A Convenient Truth - Fighting Climate Change Turned Into a Profitable Business by Peter Vanham, World Economic Forum. “Renewable energy generation reached a tipping point, data analyses show: the cost of generating electricity from renewable sources in the last 3 years fell to levels on par or below that of coal and natural gas. Green project bond indices are now returning about 6% per year and equity returns jumped to double digits with lower volatility, while selected investment cases highlight the profitability of green energy. World Economic Forum calls investors to shift towards more green energy investments, as investments remain below what is needed to reach the Paris Accord targets, despite the tipping point. Green energy generation has reached a tipping point, the World Economic Forum asserts in an investors handbook. The cost of generating energy through solar and wind sources has dropped to the point of being competitive against coal and natural gas, a paradigm shift which should attract investors worldwide to the renewables sector. This is one of the findings of the “Renewable Infrastructure Investment Handbook: A Guide for Institutional Investors” released by the World Economic Forum. The handbook analysed data from Open Energy Information, Bloomberg New Energy Finance, S&P Indices and UNEP and other sources on the efficiency and returns of renewable energy investments, and looked at the evolution of both global investments in renewable and the specific cases of some institutions investors. “Renewable energy has reached a tipping point - it now constitutes the best chance to reverse global warming,” said Michael Drexler, Head of Long Term Investing, Infrastructure and Development at the World Economic Forum. “Solar and wind have just become very competitive, and costs continue to fall. It is not only a commercially viable option, but an outright compelling investment opportunity with long-term, stable, inflation-protected returns (...) Read the full Renewable Infrastructure Investment Handbook here”

Energy-related CO2 emissions for first six months of 2016 are lowest since 1991 by Allen McFarland, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). “U.S. energy-related carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions totaled 2,530 million metric tons in the first six months of 2016. This was the lowest emissions level for the first six months of the year since 1991, as mild weather and changes in the fuels used to generate electricity contributed to the decline in energyrelated emissions.”

Cheers to that! Confiscated alcohol fuels public transport. Smugglers trying to sneak alcohol into Sweden are unwittingly helping fuel the country’s public transport system – and reduce greenhouse emissions. In 2006, almost 700,000 litres of beer, wine and spirits were seized by Sweden’s national customs service. But rather than pour the alcohol down the drain, the illegal booze was converted into biogas to power some of the country’s public transport system, including buses, trucks and a biogas train. Svensk Biogas AB, who converts most of the liquor, says one litre of pure alcohol is enough to make about half a litre of biogas.

Global Warming in the Arctic: A Sensitive Climate Gone Off the Rails by Erika Spanger-Siegfried, Union of Concerned Scientists. “It is polar night in the Arctic—a darkness that lasts from early October to early March. Temperatures rarely escape freezing in that darkness, averaging -30° F until the light begins to return in spring. Right now, however, temperatures across much of the Arctic are 36 degrees F [20 degrees Celsius] above normal. Large areas are well above freezing. And instead of rapidly expanding, sea ice extent is in decline. Taken together, this is not unusual. It’s unheard of (...) The Arctic plays an important role in moderating global climate. When heat from the tropics is delivered north to the Arctic by winds and ocean currents, the region exerts a cooling effect on both. Without this distribution of energy, the lower latitudes would overheat (...) the Arctic, like the rest of the planet, is warming, and unlike the rest of the planet, warming in the Arctic can feed rapidly on itself (...) “A small temperature increase at the poles leads to still greater warming over time, making the poles the most sensitive regions to climate change on Earth. According to scientific measurements, both the thickness and extent of summer sea ice in the Arctic have shown a dramatic decline over the past thirty years (...) The loss of sea ice also has the potential to accelerate global warming trends and to change climate patterns.”

Carburants : le gaz naturel trouvera-t-il sa place ? Par Giulietta Gamberini, La Tribune. “Première alternative mondiale à l'essence et au diesel, le gaz naturel n'est encore utilisé en France que par quelques milliers de véhicules, notamment des poids lourds. Pourtant, dans sa forme renouvelable, il pourrait contribuer à divers objectifs de la loi de transition énergétique. Pour dynamiser l'offre comme la demande, l'Ademe vient de lancer un appel à projet, alors que 15 millions d'euros seront consacrés à la construction d'une dizaine de stations en Île-de-France (...) 13.500 véhicules dans l'Hexagone, contre plus de 18 millions dans le monde et un million en Italie. Et une quarantaine de stations ouvertes au public alors qu'elles sont, respectivement, 990 et 840 outre-Alpes et en Allemagne. La France n'est décidément pas à la pointe dans le développement du gaz naturel pour véhicules (GNV), d'origine fossile comme renouvelable (...) L'avenir du GNV dans le cadre de la transition énergétique décrétée par Ségolène Royal dépendra surtout de celui du biogaz, et de la capacité des collectivités territoriales de s'engager dans la méthanisation. Les acteurs se montrent optimistes: "Nous croyons particulièrement au BioGNV, dont les études montrent qu'il peut permettre aux territoires d'allers vers un équilibre carbone", affirme le directeur général de Grdf, Edouard Sauvage. "Le bioGNV est en train de mûrir rapidement", estime pour sa part Jean-Jacques Guillet. Aujourd'hui, malgré l'existence d'un système de subventions financé par l'achat de certificats de garantie, seulement 24 sites injectent du biométhane dans le réseau français, souligne Véronique Bel, chef de projet mobilité chez GRDF. Mais elle garde confiance : 400 projets sont à l'étude, et les déchets annuels de 7.000 habitants permettraient à un bus de rouler pendant un an.”

People can power the energy revolution. “ Over half of citizens in the European Union could be generating their own renewable electricity by 2050, according to new research released today [The potential of energy citizens in the European Union]. The research outlines the potential for citizen-owned renewable energy projects in Europe, where 264 million “energy citizens” could generate 45% of the European Union’s electricity needs by 2050 – as part of a democratised energy system. Molly Walsh, community power campaigner for Friends of the Earth Europe, said: “This shows that people have the power to revolutionise Europe’s energy system, reclaiming power from big energy companies, and putting the planet first. We need to enshrine the right for people to produce their own renewable energy in European and national legislation.”

Norwegian businesses will start using electric trucks. “To date, the use of electric-powered trucks has been extremely limited. Now we see, however, that developments in cost, performance and charging time makes such vehicles considerably more interesting, says Head of Daimler Trucks and Buses, Wolfgang Bernhard (...) Nikola One is powered by six electric motors, one attached to each wheel. The batteries are charged by a generator driven by biogas. The consumption of biogas for charging is about third of consumption in a similar car powered by diesel.”

Spinning off under RRI Principles: BioGAS+ by Applied Nanoparticles SL. “The urgency in tackling climate change and promoting renewable sources of energy has been unanimously agreed globally by the UN General Assembly when adopting the New Sustainable Development Agenda (Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development) and it is the responsibility of all citizens, including the scientific and business communities. Aligned with this broad framework, the EU is building a regulatory framework favouring the development of energy from renewable sources that, ideally, should be closely linked to increased energy efficiency and decentralized energy production.

Leave vote makes UK's transition to clean energy harder, say experts by Damian Carrington, The Guardian. “Analysts say Brexit will create uncertainty for energy sector, which could hit £20bn investment a year needed to replace ageing, dirty power plants. Higher customer bills and delayed or cancelled projects are expected by experts, the most pessimistic of whom warn of the lights going out. The optimists argue that the global rush towards clean energy and strong domestic UK climate change targets can keep the transition to clean, green energy moving forward. However, the leading Brexiters, such as climate change doubter and likely next prime minister Boris Johnson, will play a critical role. If the deal they negotiate with the EU means close ties -and crucially access, like Norway, to Europe’s internal energy market - the long-term dent to the UK’s energy prospects may be reduced. But a more decisive break with the world’s biggest single market would leave the UK out in the cold.”

To confront 21st century challenges, science must rethink its reward system by Frank Miedema, The Guardian. “One of Science in Transition’s founders describes how his experience as a young HIV/AIDS researcher convinced him that science needs to change.”

“Gaseous” renewable fuels save carbon and improve resource efficiency by REA News. “A new report from the REA, released for UK Biomethane Day, is detailing the opportunities that the use of renewable gaseous fuels in transportation presents. These fuels can be derived from food and other organic wastes, and upgraded for use in lorries and other heavy vehicles. The use of renewable gaseous fuels in transport, such as biomethane, reduces emissions and puts otherwise polluting organic wastes to productive use. For many organisations, it is an economic means of decarbonisation. REA estimates indicate that the UK is presently not on track to meet its legally binding 2020 renewable heat and transport sub-targets. Supporting the renewable gaseous fuels industry could help the UK to meet its 2020 targets and to make an even bigger contribution in the next decade (...) Clare Wenner, Head of the Renewable Transport Group, a sector group of the Renewable Energy Association, said: “The use of renewable gaseous fuels in transport is an exciting advance that offers a cost effective means of decarbonising transport, especially for trucks and other heavy goods vehicles which have few available decarbonisation options. Transport offers another outlet for low carbon biomethane from waste and we remain committed to the prospect of using society’s wastes to build a more efficient economy.”

“That's how risky it is to stay invested in fossil fuels”

Turning Point in Climate Fight as Attorneys Generals Unite to Target Exxon Crimes by Lauren McCauley, Common Dreams. “In a move many are hailing as a "turning point" in the climate fight, 20 state Attorneys General launched an unprecedented, multi-state effort to investigate and prosecute the “high-funded and morally vacant forces” that have stymied attempts to combat global warming—starting with holding ExxonMobil and other industry giant accountable for fraud and suppression of key climate science (...) Puerto Rico and the Virgin Island are already “experiencing the effects of global warming,” from coral bleaching and the proliferation of seaweed, to ever-more powerful hurricanes. “It is troubling that, as the polar caps melt, there are companies that are looking at that as an opportunity to go and drill, to go and get more oil. How selfish can you be?” Attorney General Claude Earl Walker asked. “Your product is destroying this Earth, and you want to do what? Destroy the planet further," he added, saying they have "documents" showing just that. “We cannot continue to rely on fossil fuels” (...) “The Exxon revelations may turn out to be the largest corporate scandal in history,” May Boeve, executive director of 350.org, continued. “Everyone is impacted by climate change, which means everyone has a stake in these investigations. A trial of ExxonMobil and the fossil fuel industry would be even bigger than the cases against Big Tobacco."

 The Climate Summit of Money By Katy Lederer, The New Yorker. “The seventh Investor Summit on Climate Risk, co-sponsored by the U.N. Foundation and the nonprofit sustainability group Ceres, on the heels of the historic Paris Climate Summit. Five hundred investors representing twenty-two trillion dollars in assets convened at the U.N.’s iconic East Side headquarters, where they heard from some of the negotiations’ highest-profile players, including Christiana Figueres, the U.N. climate chief; Ségolène Royal, France’s minister of ecology, sustainable development, and energy; and Michael Bloomberg, who currently serves as the U.N. special envoy for climate change and cities. The event was, in essence, the Climate Summit of Money, and the question being posed was how to finance the clean-energy transition that Paris promised—a transition that scientists and economists agree must happen quickly if the world is to avert the worst economic impacts of climate change—within the strictures of fiduciary duty. “The tools that you design, the financial structures that you develop, the blends that you are able to put together,” Figueres said, setting the agenda for the day in her address. “All of that, in the next five years, will decide the quality of certainly the energy and certainly the quality of the global economy for the next thirty-five years, and hence the quality of life for everyone else for hundreds of years.” The International Energy Agency has estimated that it will cost sixteen and a half trillion dollars for the world to meet its collective Paris goals, and the presenters at the conference sliced and diced this ambitious mandate from a variety of angles (...) The often dramatic projections of market dislocation from, on the one hand, sudden shifts in the energy markets to, on the other, the shocks of climate change itself are based on the concept of “the carbon bubble,” (...) In 2015, investments in clean energy totalled three hundred and eighty billion dollars, which was a record for the industry, but still far short of the trillion in annual investments that Ceres says is required for the world to stay—both literally and financially—above water.

UK ‘fastest growing market' for gas-to-grid plants by James Brockett, WWT. “The new connections bring the total number of installed gas-to-grid plants in the UK to 50, almost doubling the figure at the end of 2014. BtG is the process whereby renewable gas is injecte into the UK’s gas grid, giving a flexible and efficient source of sustainable energy made fro organic material including sewage sludge and food waste (...) CNG Services, the company which made the first commercial connection in 2012 and is responsible for 90% of BtG connections in the UK, welcomed the continued growth in the market.”

World leaders agree climate deal at COP21 talks. “The Paris agreement has been praised by world leaders and cautiously welcomed by scientists (…) Although concerns remain, there is no doubt that this agreement is the first of its kind. It remains to be seen whether it will have lasting impacts in the years to come.”

350.org Response to French Government Prohibition of Climate March and December 12th Mobilization. “The government can prohibit these demonstrations, but our voices will not be silenced (...) While our plans in Paris must change, the movement for climate justice will not slow down.”

Marches banned, Paris plans human chain for climate of peace

Global temperature anomalies for the month of October 2015, according to NASA.

 The global average surface temperature came in at 1.04 degrees Celsius

 above average for the month; biggest warm temperature anomaly in recorded history

The Forgotten U.N. Climate Goal: 1.5°C by John Upton, Climate Central.“The scientific finding is that 2 degrees is not enough” (...) The May report of United Nations warned of the “high” risks that would accompany 2°C of warming, including crop failures, floods, extreme weather events that jeopardize health, and “mass coral bleaching. But it also pointed out that “there would be significant residual impacts even with 1.5°C of warming.” It concluded that“most” species would be able to keep up with climate change if warming is kept below 1.5°C. It found, bleakly optimistically, that “up to half of coral reefs may remain” if the planet warms 1.5°C, that sea level rise “may remain below” 3.3 feet, ocean acidification impacts “would stay at moderate levels,” and that it would be easier for communities to adapt to climate change — especially farmers. Strategies for limiting warming to 1.5°C by century’s end “are similar to those limiting warming to 2°C,” the report noted. It concluded that such strategies would involve “more immediate” actions and “an additional scaling-up” of clean energy and of any technology that captures and stores carbon dioxide pollution, such as at coal power plants.”

Volkswagen And The Failure Of Corporate Social Responsibility by Enrique Dans, Forbes. “The Volkswagen case represents above all an absolute failure in terms of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). The company deliberately set out to design a means to circumvent emissions control—a stratagem known at the highest levels—with the aim of giving the company an unfair advantage over its competitors that made it the world’s number one car maker, in large part on the basis of its supposedly environmentally friendly cars; meanwhile it was poisoning the planet (...) The conclusion can only be that for Volkswagen, CSR is a marketing exercise. But the sad truth is that this conclusion applies to the vast majority of companies: a head of CSR is appointed, given an air of respectability, and runs a department the job of which is to keep the company’s image clean, despite the filth it is mired in, as is clearly the case with Volkswagen. Once again, we have allowed ourselves to be duped into believing that companies can and will regulate themselves, when of course the sordid reality is that as their actions show, beyond the occasional symbolic act, their sole objective is to maximize profit, and by any means (…) The problem with CSR pretty much comes down to this: we are asking companies to self-regulate. ”

Feed-in Tariff could be closed to new applicants by January 2016 by Brad Allen, edie.net. “The Feed-in Tariff (FIT) scheme, which offers subsidy support to small scale renewables, could be closed to new applicants by January 2016, the UK Government announced today.” 

First near-zero emission armored security vehicle. “Two global leaders in developing and manufacturing advanced transportation vehicles have teamed up to manufacture a first-of-its-kind fleet of Class-5 armored vehicles that combine the benefits of Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) and zero emission Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) technology (...) Today, the Sectran Security trucks make frequent stops as part of their highly congested urban routes. At each stop, the engines are kept idling for security purposes, but now risk violating California’s strict diesel idling regulations, which prohibit idling the engine for more than five minutes. With the modernized trucks, Sectran can completely eliminate engine idling by operating in all-electric mode during stop-and-go operations on urban routes and in hybrid-mode during highway operations. When complete, the vehicles possess impressive performance statistics” 

New report estimates enough natural gas is leaking to negate climate benefits by Peter Moskowitz, The Guardian. “Natural gas drilling only has environmental benefits over other processes like coal and oil production if producers can keep a tight lid on leaks. Natural gas has been touted as an environmentally friendly substitute to coal and oil production, but a new report estimates enough gas is leaking to negate most of the climate benefits of process.”

GDF SUEZ becomes ENGIE. “As the world changes, all energies change with it That’s why GDF SUEZ is now ENGIE. The world of energy is undergoing profound change. The energy transition has become a global movement, characterized by decarbonization and the development of renewable energy sources, and by reduced consumption thanks to energy efficiency and the digital revolution. Today, the need is to mobilize all energies, to innovate, gather, and marshal every idea. Gérard Mestrallet, Chairman and CEO of ENGIE declares : “The energy transition is more than ever a reality for which we have both great ambitions and a great responsibility. To meet the new challenges of this reality and to accelerate our development, we have decided to give the Group a new name: ENGIE. It is an easy name and one that is powerful, a name that evokes energy for everyone and in all cultures, a name embodying our values and activities. We thus confirm our new ambition and the dynamics of change that drive our Group. (...) With a presence in 70 countries throughout the world and across every energy source, ENGIE aspires more than ever to be the benchmark energy player in fast growing markets and the energy transition leader in Europe.” 

Just published “Nano-oncology, the Turning Point: Discover the Wave of Knowledge that Makes Fighting Cancer with Nanotechnology Real” that reveals the most promising and recent contribution to fight cancer, the Cancer Nanomedicine.

Power to the people - Facing the global energy challenges. Access to energy is perhaps the modern world's most fundamental challenge. It is a central part of our struggle to save the environment and create a more sustainable world. It is also the basis for political conflicts and wars. Unsustainable energy sources are running out or being phased out. Nuclear power is still very important to many societies, but often controversial. New and greener energy sources are gathering momentum, though not without their own problems and challenges. How can we meet the global need for power and energy efficiency in the future? What are the most interesting technologies, projects and policies? How will the quest for energy affect the political and economic landscape?

Another source of natural gas By Joanna D. Underwood, Times Union. “New Yorkers breathed a collective sigh of relief as they got the news the Cuomo administration would ban high-volume hydraulic fracturing, or fracking. But what will it mean for the state's energy sector? There are modest reserves of conventional natural gas in New York, though production has fallen by more than 50 percent since 2008. So does the state really need its own robust natural gas production, and if not from fracking, could it come from some other source? The answers are "yes" and "yes." In-state energy production would generate jobs and state tax revenue — both badly needed. As industry analysts and fracking boosters point out, a well-developed energy sector has important economic multiplier effects. Of 1,200 billion cubic feet of natural gas consumed in New York annually, barely 2 percent is produced in the state. With limited conventional gas resources and huge shale gas deposits New York decided not to develop, there is another way to boost gas production: tap our enormous organic waste stream.”

China coal production falls for first time this century. Coal production fell 2.1% in 2014 against 2013, with further decreases expected this year, BusinessGreen reports. The impact of China’s clean air and renewable energy policies are beginning to have an impact on the country’s coal industry, according to reports suggesting domestic coal production fell last year. Much of the pressure on the coal industry is the result of demanding new environmental regulations from the Chinese government and increased investment in renewable energy, that has made China the world’s largest investor in clean technologies. 

Barcelona, September 22, 2014. The spin-off Applied Nanoparticles SL presents in the Internet (http://www.appliednanoparticles.eu/ and https://twitter.com/biogasplu) their innovative solution to multiply the current biogas production through nanotechnology advances.

Fundación Repsol Vice-president César Gallo presented the awards to the projects selected in the third Entrepreneurs Fund contest at an event at the Repsol Technology Centre in Móstoles.  Eduardo Romero, Director of the Entrepreneurs Fund, also presented awards to the 19 runners-up.

Biogas+: Increased production of biomethane from organic waste with the addition of iron nanoparticles is one of the winning projects

Applied Nanoparticles explains the innovative product of BiogasPlus as well as the technological status and new challenges:

Add iron oxide nanoparticles to sewage sludge to agricultural residues rich in cellulose and in general all waste organic matter has managed to accelerate and improve the decomposing activity of bacteria and has yielded biogas triple (methane), as shown in an experiment conducted by researchers from the Catalan Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (ICN2) and the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB)

In developing BiogásPlus participated Inorganic Nanoparticles group of ICN2 led by Puntes, and the group of Organic Solid Waste Composting UAB, directed by Antoni Sánchez. "We believe that we provide an innovative approach because it will increase the production of biogas, also increases the degradation of waste ," Sanchez said. "And we do it in a green way, environmentally," explains Puntes. Although technology has already been successfully applied in agricultural cellulose and urban sewage sludge, both believe it would work well in any type of waste organic matter.

Existing plants are less efficient in transforming organic matter into energy (eg , against the alternative of burning it in incinerators ) , so improvements of this type have a long road ahead . Indeed, biogas grew much with subsidies for renewable energy, but now there are many underutilized facilities that are expecting a boost to improve their competitiveness. "The first BiogásPlus tests have shown that the product increases up to 200% gas production. This would mean a profitable and sustainable organic waste processing solution, "says Casals Eudald also ICN2 researcher.

    Nanoparticles that change color depending on their properties.

Nanoparticle technology triples the production of biogas. Researchers of the Catalan Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (ICN2), a Severo Ochoa Centre of Excellence, and the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB) have developed the new BiogàsPlus, a technology which allows increasing the production of biogas by 200% with a controlled introduction of iron oxide nanoparticles to the process of organic waste treatment. The development of BiogàsPlus was carried out by the ICN2's Inorganic Nanoparticle group, led by ICREA researcher Víctor Puntes, and by the Group of Organic Solid Waste Composting of the UAB School of Engineering, directed by Antoni Sánchez. 

The system is based on the use of iron oxide nanoparticles as an additive which "feeds" the bacteria in charge of breaking down organic matter. This additive substantially increases the production of biogas

and at the same time transforms the iron nanoparticles into innocuous salt. “We believe we are offering a totally innovative approach to the improvement of biogas production and organic waste treatment, since this is the first nanoparticle application developed with this in mind. In addition, it offers a significant improvement in the decomposition of organic waste when compared to existing technologies”, explains Antoni Sánchez. 

According to researchers, today's biogas production is not very efficient - only 30 to 40 per cent of organic matter is converted into biogas - when compared to other energy sources. “The first tests conducted with BiogàsPlus demonstrated that product increases up to 200% the production of this combustible gas. This translates into a profitable and sustainable solution to the processing of organic waste, thus favouring the use of this renewable source of energy”, affirms Eudald Casals, ICN2 researcher participating in the project. At the moment, BiogàsPlus has been successfully applied in cellulose and mud found in urban treatment plants, but it also can be used in different anaerobic digestions, such as agricultural, industrial or urban waste treatments. “Now the challenge lies in extrapolating the technology to digesters with capacity for hundreds of cubic metres. This would allow using it in large-scale anaerobic digestion processes around the world, thereby greatly increasing the production of biogas, a renewable energy which is growing steadily and is accessible to everyone”, Antoni Sánchez explains. 

                        The researchers behind BiogàsPlus, from left to right: Eudald Casals, Xavier Font, Antoni Sánchez,

                        Víctor Puntes, Raquel Barrena and Martí Busquets.

I International Forum on Education and Technology. New learning environments from a transformative perspective. FIET has more than 100 international experts, 11 lines of work, lectures, presentations, talleres, and a fair of technology and education aimed at the entire society and technicians specializing in education, culture and technology, teachers, students, families and the general public #FIET2014.

Applied Nanoparticles participates in a workshop of nanoparticles.

Victor Puntes talks about technology and innovation.

This exhibition aims to showcase these new testimonies of the vitality of catalan society while acknowledging our country's entrepreneurial culture. Yesterday, like today, we have the people, the ideas and the projects to start the Catalonia of tomorrow. 

Victor Puntes explains how Applied Nanoparticles arises and what its technology, also makes interesting reflections about nanotechnology and entrepreneurship. 

You can watch the video here

Biogasplus: Enhanced production of biomethane with iron nanoparticles from organic waste. Entrepreneur: Applied Nanoparticules.

Application of nanotechnology to optimise biogas production. The controlled introduction of iron oxide nanoparticles in the processes of organic waste treatment can triple the production of biogas. Using iron oxide nanoparticles improves biological efficacy and can be specifically designed for each client/process. Other benefits of the product include a reduction in the amount of residual material and improved stability, optimising the treatment process and transport.