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Here are this week’s top sustainable innovation news, startup updates, and what thought-leader for sustainability, Janina Motter, is reading.

☢️ OpenAI-Backed Company Building First Fusion Power Plant

🧑🏼‍🔬 Chemist Develops Promising Plastic Alternative

💨 Green Hydrogen Breakthrough: Paving the Way for Zero-Carbon Heavy Industry

🇺🇸 California's Lithium Valley Sparks Green Energy Revolution

🔋 Go2Lithium Revolutionizes Sustainable Lithium Extraction

+ 4 Other Highly Interesting Headlines
+ 4 Sustainable Startup News Articles
+ What Janina Motter Is Reading

Sustainable Innovation News Stories For This Week

☢️ OpenAI-Backed Company Building First Fusion Power Plant [LINK]

• Helion Energy, backed by Sam Altman, is constructing a fusion power plant, aiming to be the first to generate electricity using fusion technology.

• Despite industry-wide attempts, no fusion machine has yet produced more energy than it consumes, but Helion's Polaris machine aims to change that.

• Microsoft's collaboration with Helion signals confidence in the potential of fusion energy, with plans for availability by 2028.

🧑🏼‍🔬 Chemist Develops Promising Plastic Alternative [LINK]

• Sophie van Lange creates "compleximer," a recyclable plastic substitute using charged attraction, removing chemical cross-links for easier recycling.

• The material shows promise, with potential applications in everyday products like shoes and glasses, offering hope for reducing plastic waste.

• Further research aims to enhance the material's properties, paving the way for more sustainable plastics and a cleaner planet.

💨 Green Hydrogen Breakthrough: Paving the Way for Zero-Carbon Heavy Industry [LINK]

• GH Power's innovative technology produces zero-carbon industrial products like electricity, hydrogen, iron, and alumina, offering a sustainable solution for heavy industries.

• Collaboration with Fresh Coast Climate Solutions aims to certify zero-carbon products, enhancing credibility and accelerating industry adoption.

• The transition to low- or zero-carbon industrial products presents significant financial incentives and growth opportunities, with hydrogen technology projected to reach $11 trillion market potential by 2050. 

🇺🇸 California's Lithium Valley Sparks Green Energy Revolution [LINK]

• Controlled Thermal Resources Holdings Inc. launches the first phase of a $1.85 billion direct lithium extraction plant in California's "Lithium Valley," aiming to revolutionize battery supply chains and support electric vehicle production.

• The innovative plant integrates geothermal power generation with lithium extraction, offering a sustainable alternative to traditional hard rock mining methods.

• Government support and investment from major automakers signal confidence in the project, poised to meet surging demand for lithium and propel California as a global leader in clean energy innovation.

🔋 Go2Lithium Revolutionizes Sustainable Lithium Extraction [LINK]

• Go2Lithium Inc., a joint venture between Clean TeQ Water Pty Ltd and Computational Geosciences Inc., pioneers advanced extraction technology to meet rising lithium battery demands sustainably.

• Leveraging continuous ion exchange and computational geoscience, Go2Lithium extracts lithium from brines, prioritizing environmental sustainability and cost-effectiveness.

• The company's innovative continuous direct lithium extraction (cDLE®) technology achieves remarkable results, increasing lithium recovery by 98% and reducing operational expenditures by 34% while minimizing freshwater usage and environmental impact. 

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Other News You May Be Interested In

KLM's new initiative predicts no-show passengers to reduce food waste, resulting in 2.5 fewer meals thrown away per flight. [LINK]

A new catalyst developed by Korean researchers enables a 15% cost reduction in ammonia production and supports carbon neutrality goals.[LINK]

The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) of 2022 offers tax credits for renewable energy projects to churches and other non-profits, facilitating the adoption of solar energy and reducing emissions. [LINK]

A new NSF-funded initiative, Great Lakes ReNEW, aims to harness wastewater to generate clean energy, create jobs, and spur economic growth in the region. [LINK]

Sustainable Startup News Articles

A new sustainable building material called Sugarcrete, made from sugarcane bagasse and mineral-based binders, cures faster, weighs less, and costs less than traditional concrete, offering a greener alternative with a lower carbon footprint. [LINK]

Xampla secures $7 million investment to expand production of its biodegradable materials, supporting brands in shifting away from single-use plastics, with a focus on innovative solutions for sustainable packaging and coatings​​​​. [LINK]

A new $36 million investment in Avnos supports the scaling of its Hybrid Direct Air Capture (HDAC) system, which not only captures carbon but also recovers water​​​​. [LINK]

Brookfield raised $10 billion for its second global transition fund, aiming to accelerate the transition to net-zero emissions by investing in clean energy expansion and aiding carbon-intensive sectors. [LINK]

What Brinc’s Thought-Leader in Sustainability, Janina Motter Is Reading

Twenty climate tech funds announced in January include Apax Global Impact Fund ($900 million), Innovation Endeavours ($630 million), New Forests (A$450 million), Vidia Climate Fund I (€415 million), and Plural's fund (€400 million), highlighting global efforts to support climate innovation and sustainability. [LINK]

GreenTech Accelerator 2024: Offers a 6-month program for global green techs to grow, partner with SMEs/corporates, access funding up to SGD100,000, and network with industry leaders across ASEAN​​. [LINK]

280 Earth, backed by Sergey Brin, plans to use waste heat from data centers to power machines that extract carbon dioxide from the air. [LINK]

A startup backed by Bill Gates is set to open the world’s largest carbon removal facility in southern Arkansas, aiming to remove 15,000 metric tons of CO2 this year with plans for further expansion. [LINK]