The Triple Bottom - 🌱 Space-based power stations

Reducing EU reliance on Russian Gas
The US and the European Commission announced a joint Task Force to strengthen European energy security.
The what: The Task Force will aim to bring more US Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) to Europe, lower LNG carbon intensity AND permit and finance more US LNG export. 
LNG vs Coal: Liquid Natural Gas is touted as a ‘bridge’ fuel in the shift from coal to renewables due to producing around half the CO2. Yet, research suggests the benefits vs fossil fuels are partly erased by methane leaks (25x more potent warming than carbon dioxide in the short term)
Concerns remain… As this new deal may streamline approvals for more LNG subsidies - money that could instead support renewables and electrification.

Google launches sustainability fund for startups in Asia
The Problem: Asia is more exposed to physical climate risk than other parts of the world - McKinsey predicts by 2050, $4.7tn of Asia’s GDP could be annually at risk due to extreme heat and humidity.
Finding a solution: Google has launched a $6m sustainability fund, alongside mentoring and access to new tech, to support non-profit startups from Asia to address issues such as pollution, waste and renewables. 
Not the first rodeo… Google has previously invested in climate-tech startups in the region - like Gringgo. It is no surprise given 200 startups valued over $1bn+, (aka Unicorns) originated from Asia last year alone.

DHL double down on Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF)
DHL has confirmed strategic collaborations with bp and Neste, to provide more than 800 million litres of SAF (produced from sustainable feedstocks e.g. cooking oil; solid waste from homes, food scraps) to decarbonise its airline freight business. The deal is one of the largest to date and will allow DHL to avoid two million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions every year = similar to emissions produced by 12,000 carbon-neutral long-haul flights.

UK Gov plans for a solar power station in space
The situ: The UK government is considering a £16bn proposal to build a solar power station in space as the technology featured in the Gov’s Net Zero Innovation Portfolio. 
How does it work? A spacecraft with solar panels generates electricity which is wirelessly transmitted to Earth through radio waves. These radio waves are then coveted into electricity and delivered to the power grid.
Benefits: The solar power station would be illuminated by the sun 24/7 meaning a continuous supply of electricity. However… critics have pointed out that investment in domestic solar subsidies would be more beneficial.

• A new approach to recycling textiles made from polyethylene terephthalate (PET) can offer a 60% improvement on environmental impact of these materials at end of life

• Digital, non-fungible tokens are being used to raise money for scientific research.

• Toilet to Tap: wastewater is being purified to create drinking water for locals in San Diego, reducing reliance on the importation of freshwater.

• Singapore is using floating, wireless battery charging and swapping concepts to support the decarbonisation marine logistics.

• Dresden-based Sunfire gets €195M in Series D funding for its renewable energy platform, renewables manufacturing capacity and has scaling of its hydrogen technologies

• San-Fran based Span.io closed a $90 million Series B fundraising round to develop its Home suite of energy products and solutions to accelerate electrification of homes.

• Nairobi-based Apollo Agriculture, raised $40M in Series B funding for its use of satellite imagery data and machine learning to underwrite loans to Kenya’s small-scale maize farmers

• London-based, Climate X, raised $5.4M funding for its climate risk analytics platform enabling decision-makers to place climate mitigation and resilience at the heart of their strategy

• Swedish startup, Bower, raised €4.1M in late seed funding for its reward system to encourage recycling