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AI is no longer just found in research centers or tech start-ups. Indeed, AI has turned out to be a change force driving transformations in each and every field, changing how businesses create products, balance operations, relate to consumers, and project market trends..

1. AI in manufacturing: Smart factories and predictive maintenance

One of the first sectors to embrace AI is the manufacturing industry, particularly with the fourth industrial revolution. We are seeing artificial intelligence systems revolutionize the way production lines are run with predicted maintenance, quality control, and even robot automation.

Possibly, the most impactful use of AI technology is in predictive maintenance, which is relevant to the manufacturing industry. Generally, current schedules used for the maintenance of equipment are based primarily on time intervals or equipment failure. On the other hand, the utilization of machine learning technology allows for the implementation of data gathered from sensors installed in equipment, which enables predictive failure of the equipment. For instance, in Germany, a milk processing plant utilizes a Siemens application of artificial intelligence to enable continuous operation all year round.

Quality control has equally been affected by the introduction of computer vision and the emergence of a machine learning concept. For instance, the AI machines have the capacity to identify faulty products precisely and in a much shorter period compared to other machines. For example, BMW is using image recognition AI to detect faulty stages in the assembly of cars.

2. Supply chain optimization: From forecasting to logistics

Supply chains are complex systems that involve many stakeholders, large volumes of data, and an unmanageable number of variables. AI is proving indispensable in streamlining all aspects of the process.

AI-enabled demand forecasting allows companies to predict customer demand like never before. IKEA, has implemented a tool known as Demand Sensing, which uses AI to analyze up to 200 sources of data per product, such as shopping patterns during festivals, seasonal change, weather forecasts, salary payment schedules, among other things, to predict demand.

Another important area is the field of route optimization, in which AI is adding immense value. For instance, the American courier package delivery company UPS has managed to save millions of gallons of fuel due to their AI system named ORION (On-Road Integrated Optimization & Navigation), which optimizes the routes of over 66,000 vehicles daily.

Similarly, supply chain risk management has become much more efficient with the help of AI. The current COVID-19 health issues have shown the risks of changes in the supply chains of most organizations globally, and companies are using AI to keep track of changes in geopolitics, climate, and the health of their companies. Maersk is a container shipping company using AI to forecast risks in supply chains to run operations even in the worst possible scenarios.

3. Customer experience: Personalization at scale

Artificial Intelligence is already transforming the way in which businesses interact with their customers to promote hyper-personalization services to improve their levels of satisfaction.

In fact, AI-based recommender systems have nowadays become critical technology in the retail industry. For example, both Netflix and Spotify apply AI to study the viewer and listener patterns of their customers and provide personalized recommendations about content.

Dynamic pricing with the help of AI allows organizations to optimize the generated revenue. Airlines, hotels, and ride-sharing services (such as Uber) apply AI technology in dynamic pricing.

4. Product design and R&D: Accelerating Innovation

AI facilitates quicker innovation due to faster research and development processes, thereby bringing products to the market even faster.

Drug discovery is being transformed by AI, which can analyze vast datasets to identify potential drug candidates much faster than traditional methods. Pfizer and Moderna leveraged AI during the COVID-19 pandemic to accelerate vaccine development. AI algorithms analyzed protein structures and predicted immune responses, significantly shortening the timeline from discovery to clinical trials.

AI is also being helpful in material science. Companies like BASF employ machine learning methods to find materials that have a certain property. This reduces the trial-and-error process that would consume a lot of time and money.

To conclude, artificial intelligence represents more than a technological upgrade; it signals a profound shift in how value is created and decisions are made in modern organizations. By combining data, automation, and advanced analytics, AI empowers companies to move from reactive strategies to proactive and even predictive approaches.

2 Key Figures

$15.7 trillion

AI is expected to contribute $15.7 trillion to the global economy by 2030, with the greatest gains coming from increased productivity and consumption-side effects.

30-50%

AI-powered predictive maintenance can reduce equipment downtime by 30-50%.

3 startups to draw inspiration from

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Because electricity is the main cost of computing, data centers are becoming the world’s fastest innovation engine for energy efficiency, and industry will benefit. 

Data centers are often criticized for how much electricity they consume, and that criticism is justified. Nevertheless, it overlooks another an indirect innovation perk: as electricity is the main direct cost of running a data center and power directly determines their profitability, data center operators are trying to use it more efficiently. This is why the expected $5 trillion investment in computing infrastructure is not only for building more servers, but also for making those servers as energy-efficient as possible. 

To improve their margins and keep up with the demand driven by AI, data centers are rapidly improving chips, cooling systems, and software that controls how electricity is used. These efficiency gains are happening faster than in most other industries, precisely because energy costs are so central to their economics and because the demand is increasing so rapidly, making it a such a strong investable sector. 

These energy-efficiency innovations are already spreading to other sectors. Telecom is an early example. As 5G networks pushed electricity demand higher, operators such as AT&T (US telecom) began using GPUs (Graphics Processing Units) originally developed for data centers to run network equipment more efficiently, cutting power use and operating costs by around 20%, according to an Nvidia case study. 

In this article, we focus on two questions: 

• What pillars are used to improve the energy efficiency of data centers? 

• Which technologies could benefit from this investment wave, and how far will these gains extend into industry, manufacturing, and utilities? 

The data center energy trend in numbers:

In 2024, data centers consumed approximately 415 TWh of electricity globally, roughly 1.5% of total electricity consumption. Geographically, the United States accounts for 45%, followed by China (25%) and Europe (15%). 

Data center energy use has grown at 12% annually over the last five years, four times faster than total global demand, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA). These projections indicate this could reach 945 TWh by 2030 (nearly 3% of global demand).  

Why does energy efficiency matter?

Despite high growth projections, the relationship between digital activity and energy use within our data centers is not linear. 

Between 2005 and 2024, while internet traffic increased from 1 to 5.5 billion users and the digital economy’s share of GDP surged, data center energy use only rose from 1% to 1.5% of global demand. Historically, efficiency gains have prevented digital growth from triggering a proportional explosion in energy demand.  

The three pillars of data center efficiency innovation

1. Next-generation hardware

Each new generation of chips becomes much more energy-efficient than the previous one. For example, the current Nvidia B200 GPU uses 60% less energy per unit of computing than the previous generation, which itself was 80% more efficient than the one before. These chips are not used only in data centers; they also make robots and factory automation systems more energy efficient. 

2. Intelligent software

AI-powered tools are increasingly used for predictive maintenance and heat management in an industrial context. In a landmark case in 2016, DeepMind reduced Google’s cooling costs by 40% using its machine learning algorithm on its own servers.  

3. Integrated systems  

The integration of optimized hardware with intelligent software management yields even better results. Today, industrial giants like Siemens and GE are applying these algorithms combined with custom hardware to reduce manufacturing energy use by 15-20%, thanks to predictive maintenance and real-time energy efficiency improvements. 

From server to factory floor: five technologies already crossing over

Technologies first developed for data centers are now allowing new heavy industry usage. Both settings face similar challenges, managing complex systems, high energy use, and cooling or process optimization. Thus, improvement in data centers should be transferable to those industrial cases. 

The following five technologies are examples of how improvement into the pillars are being put to work on the factory floor: 

1. Predictive maintenance 

Machine learning models originally designed to monitor servers (e.g., the example of DeepMind data centers) can now predict failures in industrial equipment before they happen by analyzing sensor data (vibrations, temperature, power draw). 

Example: Siemens’ AI-driven maintenance platform identifies early signs of bearing wear in motors, cutting maintenance costs and lowering energy use in manufacturing lines. 

2. Real-time process optimization 

Software that adjusts cooling, airflow, and load balancing in data centers now helps optimize industrial process parameters, furnace temperature, compressor load, or pump speed, in real time. These AI optimizers can lower the energy intensity of industrial processing plants by 5-15%, and increase EBITDA by 3-5%, according to McKinsey. 

3. Digital twins and simulation tools 

Digital twins, realistic virtual models of physical assets, were first used for data center planning and fault forecasting. In a factory, these digital replicas simulate production lines to test process improvements safely and improve resource flows. Plants using digital twins often achieve up to 10% energy savings. 

4. Smart grid and demand response systems 

Cloud computing-inspired dynamic energy scheduling systems now balance industrial electricity loads with real-time grid conditions. AI can plan when to run high-consumption equipment during periods of low cost or high renewable energy availability, reducing total energy use by 5–20% according to the IEA calculations. 

Example: BASF’s chemical plants in Europe integrate AI platforms that shift noncritical processes to coincide with peak renewable power supply, lowering both emissions and costs. 

5. Thermal management technologies 

High-efficiency cooling from data centers, such as liquid cooling and waste heat recovery, is being adapted for heat-intensive manufacturing. These techniques capture waste heat from furnaces and reuse it for pre-heating or other steps, minimizing total fuel input. 

To conclude, while data centers are indeed an energy pit, electricity being the dominant operating cost, they are becoming one of the world’s most well-funded R&D labs for energy efficiency innovation worldwide. And of course, these advancements will not remain confined to server halls. As shown in telecom, manufacturing, chemicals, and utilities, some technologies developed to minimize data center energy use are now already finding new usage in other energy-intensive industries, where even small percentage gains translate into big absolute savings.  

2 Key Figures

945 TWh

Projected global electricity consumption of data centers by 2030, representing just under 3 percent of total global demand and equivalent to twice France’s current electricity consumption.

$5 trillion

Expected spending on AI-related infrastructure over the next five years, an amount roughly equivalent to Germany’s 2025 GDP.

3 startups to draw inspiration from

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Until recently, the main conversation around data centers focused primarily on reducing their environmental footprint: transitioning to renewable energy, improving Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE), and optimizing cooling systems. These efforts remain crucial, but the landscape is shifting.

Data centers are rapidly becoming deeply integrated into both local and national energy systems, playing an increasingly strategic role in grid stability and energy flexibility. This transformation not only impacts the way data centers consume energy but also how they can contribute to a more resilient and balanced energy infrastructure. Rather than merely absorbing power, data centers are now playing a pivotal part in balancing supply and demand, enabling the integration of renewable energy, and even creating new industrial symbioses. Here’s how:

1. Demand Response: Leveraging Renewable Energy to Drive Efficiency

Data centers, especially those operated by major tech companies like Google, are employing advanced systems such as carbon-intelligent computing to dynamically adjust their workloads in response to the availability of local solar and wind energy. By syncing their computing power with times of high renewable generation, Google reduces its energy demand during periods of low renewable production and maximizes energy use when renewable sources are abundant. This ability to adapt to fluctuating energy conditions means that data centers are no longer just passive consumers but active participants in managing the grid’s load, helping to integrate renewables more effectively into the overall energy mix.

2. Grid Balancing: Data Centers as Auxiliary Services Providers

Tech giants like Microsoft are experimenting with innovative solutions to turn their data centers into grid-supporting assets. One such approach is using data center batteries in a grid-interactive UPS mode, in collaboration with Eaton, to provide auxiliary services to the electrical grid. These services include regulating frequency and voltage, ensuring stability during times of peak demand or grid instability. The ability of data centers to act as “shock absorbers” for the grid through energy storage and balancing offers a significant step forward in making energy systems more resilient and flexible.

As part of this, Microsoft’s batteries could offer energy back to the grid during periods of excess demand, helping stabilize the grid while also benefiting from economic incentives. This kind of grid interaction transforms data centers from isolated consumers of energy into active, responsive entities that aid in maintaining grid stability.

3. Decentralized Production & Self-Consumption: A Move Toward Energy Independence

Amazon is another key player exploring decentralized energy production. The company is integrating renewable energy projects such as wind farms and storage systems directly into their energy supply chains for data centers. This integration not only helps stabilize energy availability but also reduces the reliance on centralized power grids. In doing so, Amazon is creating a more self-sufficient energy ecosystem, where their data centers can operate with a greater degree of energy autonomy, even in the event of grid disruptions.

In addition to reducing operational costs and environmental impact, this approach aligns with the growing trend of self-consumption and local energy production, where data centers both produce and consume the energy they need. This decentralization of energy sources supports broader national efforts to transition to more resilient and sustainable energy infrastructures.

4. Waste Heat Recovery & Industrial Symbiosis: Turning Energy Loss Into Value

Some data centers are going beyond simply consuming and generating energy—they are also innovating in how they use the waste heat produced by their operations. Qarnot Computing, for example, has pioneered the concept of energy symbiosis by using excess heat from its servers to warm residential buildings, office spaces, and even swimming pools. This process of waste heat recovery transforms what would otherwise be a byproduct of data center operations into valuable local heating energy, further enhancing the sustainability of their operations.

This symbiotic approach to energy usage also supports local economies by providing affordable heating to nearby communities, reducing the need for traditional heating methods like gas or electricity, which can be more resource-intensive.

5. Integrating Data Centers into National Grid Systems: A Strategic Experimentation

As energy systems evolve, so too does the role of data centers in maintaining grid stability. RTE, the French transmission system operator, along with Data4 and Schneider Electric, is leading a groundbreaking project in Marcoussis to experiment with flexible data center management. The goal is to ensure that if there are disruptions to a data center’s energy supply, it won’t disrupt the broader stability of the electrical grid. This is especially important as data centers are projected to represent 4% of electricity consumption in France by 2035.

The RTE-Data4-Schneider Electric collaboration is Europe’s first large-scale experiment in integrating data centers into the national energy system. It focuses on testing the ability of data centers to interact dynamically with the grid, allowing for a more seamless integration that could prevent potential issues from arising when large numbers of data centers are connected to the system. This project could pave the way for a new standard in managing the energy consumption and supply of data centers, ensuring grid stability even as their numbers and energy needs increase.

Conclusion: A New Era for Data Centers

Data centers are no longer just the massive energy consumers they once were. They are emerging as key players in the energy landscape, contributing to the stability and flexibility of our energy systems. As they increasingly integrate with renewable energy sources, offer grid-balancing services, and help create local energy symbioses, they are redefining the concept of what a data center can be.

This shift represents a crucial step in the transition toward a more resilient, sustainable energy future, where data centers are no longer viewed solely through the lens of consumption, but as active participants in shaping the energy ecosystem. The strategic role they play in energy systems will only continue to expand, making them essential not just for powering the digital economy but for helping to drive the broader transformation of global energy infrastructure.

2 Key Figures

3 days

A new data center opens every 3 days

70%

Projected growth in AI electricity consumption through 2027

3 startups to draw inspiration from

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With a global push toward decarbonization, scientists and innovators keep on exploring next-generation solutions to meet energy demands sustainably. Fourth-generation fuels, a cutting-edge development in renewable energy, are gaining attention for their ability to tackle climate challenges head-on. But what exactly are fourth-generation fuels, and how could they reshape our economy, society, and environment? 

What Are Fourth-Generation Fuels? 

Fourth-generation fuels are advanced biofuels that integrate renewable energy technologies with carbon capture and storage (CCS). They are designed to be carbon-negative, meaning they actively remove more CO₂ from the atmosphere than they emit during their lifecycle. 

Key Characteristics: 

• Feedstocks: Fourth-generation fuels are produced using non-food biomass, algae, or synthetic methods that leverage captured CO₂ and renewable hydrogen. 

• Carbon Capture Integration: The production process involves capturing CO₂ from the atmosphere or industrial sources, storing it underground or utilizing it in other processes. 

• Technological Advances: These fuels often rely on innovative technologies like artificial photosynthesis, engineered microorganisms, or bioreactors. 

Examples include synthetic fuels made by combining captured CO₂ with green hydrogen and biofuels derived from carbon-absorbing crops paired with BECCS (Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage). 

Economic impact 

The development of fourth-generation fuels has the potential to revolutionize the global economy. By driving significant investments in advanced manufacturing, biotechnology, and carbon capture infrastructure, these fuels can catalyze economic growth and establish technological leadership for nations that embrace them. They also offer an opportunity to enhance energy security by reducing dependence on imported fossil fuels, as their production relies on locally available feedstocks and renewable energy sources. However, the economic promise of fourth-generation fuels comes with challenges. High initial costs for production and infrastructure development remain substantial barriers, and scaling these technologies will require policy support, subsidies, and sustained private-sector investment. 

Societal impact 

Fourth-generation fuels can significantly influence societal structures, starting with job creation. The rise of this industry is expected to generate high-quality jobs in sectors such as research, engineering, agriculture, and clean energy. Rural communities, in particular, may benefit from new opportunities in biomass cultivation and carbon storage projects. Additionally, the adoption of cleaner alternatives to fossil fuels will lead to reduced air pollution, improving public health by minimizing respiratory illnesses, especially in urban and industrialized areas. Moreover, these fuels encourage collaboration between governments, businesses, and local communities, fostering a collective commitment to sustainable practices and empowering citizens to participate in the fight against climate change.  

Environmental impact 

The environmental benefits of fourth-generation fuels are profound. By capturing and storing atmospheric CO₂, they offer a tangible solution for achieving net-negative emissions, which is essential for addressing climate change. This ability to offset emissions is particularly valuable for sectors that are difficult to decarbonize, such as aviation and heavy industry. Furthermore, these fuels are produced using non-arable land or algae-based systems, which reduces competition with food production and helps preserve biodiversity. By integrating renewable energy sources like wind and solar into their production processes, fourth-generation fuels align seamlessly with broader decarbonization strategies and further minimize reliance on fossil fuels, setting a new benchmark for environmental responsibility. 

Challenges and Future Outlook 

While the promise of fourth-generation fuels is immense, several challenges remain: 

• High Development Costs: Achieving commercial viability requires substantial R&D and infrastructure investments. 

• Policy and Regulatory Support: Clear and consistent policies, including carbon pricing and subsidies, are essential to incentivize adoption. 

• Technological Uncertainty: Scaling up these advanced technologies involves overcoming technical hurdles and ensuring reliability. 

Despite these obstacles, the potential benefits make fourth-generation fuels a critical component of the global energy transition. With coordinated efforts from governments, industries, and researchers, these fuels could help pave the way toward a sustainable, carbon-negative future. 

Context 

Our client operates manufacturing sites worldwide and is proactively addressing the challenges of the energy transition to ensure the long-term resilience and sustainability of its operations.

In response to a changing energy landscape, the company launched a strategic foresight initiative to assess potential stress on national electric grids in countries hosting key production sites. The goal was to anticipate risks related to electricity availability.

Missions

In this context, we supported our client in:

• Electricity Outlook: Projecting electricity generation trends through 2040 in 19 countries across Asia, the Americas, and Europe, based on national policies, energy mix evolution, and infrastructure developments.
• Low-Carbon Share: Evaluating the share of low-carbon electricity in each country’s electricity mix today and in 2040.
• Mobility Electrification: Estimating the adoption of electric vehicles and its projected impact on national electricity demand

Key figures

In the race to decarbonize, hard-to-abate industries like transport, mobility, energy, manufacturing, and heavy industries face immense challenges. These sectors are pivotal in achieving global climate goals but require transformative innovation to overcome their reliance on high-emission processes. Enter design fiction: a tool for imagining and prototyping future scenarios that inspire radical innovation while addressing the complexities of decarbonization. 

What is Design Fiction? 

Design fiction is a speculative approach that blends storytelling with prototyping to explore “what if?” scenarios. It goes beyond forecasting trends or analyzing probabilities—it creates immersive, tangible provocations that challenge assumptions and inspire innovation. By developing speculative artifacts such as fictional news reports, prototypes, or policy drafts, design fiction brings possible futures to life, encouraging stakeholders to engage with them. Rather than predicting the future, it envisions alternative realities that push boundaries, provoke dialogue, and open up new possibilities for transformative action.

For hard-to-abate industries, design fiction offers a way to: 

• Explore the integration of emerging low-carbon technologies. 

• Rethink supply chains and production models. 

• Address societal, regulatory, and consumer behavior shifts in response to decarbonization. 

Why hard-to-abate industries need design fiction 

These industries operate within complex ecosystems, often constrained by entrenched practices, high capital costs, and regulatory pressures. Traditional approaches to innovation may fall short in imagining transformative solutions. Design fiction enables stakeholders to: 

1. Visualize low-carbon futures: Crafting scenarios where new technologies—such as hydrogen fuel, carbon capture, or electrified transport systems—are operational within a reimagined value chain. 
2. Challenge assumptions: Provoking fresh thinking about entrenched norms, such as the necessity of fossil fuels in energy-intensive manufacturing. 
3. Align stakeholders: Engaging diverse actors—from policymakers to engineers—through tangible prototypes and narratives that illustrate shared goals. 
4. Test policy and business models: Simulating the implementation of carbon pricing, circular economy strategies, or renewable energy integrations in controlled, fictional contexts. 

Examples of Design Fiction scenarios  

Net-Zero Factories 

A speculative scenario where AI-driven, autonomous factories produce goods using 100% renewable energy, with zero waste and closed-loop recycling systems. What roles would human workers play? What new supply chain dependencies could arise? 

Hydrogen-Powered Transport 

Fictionalized blueprints for hydrogen-powered shipping fleets or aviation systems, paired with narratives about new infrastructure and regulatory frameworks. 

Energy Communities 

A future where localized energy grids enable heavy industries to share renewable energy surpluses, reducing dependency on centralized grids. How might this disrupt existing energy markets? 

How to Implement Design Fiction in Your Organization 

• Assemble a cross-disciplinary team: Combine expertise in engineering, design, sociology, and business to capture diverse perspectives. 

• Identify key challenges: Focus on specific pain points, like process emissions in steel manufacturing or the electrification of long-haul transport. 

• Develop artifacts and scenarios: Create visual, tangible, or interactive prototypes (e.g., mock-ups of decarbonized supply chains or AI-driven energy optimization systems). 

• Facilitate collaborative workshops: Use the scenarios to engage stakeholders in brainstorming and co-creating actionable solutions. 

• Iterate and integrate: Refine the outputs based on feedback, and use insights to inform strategic roadmaps, R&D investments, or policy proposals. 

The Way Forward 

Design fiction is not just a tool for creative exploration; it is a catalyst for systemic change. By challenging entrenched assumptions and fostering collaboration, it can help hard-to-abate industries envision and accelerate their decarbonization journeys. As the world demands urgent climate action, the ability to think boldly and imagine differently is more critical than ever. 

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Before diving into treatment technologies, we recommend reading the first article in this series, where we explore what PFAS are and their devastating environmental and health impacts.

PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are a group of synthetic chemicals widely used in industrial and consumers products. Due do their persistence and resistance to degradation, they accumulate in the environment and pose significant health risks. Addressing PFAS contamination requires a combination of well-established and emerging treatment technologies that focus on treatment, and increasingly, destruction.

Mature PFAS treatment technologies

Several well-established technologies are currently used for PFAS removal, including:

• Granular Activated Carbon (GAC): One of the most studied methods for removing PFAS, commonly used in drinking water treatment. It helps absorb organic compounds, as well as taste, odor, and synthetic chemicals. GAC works well for longer-chain PFAS like PFOA and PFOS but is less effective for shorter-chain ones like PFBS and PFBA, which don’t adsorb as easily.
• Anion Exchange Resins (AER): They are like tiny magnets that attract and hold onto impurities, preventing them from passing through the water system. Negatively charged PFAS are attracted to the positively charged anion resins. This method can treat almost all PFAS chain lengths but is more expensive than GAC.
• Nanofiltration or Reverse Osmosis Membranes: High-pressure membrane filtration systems, i.e. nanofiltration and reverse osmosis, have been highly effective in eliminating over 90% of PFAS, including short-chain compounds.

Emerging PFAS treatment technologies

A few new innovative technologies are being developed to enhance PFAS removal efficiency:

• Selective Absorbents: Companies like Puraffinity are pioneering precision technologies to target PFAS removal. Their Puratech absorbent solution is designed to integrate seamlessly into existing treatment systems and can be tailored to capture specific PFAS compounds.
• Foam Fractionation: Oxyle has developed a multi-stage foam fractionation, catalytic destruction, and machine learning monitoring process. This method has shown to eliminate over 99% of PFAS.

While these technologies improve PFAS capture, they do not destroy the compound. This limitation has driven interest in developing destruction technologies.

Emerging PFAS destruction technologies

Unlike traditional removal methods, destruction technologies aim to completely break down PFAS compounds rather than simply capture them. While holding promise, these technologies are still energy-intensive and costly.

• Supercritical Water Oxidation (SCWO): This oxidation process converts organic contaminants into water, carbon dioxide, and inert mineral residue. 347Water has developed AirSCWO systems, which have been proven effective in destroying PFAS-laden ion exchange resins.
• Electrochemical Oxidation: This technique is an electrochemical reaction that degrades PFAS compounds on a large scale while producing little to no waste, making it a potential solution for large-scale PFAS degradation.

Additionnally, researchers are working on next-generation PFAS destruction technologies such as low-temperature mineralization, plasma technology, and sonolysis.

Destruction technologies require high PFAS concentrations to be effective and tend to be energy-intensive, making them less suitable for diluted waste streams. Furthermore, these technologies are quite immature, requiring validation before large-scale deployment. To address these challenges, technology providers have been exploring hybrid solutions that combine both removal and destruction methods to provide a holistic solution. For instance, Gradiant has developed a technology that enables on-site PFAS removal and destruction, eliminating the need for waste handling, landfilling, or incineration.

3 startups to draw inspiration from

Oxyle

A Swiss start-up that developed a technology which is claimed to have over 99% removal of PFAS with lower energy use compared to traditional methods. The three-stage process involves foam fractionation, catalytic destruction, and machine learning monitoring.

Gradiant

A U.S.-based water and wastewater treatment solutions provider, Gradiant has developed ForeverGone, a technology that is capable of removing and destroying PFAS on site, without the need for waste handling, landfilling, or incineration. It is different from conventional solutions such as granular activated carbon (GAC) and ion exchange

Puraffinity

A UK-based start-up which focused on developing precision technologies for the removal of PFAS from water. Puraffinity has developed an absorbent solution called Puratech, which integrates perfectly into existing water treatment systems and can be adapted to target specific PFAS compounds.

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123Fab #104

1 topic, 2 key figures, 3 startups to draw inspiration from

Urban areas face rising temperatures from the combined effects of climate change and the “urban heat island” phenomenon. Concrete and asphalt trap heat, creating hotter cities, escalating energy demands, and endangering vulnerable populations. To mitigate these effects, solutions must address the problem across all scales: city, neighborhood, street, building, and individual levels.

City-Level Strategies

At the city scale, urban planning focuses on creating cooler environments by improving airflow, increasing plant cover, and reducing heat-retaining surfaces:

• Urban Planning and Cool Corridors: Designing open spaces and cool corridors encourages air circulation and reduces heat concentration.
• Increasing Plant Cover: Initiatives like Paris’ Oasis Project transform schoolyards into green spaces, doubling as cool islands and heat refuges.
• Low-Emission Zones (ZFE): Reducing vehicular traffic in cities cuts emissions, indirectly lowering heat retention.
• Urban Water Management: Large-scale rainwater management systems and urban basins help infiltrate water into the soil. This not only prevents flooding but also encourages evaporation, naturally cooling the air during heatwaves.

Neighborhood-Level Strategies

Neighborhood interventions tackle heat through surface treatments, targeted greenery, and smart solutions:

• High-Albedo Materials: Reflective materials reduce heat absorption, like those used in Paris’ “cool islands.” High-albedo materials are surfaces that reflect more sunlight than they absorb, helping to lower surface temperatures.
• Vegetation and Cool Islands: Projects like Urban Canopée integrate vegetation into neighborhoods, while ENGIE Lab Crigen’s Skycooling panels provide shade-based cooling.
• Water Permeation: Soil desilting and localized rainwater infiltration enhance evaporation, which cools the surrounding air naturally. Incorporating small water features like ponds or fountains within neighborhoods can amplify these cooling effects.

Street-Level Strategies

Streets act as heat hotspots, but targeted solutions can reduce their thermal footprint:

• Draining Pavements: Products like Holcim’s concrete, a permeable concrete Hydromedia, allow rainwater to infiltrate the soil, supporting evaporation and natural cooling.
• Green Walls and Photovoltaic Shades: Vegetated walls and shaded walkways lower street temperatures while improving aesthetics and functionality.
• Localized Water Features: Incorporating fountains, small basins, or artificial streams along streets can provide significant localized cooling effects.

Building-Level Strategies

Buildings are central to urban cooling, as they represent a significant proportion of heat storage:

• Green Roofs: Vegetative layers provide natural insulation and cooling, reducing the heat stored by buildings.
• Reflective Paint: Products like Cool Roof reduce heat absorption, keeping interiors cooler.
• Advanced Insulation: Aerogels, a cutting-edge material known for their lightweight properties and high thermal resistance, can significantly reduce heating and cooling costs by providing superior insulation compared to traditional materials.
• Bio-Reactive Facades: Innovations like XTU Architects’ microalgae facades actively regulate temperature by producing oxygen and absorbing heat.
• Rainwater Harvesting: Buildings can integrate systems to collect rainwater, which can then be used for evaporative cooling or irrigation for rooftop and vertical gardens, further reducing heat buildup.

Individual Actions

Individual behaviors also play a vital role in reducing urban heat:

• Soft Mobility: Walking, cycling, and using public transport help reduce vehicular emissions and heat contributions.
• Urban Greening: Individuals can plant greenery at home, install small water features in gardens, or volunteer for local tree-planting initiatives to enhance cooling.
• Water Stewardship: Households can promote cooling by managing rainwater infiltration with permeable garden designs, rain barrels, or bioswales to ensure water is available for natural evaporation processes.

Cooling urban environments requires a multifaceted approach across different scales. From city-wide planning and water management to individual actions like soft mobility, these strategies not only provide immediate relief from heat but also promote the long-term sustainability of urban life. Addressing the urban heat island effect is a pressing necessity as cities prepare for increasingly extreme temperatures in the decades ahead.

.

2 Key Figures

4

Temperatures can be 1 to 4°C higher than surrounding rural areas due to the presence of heat-retaining infrastructures like concrete and asphalt.

15%

A 10% increase in tree cover in cities reduces surface temperatures and lower energy consumption needs for cooling by around 15%.

.

3 startups to draw inspiration from

CoolRoof

French-based startup specialized in reflective coatings for rooftops and pavements to reduce heat absorption in cities, lowering temperatures and energy consumption.

SolCold

A materials startup from Israel that creates innovative coatings which cool buildings by converting heat into light, reflecting sunlight to reduce urban temperatures.

Green City Solutions

German startup that develops urban green spaces using “CityTree,” a smart, air-purifying moss wall that cools and cleans the air in densely populated areas through IoT integration.

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