Dear all,
Geopolitics continues to set the pace for the critical resources industry (The Diplomat). China is implementing new controls on battery-making graphite exports (Bloomberg). But this is not only geopolitics, future battery technologies should guide what we start mining now (The Northern Miner). Also slow process of obtaining mining permits along with administrative ESG requirements (Mining.com) act as a barrier to energy transition. And Copper remains key to a renewable future (CSIRO).
And some promising advances on the scientific front: A new energy efficient technology thanks to controlling waves in magnets at Delft University, a new way of generating hydrogen using solar heat to directly split water designed by MIT, a potential cheaper and cooler way for hydrogen transport at Kyushu University, a new recipe for battery recycling with high recovery rate of lithium and aluminum at Chalmers, cathode materials produced at lower temperature at Hokkaido University and more efficient perovskite based solar cells thanks to dynamic control of the crystallization process at Rice University.
Also we selected 5 sustainability initiatives this month: industry acting together for better battery recycling rates (Collabfund), a ‘beanless coffee’ that could slash emissions and water use by 94% (Reuters), recycling post-use plastic through pyrolysis to reduce GHG emissions by 18-23% (Science Daily), using abandoned coal mines to produce zero-carbon energy (EuroNews) as well as highlighting the merits of ESG Innovation vs ESG Advocacy (Imperial College).
Finally, 17 of our Start-Up alumni were in the news: 2 successful funding rounds (INLYTE ENERGY - USA, MECAWARE - France), ongoing scale-ups (GRAPHENEMG - Australia, NITRICITY - USA), a partnership announced (CITRINE INFORMATICS - USA with Dorfner) as well as an Award (Enzinc - USA), and lots of exciting press articles as usual (AEROSINT - Belgium, BCOMP - Switzerland, BRIMSTONE ENERGY - USA, C12 Quantum - France, EH Group – Switzerland, ENZINC - USA, GRAPHENEMG - Australia, INLYTE ENERGY - USA, SYLVATEX - USA, TIAMAT ENERGY - France, UBIQD - USA, UBQ MATERIALS - Israel, Woodoo – France, Zeta Energy – USA ).
