The Week in Cleantech: 19 Mar 2023

Last week was a busy one for the renewable energy and mobility sectors. The Biden's administration opened applications for a $2.5bn EV charging and alternative-fueling infrastructure program, and announced $750m to advance clean hydrogen technologies. Ørsted and Eversource proposed an 884 MW offshore wind project in Rhode Island, while Wales approved the first floating offshore wind farm with 14 MW turbines. Tesla unveiled its first V4 Supercharger station with 16 stalls in the Netherlands, and Waze added connector-specific routing for EVs.

Wales approves first floating offshore wind farm with 14 MW turbines. Blue Gem Wind Project Erebus is part of a 4 GW renewable energy development. (Offshore WIND and 7 other sources)

Ørsted and Eversource propose 884MW offshore wind project in Rhode Island. The state aims for 100% clean energy by 2033. (Recharge and 5 other sources)

Invenergy wins 350 MW wind project in Quebec's renewable energy tender. The PPSA Wind Energy Centre will generate enough power for 50,000 homes. (Renewables Now and 5 other sources)

Bee and Butterfly Habitat Fund launches Solar Synergy program to increase pollinator habitats in renewable energy projects. The program delivers high-value pollinator seed mixtures, extensive monitoring of pollinator health, carbon sequestration documentation, and increased opportunity for honey production. (Solar Builder Magazine and 1 other source)

Primark launches new durability and repair initiatives to promote circular fashion. The initiatives include working with WRAP to establish an industry-wide fashion durability standard, scaling up free clothing repair workshops across Europe, and collaborating with Hubbub and the University of Leeds to develop independent academic research. (Circular and 2 other sources)

Tesla unveils first V4 Supercharger station with 16 stalls in the Netherlands. The new charger features a higher charge rate and Magic Dock for CCS charging. (Elektrek and 5 other sources)

Electrify America expands to Hawaii with new fast charging station. The network now covers 47 states and plans to expand to over 1,800 stations by 2026. (InsideEVs and 2 other sources)

Waze adds connector-specific routing for EVs. Users can now select the type of charging connector on their EVs. (InsideEVs and 2 other sources)

Raven Industries integrates Augmenta's VRA solution for automated crop spraying. Augmenta's real-time sensor and AI technology will be integrated into Raven's portfolio over the next few years, providing customers with an easy-to-use package of automated spraying capabilities at a value-based price. (Precision Farming Dealer and 1 other source)

TurtleTree launches world's first precision fermentation-derived lactoferrin, a bioactive milk protein with functional benefits for immunity, iron regulation, and digestive health. The Singapore-based company's breakthrough provides an affordable source of lactoferrin, removes high methane-emitting cows from the supply chain, and sees a clear path to profitability within six to 12 months after commercial launch, which is anticipated for Q4 2023. (Green Queen and 1 other source)

JetBlue collaborates with Shell Aviation to bring sustainable aviation fuel to LAX. JetBlue will take delivery of 10 million gallons of blended SAF at LAX over the next two years and has the option to purchase up to 5 million gallons more in the third year. (Bioenergy International and 7 other sources)

Corteva, Bunge, and Chevron collaborate to introduce winter canola hybrids for renewable fuel. The crop will provide farmers with a sustainable rotation option and offer a new income opportunity. (Biodiesel Magazine and 3 other sources)

Co-op launches Spring Post to help reduce e-waste and unlock value in old tech, expanding its partnership with tech-recirculation start-up Spring. Customers can collect a durable, padded, and waterproof pouch from participating stores to send their unwanted devices to Spring for refurbishment and recirculation. (Grocery Gazette and 2 other sources)

TotalEnergies and Paprec partner to develop French value chain for advanced plastic recycling. The long-term agreement secures the supply of TotalEnergies' future advanced plastic recycling plant in Grandpuits. (Interplas Insights and 1 other source)

Tavant and Bayer partner to develop AgriTech solutions for sustainable farming practices. The partnership will leverage AI, ML, IoT analytics, and Bayer's data models to enhance transparency and promote sustainability throughout the food supply chain. (iGrow News and 1 other source)

US opens applications for $2.5bn EV charging and alternative-fueling infrastructure program, with up to $700m available for fiscal years 2022 and 2023. The program is a key step towards President Biden’s goals of building a national network of 500,000 public EV charging stations and reducing national greenhouse gas emissions by 50–52% by 2030. (CleanTechnica and 8 other sources)

Biden-Harris Administration announces $750m to advance clean hydrogen technologies, with the aim of reducing the cost of clean hydrogen. The funding is the first phase of the $1.5 billion in President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and will play a vital role in achieving commercial-scale hydrogen deployment this decade. (NS Energy and 6 other sources)

DoE awards $590M to renew Bioenergy Research Centers for sustainable bioproducts and bioenergy. The four centers will receive funding for the next five years to develop new fuels, chemicals, and materials from non-food plant biomass. (Green Car Congress and 2 other sources)

Honda to invest $700m in Ohio EV hub, transforming three plants for EV production. Marysville Auto Plant to be Honda's first US plant to transition to all-electric car production. (InsideEVs and 3 other sources)

EU unveils plans for European Hydrogen Bank to boost renewable hydrogen investment. The bank will address initial financial challenges, establish a full hydrogen value chain, and offer auctions-as-a-service for renewable hydrogen projects. (FuelCellsWorks and 5 other sources)

Strategic placement of EV charging stations could reduce need for new power plants. Delayed home charging and workplace charging can help store solar energy and reduce peak electricity demand. (Tech Xplore and 4 other sources)

Scientists develop fully recyclable HDPE plastic from waste material. The new catalytic approach creates a material with the same properties as the original and greater recyclability. (Tech Xplore and 2 other sources)

Machine learning accurately sorts compostable plastics from conventional plastics. Researchers at University College London used hyperspectral imaging to develop AI models for material identification, which could be used at industrial scale in the future. (Tech Xplore and 1 other source)

Crushing rocks used in construction with CO2 gas could capture 0.5% of global carbon emissions, according to research from the University of Strathclyde. The process could reduce the carbon footprint of building houses and public infrastructure and help meet global climate change objectives. (Tech Xplore and 1 other source)

18 US states form alliance to block ESG investing, led by Florida Governor. The alliance aims to coordinate actions to protect individuals from the ESG movement, including banning the use of ESG considerations in state and local pension funds. (ESG Today and 2 other sources)

BlackRock CEO Larry Fink's annual letter de-emphasizes ESG investing, but still recognizes climate risk as an investment risk. The letter indicates the company is not backing away from climate concerns, but environmental groups caution against Fink's messaging on consumer choice. (The Daily Climate and 1 other source)

ING expands oil and gas financing restrictions to midstream projects. The bank aims to reduce the volume of traded oil and gas it finances and introduce a "net zero by 2050"-aligned methodology for midstream infrastructure by year-end. (edie and 1 other source)

TD Bank aims to facilitate CAD$500bn in sustainable and decarbonization finance by 2030. The bank also expanded its financed emission reduction targets and established a new social framework. (ESG Today and 1 other source)

Whirlpool achieves Zero Waste to Landfill status at global manufacturing sites. The company also commits to net zero emissions by 2030. (ESG News and 1 other source)

ArcVera expands into solar with independent engineering services for transactions. The renewable energy company is hiring staff to fulfill increasing demand for quality technical due diligence. (AZO Cleantech and 3 other sources)

Carol Adams appointed as the new Chair of Global Sustainability Standards Board. Adams, a renowned expert in sustainability accounting and reporting, will lead the independent body that sets the GRI Standards. (ESG News and 1 other source)

Hyzon Motors appoints Parker Meeks as CEO in new chapter. Meeks has been leading a strategic review of the company's global operations since August. (H2 View and 1 other source)

EU aims to produce 40% of green tech in Europe by 2030. The Net Zero Industry Act proposal and the Critical Raw Materials Act draft aim to challenge state-backed competition from the US and China. (Tech Xplore and 20 other sources)

EU adopts new law requiring all member states to cut emissions by 2030. The revised Effort Sharing Regulation raises the EU's overall 2030 emissions reduction target to 40% compared to 2005 levels. (ESG Today and 4 other sources)

European Parliament passes building renovation measures to reduce emissions and energy consumption. Environmental organizations criticize the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive for not offering affordable energy options. (Energy Live News and 1 other source)

UK deposit return schemes could lead to increased plastic demand, warns BMRA. The association suggests a variable rate on returned bottles, akin to the Nordic model. (Materials Recycling World and 1 other source)

Positive Nutrition event in London to focus on reformulation and innovation in food and drink. The three-day event will feature discussions on topics such as plant-based potential, food as medicine, and how technology is transforming wellness and diet. (FoodNavigator and 1 other source)

WasteExpo 2023: A week of professional development in New Orleans. The program offers learning on vital waste, recycling, organics and sustainability topics through spotlight sessions, workshops, and conference sessions. (Waste Advantage Magazine and 1 other source)

Thank you for reading this newsletter. We hope you liked it, and we would greatly appreciate if you spread the word about it.

If you have any feedback or suggestions on how to improve it, just drop us a line.

Follow us on Telegram, Twitter or LinkedIn to receive more frequent bite-sized updates on trending cleantech news.