How the system works: surplus natural energy powers an automated crane that lifts concrete blocks to form a tower. This stores the energy potentially, so that it can be more effectively distributed throughout the day. When there is a dip in natural energy, for example at night when solar power isn’t generated, the crane lowers the blocks. This falling motion turns a generator in the crane, which then generates electricity and discharges it back into the grid.

20 megawatt-hours a day

Each tower can store 20 megawatt-hours a day, enough to power 2,000 Swiss homes for 24 hours.
The cranes are controlled by algorithms, so that the loading and unloading movements run as efficiently as possible. The custom-made composite blocks are made from locally sourced soil, sand or waste material, adding another useful stage to materials that are difficult to recycle.

This works in the same way as hydro-electric energy, i.e. by storing water at high altitude, but using bricks instead of water. However, the idea of using bricks is not the main innovation here. For the first time ever, the Energy Vault system can store and deploy renewable energy at less cost than fossil fuels. This puts them at the forefront of an energy transformation that offers companies and governments the opportunity to deploy renewable energy efficiently at scale.

A prototype has already been in operation in Bellinzona in Switzerland, and has been a proven success. Thus sustainable energy storage can succeed.
Energy Vault was named one of the most important start-ups by the World Economic Forum.
At the end of 2021 commercial plants constructions in the USA, Europe and Australia have begun.

Source and further link:
swissinfo.ch/ger/tecnologia_den-menschlichen-koerper-zur-stromerzeugung-nutzen/46538964
energyvault.com/

Photo credit: © Energy Vault

Der Beitrag Building sustainable energy storage erschien zuerst auf tageswow.

Luckily, a German start-up based near Berlin has made this their mission statement. Green City Solutions have created the CityTree air purifier, after discovering that moss plants capture pollutants and greenhouse gases much more efficiently than trees. One of their public furniture structures has as much cleaning power as 275 trees and takes up only 1% of the space.  

So how does it work? Polluted city air is drawn into the CityTree by its integrated solar-powered fan. The air then flows through the vertical moss mats and is purified and cooled in the process. Clean, cooled air then re-enters the environment through the slatted design, creating noticeably cleaner air within a 50m radius. 

As city planners look for ways to design better solutions for people living together, these hybrid CityTrees might just be an answer to help integrate nature into our overcrowded urban lives. CityTrees have so far found homes in London, Berlin, Cork, Paris, Amsterdam and Oslo. They will surely crop up in more cities around the world, helping to reduce the number of over-polluted urban areas. 

Source and further link:
greencitysolutions.de
kfw.de/stories/environment/renewable-energy/unternehmensportraet-greencity-solutions/

© Green City Solutions GmbH

Der Beitrag The tree that cleans urban air erschien zuerst auf tageswow.

So how does it work?

In August 2020, Mein Grundeinkommen launched the first of three pilot schemes, and to date it is the largest independent academic research project into the effects of UBI in Germany. Together with the German Institute for Economic Research (DIW), Mein Grundeinkommen selected a total of 120 participants, who receive €1,200 a month for three years. This study is the first to be entirely financed by private crowdfunding – it does not rely on the state. It currently has about 140,000 private donors, and suggests there is a growing appetite for new ideas towards money, and how it might work in our society. 

The project aims to take the debate around UBI out of people’s living rooms and into a social reality – where it can be tested with empirical social research. The next draw for the second pilot project is open to participate, and takes place on 10th November 2021.

Prof. Dr. Jürgen Schupp from the DIW is very optimistic about the project: »We want to find out whether an unconditional monthly payment of a sum of money leads to statistically significant changes in behaviour and feelings. We already know from experimental economics that our social behaviour also depends on justice, fairness or equality. Here we have the chance to really check whether people conform to the stereotype of “homo economicus” and if they only act when they receive incentives and rewards for doing so.«

Mein Grundeinkommen e. V. will research such areas as physical and mental health, as well as notions of motivation, fulfilment and happiness. The results could help develop solutions for social care and reimagine how we organise our society financially.  

Sources and further links:
mein-grundeinkommen.de/
dw.com/en/basic-income-germany-tax-free/a-54700872

© Fabian Melber, Mein Grundeinkommen e. V.

Der Beitrag Cheques for free  erschien zuerst auf tageswow.