-third, with the majority coming from technologies that are not yet commercially accessible. This percentage increases to 50% in the Faster Innovation Case. Increased electrification accounts for 35% of the incremental decarbonization efforts in the Faster Innovation Case, with CCUS contributing 25%, bioenergy contributing 20%, and hydrogen contributing 5%. The hardest emissions to cut are found in heavy industries and long-distance transportation. In long-distance transportation and heavy industries, energy efficiency, material efficiency, and avoided transportation demand (such as walking or cycling instead of driving a personal vehicle) all contribute significantly to emissions reduction. However, under the Sustainable Development Scenario, the technologies that account for roughly 60% of the total emissions reductions for these industries are still in the demonstration and prototype stages. Nearly half of the total emissions reductions in the steel, cement, and chemicals industries may be attributed to hydrogen and CCUS. Between 55% and 80% of alternative fuels, including hydrogen, synthetic fuels, and biofuels, are used in the trucking, shipping, and aviation industries. The lengthy lifespan of current assets, fierce competition in international markets, and quickly rising demand in some sectors make it much harder to cut emissions in these difficult industries. Thankfully, these industries’ current engineering expertise and knowledge provide a great foundation for commercializing the technology needed to address these issues.

A major problem is emissions from current assets.

When combined, power and heavy industries makeup roughly 60% of emissions from the current energy infrastructure; if nothing is done, this percentage will rise to over 100% by 2050. The management of the emissions issue posed by the long-lasting assets in these sectors—many of which were recently constructed in Asian nations and may continue to run for decades—will determine whether we achieve net-zero emissions. The circumstances highlight the necessity of CCUS and hydrogen technology. It will be crucial to make sure that new clean energy technologies are accessible in time for important investment choices. For instance, well-planned investments in heavy industries might help prevent around 40% of the total emissions from the infrastructure that now exists in these businesses.

Renewable Sourced Energy

The urgent need to switch from fossil fuels to longer-lasting alternative energy sources that won’t harm the environment is due to the current rates of fossil fuel depletion. The most widely used substitutes are renewable energy sources, including solar, wind, geothermal, and wave energy. Renewable fuels are used by a variety of businesses to improve the sustainability and cleanliness of their operations. Furthermore, in order to optimize large-scale, high-carbon processes, entrepreneurs are spearheading sustainable solutions through the use of renewable energy systems.

Solum creates solar Pavements.

The Spanish business Solum is developing solar pavements to power micro-mobility cars. The startup’s solar pavements use high-energy photovoltaic (PV) cells to provide electricity for car charging. Additionally, thanks to the modular plug-and-play installation, the charging stations may be tailored to fit the available space. They can be installed in retail centers, public areas, business buildings, and educational facilities.

QHeat offers Thermoelectric Power

The Finnish firm QHeat uses geothermal energy to regulate the temperature in large interior areas. At about two to three kilometers deep, the startup’s deep wells are far deeper than conventional ones. They can create a lot more energy since the temperatures are considerably greater at this level. During times of greater energy availability, such as the summer, these wells are also utilized for energy storage by replenishing the bedrock. For real estate owners, this encourages an effective circular energy economy with low emissions.

Low-Emission Building

The construction sector has a bad reputation for using excessive amounts of wasted materials and for discharging dangerous pollutants into the environment. Nonetheless, the building industry is moving towards more circular and ecological methods. Low-carbon building practices, such as plant walls or exteriors that aid in cooling, aim to make the building process less damaging and more in tune with living things. Startups are also limiting energy use without sacrificing important quality standards by using low-carbon and greener building materials in residences and public areas. Furthermore, in order to replace harmful products, they are creating green construction materials, including hemp-based concrete, bamboo flooring, and green insulation.

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INOVUES offers Intelligent Windows.

A US-based firm called INOVUES is developing smart window technology. Glazing Shield, its lightweight and portable solution, is simple to retrofit and non-intrusive. In addition, it has a built-in control unit and photovoltaic module to produce electricity from the absorbed light. In this manner, INOVUES lowers heating and cooling energy use during periods of high energy demand.

Gravel creates a Gravel Substitute

The US-based business Glavel uses recycled glass to offer a sustainable substitute for gravel. The company’s offering, Foam Glass Gravel, is a lightweight aggregate that exhibits the physical characteristics of glass. It also has thermally insulating qualities and is resistant to rot, water, and fire. Foam glass gravel, which has a compressive strength of 116 psi and a thermal insulation of R1.7 per compacted inch, is used in sub-slab insulation and green roofs.

Other Modes of Transportation

The transportation industry is leading the way in cleantech because of innovations like electric cars (EVs). Hybrid vehicles, plug-in hybrid vehicles, battery vehicles, and hyperloop technology are some of the several types of electric cars. Additionally, in order to completely replace traditional automotive fuels, entrepreneurs are experimenting with various blends of sustainable fuels. Green hydrogen, which is produced by using low-carbon energy sources to split water into hydrogen and oxygen, is one example of a conventional fuel substitute. To aid in decarbonization, the transportation industry is also implementing additional environmentally friendly technology, such as green GPS systems driven by AI and EV charging stations.

A dockless electric vehicle built by Yulu

An Indian firm called Yulu offers electric two-wheelers to reduce traffic in cities. The Yulu App optimizes the ratio of vehicle supply to demand by utilizing machine learning techniques. IoT-enabled dockless electric vehicles are part of this approach. Yulu offers Miracle and Move as its two micro mobility choices. These cars use Bluetooth, GPRS, and GPS to guarantee safe urban mobility. The bikes are perfect for maneuvering around city streets because they have a maximum speed of 25 km/h.

Peregrine.ai provides Eco-Friendly Telematics.

German firm Peregrine.ai uses video telematics to shield cars and drivers from dangerous road conditions. In order to produce insights for stakeholders, the startup’s Vision SDK solution analyses real-time traffic data on users’ devices and keeps only the pertinent data. To protect privacy, the pictures taken are also anonymized. Most significantly, Peregrine’s invention offers optimized routes in addition to lowering accident rates, which reduces greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by using fuel safely and effectively.

Capturing, Using, and Storing Carbon

The process of capturing carbon emissions and using them for storage or upcycling is known as carbon capture, use, and storage (CCUS). This reverses the negative effects of the trapped Carbon. Industrial carbon dioxide (CO2), which would otherwise contaminate the environment, is disposed of cleanly thanks to these procedures. Artificial photosynthesis employing bio solar leaves and phytoplankton-based solutions that replicate the chemical process of photosynthesis are examples of innovations in this field. One of the main sources of greenhouse gas emissions, methane emissions from cattle, is being addressed via CCUS developments. In addition, new businesses are creating technology for carbon capture and sequestration to recycle Carbon into a variety of beneficial products, such as biochar and carbon-based polymers.

Noya makes it possible to capture Carbon.

A US-based business called Noya is creating industrial carbon capture technology. The startup’s retrofit CO2 collection technology makes cooling tower direct air capture (DAC) possible. After that, the CO2 is either stored away, sold, or repurposed into expensive goods. In addition, the firm provides carbon credits to its partners and works for free with industrial enterprises. This hastens the uptake of the on-site carbon capture industry.

Carboline offers a system for direct air capture.

A fledgling company based in Ukraine called Carboline offers direct air capture technology. Upon installation, the CO2 is captured by the startup’s catching module from the surrounding air, eliminating the requirement for gas transportation or liquefaction. The CO2 that is collected is used in greenhouses to enhance plant development and give greenhouse owners an affordable, carbon-free energy source. Find All Cleantech Companies & Products
Cleantech trends are being advanced by research and development in a number of areas, including renewable energy, green transportation, building automation, and sustainable manufacturing. With the help of technology like low-carbon fuels, environmental monitoring, and more, startups are always striving for a more environmentally friendly future. Because cleantech can penetrate every stage of the value chain, it becomes crucial for a more sustainable and safe economy. Smart water networks, gas line monitoring systems, paints that filter air, artificial coral farms, etc., are some more advancements. Throughout our extensive investigation, we found many trends, and the Cleantech Trends & Startups listed in this report barely scratch the surface. Carbon removal, energy-efficient integrations, and the circular economy are a few of the factors that will change the industry as it exists now. Gaining a competitive advantage in a company may be achieved by seeing new prospects and developing technology early on. Get in contact to quickly and thoroughly research companies and related technologies that interest you.

Final  Words

Cleantech trends are being advanced by research and development in a number of areas, including renewable energy, green transportation, building automation, and sustainable manufacturing. Renewable energy: A key climate solution  With the help of technology like low-carbon fuels, environmental monitoring, and more, startups are always striving for a more environmentally friendly future. Because cleantech can penetrate every stage of the value chain, it becomes crucial for a more sustainable and safe economy. Smart water networks, gas line monitoring systems, paints that filter air, artificial coral farms, etc., are some more advancements. We found a lot of trends throughout our extensive investigation, and the Cleantech Trends & Startups listed in this report barely scratch the surface. Carbon removal, energy-efficient integrations, and the circular economy are a few of the factors that will change the industry as it exists now. Gaining a competitive advantage in the company may be achieved by seeing new prospects and developing technology early on. Get in contact to quickly and thoroughly research companies and related technologies that interest you.