MI 2020 3RD MI MINISTERIAL 2018 - Mission Innovation
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SECTION 01 | ENERGY
M I 2020
SOLUTIONS
3 RD M I M I N I S T E R I A L 2 0 1 8
1
Highlighting innovative solutions emerging from
Mission Innovation member investments that have the
greatest potential to significantly accelerate the delivery
of clean and affordable energy by 2020
CONTENTS
Foreword 04
Innovation Challenges 06
SECTION 01
Smart grids & energy storage 08
SECTION 02
Renewable Energy 26
SECTION 03
Fuels 44
SECTION 04
Transportation 60
SECTION 05
Buildings 70
SECTION 06
Industry 82
SECTION 07
Innovative financing 94
Delivering this transformation requires This publication
global partnerships of governments highlights some of
and the private sector, and Mission these success stories
Innovation is one of the international from across the globe: the innovative
community’s most important vehicles for HYBRIT project from Sweden, which is
driving this forward. The UK is delighted using hydrogen to reduce CO2 emissions
to be part of Mission Innovation and to from ironmaking to zero, and India’s
be collaborating with partners around unique Micro Solar Dome device are just
the world in pursuit of our common goal: two of the great examples that should
accelerating the clean energy revolution. inspire us all.
FOREWORD
Mission Innovation is also about But there is more work for us to do.
coming together to celebrate our We must harness the ingenuity and
successes. I am proud to say that since determination of scientists and engineers
1990 the UK has reduced emissions by in universities and industry across
over forty per cent while growing our the globe, to continue to drive the
economy by over seventy per cent, phenomenal progress made to date,
outperforming the rest of the G7. This and to succeed in delivering a clean
shows that a low carbon transition goes growth revolution.
This is an The launch of Mission Innovation
hand in hand with economic success,
at the signing of the Paris
extraordinary moment Climate Agreement was a critical proof that clean growth is not only
for international moment in building this global possible, but the best game in town.
movement. It acknowledged
climate collaboration. that to decarbonise successfully
This success is underpinned by
innovation and I am delighted that at
The global community has we need to unlock a huge wave the 3rd Mission Innovation Ministerial Rt Hon Claire Perry MP
come together to tackle the of innovation to fundamentally in Malmö, Sweden we can shine a Minister of State for Energy and Clean
challenge of man-made climate transform the way we generate light on some of the most significant Growth, UK Department for Business,
change and to safeguard our and consume energy. breakthroughs emerging from other Energy and Industrial Strategy
planet for future generations. MI members’ investments.
SECTION 01 | ENERGY SECTION 01 | ENERGY
INNOVATION CHALLENGES
Many of the solutions highlighted in this booklet are contributing
to the MI Innovation Challenges. Innovation Challenges are global
calls to action aimed at accelerating research, development and
demonstration (RD&D) in technology areas where Mission Innovation
members believe increased international attention can make a
significant impact in our shared fight against climate change.
01 02 05 06
SMART GRIDS OFF-GRID ACCESS CONVERTING CLEAN ENERGY MATERIALS
SUNLIGHT
Enabling future grids Developing systems that Accelerating the exploration,
that are powered by enable off-grid households Discovering affordable discovery, and use of new
affordable, reliable, and communities to access ways to convert sunlight high-performance, low-cost
decentralised renewable affordable and reliable into storable solar fuels clean energy materials
electricity systems renewable electricity
03 04 07 08
CARBON CAPTURE SUSTAINABLE BIOFUELS AFFORDABLE HEATING HYDROGEN
AND COOLING OF
Enabling near-zero CO2 Developing ways to Accelerating development of
BUILDINGS
emissions from power produce, at scale, widely a global hydrogen market by
plants and carbon affordable, advanced Making low-carbon identifying and overcoming
intensive industries biofuels for transportation heating and cooling key barriers to the production,
and industrial applications affordable for everyone distribution, storage, and use
of hydrogen at gigawatt scale
6 7
SECTION 1
SMART GRIDS &
ENERGY STORAGE 05 Korea 08 Korea
Development of Organic-Inorganic Development and Demonstration
Hybrid Solid Electrolytes for of an IoT-Based Campus Microgrid
Medium-Large-Sized Semi-Solid at Seoul National University
Lithium Rechargeable Batteries
01 UK 03 EC 06 UK 09 Germany
Piclo Peer-to-peer Energy BroadBit
Upside Energy Cloud Based Die Stadt als Speicher
Trading Platform
Smart Grid Platform (City as Storage)
02 Australia 04 Japan 07 Germany 10 India
Power Ledger High-power all-solid-state Silicon-air battery reaches a Establishment of pilot project
batteries using sulfide duration of over 1000 hours for on Grid scale Battery Energy
superionic conductors the first time Storage Systems (BESS) of
different technologies
8 9
SECTION 01 SMART GRIDS & ENERGY STORAGE
01
PICLO PEER-TO-PEER ENERGY
TRADING PLATFORM
CHALLENGE enables the distribution network
operators (DNOs) to participate by
Piclo is a revolutionary online
placing bids for “demand flexibility”
energy marketplace that
UK in congested parts of their network
NL, IT is democratising access to
and reward customers accordingly. © Open Utility Ltd
local energy markets. Piclo is
The electricity system is very
lowering barriers for individuals,
complex with multiple different with Edoardio Raffinerie Garrone (ERG) in This technology has the potential to
communities and businesses
actors and needs; Piclo helps Italy and Essent in Netherlands. disrupt centralised and manual market
with solar panels and batteries to
simplify and standardise all local mechanisms designed for traditional
trade peer-to-peer and provide The second phase of the project was
trading opportunities whether they energy companies and traders, and
balancing services to the local initiated in 2017 through a further
are peer-to-peer or directly with replace it with distributed and algorithmic
electricity grid. As a result, Piclo is £412,000 UK government grant. It
the DNO. trading mechanisms that unlock direct
helping solve one of the biggest involved engaging with local DNOs to
barriers facing the global energy participation from customers.
ACTION unlock the financial benefits of local
system today: how to connect trading. Piclo is working with these The $2.2 trillion global electricity system
Piclo launched in 2015 and
more renewables and electric operators to set up flexible capacity is going through a transformation and
was delivered in partnership
vehicles to the grid without contracts for customers with batteries, peer-to-peer trading will underpin all
with electricity supplier Good
sacrificing cost, efficiency or demand response technology or electric energy exchange in the future: helping
Energy. It was supported by a
resilience. vehicles, so they can manage grid propel us towards a fully renewable and
£310,000 Energy Entrepreneurs
congestion more effectively. decentralised energy economy.
INNOVATION Fund grant from the UK
government’s Department of POTENTIAL
Piclo is a match-making service
Energy and Climate Change.
for local energy markets. Just Peer-to-peer marketplace technology
Following a successful regional USEFUL LINKS:
as Airbnb matches customers removes barriers to a decarbonised and
trial in Cornwall, the service
with the most relevant short-term decentralised energy system. It provides Peer-to-peer network charging white
was commercialised and rolled
rentals, Piclo matches customers a scalable means to connect everything paper: bit.ly/local-grid-charging
out across the UK. Further
with the energy produced by their to the grid without compromising on
international roll-outs followed
neighbour’s solar panels. Piclo also cost, reward or resilience.
10 11
SECTION 01 SMART GRIDS & ENERGY STORAGE
02
system will be managed using this ACTION POTENTIAL
technology and data analytics.
Power Ledger will create and maintain Trading in embedded networks breaks
This will demonstrate how
POWER LEDGER blockchain works with assets that
a blockchain platform which enables
electricity metering, big data acquisition,
the nexus between renewables
generation ownership and energy
are either co-located or located in
rapid micro transactions and grid consumption, meaning value can be
different locations, such as an off-
management at an unprecedented derived from an investment in distributed
site solar farm planned for South
granular scale. energy resources even when the investor
Fremantle.
CHALLENGE The Australian Government will provide
is absent or doesn’t consume all the
The challenges of integrating In April 2018, Power Ledger energy they generate.
2.57 million AUD in direct funding and
distributed energy production announced a trial partnership with
another 5.68 million AUD will be provided
AUSTRALIA Japan’s second largest energy
and alignment with demand could by project partners including Curtin
be addressed through blockchain retailer KEPCO. The trial will help USEFUL LINKS:
University, Murdoch University, Curtin
technology and data analytics. renewable energy customers
Institute of Computation, LandCorp, the powerledger.io
better monetise their investments,
Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial
INNOVATION and help KEPCO develop virtual
Research Organisation (CSIRO)/Data
Power Ledger is trialling the energy power plants to better
61 and Cisco.
use of blockchain-powered support the demands of the wider
distributed energy and water energy market.
systems. It is gathering In May 2018, Power Ledger
academics, infrastructure, and struck a deal with Northwestern
technology experts to assess how University in Chicago, USA, for
cities can use this technology for the first commercial deployment
the integration of renewables. of its technology platform.
The trial will involve highly This deployment will enable
resilient, low-carbon and low-cost Northwestern to trade the power
systems installed and connected generated by solar panels on
using blockchain technology. university buildings between
A large solar PV plant, rooftop facilities without investing in
solar PV panels, a precinct- any technology of its own, with
sized battery, an electric vehicle Power Ledger collecting a small
charging station and a precinct percentage of each trade.
water capture and treatment
12 13
SECTION 01 SMART GRIDS & ENERGY STORAGE
This revolutionary sodium-based battery POTENTIAL
creates the conditions for long-lasting
The new generation of sodium-based
impact on the electric vehicle and
batteries will allow electronics such as
renewables sectors and a range of
laptop computers, sensors and flashlights
electronic applications.
to be lighter and last longer between
ACTION charges. These batteries are also safer
as non-flammable electrolyte is used
The project was awarded the Innovation
03
to eliminate the risk of fire due to short
Radar Prize in 2015. BroadBit is now
circuits.
working with Fraunhofer to develop the
manufacturing process for a battery Decarbonising the transport sector is
BROADBIT capable of higher energy density and at an urgent need and can be achieved by
a lower cost than lithium-ion batteries. increasing the deployment of e-vehicles.
High costs, safety, long recharging time New generations of batteries and
and limited storage are the main barriers innovative energy storage solutions have
to uptake of e-vehicles. BroadBit offers a huge potential to accelerate the market
an innovative solution making electric adoption of electric vehicles and to
CHALLENGE INNOVATION vehicles price competitive and enabling progress in transitioning towards a clean
Compared to the current The technology start-up BroadBit longer driving range. and sustainable mobility system.
lithium-ion technology solutions, has developed new batteries BroadBit is already at an advanced
EC In the short term, BroadBit is planning to
FI BroadBit’s sodium batteries are using novel sodium-based stage of pre-commercialisation and is
have the batteries used in drones and
significantly more cost-effective, chemistries with the support of currently raising funds and negotiating
electric bikes. The mid term goal is to
safer and more environmentally the EU Framework Programme. partnerships to finalise R&D and to
have the batteries used in electric cars,
friendly have a wider operating BroadBit’s batteries are based produce battery components and
passenger planes, buses and trucks,
temperature range and allow on metallic sodium and other assembly battery cells.
while the long term goal is to have
for the 100x scaling needed to widely available and plentiful
applications in grid storage.
supply coming rechargeable compounds. The main active
battery market. material is sodium chloride (NaCl),
USEFUL LINKS:
also known as table salt.
BroadBit website: broadbit.com
14 15
SECTION 01 SMART GRIDS & ENERGY STORAGE
04
greenhouse gas emissions. They
provide an opportunity for a cost- USEFUL LINKS:
effective means to smoothen the icef-forum.org/top10/pdf/ICEF2017_
HIGH-POWER ALL-SOLID-STATE electricity from intermittent renewable top10_5.pdf
BATTERIES USING SULFIDE energy sources, especially solar. There
is still work remaining in order for the nedo.go.jp/english/news/
SUPERIONIC CONDUCTORS technology to become commercially AA5en_100060.html
available, but this discovery may pave nature.com/articles/
the way for all-solid-state batteries to nenergy201630?WT.feed_
become commercialised. name=subjects_energy
CHALLENGE Technology Development
Organization (NEDO), the
Conventional lithium-ion batteries,
Japanese government agency
which use liquid electrolytes, are
JAPAN which supports innovation
reaching the upper limit of energy
in renewable energies and
density and facing challenges
environmental and industrial
concerning limited operation
technologies.
temperature. All-solid-state
batteries are a promising solution ACTION
to creating a high-capacity and
Testing has revealed that the
highly-powered battery of the
battery is able to operate
future.
efficiently at a wide range of
INNOVATION temperatures, between -30
and 100 degrees Celsius while
Toyota Motor Corporation and
a conventional lithium ion cell
the Tokyo Institute of Technology
showed very low discharge
have discovered superionic
capacity at -30 degrees and
conductors with the world’s
couldn’t operate at 100 degrees.
highest lithium-ion conductivity.
They have been applied to POTENTIAL
develop an all-solid-state battery
All-solid-state batteries can
that has achieved a power
be used as electric vehicle
density three times as high as the
batteries or stationary storage to
conventional lithium-ion batteries.
support intermittent renewables,
This is part of a project with
contributing to the reduction of
the New Energy and Industrial
16 17
SECTION 01 SMART GRIDS & ENERGY STORAGE
electrodes by mixing in a POTENTIAL
fluoropolymer, a ceramic
Developing a lithium secondary
solid electrolyte that features
battery that features high-
enhanced conductivity, with a
05
safety solid electrolytes, which
small amount of liquid electrolyte,
performs as well as organic liquid
before making the mixture into
electrolytes, will enable LIB use
a film.
DEVELOPMENT OF ORGANIC-INORGANIC in electric vehicles and energy
storage systems, while ensuring
The electric energy storage
HYBRID SOLID ELECTROLYTES FOR capacity of the new battery is public safety.
MEDIUM-LARGE-SIZED SEMI-SOLID about 95% of the capacity of
the conventional LIB but with
LITHIUM RECHARGEABLE BATTERIES enhanced safety.
ACTION
The ionic conductivity of a LLZO
ceramic electrolyte was improved
CHALLENGE This required the team to to as much as a fifth of the level
overcome low ionic conductivity found in conventional liquid
The lithium-ion batteries (LIBs)
and deterioration of performance electrolytes and separators.
KOREA that are currently available
characteristics due to high By applying this technology,
use flammable organic liquid
resistance in the degradation an organic-inorganic hybrid
electrolytes, posing a potential
of contact with the anode and solid electrolyte with enhanced
fire and explosion hazard.
cathode that occurs during cell ionic movement capability was
INNOVATION manufacturing. designed and developed that is
This project sought to replace A soft, half solid-state electrolyte more than 50% better than the
liquid electrolytes with safer material was designed that can level found in conventional liquid
solid electrolytes in lithium-ion be directly coated onto electrolytes and separators.
batteries.
18 19SECTION 01 SMART GRIDS & ENERGY STORAGE
06
UPSIDE ENERGY CLOUD BASED
SMART GRID PLATFORM
CHALLENGE the right times, communicating
through the Internet of Things.
The deployment of renewable
energy technologies means that ACTION
UNITED
KINGDOM power increasingly comes from
Upside Energy developed a pilot
multiple, intermittent sources.
through a collaborative project,
This makes it challenging for the
with funding from Innovate UK,
network operators to balance
and partners including Sharp
supply with demand. Inefficiencies
Laboratories of Europe, Select
in energy supply lead to volatile
Innovations (enLight), Tempus © Upside Energy Ltd
energy prices for customers and
Energy and the University of
higher greenhouse gas emissions.
Manchester.
When there is too much power, the system, in a physical and digital network,
INNOVATION In 2017 the UK government and batteries and hot water tanks will charge/ would provide the flexibility needed to
A UK company, Upside Energy, Innovate UK awarded £2.5m heat; when there is too little, the batteries efficiently integrate renewable energy
has developed a cloud based to a consortium led by Upside can provide power to the grid and the hot supplies into the grid, helping network
smart-grid technology that eases Energy,with Powervault, Mixergy, water tanks will stop heating. The project operators to balance electricity supply
peak-time pressure by connecting Eden Project and Oxford expects to install 500 intelligent hot and demand. Customers could also save
a range of common devices that University, for the Pete (Power, water tanks and 100 lithium-ion batteries on their energy costs, avoiding using
store energy. Upside Energy’s energy, technology, efficiency) in households across England. electricity during peak times.
platform aggregates the energy Project. The project is developing
stored in everyday connected an integrated system using home POTENTIAL
devices, such as batteries and battery systems, intelligent hot Through the aggregation of domestic
hot water tanks, to create a virtual water tanks, and cloud-based storage devices, Upside Energy USEFUL LINKS:
energy store that can be drawn Demand Side Response Services estimates that the Pete Project will Pete (Power, energy, technology,
on as needed. Devices in homes to provide a balancing service to be able to offer 1MW of power to the efficiency) website: peteproject.com
and small businesses can then the power industry. grid. This type of integrated, low-cost
be quickly switched on or off at
20 21SECTION 01 SMART GRIDSSECTION
& ENERGY
01 STORAGE
| ENERGY
08
DEVELOPMENT AND DEMONSTRATION
OF AN IOT-BASED CAMPUS MICROGRID
07 AT SEOUL NATIONAL UNIVERSITY
SILICON-AIR BATTERY
REACHES A DURATION Seoul National University has
developed an Internet of Things-
At the same time, technologies for
effective load management and
OF OVER 1000 HOURS based campus microgrid. It uses economic grid management can
FOR THE FIRST TIME various resources including
renewable energy to optimise
be developed. KOREA
In the future, demonstration
power consumption and save
of microgrids needs to be
energy.
conducted in a wide variety of
The development of energy On the downside, silicon-air The microgrid analyses the conditions so that the economics
storage capabilities is crucial for batteries have a relatively short characteristics of each load to and reliability of the campus
the integration of renewables into runtime The AlSiBat project is develop precise campus models. microgrids model can be
GERMANY the power grid or in off-grid areas. seeking to overcome this. Having Supplying surplus power from one thoroughly verified.
Silicon-air batteries have the discovered this weakness was microgrid to another microgrid
potential to outperform current caused by the consumption of the manages the power consumption
technology. They have a much electrolyte, a pump system was of the entire grid system,
higher energy density, are smaller developed to refill the electrolyte especially during peak demand.
and lighter than today’s lithium- fluid as required achieving a
ion batteries, as well as being runtime of over 1,100 hours.
environmentally friendly and Ways to keep the battery running
insensitive to external influences. without refilling the electrolyte are
Silicon is also relatively low-cost now being explored.
and almost indefinitely available.
22 23SECTION 01 SMART GRIDSSECTION
& ENERGY
01 STORAGE
| ENERGY
10
ESTABLISHMENT
OF PILOT PROJECT
ON GRID SCALE
BATTERY ENERGY
STORAGE SYSTEMS
09 (BESS) OF DIFFERENT
TECHNOLOGIES
DIE STADT ALS
SPEICHER
(CITY AS STORAGE) Recognising the increasing various parameters like overall
importance of Battery Energy sizing, efficiency, auxiliary
Storage Systems in India, power consumption, operational
POWERGRID has established difficulties and maintenance INDIA
Virtual energy storage has been The virtual storage was a pioneering pilot project requirements. While the units
successfully demonstrated across adapted to market demand and demonstrating two battery are relatively small for large grid
two German cities, Herten and participated in the spot market. storage system technologies storage management, this could
GERMANY Wunsiedel. As part of a project, This system could have a role (Advanced Lead Acid & Lithium be advantageous in the future as
several small and medium-size to play in the rapidly changing Iron Phosphate) with battery grids become less centralised, as
prosumers and producers were energy supply sector with owners management at Puducherry. well as for off-grid locations.
bundled and participated in the of CHP plants, heat pumps, night
The systems, of 250 kWh and The inclusion of multiple storage
energy markets. Both private storage heating or PV-batteries
500 kW in size, are installed in technologies along with grid
and municipal plants formed motivated to promote clean
one location and connected management software will
part of the model, connecting energy systems.
with the same feeder to provide provide valuable data to enable
households, electric vehicles and
identical grid conditions. They grid balancing and facilitate wider
a public swimming pool, as great
can therefore be compared on deployment of renewables.
untapped storage capability lies
in existing infrastructure.
24 25SECTION 2
RENEWABLE ENERGY 05 Norway 08 Sweden
Dynatec Reactor - Wave power inspired
Spinning the solar revolution by the heart
01 Canada 03 Korea 06 Canada 09 Chile
Fundy Ocean Research Center Development of fabrication of
Glencore’s Raglan mine: Atacama Modules,
for Energy (FORCE) a highly efficient and large-area
A wind turbine success Systems & Technology Center
perovskite photovoltaic module
(AtaMoSTeC)
using a printing process
02 India 04 India 07 China 10 Japan
Ocean based floating islands Micro Solar Dome (MSD) Qinghai achieves zero emissions Breakthrough’s in solar
capable of generating sustainable - Surya Jyoti for 168 hours non-stop conversion efficiencies
solar power for remote
coastal locations
26 27SECTION 02 RENEWABLE ENERGY
Used with permission from FORCE
01
FUNDY OCEAN RESEARCH
CENTER FOR ENERGY
CHALLENGE Unlike wind and solar, tidal energy
offers a significant strategic
Most of Nova Scotia’s electricity
advantage: it is predictable,
is still generated by burning
CANADA allowing electricity utilities to
imported fossil fuels. These
reliably predict tidal resource
emissions contribute to rising
levels years in advance. For tidal
sea levels, storm surges,
stream technology to move to
extreme weather events, ocean
large-scale development, the
acidification and population-level
public and regulators must be ACTION POTENTIAL
shifts in the marine ecosystem
satisfied that any development FORCE has successfully fabricated and The world’s oceans contain vast
on which Atlantic Canada is
activity is safe, sustainable and installed an 11 km subsea power cable amounts of energy, with the potential to
particularly dependent.
viable. FORCE’s environmental network – the largest transmission meet 10% of global electricity demand.
INNOVATION effects monitoring program is capacity for tidal stream in the world. It Estimates suggest Canada’s total marine
Tidal stream energy holds great designed to better understand has also welcomed the first 2-megawatt renewable energy technology potential
promise for producing low-carbon the natural environment of the tidal stream turbine connected to the is approximately 80,000 MW, with many
electricity and the Fundy Ocean Minas Passage and the potential North American grid – Cape Sharp Tidal’s high-energy sites. To explore these
Research Centre for Energy effects of turbines as related to OpenHydro turbine. opportunities, the industry must continue
(FORCE) is in an ideal geographic marine life and mammals, marine to refine tidal stream technology,
The Fundy Advanced Sensor Technology
setting to explore this promise. noise, benthic habitat and other lowering technical and financial risk,
programme enhances environmental data
Approximately 160 billion tonnes of variables. as well as monitoring tidal devices and
capture, site characterization capability
water flows through Canada’s Bay mitigating any potential effects.
and marine operation methodologies
of Fundy each tide, equal to four in extreme high flow environments.
times the estimated flow of all the Collecting this data will help address any
freshwater rivers and streams in environmental concerns related to this
USEFUL LINKS:
the world combined. breakthrough technology. fundyforce.ca
28 29SECTION 02 RENEWABLE ENERGY
02 INNOVATION
PSea6 Energy has created eco-
ACTION
A prototype unit has been installed
These solar powered islands can also
serve as autonomous research stations
in the middle of the sea, capable of
OCEAN BASED friendly floating islands called
Dweeps, which are modular,
off the coast of Tamil Nadu, where the
results have been extremely promising.
collecting valuable oceanographic data
FLOATING ISLANDS scalable and designed to survive
throughout the year.
POTENTIAL
CAPABLE OF the harsh marine environment.
The Dweeps make use of the As a next step, there are plans to deploy
GENERATING plentiful ocean surface to provide a system capable of generating at USEFUL LINKS:
SUSTAINABLE SOLAR a novel way of deploying existing
technology to generate solar
least 100 kW of power to demonstrate
the potential of the system. The size
dweep.in
POWER FOR REMOTE energy. This power can also be of the islands can vary based on their
application, ranging from a few square
COASTAL LOCATIONS used to generate fresh water
through desalination plants, metres to several hectares.
generating the maximum amount
of fresh water in the hot summers
when the sun is most plentiful and
CHALLENGE when water is most needed.
There are several coastal and The Dweeps are able to withstand
island communities in India and poor weather conditions by
INDIA
around the world with intermittent making use of a concept found
or no access to electricity. While ubiquitously in nature – tensegrity
solar energy can help electrify – to flex to the changing surface
these locations, acquiring of the ocean rather than resisting
large tracts of land on which to it. Using a combination of pre-
base a plant in these regions stressed cables and struts, it is
is problematic and expensive, able to mimic the flexibility seen in
especially considering the the human body with bones and
growing population. However, tendons. An added advantage
these coastal regions do have of this system is that the flexible
one resource in abundance – nature allows the structure to
the sea. Floating solar power absorb the wave energy, acting
installations on lakes has been as a natural breakwater to reduce
gaining popularity over the last coastal erosion by waves.
few years, but there has been no
system capable of laying a solar
power plant over the ocean.
30 31SECTION 02 RENEWABLE ENERGY
03
DEVELOPMENT OF
FABRICATION OF A performance after 50 heat cycles (-45°C The team is currently working on
– 85°C). This makes these cells longer optimising the module production
HIGHLY EFFICIENT lasting and more efficient than previous process to minimise areas of loss and
AND LARGE- generations. make them longer lasting.
AREA PEROVSKITE ACTION POTENTIAL
PHOTOVOLTAIC The project has broken the world record
for perovskite solar cell efficiency five
The research team applied high-
efficiency technologies in producing
MODULE USING A times and most recently achieved an large modules through a printing process.
PRINTING PROCESS efficiency level of 22.7% on a unit cell in
October 2017. This efficiency level is on
It is expected that applying roll-to-roll
processing, a production method that
par with those of conventional silicon allows for rapid mass production at low
solar cells and higher than the 22.1% cost, will revolutionise the dissemination
and 22.6% maximum efficiency levels of of solar cells in the future.
cadmium telluride (CdTe) in thin film solar
cells and copper indium gallium selenide
CHALLENGE INNOVATION (CIGS) solar cells.
The efficiency of perovskite solar A research team at the Korea
cells, which are price-competitive Research Institute of Chemical A 20.9% efficiency level was also
KOREA confirmed on a unit cell created as part
and offer flexibility, translucency, Technology has produced large
and lightness, needs to be modules through a printing of the effort to secure enlargement
improved so they can compete process. It has successfully technology.
with silicon solar cells. Unlike fabricated high efficiency modules
conventional silicon solar cells, with an efficiency level of over
perovskite solar cells can be used 15% (based on active areas) that
in the emerging window-type and exhibit heat stability for 1,000
portable solar cell market. hours at 85°C, as well as excellent
32 33SECTION 02 RENEWABLE ENERGY
04 POTENTIAL
The installation of Micro Solar Domes MP Local Area Development Schemes,
MICRO SOLAR DOME (MSD) could lead to an emission reduction and Corporate Social Responsibility
- SURYA JYOTI of 12.5 million tonnes of CO2. The
Department of Science and Technology
activities of public sector enterprises.
is providing training and licenses to
start-up and self-help groups to make
the lamps. Attempts are also being made USEFUL LINKS:
to integrate the device for subsidy in youtu.be/irpJvLqh6a0
CHALLENGE The light passes through a sun-
rural and urban housing schemes,
tube, which has a thin layer of
The Surya Jyoti Micro Solar Dome
highly reflective coating on the
is a unique device designed to
INDIA inner wall of the passage.
tackle the problem of access
to lighting for remote and The latest model operates in
underdeveloped communities. three modes: daylight without any
There are currently millions of electricity, night time with solar PV
off-grid households in rural areas and night time with conventional
or households in urban areas grid after 17 hours of operation.
without reliable electricity.
ACTION
INNOVATION 4,000 Micro Solar Domes
The device is low cost, simple have been installed in
to use and eco-friendly. It can impoverished parts of Delhi,
work for up to 17 hours giving an Mumbai, Kolkata and Bengaluru.
illumination equivalent of a 60 They have been tested and
watt incandescent lamp, with a developed with support from
lifespan of up to 20 years for the the Department of Science and
dome structure. Technology’s Clean Energy
Research Initiative. 54 technicians
The device has a transparent
from 14 states have been trained
semi-spherical upper dome
in the manufacturing process.
made of acrylic material which
captures the sunlight.
34 35SECTION 02 RENEWABLE ENERGY
CHALLENGE ACTION
05
Producing solar panels requires With support from the Research
the purification of silicon, which Council of Norway, Dynatec
NORWAY
is a slow and energy intensive has built two demonstration
DYNATEC REACTOR - SPINNING process. Currently production
of solar grade silicon is primarily
reactors. The energy consumption
of a decomposition reactor is
THE SOLAR REVOLUTION carried out using the Siemens currently about 70 kwh/kg, while
reactor. Silicon rods are heated to the new centrifugal reactor has
between 800 and 1,100 degrees demonstrated production of
Celsius, and a silicon containing first grade silicon at less than
gas is injected and thermally 5kwh/kg.
decomposed releasing silicon
that is deposited onto the rods. POTENTIAL
To prevent silicon growth on the Having already built two
walls, these are kept at below successful demonstration reactors
200 degrees Celsius. the company is now building a
full-scale industrial reactor in
INNOVATION cooperation with a customer.
Dynatec has produced a
Dynatec has also founded two
centrifugal reactor which lowers
spin off companies where the
the energy intensity of refining
centrifugal reactor is to be used
silicon in solar panel production
differently and refitted to make
by 90% compared to the
silicon nano-particles of similar
decomposition reactors currently
shape and size for both battery
in use.
and medical applications.
Instead of keeping hot elements
inside a cool chamber, with
Dynatec’s reactor the deposition
USEFUL LINKS:
takes place on the walls. The
whole reactor is also set into sciencenordic.com/speedy-
rotation and built as a centrifuge. production-silicon-solar-cells
By inverting the process, it is
possible to grow the silicon
without maintaining large
© Dynatec Engineering AS
temperature differences.
36 37SECTION 02 RENEWABLE ENERGY
06
GLENCORE’S RAGLAN MINE:
A WIND TURBINE SUCCESS
CHALLENGE wheel – to successfully manage
wind power dips and drops
Wind power in Northern Canada
without tripping the security
has had limited success.
CANADA mechanisms of the Raglan diesel
Conditions in the area can be
micro-grid.
challenging for rotating machines
and the variable nature of wind The project deployed an Arctic-
makes it difficult to integrate with rated 3 MW ENERCON E-82 © Tugliq Energy Co.
diesel power plants. As a result, E4 wind turbine generator. A
one of the best wind resource spider-like steel foundation
regions is largely unexploited. was engineered for the turbine ACTION in the region, Glencore’s Raglan
in order to alleviate potential mine successfully demonstrates that
INNOVATION The wind turbine has successfully
problems associated with harvesting wind energy can improve
operated for three consecutive years,
Glencore’s Raglan mine melting of ice lenses in Raglan’s long-term economic stability and energy
delivering 20.1 GWh of renewable energy
demonstrates that these permafrost, should global security, and reduce greenhouse
to the Glencore RAGLAN Mine, abating
obstacles can be overcome. With warming accelerate over the 20- gas emissions and the environmental
5.1 million litres of diesel and 14,424 tons
$7.8 million in funding from the year lifecycle of the turbine. It is footprint of Canada’s northern mining
of CO2 equivalent in greenhouse gas
Government of Canada, Tugliq also equipped with a cold winter operations and communities. The
emissions.
Energy Co is reaching new package that includes blade company is currently installing another
heights in harvesting wind energy heating by air convection. Through 2015 and 2016 the wind turbine wind turbine, with even more storage.
at an industrial scale through its achieved a record-setting 97.6% uptime
A Hatch Microgrid Controller average (among the world’s best in 3MW
Glencore Raglan Mine Renewable
(HμGrid) monitors demand for class). The wind and storage system will
Electricity Smart-Grid Pilot USEFUL LINKS:
wind power, and variations in be monitored for a minimum of five years.
Demonstration project.
supply, to produce a smooth tugliq.com/en/wind.html
Tugliq Energy used a flywheel – power output that enables high POTENTIAL tugliq.com/press/Tugliq%20
a mechanical device that stores (50%) wind power penetration in a Public%20Report%20EN.pdf
Acting as a flagship site for future
energy created by a spinning cost-effective way. industrial-scale wind power development
38 39SECTION 02 SECTION
RENEWABLE
01 | ENERGY
08
WAVE POWER INSPIRED
BY THE HEART
07
QINGHAI ACHIEVES CorPower Ocean AB has
developed a compact high-
Public sector support has been
provided at several stages
ZERO EMISSIONS FOR efficiency Wave Energy including through the EU Horizon
168 HOURS NON-STOP Converter, with a design inspired
by the pumping principles of
2020 funded project WaveBoost.
A half-scale unit is currently being
SWEDEN
the human heart. The design tested on the coast of Scotland.
enables the converter to oscillate
in resonance with the incoming
The State Grid Corporation of The Qinghai Yellow River
waves, strongly amplifying their
China achieved 100% clean Hydropower Company developed USEFUL LINKS:
motion and power capture. This
energy supply to the Qinghai a new model of water and
enables a significant reduction in corpowerocean.com
CHINA province for a record-breaking solar complementarity using
the required buoy size compared
168 hours non-stop. During this photovoltaic power generation
to conventional wave energy
period it relied on the coordinated of plants such as the Gonghe
converters, and improves
use of various power sources Photovoltaic Industrial Park, and
survivability due to the ability to
including wind, hydro and solar upstream hydroelectric power
detune the device in storms.
and control and rolling closed- stations, such as Longyangxia,
loop dispatching to achieve zero
emissions moving them closer
to achieving towns run on 100%
renewable energies.
40 41SECTION 02 SECTION
RENEWABLE
01 | ENERGY
10
BREAKTHROUGH’S
09 IN SOLAR CONVERSION
EFFICIENCIES
ATACAMA MODULES,
SYSTEMS &
TECHNOLOGY CENTER Japan aims to reduce the cost Kaneka Corporation has also
of solar power generation to achieved the world’s highest
(ATAMOSTEC) $0.06 per kWh by 2030 through conversion efficiency in a
its innovation programme. As crystalline silicon solar cell of JAPAN
part of the programme, several practical size (26.33% for 180
breakthroughs have been cm²). By combining heterojunction
The Atacama Desert, in the north Chilean Universities, Fraunhofer achieved in this technology area. technology, low resistance
of Chile has the highest levels (Germany), the National Solar electrode technology, and a
Sharp Corporation has achieved
of solar irradiation in the world. Energy Institute (France) and 19 back-contact structure achieved
CHILE one of the world’s highest
However, this region faces a companies to carry out applied capture of more solar energy.
DE,FR conversion efficiency for a solar
number of specific challenges research and development. The
module (31.17% for 968 cm2). A
which effects the scale-up of consortium aims to adapt and
triple-junction compound was
the use of photovoltaics. This develop appropriate photovoltaic
used to capture a wider range of
include high levels of ultra violet technologies for desert zone
the spectrum of sunlight.
radiation, temperature over conditions and high solar
the solar panels of up to 70°c irradiation, in terms of durability
degrees, dust, water scarcity and and expected yields, with the
a high seismic activity. In 2016 target to reduce the energy cost
the Chilean Government funded level by the year 2025.
a consortium involving several
42 43SECTION 3
FUELS
01 EC 03 China 05 China 07 EC
Itaka Biomass aqueous CO2 Hydrogenation with
European Innovation
reforming to produce renewable H2 to produce
Council Prize - Fuel from the
alternative aviation fuels chemical fuels
Sun: Artificial photosynthesis
02 Germany 04 India 06 Sweden 08 Germany
Energiepark Mainz The DBT-ICT C Green - 21st century Synlight - The World’s
2G-Ethanol Technology superefficient sludge largest artificial sun
disposal
44 45SECTION 03 FUELS
01
© Maksym Yemelyanov - fotolia.com
value chain, from feedstock and
fuel producers to fuel distributors
ITAKA and users such as airports and
airport managers and airlines.
The breakthrough project has
revealed total compatibility and
better energy efficiency for
CHALLENGE airplane engines, testing biojet
fuel in existing airport fuel systems
In order to reduce carbon
and in a series of long-haul and
emissions, biofuels are
EC short-haul flights. At the same time,
ES, FR, RO, considered the only available
the project has proved that flying
CH, UK, FI, option to decarbonise the air
IT, NL,BR on advanced biofuel is safe, and
transport sector in the near future,
successfully demonstrated that
due to this sector’s dependence
biojet fuel can be used as a green
on liquid fuels and its rapid
alternative to fossil fuels in the
rate of growth expecting to
same aeroplane engine and in the
exceed 10% of the global GHG and negligible particle shoot emissions Recognising that scaling up is critical
same airport structure.
emissions in 2050. As an aircraft due to the fuel source and handling while for bringing innovation to the market,
lifetime is over 30 years, drop- ACTION engine tests proved more than 30% a new project (BIO4A) is supported
in decarbonised solutions are improvement for the local air quality under Horizon 2020 ensuring industry
The environmental impact as an
needed for existing fleets. at airports. commitment as part of retrofitting Total’s
indirect outcome of this project
refinery in La Méde France which has
INNOVATION (if the project would be applied For the market out-reach, the project
renewable fuel capacity of several
to 2.1 million hectares left fallow established supply of biojet fuel through
Project ITAKA has supported the hundred thousand tonnes per year.
(no crop) in Europe yearly) is only conventional logistics channels and
development of aviation biofuels The production of 5,000- 10,000
estimated at around 700,000 illustrated that the declaration of its use
in an economic and sustainable thousand tonnes of biojet fuel within
tons per year of sustainable is possible under the Emissions Trading
manner, and at the same time the project is supported also through
biojet fuel (around 1% of EU jet Scheme and the Renewable Energy
improved the readiness of existing take off agreements for its purchase
fuel consumption) that could save Directive policies.
technologies and infrastructures. by KLM and Air France.
1.7 Mt CO2eq and create around
ITAKA is an innovative project POTENTIAL
100,000 jobs.
funded by the EU’s Seventh
Since January 2017, biojet fuel produced
Framework Programme for The project confirmed very
in the EU was used for the first time
USEFUL LINKS:
Research and Technological positive environmental impact of ec.europa.eu/research/infocentre/
worldwide by more than 6 million
Development. The project brought GHG savings more than 70% on a article_en.cfm?artid=44616
passengers in around 60,000 flights.
together the main actors along the life cycle basis of the value chain
46 47SECTION 03 FUELS
02
and to make heat and power, The hydrogen produced can be augment the energy transition by
but also as a building block for stored and either converted back sector integration. To achieve this the
green industry. E.g. in a fuel cell, to electricity later, or used for other concept needs to reach economic
ENERGIEPARK hydrogen can be converted purposes like mobility, heating or as viability; for that, energy regulation and
MAINZ (ENERGY directly and highly efficiently
into electric power, allowing
an industrial feedstock. political support should be tailored
accordingly. In addition, the production,
FARM IN MAINZ) zero emission mobility on roads,
The Energiepark constitutes the world’s
first multi-Megawatt PEM electrolyser
storage and distribution of hydrogen
railway and water. should be standardised, electrolysers
installation; previously the technology
Energiepark Mainz, operated capabilities further improved and
had been used at much smaller scale,
by Stadtwerke Mainz and Linde extended hydrogen applications
e.g. at hydrogen fuelling stations. In May
actively developed and pushed.
CHALLENGE and co-financed by the Federal 2018 it is still the world’s largest system
Ministry of Economic Affairs and by peak capacity.
Electricity from renewable
Energy in Germany, was launched
sources accounts for
GERMANY to investigate and demonstrate POTENTIAL USEFUL LINKS:
approximately one third of the
large-scale hydrogen production In the future similar plants could work in energiepark-mainz.de
power supplied in Germany.
from renewable energy for a various locations to stabilise the grid and
The government aims to raise
variety of use cases. A 6 MW
this to 65% by 2030 and to
Proton Exchange Membrane
80% by 2050. The challenge
(PEM) electrolysis made by
is that wind and solar radiation
Siemens has been brought to
are intermittent, so storage
full-scale proof-of-concept at
capabilities are needed. Further,
Energiepark. It is connected to
“sector integration” is vital to also
a wind farm in the direct vicinity,
decarbonise other sectors, and
which is sufficient to compensate
energy needs to be transported
for capacity shortages in the
from the sources to the users.
distribution grid.
INNOVATION
ACTION
The energy carrier hydrogen is
Energiepark Mainz vividly
the key element to solving these
demonstrates the potential of
three challenges.
hydrogen as an energy vector.
It can be made by from water The electrolysers can be
and renewable power by switched on and off or ramped
“electrolysis”, and it can simply up and down within seconds
be stored, transported and used to take up excess energy and
– not only as a fuel for vehicles stabilise the grid. By Energiepark Mainz
48 49SECTION 03 FUELS
03 ACTION
The demonstration project has
POTENTIAL
Governments could work together to
BIOMASS AQUEOUS REFORMING TO an anticipated production volume of
1,000 tons of aviation fuel per year.
make the most of their resources, for
example agriculture and industries like
PRODUCE ALTERNATIVE AVIATION FUELS The project will process 12,000 tons sugar refining could convert their waste
of corn stalks per year generating 2.4 or by-products into aviation fuels. The
million yuan for local farmers, providing research would also benefit from the
value-added utilisation of corn stalks. support of leading airlines, especially
in the areas of emission control and
CHALLENGE The key component of the
creating a new aviation fuel standard.
processes is to effectively
The International Air Transport
combine the traditional hydrolysis
Association has calculated that
CHINA technology and new hydrothermal
alternative jet fuel can reduce
depolymerisation technology.
carbon dioxide emissions by 50
per cent. Sustainable aviation fuel Another advantage of the
can be created by aqueous phase technology is to simplify the
reforming technology. This is the utilisation process of biomass,
most viable solution particularly resolving the problem associated
for developing economies that with separation of biomass
cannot afford to buy newer platform compounds and
generation aircraft. enrichment of energy intensity.
INNOVATION This new technology is the
only method that can convert
To produce sustainable aviation
whole biomass to aviation
fuel from lignocellulose, an
fuels by an aqueous reforming
innovative technology had been
process. It is more efficient and
developed by the Guangzhou
environmentally friendly than
Institute of Energy Conversion
to pathways.
and Chinese Academy of Science.
The alternative aviation fuels is
produced from corn or sorghum
stalks using a series of catalytic
conversion processes.
50 51SECTION 03 FUELS
CHALLENGE take anywhere from 3 to 5 days.
The plant design also has unique
80% of India’s 150GW energy
features such as advanced
requirement is met from imported
reactor design and separation INDIA
04
petro-crude. The country is
technologies with rapid reaction
mandated to blend 5% green
regime operations.
biofuels into gasoline and diesel
THE DBT-ICT 2G-ETHANOL by its National Biofuel Policy
(2009). However, India today
ACTION
TECHNOLOGY has no diesel substitute of
The technology was proven at 1
ton/day scale during Phase 1 at
note while barely managing to
the India Glycols site. This was
achieve circa 3.3% bioethanol
later scaled up to a demonstration
blending into gasoline. The use
scale plant of 750,000 litres
of surplus agricultural residues
annual alcohol capacity.
and other renewable sources of
energy could lead to partial or POTENTIAL
full replacement of petro-derived
The DBT-ICT Centre, along
fuels, ensuring a sustainable
with industrial partners, Bharat
energy supply for the country.
Petroleum Corporation and
INNOVATION Hindustan Petroleum Corporation,
are already on the way to design
2G Ethanol technology developed
and scale-up the technology
by the DBT-ICT Centre, which
to 400 ton/day scale. Larsen &
produces ethanol from agricultural
Toubro Hydrocarbon Engineering
residue feedstock, has the
has signed on as the engineering
potential to significantly reduce
partner for the commercialisation
emissions from the transportation
of the technology.
and agricultural sectors in India.
It also promises added social, The aim is to demonstrate that the
economic and environmental technology is cost-effective and
benefit such as revenue for easy to scale up. The impact of
farmers, job creation and less significant usage would be a net
agricultural waste. reduction in the import of crude
oil and of carbon emissions.
The continuous processing
technology converts biomass The conversion of agri-waste to
feed to alcohol within 24 hours. ethanol would help achieve the
Competing technologies from proposed 20% target of ethanol
the developed economies can blending with biodiesel.
52 53SECTION 03 FUELS
CHALLENGE to 315°C. The catalyst showed
high stability for at least 500
The direct production of liquid
hours on stream and resistance to
05
fuels from carbon dioxide
sintering at higher temperatures. CHINA
hydrogenation has attracted
enormous interest for its significant The DICP team also achieved
CO2 HYDROGENATION role in mitigating emissions and
reducing dependence on fossil
selective conversion of CO2
to lower olefins through CO2
WITH RENEWABLE H2 TO fuels. That is provided that the hydrogenation over a ZnZrO/
PRODUCE CHEMICAL FUELS hydrogen (H2) is from renewable
sources, such as photocatalytic
SAPO tandem catalyst. The
selectivity for lower olefins was
or photoelectrochemical as high as 80−90%. Furthermore,
splitting of water. this catalyst is stable toward the
thermal and sulfur treatments.
INNOVATION
DICP has also reported a highly
In 2017, scientists in China
efficient, stable and multifunctional
developed a variety of catalysts
Na–Fe3O4/HZSM-5 catalyst. It can
to covert carbon dioxide (CO2) to
directly convert CO2 to gasoline-
methanol, gasoline hydrocarbons,
range (C5–C11) hydrocarbons
and even lower olefins with
with selectivity up to 78% of all
high selectivity and conversion
hydrocarbons, while only 4%
efficiency under relatively mild
methane at a CO2 conversion
experimental conditions.
of 22% and remarkable stability
Development of these CO2 for 1,000 hours on stream.
hydrogenation catalysts makes it
possible to reduce CO2 emissions ACTION
and convert CO2 to value added The technologies attracted
chemicals, such as fuels and extensive attention from the
chemical feedstocks in large scale. industrial sector and now the
process is going through a
Dalian Institute of Chemical
pilot phase to scale up the
Physics (DICP) has developed
experimental solutions in China.
a ZnO-ZrO2 solid solution
catalyst, which can achieve CO2 POTENTIAL
to methanol selectivity of 86-
This breakthrough may rapidly
91% with conversion efficiency
accelerate CO2 utilisation in
of more than 10% under reaction
industry, thereby reducing
conditions of 5.0 MPa, 24,000 ml/
global emissions.
(g hour), H2/CO2 = 3:1 to 4:1, 320°
54 55SECTION 03 SECTION 01 | ENERGY
FUELS
07
EUROPEAN
INNOVATION
COUNCIL PRIZE -
FUEL FROM THE
06 SUN: ARTIFICIAL
PHOTOSYNTHESIS ©Brosko #235563640, ifong #82142185 2017
C GREEN –
21ST CENTURY
SUPEREFFICIENT Artificial photosynthesis can This is one of six Horizon 2020
SLUDGE DISPOSAL contribute to tackling both prizes, setting ambitious goals
energy and climate problems as to solve major challenges facing
a sustainable alternative to fossil present-day society. EC
fuels for a range of applications in
Meeting the challenge will
Sweden-based C Green has This can convert 60 tons of industry, housing and transport.
stimulate innovation, raise
created a revolutionary new way wastewater sludge, industrial It mimics the process of natural
public awareness, encourage
to convert wet sludge into biofuel. sludge or wet biomass per day photosynthesis by absorbing
the industrial participation and
SWEDEN Increasing amounts of sludge into biofuel. solar energy to produce fuel that
creation of start-ups, as well as
are being produced by sewage can be stored and transported.
The resulting biofuel is increase commercial interest.
treatment plants around the It is considered one of the
odourless and free from bacteria, Moreover, this prize will help
world, containing 270 TWh per most promising clean energy
viruses and the most complex accelerate the development of
year of energy. technology breakthroughs.
pharmaceutical residues, and is new solar energy conversion
To tackle the challenge of water suitable for use in biofuel The European Commission systems.
content of the material, C Green power plants. has launched a €5 million
patented Zero-Energy HT - an Artificial Photosynthesis Prize for
energy-efficient hydrothermal innovators globally to build a fully
carbonization process. functioning prototype.
56 57SECTION 03 SECTION 01 | ENERGY
FUELS
08
SYNLIGHT - THE
WORLD’S LARGEST
ARTIFICIAL SUN
Synlight, located at the German
Aerospace Center facility in Jülich,
is the world’s largest solar simulator.
With a 350-kilowatt array, Synlight GERMANY
produces solar radiation 10,000
times more intense than at the
Earth’s surface. Temperatures at the
target point of the lamps can reach
up to 3,000 degrees Celsius.
Researchers use these
temperatures to manufacture fuels
including hydrogen. With three
radiation chambers available for
experiments in which the required
radiation can be directed, Synlight
allows intensive research into
alternative energy production.
Fuels, propellants and combustibles
acquired using solar power offer
immense potential for long-term
storage, the production of chemical
raw materials, and the reduction of
carbon dioxide emissions.
©Markus Hauschild
58 59SECTION 4
TRANSPORTATION
03 Norway 05 Germany
ChargeFlex New fuel membrane beats
state-of-the-art technology
01 Australia 02 Norway 04 Sweden 06 Canada
Reinventing the wheel Future of the Fjords
Enerfy - the future of AddÉnergie’s smart infrastructure
for global markets
auto insurance for charging electric vehicles
60 61SECTION 04 TRANSPORTATION
01
REINVENTING THE WHEEL
FOR GLOBAL MARKETS
CHALLENGE The one-piece carbon fibre
wheels are up to 50% lighter than
Transport is responsible for
aluminium wheels for equivalent
almost a quarter of energy-related
AUSTRALIA strength, and can deliver a 6%
greenhouse gas emissions
improvement in fuel efficiency
worldwide, and emissions are
when they are fully integrated
increasing at a faster rate than
into vehicle design. Their use
any other sectors in the past
could significantly improve vehicle
decade. Emissions produced by
fuel efficiency and reduce CO₂
light vehicles account for over half The Australian Government through production markets, closer to major
emissions intensity by reducing
of the total. Without intervention, the Clean Energy Innovation Fund, global automotive markets. The local
vehicle weight.
global transport emissions could committed 10 million AUD to Carbon operation will be used as a test bed and
grow by 70% to 2050. ACTION Revolution’s 50 million AUD capital also serve as a production site for larger
raising in 2016. but small-volume wheels for trucks
INNOVATION Carbon Revolution’s carbon
and aeroplanes.
Australian company Carbon
fibre wheels are already being POTENTIAL
used in growing volumes in
Revolution has developed a Carbon Revolution is looking to
high performance vehicles
world-leading technology to capitalise on manufacturer interest
manufactured by Ford in the USEFUL LINKS:
tackle carbon emissions in light to extend the use to more affordable
US. Carbon Revolution is aiming carbonrev.com
vehicles. It has developed the first models. The company is planning an
to expand its annual wheel
mass-produced carbon fibre car initial public offering to raise as much cefc.com.au/media/files/clean-energy-
production to over 100,000
wheel as an alternative to heavier as 100 million AUD in the near future, innovation-fund-helps-australian-
by 2021.
aluminium wheels, which are to expand the plant’s capacity to manufacturer-reinvent-the-wheel-for-
used in approximately half of 250,000 wheels a year. After that, global-markets.aspx
all cars globally. it will seek to expand into offshore
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