Climate Tech Startups Saving the Planet

In the past few years, changing weather patterns and an increase in natural disasters became evident as the climate change impact intensified. With the global temperature increasing and ice mass melting, sea levels have risen, which will soon prove to be cataclysmic for the planet. Technology experts and modern entrepreneurs are devising innovative solutions to combat climate change, such as reducing carbon emissions, harnessing renewable energy, and creating sustainable solutions, thereby changing the way of life. Will they be able to reverse the negative effect of environmental degradation and reset the delicate ecological balance?

Climate change is an existential threat to our planet, with environmental degradation and rapidly changing weather patterns posing severe risks to our very survival. In recent years, the urgency of the situation has prompted a surge in innovation and investment in climate tech, a field of technological solutions aimed at mitigating the impact of climate change and reducing its cause. Following are few notable innovators and entrepreneurs designing sustainable solutions:

1. CarbonCure Technologies – A Canadian startup, CarbonCure was founded by Robert Niven. As the name suggests, the company aims to reduce carbon dioxide (CO₂) from the atmosphere. It has developed a technology that captures CO₂ emissions from industrial sources, like cement plants, and injects them into concrete during manufacturing. CO₂ reacts with the calcium in the cement to form calcium carbonate, which becomes permanently embedded in the concrete. Apart from reducing CO₂, this process helps strengthen concrete, making it more durable. The process is cost-effective and can be easily integrated into existing concrete production facilities. CarbonCure's technology has been adopted by concrete producers across North America, Europe, and Asia. The company estimates that its technology has saved over 258,462 metric tons of CO₂ emissions.
2. Orbital Marine Power - Founded by Barry Johnston in 2002, Orbital Marine Power is a Scottish company that develops tidal energy technology. The technology is centered around the company’s proprietary floating tidal turbine, known as Orbital O2. This turbine can produce up to 2 MW electricity, making it one of the most powerful tidal turbines worldwide. The Orbital O2 turbine consists of a floating platform that supports two 1-MW turbines mounted on retractable legs. The turbine blades are made from carbon fiber and designed to maximize energy capture, while minimizing drag and turbulence. The platform is also equipped with a control system that enables the turbine to automatically orient itself to face the incoming tide, maximizing energy capture. 
   The company uses a range of advanced technologies, including sophisticated sensors and monitoring systems to optimize turbine performance and ensure efficient operation of its tidal energy projects. Orbital is harnessing a renewable energy form to reduce the pressure on fossil fuels and carbon emissions.
3. Ather Energy - Ather Energy is an Indian electric vehicle (EV) company founded by Swapnil Jain and Tarun Mehta in 2013. The company's goal is to develop and promote the use of EVs in India. Ather Energy's technology is focused on creating an intelligent and connected EV ecosystem, which includes not just the vehicles themselves but also charging infrastructure, mobile apps, and other related services. The company's flagship product is the Ather 450X, an electric scooter that comes equipped with various features such as a touchscreen dashboard, mobile app connectivity, and fast charging.
4. FTXT Energy Technology - FTXT is a Chinese climate tech company founded in 2019 by three entrepreneurs: Wang Wei, Chen Jianqiang, and Zhang Shuai. The company's mission is to develop cutting-edge technologies to help combat climate change and promote sustainable development. The company’s focus area is Hydrogen fuel cell system R&D, manufacturing, and sales. The global research and development network of FTXT is developing fuel cell power systems and components at the vehicle level. The primary offerings include fuel cell engines, stacks, on-board hydrogen systems with a 35 MPa/70 MPa pressure rating, on tank valves, pressure regulators, and more.
5. Ampaire – A US-based startup Ampaire was founded by Kevin Noertker and Cory Combs in 2016. The company has developed technology for hybrid-electric aircraft. It has created sustainable aviation solutions by retrofitting existing aircraft with electric propulsion systems. Ampaire's electric flight technology is based on a combination of modern electric motor, battery, and control systems.
6. Energy Vault - Energy Vault is a Swiss startup founded in 2017 by Robert Piconi, Bill Gross, and Andrea Pedretti. The core technology used by Energy Vault is based on the principles of gravity and potential energy. The company established a proprietary system that can store immense energy as mechanical potential energy, which can be harnessed to generate electricity on demand.

Conclusion

The global temperature has risen by 1.1°C since 1901 due to increased greenhouse gas emissions. Scientists believe that if the average temperature climbs by more than 1.5°C, the world will reach the point of no return. Therefore, in the Paris Agreement 2015, most nations have committed to diminishing their GHG emissions by 45% until 2030 and finally achieving the desirable net zero by 2050.

Climate tech companies can help achieve this objective by developing cutting-edge technology to create sustainable solutions. From offering solutions for carbon capture, to increasing the use of renewable energy, these companies are bringing about a revolution. Reversing the environmental damage done will be difficult; however, with the support of climate tech startups we have a fighting chance.