The gateway is via Breakthrough Energy, Gates’ clean tech business. BE hosts private equity funds that invest in climate change. Gates founded BE in 2015. Billionaires and institutions have invested $4.5 billion in 160 firms. There are “fellowships” for promising research and inventions. Other companies are at the development stage. The more advanced are ready to deploy clean energy in manufacturing and agriculture. Their technologies reduce emissions in buildings, electricity, manufacturing, construction, transportation and farming.
“Thanks to brilliant minds, big ideas and bold investments, climate change tech has arrived” said Gates. He was speaking at a BE conference in Tobacco Dock in London’s docklands.
Rodi Guidero, BE executive director, dubbed the event, “The Clean Industrial Revolution.” Besides innovation the companies are aiming to cut the “green premium”. This is the higher cost of clean technology and processes.
Some 100 BE green businesses were on show at the conference. They included specialists in carbon capture and storage, fuel cells and green hydrogen. There were producers of electric batteries for cargo ships, solar panels, fusion power and plant proteins. Another firm makes sophisticated automation and communications to counter forest fires
Here are some examples that may well have an impact on the commodities world:
Dioxycle has created the world’s first electrolyser. It can replace fossil fuels in the production of ethylene. Traditional ethylene production comes from “steam cracking” gas and oil at extreme temperatures. But current global ethylene producers release 1 billion tons of carbon dioxide emissions a year. In contrast, Dioxycle’s emission-to-ethylene electrolyser is a green producer of ethylene. Products from ethylene range from detergents, and synthetic fibres to bottles, containers and medical devices.
TS Conductor makes a light aluminium power cable. It conducts more electricity than conventional wires, the company claims.
C-Zero is developing a technology to extract carbon from natural gas. High temperatures break down methane into hydrogen and solid carbon. C-Zero’s hydrogen eliminates carbon from several industries. They include ammonia producers, electric generators, process heaters, and fuel cell vehicles.
Electric Hydrogen, says it has developed a good electrolyser which “splits water”. Application of renewable electricity should help cut costs of green hydrogen. The process eliminates carbon emissions from steel manufacturers and other industries that use fossil fuels. The challenge is to cut green hydrogen costs. Green hydrogen is far more expensive than hydrogen produced from natural gas.
Aluminio aims to replace over 90 percent of silver in solar cells with aluminium. If the process comes to fruition the fall in solar panel costs will be dramatic. Silver accounts for about 10 per cent of solar panel costs, according to Aluminio. A metric ton of aluminium costs $2,400 compared with $997,000 for a tonne of silver.
KoBold Metals uses artificial intelligence to find critical metal deposits. The minerals explorer has discovered a vast copper deposit in Zambia.
Rize, a specialist rice consultant has assembled an expert team of agronomists. They meet and help farmers produce rice with green technology. Rize’s techniques improve crop yields but need less water. The reduction in methane emissions is significant.
C16 Biosciences applies microbiology to brew alternatives to palm oil. C16 aims to create a sustainable, environment friendly alternative to palm oil. It protects land, wildlife, and resources.
Copyright Neil Behrmann All Rights Reserved
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