Japan’s First Osmotic Plant Signals a New Era of Water-Based Energy

In a quiet corner of southern Japan, something revolutionary is happening beneath the surface. No smoke. No noise. Just the silent push and pull of salt and fresh water generating clean electricity. Welcome to Japan’s first osmotic power plant—a bold step into the future of renewable energy.

What Is Osmotic Power?

Imagine placing freshwater and seawater side by side, separated by a special membrane. Nature wants balance, so freshwater flows toward the saltier side, creating pressure. That pressure can spin a turbine—and voilà, you’ve got electricity. It’s called osmotic energy, or more poetically, “blue energy.”

Unlike solar or wind, osmotic power doesn’t care if it’s cloudy or calm. It runs 24/7, quietly converting water chemistry into clean power.

Japan’s First Plant: Small but Mighty

Launched in August 2025 by the Fukuoka District Waterworks Agency, the plant uses treated wastewater and concentrated seawater—both byproducts of desalination—to generate power. It’s expected to produce 880,000 kilowatt-hours annually, enough to run a desalination facility and supply clean water to nearby communities.

That might not sound like much, but it’s a proof of concept with global implications.

This is next-generation renewable energy, says Akihiko Tanioka, a leading researcher in osmotic systems. It’s clean, constant, and scalable.

Why It Matters

Always On: Unlike solar panels or wind turbines, osmotic power doesn’t depend on weather.

Eco-Friendly: No emissions, no fuel, no noise—just water doing what it naturally does.

Global Potential: Countries like Norway, South Korea, and Australia are exploring similar tech.

What’s Next?

Japan’s move could spark a wave of innovation. Coastal cities, desalination hubs, and wastewater treatment plants might soon double as power stations. And with climate change demanding cleaner solutions, osmotic energy offers a tantalizing new option.

It’s not just science—it’s strategy. Turning water into power without harming the planet? That’s the kind of quiet revolution the world needs.

Bharat Cleantech Manufacturing Platform Launched

Union Minister of Commerce & Industry Shri Piyush Goyal has launched the Bharat Cleantech Manufacturing Platform at the Bharat Climate Forum 2025 in New Delhi. This initiative aims to enhance India's cleantech value chains in sectors like solar, wind, hydrogen, and battery storage.

The platform aims to encourage the cleantech sector to become self-sustaining without relying on government support in the long term.

Addressing the Bharat Climate Forum 2025, the Minister highlighted that the Product Linked Incentives (PLIs) and subsidies are detrimental to long-term growth and development of the clean energy sector. He said that the PLI scheme can only help kickstart the sector, but the clean energy sector must strive to become self-sustaining. The Cleantech sector must become independent of the Government, he added.. 

Key Highlights of the Platform:

Objective: To spur innovation and help India become a global leader in sustainability and cleantech.

Product-Linked Incentives (PLIs): Shri Goyal emphasized that while PLIs can kickstart the sector, long-term growth requires the cleantech sector to become self-sustaining.

Collaboration: The platform will provide opportunities for Indian firms to collaborate, co-innovate, and share ideas, technologies, and resources.

Climate Goals: India aims to achieve 500 Gigawatts of clean energy sources by 2030, and the platform is expected to play a crucial role in meeting this target.

This initiative is a significant step towards positioning India as a global leader in clean technology and sustainability

Hyderabad-based Recykal Ranks 4th Among Fast Company’s 50 Most Innovative Companies 2023

Recykal ranks 4th out of Fast Company’s 50 most innovative companies, joins the ranks of OpenAI, Disney, Tiffany & Co., and more

Recykal Named to Fast Company’s Annual List of the APAC’s Most Innovative Companies for 2023

Recykal has been named to Fast Company’s prestigious annual list of the World’s Most Innovative Companies APAC Region for 2023.

This year’s list highlights the businesses at the forefront of their respective industries, paving the way for the innovations of tomorrow. These companies are setting the standard with some of the greatest accomplishments of the modern world. In addition to the World’s 50 Most Innovative Companies, 540 organizations are recognized across 54 sectors and regions.

“Recykal is on a mission to transform the way we think about waste management in India. Powering sustainability by tech, Recykal isn’t just promoting a circular economy, but also creating a platform for efficient channelisation of waste. With a healthy growth and 4,00,000 MT of waste channelised till now, we aim to make waste a resource in India's sustainability game,” said Abhay Deshpande, the founder of Recykal.

Recykal recently launched a pilot Digital DRS campaign - Sabka Saath, Swachch Kedarnath in Kedarnath. 11,000 QR codes were distributed across all shops in the temple area that resulted in 52% improvement in the collection and refund rate. What intrigued the pilgrims and local government is the tech intervention where plastic waste generated could be traced back to the user. Sabka Saath, Swachch Kedarnath not only incentivized pilgrims to collect and return their bottles, but also improved the collection and recycling rates, and boosted the local recycling economy.

The World’s Most Innovative Companies is Fast Company’s signature franchise and one of its most highly anticipated editorial efforts of the year. It provides a firsthand look at the inspiring and innovative efforts of companies across all sectors of the economy.

“What a strange and thrilling year it has been to honor this year’s Most Innovative Companies.

This year’s list compiles some of the most cutting-edge groundbreakers who are changing our world every single day, from legacy organizations like McDonald’s to upstarts like MrBeast and institutions such as NASA. Everyone on this list does something completely, uniquely different, yet, they all have one thing in common: innovation,” said Fast Company editor-in-chief Brendan Vaughan.

Fast Company will host its third annual Most Innovative Companies Summit on April 19 and 20. The virtual summit celebrates the Most Innovative Companies in business, and provides an inside look at cutting-edge business trends and what it takes to innovate in 2023. Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies issue (March/April 2023) is available online here, as well as in-app form via iTunes, and on newsstands beginning March 14. The hashtag is #FCMostInnovative.

ABOUT RECYKAL

Recykal is a clean-tech startup headquartered in Hyderabad. As an end-to-end digital solutions provider, Recykal facilitates transactions for all stakeholders across India’s waste management & recycling value chain to promote more efficient and effective recycling of local plastic waste. Revolutionising the waste-commerce sector with digital innovations led to the recognition as a ‘Technology Pioneer’ by the World Economic Forum; other honours include Grant Thornton - Sabera Awards as a Responsible Business of the Year, Best Waste Management Digital Technology Player by Assocham, Excellence in Waste Management as a PRO by CII 3R Awards, and Best Soonicorn by BusinessWorld.

ABOUT FAST COMPANY

Fast Company is the only media brand fully dedicated to the vital intersection of business, innovation, and design, engaging the most influential leaders, companies, and thinkers on the future of business. Headquartered in New York City, Fast Company is published by Mansueto Ventures LLC, along with our sister publication Inc., and can be found online at www.fastcompany.com.

Mercom Launches 1st CleanTech Startup Pitch Competition at India Renewables Summit 2023

Mercom India, a clean energy research and communications firm, will be hosting its first startup pitch competition for cleantech companies, bringing together the most innovative startups in India’s clean energy industry. The competition will be held at the Mercom India Renewables Summit on April 27, 2023, at 10:30 am in New Delhi.

This competition will be open to Indian entrepreneurs or companies with a great cleantech idea or who have developed an early-stage technology that will further India’s energy transition.

The deadline to submit an entry is March 31, 2023.

Eligibility criteria for the competition include:

• The startup must own a product or innovation that contributes to clean energy.
• Company is not older than seven years.
• Company has never previously sponsored Mercom India Summit
• Company should have raised less than $10 million in capital
• Product/solution should be in the pre-commercialization phase
• Company should be based in India

Additional details can be found at: https://mercomindia.com/event/renewables-summit-2023/start-up-pitch/

Ten companies will be selected from the entries and shortlisted to present their ideas during the conference.

Priya Sanjay, Managing Director at Mercom India, commented, “this competition is the first of its kind in the Indian cleantech sector, and we expect to see a range of companies with disruptive technologies that will further the nation’s energy transition and net zero ambitions. The Renewables Summit is the ideal venue to not only evaluate new technologies but is also a great way to get new innovative companies and technologies the exposure they need in front of the industry’s investors and decision-makers.”

Submissions will be accepted until March 31, 2023. To submit your entry, visit: https://mercomindia.com/event/renewables-summit-2023/startup-registration-2023/

About Mercom India

Mercom India, a subsidiary of the U.S.-based Mercom Capital Group, is a clean energy research and communications firm recognized worldwide for its expertise in Indian cleantech markets. With offices in Bengaluru and Delhi, Mercom India Clean Energy Insights has been publishing industry news and providing research services for clean energy organizations across India since 2009. Mercom India Events is a thought leadership platform for clean energy professionals looking to forge a cleaner future. For more information, visit: https://mercomindia.com

AIC-IIIT Hyderabad Selects 7 Startups for the EPAM Social Impact Innovation Program from Cleantech, Environment Tech and Waste Management Space

• IIITH's social incubator, AIC-IIITH onboards startups for EPAM Social Impact Innovation Program
• AIC-IIITH has selected 7 startups for the EPAM Social Impact Innovation Program from the cleantech, environment tech and waste management space who are using innovation and entrepreneurship to solve pressing social challenges in a sustainable manner.
• As part of EPAM Systems’ ESG commitment to make a sustainable social impact in communities worldwide, the program will provide an equity-free grant of up to INR 5,00,000 and other non-financial support to the selected startups.
• IIITH's social incubator, AIC-IIITH till date has supported 38+ startups, created 300+ jobs and facilitated INR 2+ Cr of funding.

Popular consensus is that building a green recovery stimulus, which includes green public investment and the adoption of clean technology or “cleantech” is needed to ensure sustainable and inclusive growth and help India achieve UN Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs). Significantly, green start-ups also have been included in the sunrise industry landscape.

In keeping with this, AIC-IIITH Foundation and EPAM Systems, Inc., a leading digital transformation services and product engineering company, have selected seven startups for the EPAM Social Impact Innovation Program, which aims to support these green startups with an equity-free grant of up to INR 5,00,000 and Incubation Support.

The startups were selected through a rigorous process ending in a pitching session in front of esteemed experts like Naresh Sutravey, Senior Business Analysis Manager and Pramila Kasirajan, Director of Project Management at EPAM India, Sanjay Jesrani CEO and Founder of GO North Ventures, Sreyashee Das, Incubation manager, AIC-Sangam Innovation Foundation, Rennis Joseph, CEO and Founder of Ignis Careers Pvt. Ltd. and Raj Janagam, CEO, AIC-IIITH.

Last year EPAM provided a COVID bridge grant to social startups through AIC-IIITH and helped organizations like Jivoule Biofuels (clean energy), myUDAAN (accessibility tech) and Intech Harness (agritech) with resources needed to survive the pandemic.

Emphasizing the significance and timely nature of the program, Prof. Ramesh Loganathan, Director of AIC-IIITH said, “Supporting the Green Tech revolution is essential to help India secure a foothold in the Fourth Industrial Revolution and help us fight the climate crisis. We at AIC-IIITH are proud to be contributing to the same.” Till date AIC-IIITH has run 5 cohorts and supported 38+ startups with incubation support and INR 2+ Cr of funding. AIC-IIITH’s startups are solving pressing challenges in sectors like agriculture, education, accessibility, waste management and created 300+ jobs.

The key highlights of this year’s program include milestone-based grant support of up to INR 5 lakhs, incubation support, business coaching and access to IIIT-Hyderabad's technology expertise. Startups will also be able to leverage expertise and resources of Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE), IIITH’s Deep-tech incubator. CIE is one of the oldest TBI in the country and has supported over 200+ startups with incubation support and INR 6+ Cr of funding.

“We are delighted to support this initiative again to help bring about positive social change and provide unique opportunities for start-up communities to contribute towards sustainability and drive climate action,” said Shamilka Samarasinha, Global Head of Corporate Social Responsibility at EPAM Systems, Inc. “Thank you to all of the amazing startups who submitted an entry as well as the seven chosen organizations. Together, we are making a difference to help India achieve their UN Sustainable Development Goals 2030.”

The selected startups are working to help India combat various environmental challenges through tech innovations and entrepreneurial risk-taking. These startups are:

1. MedCuore Medical Solutions Pvt. Ltd is developing a patent-pending green-indoor air purifier (completely recyclable) integrated with a smart monitor controlled by an AI-IOT app to give specific data that are much more relevant.
2. Green Trek Research and Development Pvt. Ltd is helping reduce CO2 emissions and gasses by recycling steel waste. 
3. Greenovate Solutions Pvt. Ltd is developing carbon capture & utilization technology to help the chemical & petroleum industries meet their carbon emission reduction targets and become net-zero.
4. MuddleArt Pvt. Ltd provides customized pre-consumer textile waste management solutions aimed to bridge gaps in the supply chain and integrate informal waste workers into the workforce and facilitate a circular economy.
5. Zodhya Technologies Pvt. Ltd offers a device that reduces energy costs with ZERO operational changes using an AI-based algorithm.
6. Envoprotect LLP provides technology to harness waste to energy by recycling plastic waste generated from paper mills to build a healthier and low carbon footprint circular economy.
7. Panjurli Labs Pvt. Ltd is a manufacturer of commercial and residential air purifying equipment, dust collectors and a wide range of other products.

About AIC-IIITH Foundation is an Atal Incubation Center set up exclusively for incubating and supporting tech-based social enterprises. It seeks to deploy entrepreneurial energy and technological innovation for social impact to help India achieve the SDGs. Supported by the Atal Innovation Mission, NITI Aayog, Government of India, AIC-IIITH FOUNDATION also seeks to nurture the social enterprise ecosystem by acting as a platform for sharing ideas and insights. With over 10,000 sq. ft space consisting of co-working spaces, conference room, meeting space and other facilities, AIC-IIITH FOUNDATION aims to provide collaborative space to entrepreneurs. These benefits are further enhanced by the multiplying effect of agglomeration effects and network effects of being situated in the Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE), IIIT-Hyderabad, which is a cluster of incubation centers, research labs and resources.

For further information, please contact at: aiciiith@gmail.com or For details visit our Website - https://aic.iiit.ac.in/ and for update follows us Facebook- www.facebook.com/AICIIITH Twitter- @IiithAic and LinkedIn- linkedin.com/in/aic-iiith-foundation-12ab541a1/

ABOUT EPAM SYSTEMS

Since 1993, EPAM Systems, Inc. (NYSE: EPAM) has leveraged its advanced software engineering heritage to become the foremost global digital transformation services provider – leading the industry in digital and physical product development and digital platform engineering services. Through its innovative strategy; integrated advisory, consulting, and design capabilities; and unique ‘Engineering DNA,’ EPAM’s globally deployed hybrid teams help make the future real for clients and communities around the world by powering better enterprise, education and health platforms that connect people, optimize experiences, and improve people’s lives.

In 2021, EPAM was added to the S&P 500 and included among the list of Forbes Global 2000 companies.

Selected by Newsweek as a 2021 and 2022 Most Loved Workplace, EPAM’s global multi-disciplinary teams serve customers in more than 50 countries across six continents. As a recognized leader, EPAM is listed among the top 15 companies in Information Technology Services on the Fortune 1000 and ranked four times as the top IT services company on Fortune’s 100 Fastest Growing Companies list. EPAM is also listed among Ad Age’s top 25 World’s Largest Agency Companies for three consecutive years, and Consulting Magazine named EPAM Continuum a top 20 Fastest Growing Firm.

Learn more at www.epam.com and follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn.


About IIIT Hyderabad: The International Institute of Information Technology Hyderabad (IIITH) is an autonomous research university founded in 1998 that focuses on the core areas of Information Technology, such as Computer Science, Electronics and Communications, and their applications in other domains through inter-disciplinary research that has a greater social impact. Some of its research domains include Visual Information Technologies, Human Language Technologies, Data Engineering, VLSI and Embedded Systems, Computer Architecture, Wireless Communications, Algorithms and Information Security, Robotics, Building Science, Earthquake Engineering, Cognitive Science, Computational Natural Sciences and Bioinformatics, Education Technologies, Power Systems, IT in Agriculture and e-Governance.

Website: www.iiit.ac.in

Innovative Battery Tech Startup Clean Electric Raises $2.2 Mn Led by Kalaari Capital

Team of Clean Electric

Clean Electric, an innovative energy storage solutions start-up, has raised $2.2M in a seed round led by Kalaari Capital, an early-stage venture capital firm based in Bengaluru.

The round also saw participation from Climate Angels, LV Fund, 7Square Ventures, and CIIE Regional Innovation Foundation. Clean Electric’s proprietary battery technology seeks to address pressing safety & performance issues for EVs like battery fires, long charging times and frequent battery replacement.

With the funding received, Clean Electric plans to set up a manufacturing facility in Pune to produce 5,000 battery packs per month.

Founded in 2020, Clean Electric manufactures, designs, develops, markets, supplies and provides after-sales of advance energy storage solutions for mobility & stationary storage applications as well as related energy infrastructure & services. The company has built liquid-cooled battery solutions for 2 Wheelers, 3 Wheelers, and Battery Swapping applications.

The company’s products have been in pilot testing with multiple vehicle OEMs across the country, having undergone more than 30,000 Kms of on-road testing. Compliant with AIS-156 Phase 2 guidelines (to be implemented from March 2023), the products are expected to be ready for certification tests before year-end.

Clean Electric also plans to use the funds towards expanding its R&D, sales, & operations teams, as well as for developing new products around Faster Charging, Renewable Energy Storage, and Battery Swapping.

Overall, EV penetration is less than 2%. In order to transition to an all-electric future, India needs robust electric vehicles and charging infrastructure. Current EVs take 3-4 hours to charge making it inconvenient for users, while unpredictable battery life makes it difficult for the NBFCs & Banks to finance these vehicles. On top of this, multiple reputed EV OEMs vehicles’ catching fire & resulting casualties have eroded the confidence of customers and created safety concerns in their mind.

Clean Electric’s proprietary battery technology seeks to address pressing safety & performance issues for EVs like battery fires, long charging times and frequent battery replacement. With the funding received, Clean Electric plans to set up a manufacturing facility in Pune to produce 5,000 battery packs per month.

Overall, EV penetration is less than 2%. In order to transition to an all-electric future, India needs robust electric vehicles and charging infrastructure. Current EVs take 3-4 hours to charge making it inconvenient for users, while unpredictable battery life makes it difficult for the NBFCs & Banks to finance these vehicles. On top of this, multiple reputed EV OEMs vehicles’ catching fire & resulting casualties have eroded the confidence of customers and created safety concerns in their mind.

“Our aim is to enable Mankind’s shift from Fossil Fuels, and batteries have been the hardest part of this transformation. By providing dependable, safe, and performant Energy Storage Solutions, we believe we can add immense value to the EV and RE ecosystems” said Abhinav Roy, Co-Founder, and CTO at Clean Electric.

“Clean Electric is delivering on the much-needed innovation in battery technology suitable for India. The patents the team has filed introduce direct liquid cooling technology wherein the cells of the battery are 100% in contact with a coolant which ensures maximum safety (fireproof), 25-minute charging and a 1.5x longer life span. Their solutions can also be exported to several countries in the global south that are dealing with similar issues around EV safety and performance.” said Sumeet Singh, Partner at Climate Angels.

“India’s EV solutions will become global postulates. Next decade is going to witness the surge of EVs, expected to grow from the current ~1.4M to ~50M by 2030. India’s expectations of efficiency, performance, and safety of batteries under diverse and extreme constraints ranging from terrain to climate will seed global innovation. Clean Electric’s direct liquid cooled battery packs will become the benchmark, offering the highest safety while maximizing its life and efficiency. IITians Akash and Abhinav have invented zero kelvin packs which have the potential to meet growing needs of today and future.” said Ravinder Singh, Partner at Kalaari Capital.

Clean Electric is engaged inter alia, in the business of manufacturing, designing, development, marketing, supply and after-sales of advance energy storage solutions for mobility & stationary storage application and related energy infrastructure & services to accelerate mass electric vehicle usage.

Kalaari Capital is an early-stage, technology-focused venture capital firm based out of Bengaluru, India. Since 2006, Kalaari has empowered visionary entrepreneurs building unique solutions that reshape the way Indians live, work, consume and transact. The firm’s ethos is to partner early with founders and work with them to navigate the inevitable challenges of fostering ideas into successful businesses. At its core, Kalaari believes in building long-term relationships based on trust, transparency, authenticity, and respect.

Climate Angels is SEBI Cat-1 Angel AIF that invests only in early-stage pollution reduction & climate tech startups. Leading tech entrepreneurs & investors are now making climate investments through us. Some of our marquee LPs includes Vijay Shekhar Sharma (Paytm), Nipun Sahni (Apollo Global), Praveen Gandhi (Seedfund), Paula Mariwala (Aureolis Ventures) Phanindra Sama (Redbus Founder), Shailesh Vickram Singh (Massive), among 100+ others.

Clean Tech Pioneer AirOK Kickstarts ‘Claim Your Right to Clean Air’ Campaign

AirOK, a pioneer in clean air technology in India and manufacturer of indigenous cutting-edge air purifiers, has launched ‘Claim Your Right to Clean Air’, an awareness campaign with a mission to provide purified air to all individuals. With Clean Air for Every Individual as their motto, they plan to raise awareness about the harmful effects of pollution and how one can save themselves.

The campaign enables individuals to become an active part of the clean air mission through crowd funding, being carried out by AirOK in association with Tykeinvest with an objective to raise funding. Stating that the sum gathered would be utilized towards clean energy, AirOK Co-Founder and CEO V Deekshith Vara Prasad said, “The campaign intends to inspire people who feel that clean air is a right, not just a need for every individual, to come forward and do their bit. As the contribution would aid R&D into clean energy, we encourage corporate and industries too to walk together with us in the mission to ensure pure air for all Indians.”

AirOK’s Claim Your Right to Clean air campaign comes just days ahead of that time of the year when the air is laden with pollutants, turning the sky murky grey and forcing us to breathe in an air that is equivalent to smoking 10 cigarettes. Pointing that even the indoors have hazardous air. AirOK co-founder said, Air pollution is something that can easily be misunderstood by many people, the only reason it is invisible. water is something visible and even a particle floating over surfaces will make us not to drink and raises quality issues, but just imagine how many times have you had to breathe vehicle fumes, construction site dust particles, particles that arise while in our offices or home cleaning. I’m sure many times even we don’t remember it. Air is the most important element because without it you only have 3 minutes to live. You literally remove years from your life when pollution is inhaled.We aim to provide people tools & options that can minimize health hazards under these circumstances.”

The campaign also comes alongside the brand’s foray into the B2C space, as it has till now majorly carried out B2B operations. AirOK, which was incubated by IIT Chennai a few years ago, offers a wide range of state-of-the-art air purifiers, powered with its patented Efficient Granular Adsorbent Particulate Arrester (EGAPA) technology. The purifiers are designed to reduce CO2 levels in the air, can arrest several acidic gases and Particulate Matter up to 0.1 microns, bacterial contamination and air borne fungal infections too.

Now! Anyone can be an investor for a clean environment at (https://www.tykeinvest.com/campaign/AirOK-1IgF8iRy).

About AirOK Technologies:
AirOK Technologies Pvt Ltd is a company Headquartered at Delhi, focused on addressing the rising levels of air pollution with innovative solutions in air purifiers, filters, face masks, purifying bags and others. The company specializes in providing customized solutions for indoors, outdoors and for both residential as well as commercial setups, including data centres. Their flagship solution is EGAPA, a patented filter technology that efficiently reduces high levels of CO2, PM2.5, PM10, VOCs, Odours and other toxic chemicals, thereby providing a comprehensive indoor air quality solution. Besides providing innovative solutions, the company is also focused on unique designs of the products to enhance user experience and align with today's design sense of homes and offices.

https://airoktech.com/

CleanTech Startup Pi Green Innovations Receives Patent for Filterless Technology in India

This Pune-based start-up has patents across 30 other countries

Pi Green Innovations Pvt Ltd, one of the emerging cleantech start-ups has been granted the India patent for its filterless technology, Carbon Cutter. The patented Pi Green Carbon Cutter Technology is used to manufacture retrofit devices for diesel generators and heavy vehicles. 

Pi Green Innovations filed for its India patent in 2017. The company develops technology-driven solutions to reduce particulate matter emissions (PM 2.5/PM 10) at the source and from ambient air. The company already holds patents for Carbon Cutter in the USA, China, UK, European Union & Singapore. The patents will enable Pi Green Innovations to present opportunities for businesses to adopt technology that will help address emissions at the source and contribute toward a sustainable future.

Mr. Irfan Pathan, Co-Founder & CEO at Pi Green Innovations 

Pi Green Carbon Cutter, is a fully automatic, filterless solution that can be installed on diesel generators, heavy vehicles and industrial boilers to capture over 70% particulate matter. The company has several customers across key sectors like Auto, Hospitality, FMCG, Ports, SEZs, Heavy Engineering and Manufacturing etc. Pi Green’s Carbon Cutter solution has also been recognized as one of the best technologies for air purification globally at Smogathon 2018, a global summit conducted in Poland.

Commenting on this, Mr. Irfan Pathan, Co-Founder & CEO at Pi Green Innovations said, “We are delighted to receive this recognition for Pi Green’s Carbon Cutter technology. This is an encouraging validation for the entire team on how innovative and meaningful initiatives can lead to significant transformation. We aim to make clean air accessible to all and with India patent we are a step closer to our mission.”

Mr. Rizwan Shaikh, Co-Founder & Chief Invention Officer at Pi Green Innovations

Mr. Rizwan Shaikh, Co-Founder & Chief Invention Officer at Pi Green Innovations said, “Since early college days, I had a dream of making India proud on a global platform through innovation, Pi Green’s Carbon Cutter is a mix of some very basic scientific concepts with path-breaking innovation in the field of environment. It was satisfying to be granted patents across the Europe Union, USA, Singapore, China and UK, but being granted the patents in India is a dream come true. Going forward, my team and I will continue to contribute towards cleaning the air in India and make it a better place to breathe.”

The company was founded in 2017 as a five-member team operating out of a 150-sq-ft workshop and has since grown into an established Cleantech start-up with a team of over 100 operating from a 50,000-sq-ft. manufacturing facility in Pune. This is a company that is working to reduce pollution at source at the grassroot level.

About Pi Green Innovations:

Pi Green Innovations is a cleantech company, founded with the aim of creating technology-driven solutions for the reduction of particulate matter emissions (PM 2.5/10) at source and from the ambient air. The company’s key solutions include Carbon Cutter Machines- ‘filterless’ retrofits for diesel generators and heavy vehicles. In addition, Pi Green has also developed RepAir – a filterless ambient air-purification tower that can be installed in public spaces. The company’s revolutionary innovation has been rated as one of the best technologies globally to reduce air pollution at Smogathon 2018 in Poland and has also won several other industry awards.

In 2021, Pi Green raised over $4.5 million in Series A funding from the Investment Fund of Opus Consulting. Previously, Mr. Harshal Morde, Director of Morde Foods, had invested $300,000 as seed capital in its mission to make clean air accessible to everyone. The company is committed to creating sustainable solutions for a greener future. Innovations in technology and design are used to indigenously develop products that hold the promise of a cleaner environment.

Pi Green’s technology has patents granted in the USA, UK, China, EU, and Singapore. For further information about Pl Green Innovations, please visit: https://pigreeninnovations.com/

IESA Supports UNIDO FLCTD Innovation Challenge 2022

India Energy Storage Alliance (IESA) supports United Nations Industrial Development Organization’s (UNIDO) FLCTD Innovation Challenge 2022

The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) regional office in New Delhi has announced the launch of 5th Innovation Challenge on Innovative Low Carbon Technologies. Applications will be accepted until 31st May 2022. The Innovation Challenge is conducted under the Facility for Low Carbon Technology Deployment (FLCTD; https://www.low-carbon-innovation.org/), which is jointly implemented by UNIDO and Bureau of Energy Efficiency.

The Innovation Challenge covers thematic area of “Electrical Energy Storage Systems” in which applications are invited for innovative solutions on electrochemical batteries, supercapacitors, hybrid energy storage systems including super/ultra-capacitor & electrochemical battery systems and critical components for electrical energy storage systems including power conversion system.

Customized Energy Solutions (CES) India, powered with India Energy Storage Alliance (IESA) is the implementing partner to support the project management unit in planning and implementation of the innovation challenge.

The project provides financial assistance of up to US$50,000 to the winners to validate their innovation and demonstrate its efficacy (performance) in actual field conditions – a necessary step before commercialization. It also supports innovative technologies in advance stage of development for field demonstration and validation and does not support innovation that are at the ideation-stage, proof-of-concept or at lab-scale.

Commenting on the Innovation Challenge 2022, Sandeep Tandon, National Programme Manager, Facility for Low Carbon Technology Deployment (FLCTD) said, “UNIDO’s Innovation Challenge provides unique opportunity and risk-capital of up to INR 3.5 million to validate the efficacy and performance of innovative technologies for scale-up and commercialization. Already from a pool of 59 winning innovations that are being supported with INR 180 million, 17 have completed technology trials and 13 have been commercialized. The challenge is open to entrepreneurs, start up and registered private entities. FLCTD is helping industrial and commercial sector players to choose proven innovative low carbon technologies for decarbonization.

Debi Prasad Dash, Executive Director, India Energy Storage Alliance (IESA) said, “India’s energy storage sector is seeing many positive developments like the PLI and battery swapping announcement, and the energy storage policy is also expected from the Ministry of Power. With these developments, we will see many startups and large companies diversify their business into energy storage space and this will help many indigenous innovations in India that will support the ecosystem. This all will catalyze the growth of startups in India. With the national labs and research institutes, we expect new innovations to come in India like other emerging countries.”

The selection process includes post application screening, pitching to an expert panel, in-person visits, and technical and financial due-diligence. The project orientation of FLCTD is more technology-focused as compared to the standard fundraising opportunities available for innovators, so the shortlisted applicants are also provided mentoring through each round of the selection process to help them in improving their chances of final selection.

About India Energy Storage Alliance (IESA):

IESA is a leading industry alliance focused on the development of advanced energy storage, green hydrogen, and e-mobility technologies in India. Founded in 2012, by Customized Energy Solutions (CES), IESA’s vision is to make India a global hub for R&D, manufacturing, and adoption of advanced energy storage, e-mobility, and green hydrogen technologies.

The alliance has been at the forefront of efforts seminal in shaping an enabling policy framework for the adoption of energy storage, electric mobility, green hydrogen, and emerging clean technologies in India. Today, IESA is a proud network of 160+ member companies, encompassing industry verticals from energy storage, EV manufacturing, EV charging infrastructure, green hydrogen, microgrids, power electronics, renewable energy, research institutes and universities, and cleantech startups.

IESA website: www.indiaesa.info

Mining Firm Building World's Most Efficient Electric Train That Charges Itself Using Gravity

Fortescue Railway [Image credits - www.fmgl.com.au]

Australian mining firm, Fortescue, has acquired UK-based Williams Advanced Engineering (WAE) as part of its green-energy subsidiary called "Fortescue Future Industries", which aims to develop clean technologies to reduce its operations’ carbon emissions by 2030.

Post this acquisition, WAE and Fortescue together announced that they will jointly develop the world first, zero emission "Infinity Train" that charges itself using the Earth's gravitational force. The companies believe that "Infinity Train" will be the world’s most efficient battery electric locomotive.

We’re developing a train that recharges itself using gravitational energy. No joke. 😮

In a world-first, the Infinity Train will use downhill sections of @FortescueNews’ rail network to recharge its battery electric systems.

Find out more: https://t.co/OgzKvmLKyF pic.twitter.com/ICRFZORlxY

— Williams Advanced Engineering (@WilliamsAdvEng) March 1, 2022

The Infinity Train will have regenerating battery electric iron ore that will use gravitational energy to recharge its battery electric systems without any additional charging requirements for the return trip to reload. This also makes "Infinity Train" a capital efficient solution for eliminating diesel and emissions from rail operation.

The cost of developing the Infinity Train is expected to be US$50 million over the next two years and will be classified as operating cost efficiencies. The cost can be refined over the time of the development of the Infinity Train.

While full-details and specs are insufficient at this point, its been speculated that the upcoming zero-emission train will be utilize for one or more of Fortescue's mining sites.

Being 4th-largest iron ore producer in the world, Fortescue has mining operation located within the Pilbara region of Western Australia, England and Israel.

Fortescue’s rail operations consumed 82 million litres of diesel in financial year 2021 accounting for 11 per cent of Fortescue’s Scope 1 emissions. This diesel consumption and associated emissions will be eliminated once the Infinity Train is fully implemented across Fortescue’s operations, significantly contributing to Fortescue’s target to be diesel free by 2030.

Last year, Fortescue Future Industries announced a plan to build a hydrogen-manufacturing facility in Queensland, Australia. The first stage, due for completion in 2022, is expected to double the world's green hydrogen capacity. When the plant is completed, it is expected to be the largest of its type in the world. In 2020, the subsidiary also started 60 MW solar farm at its Chichester Hub, England, in 2020.

Besides Fortescue, an another mining firm, BHP, had also announced in last year that it is considering selling its petroleum business in order to cut ties with the oil and gas sector and reduce its carbon footprint.

Solar Panels Built From Waste Crops Generate Energy Without Direct Sunlight

When the Sunlight strikes the Earth's surface, it has three major parts -- infrared, visible, and ultraviolet (UV) light. Among this, around 53% is infrared, 43% is visible light and 4% is ultraviolet.

A conventional Solar PV cells converts the visible light into energy and lack the capability to capture infrared and UV light. Though a recent hybrid-based PV material can absorb a portion of infrared light and convert them to electricity.

In a nutshell, solar panels mostly convert visible light into electrical energy and almost half the infrared energy. However, solar panels, despite of the fact that UV has most energy among all spectrum, use a small portion of UV, and this remains a problem...till now.

A new material, made from waste crop called "AuREUS" has been developed that converts UV light into renewable energy. AuREUS captures UV,  thus it can produce electricity even when not facing the sun -- or without direct sunlight.

AuREUS is made from upcycled crop waste that can be attached to existing structures to convert UV light into electricity.

Carvey Ehren Maigue with invented materialA 29-year-old Filipino engineering student, Carvey Ehren Maigue, designed this revolutionary material using luminescent particles from fruit and vegetable waste. He has even won the James Dyson Foundation Sustainability Award in 2020 for the panels he constructed at Mapua University in the Philippines.

These AuREUS's particles absorb the sun’s ultraviolet rays and turn them into visible light. The panels are then able to convert this harvested light into electricity.

Since AuREUS harness Ultraviolet rays and notably the UV rays reach on the earth surface even in cloudy days, there is huge potential to scale the technology up in areas where conventional solar panel, that required direct sunlight, are not feasible.

Carvey got the inspiration for AuREUS from the phenomenon of "how Auroras are made". High energy(gamma, UV) are degraded to low energy state (visible light) by luminescent particles in the atmosphere. The tech is based on this concept and used similar functioning particles.

AuREUS upcycles fruit and vegetable scraps. [ Image credits - The James Dyson Foundation]

To upcycle the wasted crops of the farmers that were hit by natural disasters about 78 types of local crops tested, of which 9 showed high potential. These crop waste then crushed, juiced and filtered to extract the luminescent particles, which are then suspended in resin.

The resulting material can be moulded into cladding and clamped to walls, or sandwiched between two panes of double glazed window to start generating renewable energy for the building. 

How AuREUS Works

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A post shared by The James Dyson Award (@jamesdysonaward)

AuREUS, when hen hit by UV light, the particles absorb and re-emit visible light along the edges due to internal reflectance. PV cells are placed along the edges to capture the visible light emitted. The captured visible light are then converted to DC electricity. Regulating circuits will process the voltage output to allow battery charging, storage, or direct utilization of electricity.

AuREUS is essentially a material, or a technology, that allows other devices to harvest ultraviolet light and convert it into electricity. 

AuREUS is based on a plastic material, so it can be formed into different shapes. Carvey, the inventor, has made a 3 x 2 foot prototype panel installed in a window of his apartment, capable of generating enough electricity to charge two phones each day. 

IIIT-Delhi to Organize 1st International Conference on Pollution Prevention and Clean Technologies

Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology, Delhi (IIIT-Delhi) is all set to launch the 1st International Conference on Pollution Prevention and Clean Technologies and "Taiwan-India Workshop on Emerging Environment and Energy Challenges of Technology Exchange". The event is scheduled for the 6th and 7th of December, 2021, in New Delhi, India. The event will bring together renowned researchers, scholars, delegates, and key speakers, who will discuss more about using tech on minimizing the impact of economic activities on the planet and environment.

The 1st International Conference on Pollution Prevention and Clean Technologies will also offer a platform for unpublished papers focused on "new and innovative clean technologies". The event will be chaired and co-chaired by Prof. Dr. Ashok Pandey (CSIR-Indian Institute of Toxicology Research, India), Dr. Ingunn Westvik Jolma (University of Stavanger, Norway), Prof. Dr. Chiu-Yue Lin (Feng Chia University, Taiwan), and Prof. Dr. Chin-Tsan Wang (National Ilan University, Taiwan).

"IIIT-Delhi is extremely proud of being associated with the 1st International Conference on Pollution Prevention and Clean Technologies. While economic development activities are necessary, this event will bring a platform to discuss innovative clean technologies that can mitigate the waste risks related to such activities. From discussing the shift to sustainable resources to improving energy efficiency and designing sustainable manufacturing systems, the event will allow a perfect international platform for discussing possible solutions. We also hope that the event will offer an insight on how global carbon footprint can be minimized strategically," said Dr. Debarka Sengupta, Associate Professor, IIIT-Delhi.

ICPPCT would be the first event of its kind that would rely on tech & innovations to create solutions that would address serious environmental concerns. Key speakers and researchers will also offer insight into how innovative clean technologies can be expanded across manufacturing, industrial, and other sectors to reduce the impact on climate and the planet while considering various aspects of pollution prevention technologies. Scholars and researchers can also interact directly with one another on key pointers like the production of carbon-neutral products and finding new pioneering financial models to support new visions.

"At a time when we are discussing aspects like climate change and increasing pollution levels, ICPPCT would be a great opportunity for the world to explore new ideas and innovations. The event will also offer room to discuss Sustainable Environmental Management System (SEMS) designs and environmental economics, along with waste management and multi-criterion decision-making models for sustainability. We hope ICPPCT will pave the path for determining innovative environmental policies for the world," Dr. Gopalakrishnan Kumar, University of Stavanger, Norway added.

Plenary and keynote speeches by the world-renowned scientists would cover and share insights on "Waste to Wealth: Resource Recovery & Sustainability", “Microplastics and nanoplastics pollution and abatement: A New paradigm of waste management for environmental sustainability” and much more exciting talks at the event. More details can be found on the website (http://icppct.com/). The event is currently inviting papers related to various themes announced in the website.

TATA Projects builds India's first Smog Tower in Delhi

NEW DELHI, Aug. 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- TATA Projects Limited, one of India's fastest growing and most admired infrastructure companies, today announced that India's first smog tower built by the company has been inaugurated by Mr. Arvind Kejriwal - Honourable Chief Minister of Delhi.   

The 24-metre-high smog tower at Connaught Place - one of the biggest commercial centres in Delhi is based on a downdraft air-flow model. The smog tower's 40 huge fans will suck air from the top of a special type of canopy structure and release clean air filtered through novel geometry filters. 

Mr. Arvind Kejriwal, Honourable Chief Minister of Delhi inaugurating TATA Projects’ constructed smog tower

"TATA Projects Limited is proud to have constructed the nation's first smog tower, thereby bringing this technological solution to India. This solution will hopefully reduce India's urban air pollution, thereby improving the lives of citizens. Large areas of cities can be covered if such smog towers are strategically placed at densely populated urban locations. We are prepared to offer our expertise and experience in setting-up more such smog towers across Indian cities so that citizens can breathe cleaner air," said Mr Sandeep Navlakhe, Vice President & BU Head - Buildings, TATA Projects Limited. 

The Delhi Pollution Control Committee was the nodal agency for the smog tower, while technology has been developed by experts at the University of Minnesota, and IIT-Bombay and IIT-Delhi were technical advisors for the project. 

About TATA Projects Limited 

 TATA Projects is one of the fastest growing and most admired infrastructure companies in India. It has expertise in executing large and complex urban and industrial infrastructure projects. TATA Projects operates through its four Strategic Business Groups (SBGs) namely Industrial Systems SBG, Core Infra SBG, Urban Infra SBG, and Services SBG. 

The company provides turnkey end-to-end solutions to set up power generation plants, power transmission & distribution systems, fully integrated rail & metro systems, commercial buildings & airports, chemical process plants, water and waste water management solutions, complete mining and metal purification systems. The company is driven to deliver projects on-time, using world-class project management techniques and has uncompromising standards for safety and sustainability. 

 Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1601649/TATA_Projects_Smog_Tower_Inaugration.jpg

iTIC Incubator at IIT Hyderabad Announced CLEAN-A-THON Winners

Clean-a-Thon is a Hackathon to support Clean India mission

Winners are supported by iTIC incubator to build successful prototypes

Clean-a-Thon provide a vital platform to all the students, researchers, innovators and individuals who are working in cleantech sector

Hyderabad, June 18, 2021: iTIC Incubator at IIT Hyderabad organized Clean-a-Thon, a cleantech hackathon with a motive to provide innovative solutions to the most challenging problems and create a clean environment and contribute to the clean India mission. This hackathon focused on finding solutions for the most challenging problems in the area of water/air/noise pollution, elimination of single use of plastic, water body cleaning, waste disposal, upcycling, circular economy, plastic recycling, plastic alternatives, and other related areas.

Clean-a-Thon was launched virtually in March end and received very good response from students, researchers, academia, and entrepreneurs from across the nation with solutions. Out of all the applications, few made it to the final round of selection. After a round of virtual interviews, the jury selected three prominent winners for the hackathon.

The winners of Clean-a-thon are:

• Gautami Chati, Winner
• Khushbu Baid, Runner-up
• Yalla Omkar Venkata, 2nd Runner-up

Congratulating the winners of Clean-a-thon, Prof. B. S. Murty, Director, IIT Hyderabad, said --

From banning the use of single use plastic inside the campus to offering unique MTech programs like E-Waste Resource Engineering and Management, IIT Hyderabad has always been committed to encourage clean and green solutions.

Further Prof. S. Suryakumar, Faculty-in-Charge, Incubation, Innovation & Startup at IIT Hyderabad shared, “The winners will be supported by the iTIC incubator by grants, access to pre-incubation support, mentorship, co-working space, and network for building successful prototypes. The Deeptech startup ecosystem is witnessing an unprecedented move with a lot of startups trying to disrupt the cleantech business sector. Through clean-a-thon, we are hoping more startups are going to join this league in the future.

About iTIC Incubator at IIT Hyderabad

iTIC is a Technology Business Incubator (TBI), under the aegis of Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad (IITH) and supported by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India. iTIC is a Not-For-Profit Society, which focuses on creating a supportive and nourishing environment for budding entrepreneurs in the field of technology. 

The focus areas of iTIC incubator are Deep tech sectors such as Healthcare, AI/ML, Quantum Computing, AR/VR, Cybersecurity, Robotics, IOT, Industry 4.0, Blockchain, Electronics, Advanced materials, Drones, Biotechnology, etc. iTIC aims to help entrepreneurs leverage a premier quality research and startup ecosystem with the goal of building a comprehensive platform to practice innovation and entrepreneurship so that these entrepreneurial ideas can be turned into sustainable, scalable profit-making business ventures. iTIC provides support to startups such as Mentoring, Financial Aid, IP Support, Networking, and access to Dedicated office/ Coworking space, Software’s, IITH Technological Infrastructure, and Makerlab.

Brigade Group Engages Start-up Clairco To Deploy Air Quality Monitoring and Purification technology at Brigade’s Head office and BuzzWorks

Brigade Group has engaged Clairco, a former Brigade REAP incubatee to install its proprietary air purifying solution at Brigade’s Head Office at World Trade Centre, Orion Mall by Brigade and Buzzworks. As per the contract, Clairco will deploy its patented solution using machine learning, internet of things and nanotechnology to enable air purification of the existing central conditioning systems. Clairco’s low-drag air filters provides a high-grade purification performance (MERV-13) which complies with Government guidelines.

Commenting on the development, Nirupa Shankar, Director, Brigade REAP and Exe. Director, Brigade Group said, “This solution is a perfect example of how a start-up can use technology for the betterment of the Real Estate sector. It also underlines the stringent selection process we undertake at Brigade REAP to identify start-ups that actually address real world issues. Indoor air can be up to 3-5 times more polluted than outdoors and having clean air can lead to up to 10% improvement in employee productivity and prevents diseases caused by long-term exposure to air pollution. This initiative is also another step in the direction of ensuring health and hygiene in the workspace in addition to touchless entry, thermal scanning, UV-light based sanitization etc."

"This partnership shows Brigade Group’s adaptability and commitment towards adopting new age technologies for the benefit of its stakeholders and patrons. It is a proud moment for us to install our proprietary technology at our mentor’s Head Office, Orion Mall by Brigade and Buzzworks. Our zero-capital expenditure business model and clean air guarantee has been one of the key selling points for us. We now manage clean air in around 2.5mn sq. ft. in the country. Our current focus is going beyond Covid and going forward, we are looking to expand our footprint to other industry verticals as well” said Aayush Jha, CEO and Co-Founder, Clairco.

Clairco provides a zero-capital expenditure, clean air as a service solution which takes care of end-to-end air quality management including real-time monitoring of air quality parameters like particulate matter (PM2.5, PM10), Carbon-di-oxide (CO2) and Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs); high-grade filtration of PM2.5 & PM10; treated fresh air for managing CO2 and VOC levels; and Ultraviolet Germicidal Irradiation Technologies for managing microbes like bacteria, viruses, spores etc in the Air Handling Units.