Climate Tech Highlights #9

Hello, there!

Last Thursday (23rd of May), I teamed up with my colleagues and subscribers, Pedro Campos and Nicolas Castro, to organize a Climatech Networking event in Rio. We were thrilled to connect with so many inspiring entrepreneurs, researchers, and enthusiasts in the field. Here's a picture of our meeting:

To continue fostering this community, we decided to create a WhatsApp group for engaging discussions on Climatech, with a special focus on the Rio de Janeiro scene.

If you're interested in joining or know someone who might be, please check this link (currently available only in Portuguese).

Now, let's get to last week's highlights on climate-related technologies!

Around the globe 🌎

• Biodegradable 'Living’ Plastic: A new kind of bioplastic could help reduce the plastic industry's environmental impact. Researchers at the University of California San Diego have created a biodegradable thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU). This soft but tough plastic is commonly used in objects like shoes, floor mats, cushions, and memory foam. The cool part is that it is filled with bacterial spores that, when exposed to compost nutrients, come to life and break down the plastic at the end of its use. Read the full story

• Europe's First Commercial Offshore Wind Farm: Green Volt has now received all its planning approvals and remains on track to be the first commercial-scale offshore wind farm in Europe. When completed, Green Volt will include up to 35 floating wind turbines, providing up to 560 MW of renewable energy capacity. As part of Crown Estate Scotland's Innovation and Targeted Oil & Gas (INTOG) leasing round, the project will deliver renewable electricity to oil and gas platforms, replacing existing natural gas and diesel power generation. Green Volt will also provide electricity to the UK grid.  Read the full story

• Patagonia's Circular Wetsuit: The outdoor clothing and gear company Patagonia is partnering with Bolder Industries to develop a proprietary wetsuit that can be recycled multiple times. Patagonia plans to collect unrepairable wetsuits and send them to Bolder for carbon black extraction, a key ingredient in neoprene and natural rubber. The reclaimed carbon black will then be shipped back to Patagonia to be used in the BolderBlack wetsuits, the first to be made with reclaimed carbon black. Whether carbon black can be infinitely recovered remains to be scientifically validated, but reusing it keeps old wetsuits out of landfills and avoids carbon dioxide emissions from the production of virgin carbon black. Read the full story

A glance at Brazil 🇧🇷

• Green CO2 Plant: With a $10 million investment, Gás Verde will launch the country's first green CO2 generation plant in March 2025. Located at their biomethane facility in the Seropédica landfill (RJ), the largest in Latin America, this plant will produce green CO2 as a byproduct of purifying biogas from organic waste decomposition. Instead of being released into the atmosphere, this carbon dioxide will be sold to industrial clients. CO2, being odorless, tasteless, and versatile, is the main gas for carbonating soft drinks and beers. Using membrane separation technology, the CO2 will reach a purity level of 99.9%, meeting the high standards of industrial customers. Read the full story

• CRA for Green Livestock: Rio Capim Agrossilvopastoril, a consultancy specializing in nature-based solutions, announced on Tuesday afternoon (21), during the Convert Climate Conference, the issuance of a new Agribusiness Receivables Certificate (CRA) supported by the JBS Amazon Fund. JBS has contributed R$ 10.2 million to this initiative so far. The CRA, structured by Vox Capital, aims for a total issuance of R$ 100 million. This initiative focuses on expanding regenerative livestock farming in the Amazon biome. The funds will support 3,500 small cattle ranchers in the Legal Amazon area, providing land use consultancy, boosting profitability, and combating illegal deforestation in the region. Read the full story

Don't miss out! 👀

• The annual F20 flagship event – the Climate Solutions Forum – will take place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from June 4–6, 2024. This year’s Climate Solutions Forum will be held in the context of the Brazilian G20 Presidency under the theme “Accountability in Action – Building Bridges for North and South Partnerships.” The event will be organized and hosted by the Foundations Platform F20, the Institute for Climate and Society (iCS), Fundación Avina, and the Group of Institutes, Foundations and Companies (GIFE). Register here

• Report: “Discover the Top Ten Clean Technology Trends in 2024”,  developed by S&P Global Commodity Insights, offers a glimpse into the future of the clean energy industry. Check it out

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