4 Innovations That Could Impact Climate Change (for the Better)

Innovation is the key to sustainability — finding new, more efficient, and safer ways to meet our needs without harming the environment or depleting natural resources. Recycling, reducing energy consumption, and being more mindful of your carbon footprint are all great ways for individuals to help the planet, but there are some great innovations that could have a significantly positive effect on climate change, and change how we think about renewable energy.

1. Pyrolysis

Pyrolysis is a chemical process that involves heating materials to high temperatures without oxygen present. While in itself not a new concept, the people behind Colorado-based Cool Planet have adapted the process to create a carbon-negative biofuel. Made from agricultural waste, non-food organic material, and wood chips, this biofuel mixes perfectly with gasoline because it has the same molecular structure.

What makes the fuel carbon negative, however, is the byproduct, officially called CoolTerra. It’s a biochar that can be mixed into the ground to help the soil better retain water (reducing farmers’ need for irrigation). It takes a long time to break down, thus keeping the carbon in the ground.

The first production plant will open next year and be fully operational by 2017. Cool Planet has already secured a loan guarantee in the tune of $91 million from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to build the facility.

2. Artificial Photosynthesis

Scientists working at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, at the University of California, Berkeley, have devised a way to capture carbon emissions before they escape into the atmosphere, and then use an artificial photosynthesis process to transform them into useful materials.

While real photosynthesis entails plants converting carbon dioxide and water into oxygen using sunlight, this artificial process relies on a combination of nanowires and bacteria to transform the carbon into acetate. The end product can be used to create everything from biodegradable plastic to liquid fuels, and even pharmaceutical drugs.

Right now the technology is about as efficient as real photosynthesis, but with further development could become significantly more efficient.

3. Solar Supercritical Steam

Most traditional power stations generate power by essentially powering a turbine with superheated steam. However, to heat the water to the high temperatures needed, most facilities have to rely on fossil fuels, which also keeps costs low.

However, in Australia, scientists from the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization have devised a method to use solar energy to heat water in the same way. Essentially, it would transform a power plant into an emissions-free, eco-friendly facility, and only at the cost of retrofitting it with solar panels. Even better, the retrofit can be done inexpensively and using existing infrastructure.

4. Tesla’s PowerWall Battery

Also on the note of solar power is Tesla’s PowerWall battery. Elon Musk, the man behind Tesla, is so committed to sustainable energy that he has made all of his company’s patented technology available to anyone who wants to use it.

The PowerWall battery is designed as a way to contain the energy harvested by the solar panels installed on a home. Rather than letting the excess flow into the power grid and buying it back from the company when your solar cells aren’t generating enough power (such as in the evening hours), the PowerWall holds the energy in your home, further decreasing your dependency on the power grid. It can even be treated as a backup generator for when storms knock out power or other failures occur.

Expect to see the first batch of PowerWall batteries shipping out this summer.

Ultimately, one of the keys to fighting climate change and reducing carbon emissions is impact investing — in short, investing in organizations that actively seek solutions to environmental, economic, and social issues. These investments return a profit for the investors, but also generate the kind of products and innovations we’ve talked about here: ones that can have a lasting effect on the planet and all its inhabitants.