This week in cleantech and energy news, the first EV charging roads open in Sweden, scientists discover impressive purifying abilities of moss, Porsche expands EV charging stations throughout North America, and Wells Fargo pledges billions.
What news have you been reading this week? Share with us @GreentownLabs!
The Guardian – World’s first electrified road for charging vehicles opens in Sweden
- The World’s first EV charging road has been opened in Sweden.
“The distance between two highways is never more than 45km and electric cars can already travel that distance without needing to be recharged. Some believe it would be enough to electrify 5,000km.”
Futurism – A Moss Can Naturally Clean Harmful Arsenic From Water
- A moss called Warnstorfia fluitans, growing in Swedish Wetlands contaminated with arsenic from nearby mining operations, has the ability to purify toxic water so it is drinkable again.
“To test it in a controlled lab setting, the researchers started with water that contained ten times the amount of arsenic deemed safe by the Environmental Protection Agency. When they exposed the moss to it, the moss took just an hour to absorb 82 percent of the arsenic.”
- Porsche plans to build 500 EV charging stations across the U.S by the end of 2019.
“The station would be used to enable long-distance travel, but the CEO also added that they are considering a network of chargers for destinations, similar to Tesla’s Destination Charging network.”
Greentech Media – DOE Announces $105 Million in New Funding for Solar R&D
- The U.S. Department of Energy announced $105.5 million in new funding to be spent on early-stage solar energy research focused on improving the affordability, flexibility, and performance of solar on the grid.
“Investing in all of our abundant energy sources, including solar technologies, will help to drive down costs and ensure that the nation leads the world in energy production and innovation.”
Cleantechnica – Renewable Energy In Kenya: Meeting The Needs Of An Expanding Population
- Kenya, 8th in the world in geothermal energy production, announced it wants to add 1,745 MW of geothermal generation by 2025, part of a government directed energy policy to eliminate fossil fuel-powered generation.
“The conditions in Kenya are ripe for geothermal development, with a supportive government, demonstrated history of successful projects, and a rapidly-growing economy hungry for cheap and reliable electricity.”
GreenBiz – Wells Fargo pledges $200 billion for low-carbon economy projects
- Wells Fargo plans to invest $200 billion into renewable energy and cleantech projects between now and 2030.
“With this commitment, we are combining a strong financial goal with enhanced transparency and disclosure practices that we believe will lead to sector-wide progress on responsible, sustainable finance.”