The 1072 West Peachtree tower in Atlanta, now the tallest structure on the planet built with carbon-mineralized concrete supplied by Thomas Concrete, showcases the potential for lower embodied carbon in construction. This milestone demonstrates that carbon-mineralized concrete can deliver performance, reliability, and carbon reductions for large-scale projects, offering a pragmatic solution to reduce concrete's carbon footprint. The success of this project using CarbonCure technology validates the mission to reduce the carbon footprint of concrete on a large scale, highlighting the importance of sustainability and innovation in the construction industry. This development has the potential to revolutionize the industry's approach to sustainability in various construction projects worldwide.
Category: Industry, Materials & Waste
Cut Emissions:
– Improve Materials
– Improve Processes
– Cut Fugitive Emissions
– Use Waste as a Resource
– Shift Energy Sources
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Made from Air: The Twelve x Mercedes-Benz Pilot That Turned CO2 into Car Parts
Mercedes-Benz and Twelve have partnered to explore using CO2 to make car parts, successfully producing a polycarbonate C-pillar and foam as a pilot project. This innovation showcases the potential for CO2 to be a viable feedstock in automotive supply chains, leading to a lighter carbon footprint and a pathway to circular manufacturing. Twelve's technology, integrated into existing infrastructure, allows for decarbonization without compromising design or performance. Additionally, Twelve is constructing AirPlantTM One in Washington to produce e-fuels and E-Naphtha from captured CO2, industrializing carbon transformation at scale and pioneering a fossil-free supply chain. This collaboration represents a milestone in industrial decarbonization and showcases the potential for carbon transformation in complex supply chains.
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Australian battery innovator lands federal grant to scope out giga-scale local lithium-sulfur cell factory
Australian battery company Li-S Energy has received $7.86 million in funding from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency to build a giga-scale lithium-sulfur cell manufacturing facility with a production capacity of 1 gigawatt-hour per year. Their third-generation lithium sulfur technology offers 45% more energy density and is safer than lithium-ion batteries, potentially revolutionizing industries like drones and e-aviation. The funding will support fine-tuning manufacturing processes, expanding the workforce, and fast-tracking the commercialization of breakthrough battery technologies to aid in the clean energy transition for energy storage and transport. Innovations are being pursued to improve performance, increase energy density, and reduce costs in the battery sector, with support from Arena CEO Darren Miller.
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Spain allocates €2 billion to expand clean energy and industry programs
Spain's Ministry for Ecological Transition has announced a €2 billion funding package to accelerate industrial capacity, expand renewable deployment, and enhance energy resilience. The program, funded through the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Facility, focuses on industrial value chain development, renewable energy integration, electric mobility, and innovative thermal solutions. The package extends implementation deadlines and targets initiatives such as manufacturing renewable energy equipment, supporting renewable hydrogen projects, modernizing port infrastructure for offshore wind, and promoting electric mobility. The aim is to advance Spain's transition to a resilient, sustainable, and technologically advanced energy landscape in line with European energy and industrial objectives.
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COP30 draft text includes energy transition minerals in UN climate first
Countries attending COP30 in Belém, Brazil are discussing the implications of extracting minerals for clean energy technologies, with a focus on the social and environmental risks of scaling up supply chains. The UN panel report emphasizes the importance of putting human rights at the core of mineral value chains, particularly for minerals like copper, cobalt, and lithium that are in high demand. Developing countries, including African nations, are advocating for fair and sustainable mineral supply chains for the energy transition, highlighting the need for strong social and environmental safeguards, sustainable consumption patterns, and the rights of Indigenous Peoples. There is debate over the inclusion of language on transitioning away from fossil fuels, with developing countries calling for technical assistance and international cooperation for a just energy transition, while developed countries are exploring alternatives to creating a new institution.
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MIT researchers develop polymer film that could prevent solar panel corrosion
MIT engineers have developed a polymer coating, 2DPA-1, that is highly impermeable to gases, making it ideal for protecting solar panels and extending the lifetime of perovskite crystals. This material, stronger than steel but much lighter, repels gases such as nitrogen and oxygen with permeability at least 1/10,000 that of other polymers. The unique structure of 2DPA-1 has shown remarkable results, making it a promising solution for protecting infrastructure exposed to the elements. Climate solutions experts should take note of this innovative development in materials science for enhancing the durability and efficiency of renewable energy technologies.
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Data centers can stack sustainability, energy innovations
State laws are reshaping how data centers are built in the US, with a focus on fast-tracking power build-out and microgrids to address increasing electricity use that is putting pressure on grids and water resources. Communities are raising concerns over noise, water draw, and job creation related to new data centers, highlighting the need for creativity in planning to address sustainability, efficiency, and community benefits. Some data centers are exploring innovative solutions, such as using server heat and CO2 to fuel nearby greenhouses for food production. Emerging technologies can convert emissions into clean hydrogen, while integrating data centers with agriculture and carbon-utilization operations can create durable jobs and deeper community roots, prioritizing energy and water sustainability and community resilience for a win-win solution.
https://www.utilitydive.com/news/data-centers-can-stack-sustainability-energy-innovations/805193/
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Renewables giant China nears peak emissions, Beijingers see mountain peaks for first time in decades
The Global Carbon Project's annual Global Carbon Budget reveals a slight rise in carbon emissions in 2025, putting the world on track to hit the 1.5°C warming limit within four years. China, the world's biggest polluter, is showing signs of reaching peak emissions or plateauing, driven by a unique mix of motivating factors including economic and business advantages from clean energy. The importance of reducing emissions and supporting renewable energy technologies to combat global warming is emphasized, with China's success in decarbonization positioning itself as a global leader in clean energy production. The article warns against downplaying the importance of climate action based on a country's proportionate contribution to global emissions and highlights Australia's transition to renewable energy as an economic opportunity. The overall message is to learn from China's example and take advantage of cheap opportunities for zero emissions energy.
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“A clear decline:” IEA says faster transition to renewables equals lower household prices
The International Energy Agency (IEA) recommends accelerating the adoption of renewable energy to lower household power prices, as it has been proven to be more cost-effective in the long run despite higher upfront costs. The IEA also dispels the myth that wind and solar energy sources are less reliable than fossil fuels, emphasizing that reduced dependence on fossil fuels can shield against market price shocks. South Australia and Western Australia serve as examples of grids remaining stable with a high percentage of renewable energy. Climate Analytics CEO Bill Hare underscores the benefits of supporting renewables, noting their rapid growth and falling prices as a win-win for both people's wallets and the climate. The IEA's report stresses the need for significant investments in grid infrastructure to facilitate the transition to renewable energy sources, as efforts to stabilize energy prices are faltering and demand for LNG and oil is declining while renewables become more competitive.
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New Carbon “Heat Batteries” Aim To Decarbonize US Industries
The US Department of Energy's DAYS program is aiming to stimulate investor interest in new long duration energy storage systems, with startups like Antora Energy working on innovative solutions like thermophotovoltaic devices. Antora, a company focused on renewable energy solutions, uses renewable electricity to heat solid carbon blocks for energy storage and delivery, achieving high conversion efficiency and receiving significant funding for commercial scaleup. They are working on partnerships with companies like POET and Shell for various applications, and have received awards for energy storage partnerships, including one with Con Edison in New York. Con Edison has selected thermal energy storage, electric boilers, and industrial heat pumps as technologies to drive its steam decarbonization efforts, with the potential to electrify up to one third of total steam capacity by 2035. Antora's thermophotovoltaic "heat batteries" have the capability to store renewable energy for transfer into electricity or heat, powering industrial operations and contributing to the overall decarbonization journey.