(DRI) ZERO DRS/X

Article by Nigel Morris - The Driven

The DSR/X is the latest generation in a long line of dual sport bikes from Californian electric motorcycle stalwart Zero Motorcycles who have a growing presence in Australia. I’ve owned two previous models, a 2010 DS and a 2014 DS, so it was a great chance to see how they’ve evolved over a decade.

I’ll say from the outset that there are plenty of reviews of Zero’s latest range of bikes targeted at ICE bike owners, so my review has a slightly different focus. Primarily, I’m going to focus on what it’s like as an EV, but let’s get a few things out of the way first.

Australian motorcyclists love dual sport bikes because we have lots of crappy roads, plenty of dirt and a sense of adventure. Although long distance and round the world trips been proven to be possible on an electric motorcycle, if you want to regularly tour remote backroads or do huge rides of 500-1000km it remains a big challenge for most people.

However, if you are like the majority of dual sport owners and mostly do commuting with the occasional adventury weekend ride or, you live in a regional area the DSR/X is definitely worth a serious look and has a big bunch of ownership benefits.

You will pay a premium for being an early electric motorcycle adopter and the DSR/X will set you back $47k plus. However, you’ll save thousands each year in maintenance and fuel costs (I save around $3k per year). In any case, motorcycles are rarely purchased on economic, or any other type of rationale logic, so stop thinking so hard and just test ride one if you think making the switch is on your radar.

It’s worth talking briefly about Zero Motorcycles and the market given the challenges that premium electric motorcycle manufacturers have faced recently.

Livewire are struggling to sell bikes, and Energica are in liquidation ,despite both being fantastic machines. In short, it’s a very tough market because the premium segment is very low volume and that has implications if you are considering purchasing a bike like the DSR/X because it’s clearly in this segment.

Zero were founded in 2006, making them one of the oldest and most successful electric motorcycle companies. Their investors continue to show huge enthusiasm, injecting more capital on a regular basis and they are without question selling more electric motorcycles in this premium segment than pretty much anyone else.

They’ve had some ups and downs but recently announced a new foray into the much smaller and lower power segment with their new XB & XE models (think Surron and Talaria).

For premium electric purists, this might seem disappointing but from a business longevity perspective I think it’s smart – because around 10 million light weight two wheelers are sold each year (and almost 2 million outside China).

If Zero can grab just 1% of that market it would roughly quadruple their sales based on publicly available numbers. So, I think it helps position them well for survival. More of this article (The Driven) - link - more like this (electric motorcycles) - link- more like this (Australia) - link

(NAT) IN-FLIGHT FOOD (WASTE)

There are generally two reactions when an in-flight meal is served: delight or dread. Some happily work through every course, while others pick at the food, leaving the bulk of their tray untouched. But what happens to that leftover food?

Last year, an International Air Transport Association report found the average airline passenger generates about 1.43kg of waste per flight, 20 per cent of which consists of untouched food and drinks.

This isn't only a blow to the industry's bottom line, but also to the environment, as airlines are burning fuel to carry meals that passengers might not eat, as well as source ingredients, store and prepare meals, only to incinerate unconsumed food later.

With recycling or reusing cabin waste, airlines face complex regulations, especially on international routes. Catering waste is subject to special handling and disposal requirements, including incineration and sterilisation, which makes reusing and recycling difficult.

Although meals are prepared under global hygiene controls, countries have individual regulations and restrictions on the disposal of catering waste based on biosecurity concerns.

However, many airlines are devising increasingly innovative ways to manage the issue.

Abu Dhabi's Etihad Airways has been using artificial intelligence to track food waste. The airline teamed up with Lumitics in 2020 to track unconsumed economy-class meals, with the collated data used to highlight food consumption and wastage patterns across the network.

In its most recent sustainability report, Singapore Airlines revealed it uses the same start-up as Etihad. The company created a product called Insight, a smart bin that measures, tracks and identifies food waste thrown into it. Using AI, Insight makes recommendations to reduce waste based on passengers’ consumption habits, allowing Singapore Airlines to make informed decisions about quantities brought on board and tweaking menus based on leftovers.

Another way airlines are tackling the problem is by inviting passengers to opt out of receiving a meal before boarding. In 2020, Japan Airlines trialled a "meal skip" option on a flight to Bangkok and it was deemed a success. In December 2022, the airline expanded the option to all of its international routes, across all classes.

Up to 25 hours before departure, passengers flying with the airline can select the "no meal" option online. This cancels any main meal being packed onto the plane for them, although beverages and snacks are available on request.

The option has been well-received, says the airline, especially on late-night flights when some travellers prefer to sleep. For every cancelled meal, the airline donates funds to the Table for Two non-profit, which is tackling global hunger with school lunch projects for children in developing countries.

America's Delta Air Lines made a similar move for its business class passengers in 2022, allowing customers to skip their first meal. The option is available during the preflight selection process on Delta One services for long-haul domestic flights and certain international routes.

During the first three months of the programme, roughly 1,000 to 1,500 meals were voluntarily declined each month, a Delta representative told CNN. More of this article (The National) - link - more like this (aviation) - link - more like this (food waste) - link

(ASC) MOTTAINAI

In a world increasingly burdened by waste, Japan offers an inspiring philosophy to counteract overconsumption and environmental degradation: Mottainai. Rooted in Buddhist principles, this term translates to “what a waste” or “don’t waste what is valuable.” 

More than just a call to reduce waste, Mottainai embodies respect for resources, gratitude for nature’s gifts, and mindful consumption. At its heart, it encourages a harmonious way of living that benefits the planet and promotes individual well-being.

One shining example of Mottainai in action is Kamikatsu, a small town in Tokushima Prefecture that declared itself Japan’s first zero-waste town in 2003. Facing challenges with incineration and limited landfill space, the community took bold steps to implement an ambitious waste management system.

Instead of relying on conventional methods, Kamikatsu residents sort their trash into 45 categories—everything from metals and plastics to clothing and cooking oil. This meticulous sorting ensures that as much material as possible can be recycled or repurposed. Remarkably, over 80% of the town’s waste is recycled, with only a small fraction sent to landfills.

To further reduce waste, Kamikatsu encourages residents to practice reuse and upcycling, supported by its "Kuru Kuru" shops. These free exchange stores allow people to share and reuse items, fostering a spirit of community and collaboration. The town also hosts workshops on repairing and repurposing items, ensuring fewer resources are wasted and fewer products are unnecessarily purchased.

Key Practices of Zero-Waste Living in Japan

The Kuru Kuru Philosophy

At its core, Kuru Kuru (which means “circular” in Japanese) embraces the idea of reusing and recycling items within the community. This extends beyond physical goods; it’s about maintaining a mindset of resourcefulness. Kuru Kuru shops, repair cafés, and community sharing initiatives exemplify how individuals can exchange goods instead of discarding them.

Minimalist Lifestyles

Many Japanese households adopt minimalist principles that align with Mottainai. By prioritizing essential, high-quality items and eliminating unnecessary possessions, individuals create less waste and cultivate a sense of clarity and mindfulness in their living spaces.

Composting and Circular Food Practices

Food waste is addressed through composting and creative reuse of leftovers. Kamikatsu, for example, encourages residents to compost organic waste, returning nutrients to the soil and supporting local agriculture.

Crafting and Repair Culture

Traditional Japanese crafts like kintsugi (repairing broken pottery with gold) emphasize the value of imperfection and renewal. Such practices align with Mottainai by encouraging people to treasure and restore, rather than discard, damaged goods. More of this article (A Sustainable Closet) - link - more like this (municipal waste) - link - more like this (Japan) - link - more like this (zero waste) - link

(EUR) EU/MERCOSUR - HOW TO PLEASE NOBODY

The EU-Mercosur trade agreement reveals Europe's counterproductive attitude towards other powers and public "scepticism" over its credibility, a leading agriculture and geopolitics scholar told Euractiv.

The finalisation of the trade agreement with the South American bloc on 6 December in Montevideo has ignited strong opposition within the EU farming and food community. This division is evident not only among member states – France and Poland have outright rejected the deal – but also within countries themselves, with factions in Belgium, Italy, and even the usually trade-focused Netherlands expressing concerns.

As made clear by the EU's top diplomat Kaja Kallas, finalising the trade deal 25 years after negotiations began is as much about geopolitics as it is about the economy, in a region where China is gaining influence. However, the EU may have missed the boat, Sebastien Abis, the author and researcher on food geopolitics, told Euractiv.

“We are missing the big picture, which for agriculture and food trade concerns Brazil and China. Compared to that, the [Mercosur] agreement with Europe is small,” Abis said. In the “weaponisation of trade,” he added, agriculture and food are “strategic assets”.

“So we are not the only partners for South American countries. And the EU should consider the world as it is now, and not as what as it was 25 years ago”.

A world, according to the French researcher, where the global powers move as hippos: fast, aggressive, and polygamous.

Dancing with the hippos

Hippos, like Brazil, China, and likely Trump's USA, "maintain a network of partnerships and can sever ties abruptly or forge new ones," Abis explained.

In this environment, he believes Europeans often display naivety and discomfort with such fluid relationships, putting them at risk of being “eaten” in the competitive landscape. This is despite the EU's agri-food trade surplus making it a supposed powerhouse – something neither China nor the USA can claim.

This should give Europe a strategic advantage in agri-food exports – one which has been bolstered by the diversity and volume of agricultural products resulting from the EU’s enlargement process. “If we could approach Ukraine with the same mindset,” he added, “we’d recognize its significant potential.”

But the EU's lack of unity in external relations means it is "losing markets" in the face of "the hippopotamus strategy of the competitors," Abis said.

This is exacerbated by waning credibility on the domestic front, with Abis noting that the Mercosur treaty itself symbolizes a growing distrust among citizens towards EU elites. “Some stakeholders are presenting exaggerated claims about the treaty’s impact, reflecting a broader lack of confidence at home,” he said.

“This scepticism is understandable, given the EU’s shifting strategies. If we continually change our approach, we risk eroding our credibility both domestically and internationally.”

The bloc also seems to ignore the need to fill gaps on three “important vulnerabilities,” said Abis: fertilisers, seafood – of which the EU is a net importer – and biomass. More of this article (Euractiv) - link - more like this (EU farming) - link - more like this (China) - link

(GUA) ESSEX SENDS 95% OF RESIDUAL WASTE TO LANDFILL

New government data published on Monday showed that 95% of non-recycled waste in Essex is sent to landfill, as ministers launched their plans for a circular economy.

The data revealed that seven local authorities in England reported sending more than 40% of their residual waste to landfill in 2022 to 2023, with Essex county council at the top of the list.

Next came Cambridgeshire county council, (87% of waste sent to landfill), Southend borough council (74%), Darlington borough council (61%), Lancashire county council (59%), Leicester city council (57%) and Newcastle upon Tyne city council (56%).

At present, non-recyclable waste is either incinerated for energy or sent to landfill.

But as the population grows, the way packaging is used and made needs to change in order to reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill. This includes making it more recyclable and using less of it.

Ministers have announced a suite of plans to encourage a circular economy, including simpler recycling in England, so that less waste is sent to landfill or incinerated.

Other plans include a deposit returns scheme for plastic bottles, and charging manufacturers for producing too much waste using a “polluter pays” principle. This would incentivise producers to sell products in recycled and recyclable packaging.

In July, government targets were set which would require local authorities to send, on average, no more than 10% of municipal waste to landfill by 2035.

On Monday, as part of the circular economy strategy, a plan was announced to crack down on new incinerators and incentivise recycling instead. Almost half of all waste (49%) collected by local authorities in 2022-23 was incinerated, with just 40% recycled. More of this article (The Guardian) - link - more like this (The Guardian) - link - which is better - landfill or incineration? - link - more like this (landfill) - link - more like this (Essex) - link

(IEN) THE SELF EXTINGUISHING EV BATTERY

Researchers at the Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST) in South Korea have developed a triple-layer solid polymer electrolyte containing a lithium-ion battery that can extinguish itself if it catches fire and is resistant to explosion. The battery also shows better lifespan than conventional lithium-ion batteries, a press release said.

Lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries are a critical component of the clean energy transition that we have undertaken, replacing fossil fuels with renewable and carbon-free energy. Made from abundantly available lithium, these batteries offer the most energy-dense storage option available to us to date and can power everything from a smartphone to electric vehicles and beyond.

However, Li-ion batteries use liquid electrolytes with organic materials that are at risk of catching fire. The separators used to separate the electrodes are also prone to damage and can lead to short circuits, causing explosions. This has raised concerns about using Li-ion battery packs in large-scale energy storage solutions.

This is where alternate battery technologies can help.

Researchers have been working on solid-polymer-based electrolyte systems that are resistant to fire and explosion, but commercializing this technology has proven tough.

Solid-state batteries perform relatively poorly than their liquid polymer counterparts since achieving complete contact between the electrodes and electrolytes is difficult. As a battery undergoes charging and discharging during its usage, lithium-ions form sharp metallic dendrites or tree-like structures.

Not only do these dendrites cause a loss of battery performance, but they also increase the risk of fire and explosion. A research team led by Kim Jae-hyun, a researcher at the Division of Energy & Environmental Technology at DGIST, overcame this hurdle by switching to a three-layer system that makes up the solid polymer electrolyte.

Each layer of the electrolyte performs a specific function. A robust middle layer made from zeolite provides strength to the structure. In contrast, the softer outer layers deliver electrode contact and improve battery performance and efficiency.

On one side is decabromodiphenyl ethane (DBDPE), which prevents fires and can also extinguish one if it occurs, while high concentration salt of lithium bis (trifluoromethane sulfonyl) imide) (LiTFSI) allows faster movement of lithium ions. This helps improve energy transfer rates and prevent dendrites’ formation in the electrolyte. More of this article (Interesting Engineering) - link - more like this (ev batteries) - link - more like this (Interesting Engineering) - link - more like this (South Korea) - link

(EUN) 2024 CLIMATE CHANGE - STATS

The world experienced an average of 41 extra days of dangerous heat in 2024 due to human-caused warming, new analysis has found.

The report by World Weather Attribution (WWA) and Climate Central reviews a year of extreme weather and warns that every country needs to prepare for rising climate risks to minimise deaths and damages in 2025 and beyond.

It also highlights that a much faster transition away from fossil fuels is needed to “avoid a future of relentless heatwaves, drought, wildfires, storms and floods”. The report also found that climate change intensified 26 of the 29 weather events studied that killed at least 3,700 people and displaced millions.

"The impacts of fossil fuel warming have never been clearer or more devastating than in 2024,” says Dr Friederike Otto, lead of WWA and Senior Lecturer in Climate Science at Imperial College London. "We know exactly what we need to do to stop things from getting worse: stop burning fossil fuels. The top resolution for 2025 must be transitioning away from fossil fuels, which will make the world a safer and more stable place.”

This year is set to be the hottest on record - the first six months saw record-breaking temperatures, extending the streak that started in 2023 to 13 months, with the world’s hottest day in history recorded on July 22.

Globally, there were 41 extra days of dangerous heat in 2024 due to human-caused warming, the scientists found. These days represent the top 10 per cent of warmest temperatures from 1991-2020 for locations around the world. The result highlights how climate change is exposing millions more people to dangerous temperatures for longer periods of the year as fossil fuel emissions heat the climate.

“Extreme weather killed thousands of people, forced millions from their homes this year and caused unrelenting suffering,” says Otto.

If the world does not rapidly transition away from oil, gas and coal, the number of dangerous heat days will continue to increase each year and threaten public health, the scientists say. The heat also fueled heatwaves, droughts, fire weather, storms and heavy rainfall, causing floods throughout the year. In total, 219 events met World Weather Attribution’s trigger criteria used to identify the most impactful weather events.

The team of scientists studied 29 of these events and found clear evidence of climate change in 26. The floods in Sudan, Nigeria, Niger, Cameroon, and Chad were the deadliest event studied by the group, with at least 2,000 people killed and millions displaced.

If warming reaches 2°C, which could happen as early as the 2040s or 2050s, the regions could experience similar periods of heavy rainfall every year, the study found, highlighting how climate change is making some events a ‘new normal’. More of this article (Euro News Green) - link - more like this (climate change) - link - more like this (the brilliant Friederike Otto - WWA) - link -  more like this (flooding) - link

(RES) DEFRA TO CAP UK INCINERATION CAPACITY

Government analysis reveals complex interplay between infrastructure capacity, policy reforms, and regional needs as England approaches critical decisions on waste management investment.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has announced significant changes to waste infrastructure planning, backed by new evidence showing England will have more incineration capacity than needed by 2035.

Published in its Residual Waste Infrastructure Capacity Note, the analysis reveals that energy recovery capacity will reach 18.8 million tonnes (Mt) by 2035, against projected municipal residual waste of 19.4Mt. When combined with other treatment methods, total residual waste capacity will hit 24.9Mt, including allowance for landfill to manage 10 per cent of municipal solid waste.

The findings have prompted Defra to implement stricter conditions for new waste incinerator approvals, requiring developers to demonstrate both heat utilisation capability and carbon capture readiness once regulations come into force, predicated on the expectation that effective carbon sequestration projects will also be operational.

"For far too long, the nation has seen its recycling rates stagnate and relied on burning household waste, rather than supporting communities to keep resources in use for longer," said Circular Economy Minister Mary Creagh. "That ends today, with clear conditions for new energy from waste plants."

Current data shows 50 operational energy recovery facilities in England with a capacity of 14.3Mt, alongside 12 facilities under construction adding 3.9Mt, and 35 consented facilities potentially contributing another 9.5Mt. This consented capacity consists "almost entirely of proposed merchant facilities that have no underlying local authority contract," according to the analysis. More of this article (resource.co) - link - more like this (incineration) - link - more like this (2035) - link

(IEN) WORLD FIRST - 30MW H2 GENERATOR

A China-based firm has achieved a groundbreaking feat by successfully igniting the world’s first 30MW-class pure hydrogen gas turbine.

Called Jupiter I, the gas turbine is jointly developed by the Mingyang Group and several other companies and scientific research teams. The turbine, which offers a key solution for renewable energy storage, converts hydrogen from storage tanks back into electricity during peak hours.

Converting excess electricity into hydrogen for storage

The major challenge with renewable energy is the substantial waste that occurs during off-peak hours. Converting excess electricity into hydrogen for storage and then back to electricity at peak times is a viable solution, according to the company. Wang Yongzhi, general manager of Mingyang Hydrogen Gas Turbine Technology, stated that using hydrogen for power generation achieves a carbon-free process known as power-to-hydrogen-back-to-power.

However, he noted that slow and inefficient conversion during peak demand periods can also lead to under-utilization, highlighting the need for high-capacity gas turbines.

Technical difficulties of hydrogen combustion

The development team successfully overcame three major technical challenges associated with hydrogen combustion: “easy backfire, strong oscillation, and high emissions.” They achieved this through iterative aerodynamic and thermal design, coupled with innovative structural design of the micro-premixed combustion chamber. This resulted in a pure hydrogen gas turbine combustion chamber design and control technology with independent intellectual property rights.

A 30MW pure hydrogen gas turbine unit can effectively solve the problem of power abandonment in wind and solar energy projects with an installed capacity of 1 million kilowatts, and improve the economy of the “Shagohuang” new energy project and the stability of power transmission in the power grid, according to STdaily.

The implementation of this pure hydrogen gas turbine demonstration project has the potential to significantly drive the diversification and clean transformation of China’s energy structure, positioning the country as a leader in hydrogen energy development and application. More of this article (Interesting Engineering) - link - more like this (H2) - link - more like this (Mingyang) - link

(YEN) PYROLYSIS OF PLASTICS - CIRCUCLARITY?

Proponents of the pyrolysis process — including oil and gas companies — contend it will keep post-consumer plastics out of landfills and reduce pollution. But critics say that by converting waste to petroleum feedstock, it will only perpetuate a dependence on fossil fuels.

Around the world, companies are drawing up plans for pyrolysis plants, promising relief from the crushing problem of plastic pollution. Small startups and demonstration projects are joining with larger companies, including petroleum and chemical giants. Chevron Phillips was recently awarded a patent for its proprietary pyrolysis process, and ExxonMobil announced in March it was considering opening pyrolysis plants in Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Beaumont, Texas; and Joliet, Illinois. ExxonMobil already operates a pyrolysis facility in Baytown, Texas, which the company claims will recycle 500,000 tons of plastic waste annually by 2026.

“There’s a lack of transparency about how much plastic they’re recycling” and what the end product will be used for, a critic says.

Globally, the market for advanced recycling technologies is projected to exceed $9 billion by 2031, up from $270 million in 2022, according to a report from Research and Markets, an industry analysis firm. That’s a 32 percent increase every one of those nine years.

Proponents of pyrolysis say it will keep plastic out of landfills, incinerators, and waterways, prevent it from choking marine life, and keep its toxic components from leaching into soil and contaminating water and air. The American Chemistry Council says that “advanced recycling reduces greenhouse gas emissions 43 percent relative to waste-to-energy incineration of plastic films made from virgin resources.”

The technology can handle the plastics that can’t be mechanically melted and remolded — those stamped with the numbers three through seven, including certain plastic films, juice pouches, and polystyrene foam take-out boxes. The pyrolysis vessel itself emits nothing — there’s no oxygen, so no combustion — although heating it with fossil fuel releases the usual greenhouse gases and other pollutants.

Opponents argue, however, that pyrolysis practitioners aren’t being entirely honest about their manufacturing outcomes. “There’s a real lack of transparency about how much plastic they’re recycling” and what their end product — pyrolysis oil — will actually be used for, says Veena Singla, a senior scientist at the Natural Resources Defense Council.

Some companies, such as LG Chem in South Korea, do have verifiable plans to process plastic items into useful hard goods. The company has partnered with the marine-waste disposal company NETSPA to turn fishnets and buoys into a substance called “aerogel,” a superlight insulation; its pyrolysis plant is scheduled to be up and running near Seoul by 2024.

But what pyrolysis mostly does, says Singla, is make oil to be refined and then sold as fuel. An analysis by the Minderoo Foundation, an Australia-based philanthropic organization focused on the environment, calculated that of the roughly 2 million tons of advanced recycling capacity scheduled to come online over the next five years, less than half a million tons of this material will actually be recycled back into plastic goods. The rest of the output is destined to power airplanes, trucks, and other heavy transportation.

Depending on the type of plastic that enters a pyrolysis vessel and the current price of oil, turning plastics into fuel might be profitable. What it’s not, says Singla, is recycling.

“The benefit of recycling comes when you return materials into the production cycle, which reduces the demand for virgin resources.” That’s what the traditional, mechanical recycling of simple polyethylene terephthalate (PETE) and high-density polyethylene (HDPE) plastic does. Making plastic goods with recycled content generates 30 to 40 percent fewer greenhouse gas emissions than making plastics from virgin resources. “Now if you’re taking plastic and burning it as fuel,” Singla says, “it’s not feeding back into plastic production. And so to keep making [new] plastic, you have to keep extracting fossil fuel.”

Powell says his aim is 100 percent circularity, plastic to plastic, “and we’re going to be relentless in that pursuit.” But while the market matures and prices for recycled plastic drop, he admits that as “an interim step” some pyrolysis oil could be sold as fuel. “In some emerging economy nations, there may not be a viable way to use the liquids as a feedstock to make plastics,” he says. They may be too far from manufacturing facilities for plastic manufacturing to make sense, for instance. But Powell insists even this outcome is better than leaving the 90 percent of post-consumer plastic that isn’t recycled to accumulate in the environment. “I’m sure you’ve seen the videos of places where there are just rivers of plastics flowing. If we were to pull those plastics out and turn them into fuel, is that a better environmental outcome?”

“Yes it is,” he answers himself. “You’d better believe it.”

Turning plastic into fuel would obviously help keep the petroleum-based polymer industry afloat: To some observers, that’s the point of advanced chemical recycling. “The fossil gas industry is seeking to use plastics as a way to expand their production, even as they are contributing enormously to climate chaos,” says Senator Jeff Merkley of Oregon, one of 47 U.S. Senators, all Democrats, who signed a letter objecting to the EPA’s 2021 proposal to regulate pyrolysis and gasification as manufacturing instead of incineration, which is more tightly regulated. 

Merkley has also questioned the EPA’s inclusion of plastic-based fuel as a “waste-based” fuel under the Renewable Fuel Standard, a federal program that requires transportation fuel sold in the U.S. to contain a varying percentage of renewable fuels to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. More of this article (Yale Environment 360) - link - more like this (pyrolysis) - link - more like this (waste plastics) - link - more like this (pyrolysis) - link

(GRE) U2 BACKED AI STARTUP

Irish startup Nuritas has closed a $42M Series C investment round to scale up its AI-powered discovery platform for plant-based peptides.

In its bid to greenify the peptide industry and improve public health, Dublin-based biotech firm Nuritas has received fresh funding to the tune of $42M.

The oversubscribed Series C round was led by M&G Investments, with participation from McWin Capital Partners and current investors Grosvenor and ECBF. It takes Nuritas’s total funding above $117M, and follows a $45M Series B round three years ago.

The startup, whose early investors include Bono and The Edge from U2, will use the funds to scale up its artificial-intelligence-led (AI) Magnifier platform, through which it identifies and commercialises rare plant-based peptides faster than the industry standard. It further aims to expand its B2B client base, and reach a wider range of consumers across the globe.

“We are thrilled to welcome M&G’s Catalyst team and McWin Capital Partners, who share our vision of making healthier ingredients accessible to billions of people globally,” said Nuritas founder and CEO Nora Khaldi. “This investment, alongside the addition of experienced board members, will propel our mission to new heights.”

Peptides are a class of short-chain amino acids that act as building blocks of proteins like collagen, keratin, and elastin. They provide a host of benefits to the body, including anti-ageing, anti-inflammatory, skin-repairing, and muscle-building properties.

These protein precursors can be sourced from both animals and plants, but despite their health benefits, most peptide ingredients today fail to meet the wellness demands of consumers, according to Nuritas. Moreover, developing new health-centric products can take decades and costs tens or even hundreds of millions.

The Irish company is hoping to change that by discovering new bioactive peptides in various plants, which can then be integrated into food products, supplements, cosmetics, and other functional offerings. More of this article (green green) - link - more like this (AI) - link - more like this (Ireland) - link

(WIK) JERRY ORBACH - OCTOBER 20, 1935 – DECEMBER 28, 2004

 

In 1992, Jerry Orbach joined the main cast of Law & Order during its third season as the world-weary, wisecracking NYPD homicide detective Lennie Briscoe.

He had previously guest-starred as a defense attorney on the series, and was subsequently cast as the new "senior detective" following Paul Sorvino's departure.

Orbach's portrayal of Briscoe was based on his similar role from Prince of the City years before, which Law & Order creator Dick Wolf had personally suggested to him at the time of his casting. More of this article about this brilliant actor (Wikipedia) - link

(REA) THE US PUSHING THE EV

Sen. Rand Paul (R–Ky.) has released his annual Festivus Report, highlighting over $1 trillion in wasteful federal government spending.

This year's report includes a $12 million pickleball court in Las Vegas, $10 billion in maintenance and rent for mostly empty federal buildings, and hundreds of thousands of dollars for censoring nonliberal media (including Reason). Unsurprisingly, the federal government also wasted billions of dollars on clean energy and climate change projects.

Paul's Festivus Report identifies a $10,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts to "support a cabaret show on ice skates focused on climate change," $3 million from the Department of State to fund "girl-centered climate action" in Brazil, and $20 million for the Department of Agriculture to "advance fertilizer use in Pakistan, Vietnam, Colombia, and Brazil." The largest energy and climate spender was the Department of Energy, which used "$15.5 billion to push Americans toward electric vehicles they don't want," in Paul's words.

The primary mechanism of the federal government's electric vehicle (E.V.) push is the Loan Programs Office (LPO), which finances energy projects that would likely not receive funding from private institutions. Under the Biden administration, the program's lending authority has grown from $17 billion in 2021 to more than $400 billion. Some of the projects that LPO has financed include $2.5 billion for lithium-ion battery production in Rust Belt states, $362 million to improve vehicle wiring for E.V.s and other cars, and up to $2 billion in conditional loans for battery recycling. More of this article (reason) - link - more like this (US) - link - more like this (ev) - link

(ZWE) WASTE TO ENERGY - THE CARBON IMPACT

Each tonne of MSW incinerated typically releases between 0.7 and 1.7 tonnes of CO2. This includes emissions of both fossil CO2 (e.g. from burning plastics) and biogenic CO2 (e.g. from burning wood, paper and food). 

Although biogenic CO2 is directly released into the atmosphere making a significant contribution to climate change, only the CO2 emissions from fossil sources will be considered for the purposes of a global analysis – an important loophole in GHG emissions accountability.

On top of this, evidence indicates that more than half of what is currently being incinerated could have been recycled or composted, suggesting that much of Europe’s WTE incineration capacity is being used to burn valuable resources that could have had a better environmental outcome. WTE incineration is proving to be a barrier to improving recycling rates and it creates a need to replace these resources at a high environmental cost, and that cost is not included in the Eurostat figures.

Shouldn’t we just stop incinerating waste?

The carbon intensity of European incinerators is a significant (540gr CO2/kWh), around twice the concentration of CO2 emissions derived from the average EU electricity grid (296gr CO2/kWh) and significantly greater than the energy produced through conventional fossil fuel sources such as gas.

Since these infrastructures are meant to last for about 20-30 years, continued use of incineration is simply delaying a much needed, and urgent, transition to less carbon-intensive power generation infrastructures such as wind and solar renewable energy whilst also undermining the move to lower-carbon options for waste management, including the re-design of products to increase recyclability and longevity.

It would be environmentally irresponsible to continue to promote Waste to Energy infrastructures that are already largely outperformed by the EU average and even worse, by conventional fossil fuel energy generation such as gas. For countries across the world to best meet their obligations under the Paris Agreement, it’s clear that decarbonisation must happen across all sectors. 

Specifically, that means that they should call for a phase out of incineration practices, to be replaced with genuinely climate-positive waste management ones, and for those countries not yet hooked on waste incineration, a commitment to avoid this practise going forwards. More of this article (zero waste europe) - link - picture - link - more like this (CO2) - link - more like this (waste) - link

(OFF) ZHANJIANG 300 MW EXPANSION

A 300 MW expansion to the existing 600 MW Xuwen offshore wind farm in Zhanjiang, China, developed by State Power Investment Corporation (SPIC), has started commercial operation.

The 600 MW Xuwen offshore wind farm was built in two phases consisting of a total of 94 wind turbines. The first of 47 Mingyang’s MySE6.45-180 turbines in the first phase was installed in early 2021 and the entire wind farm was commissioned at the end of 2021.

The work on the additional 300 MW started in 2023 with wind turbine installation commencing in the spring of 2024. According to a social media post shared by SPIC, the expansion went into operation on 17 December. More of this article (offshorewind.biz) - link - more like this (wind) - link - more like this (China) - link