High capacity drone spreading system

Nordluft Automation offers solutions of forestry and agriculture spreading systems using drones. The solutions offered by the company are focused on two areas: First, forest fertilization, where a group of drones combined with a platform can be used to increase the growth rate of forests while also increasing the amount of CO2 absorbed per area unit. The second main application is ash recycling, where ash created as a by-product in different applications is spread to provide forests with additional nutrients. For both applications, Nordluft has developed their own specialized drone, the NordKopter.

Sweden

6

Level-2 AC universal EV charging stations

DrivAmp provides solutions for smart electric vehicle charging infrastructure to enable the transition to global electric mobility through products and software services. DrivAmp has developed a range of level-2 AC charging stations ranging in capacity from 3.3 kW to 43 kW power outputs which they claim are capable of charging all types of electric vehicles. This includes a protocol to ensure maximum safety of users and at the same time the ability to cater to most vehicles in the Indian electric vehicle market. Furthermore, the goal is to help enterprises to set up a network of electric vehicle charging stations with a focus on safety, security and energy access.

India

7

Crowd-funded investing for energy access in Africa

Lendahand and Ethex’s Energise Africa is an online platform which enables everyday people to use their money to accelerate the implementation of UN SDG 7 (affordable and clean energy for all) and tackle climate change, whilst also targeting a financial return. People can invest small or large amounts in solar businesses that install solar systems in homes across Africa, enabling low-income families to access solar energy via monthly payment plans.

United Kingdom

8

Effective industrial drying of biomass

Swedish Exergy develops solutions for sustainability and optimization of energy usage in industry sectors such as energy, waste and paper, mainly in the areas of drying and bulk feeding solutions. One of the solutions is a steam dryer for biomass that recovers 80% or more of the input energy in a closed-loop system which stops any emissions from entering the atmosphere. According to the company it is also easy to maintain and to integrate with other processes for energy optimization.

Sweden

8

Peer-to-peer solar electricity trading platform

SOLshare claims to have developed the world’s first peer-to-peer solar electricity trading platform that leverages existing solar home systems (SHS) in an off-grid context to create a bottom-up smart grid. SOLshare’s SOLbox is a DC bi-directional power meter, solar charge controller and end-user device that functions as an individual node of the electricity trading network. SOLbox allows the trading network to grow dynamically from the ‘bottom-up’ as more users connect over time. The innovation integrates mobile money payment, data analytics and grid management services. As the network related to the innovation grows it can also connect off-grid locations internationally

India

9

Crowdfunding of solar projects in emerging markets

Ecoligo provides a fully financed solar-as-a-service (SaaS) solution for businesses in emerging markets. By providing a digital platform for financing and delivering solar projects, ecoligo aims to remove the barriers that prevent such projects from being realised. Their aspiration is that supplying businesses with affordable electricity will enable them to grow and boost the local economy. The innovation includes raising the necessary finance for the project, the construction and insurance of the solar system, scheduled maintenance, operation and management.

Germany

9

Spinning cylinder for wind power of vessels

Windjammers were a class of sailing vessels built from the 1870s to 1900. As engine technology developed, they were slowly phased out and replaced by steamships which were faster and could stay on schedule regardless of wind conditions. The idea behind Norsepower’s Rotor Sail Solution is to develop a spinning cylinder that harnesses wind power to generate the thrust needed to propel modern vessels. When conditions are favorable, the Norsepower Rotor Sails allow the main engines to be throttled back, saving fuel and reducing emissions while providing the power needed to maintain speed and voyage time.

Finland

10

Battery-swapping service for two-wheeler EV users

Batterypool offers a battery-swapping service for users of two-wheeler electric vehicles (EVs). The company claims that using this app-enabled swapping service, users will have their two-wheel EV fully charged in under 1 minute, compared to 4 hours with plug-in charging. They further claim that their solution also makes owning a two-wheeler EV 30 % cheaper than its petrol counterpart. The battery swapping service is enabled by patent-pending swap station hardware, product design, a small business retail model and an Internet-of-Things layer. With this solution, the intention is to drive the mass adoption of electric mobility among two-wheelers.

India

10

Smart air dome space for recreation facilities

Traditional recreational facilities are costly to build and to operate. The Air Dome saves on construction time and cost. Due to the airtight feature and high efficiency insulation system, the MetaSpace Air Dome could save 2/3 of the energy cost compared with conventional sports facilities of the same size. MetaSpace Air Dome uses high performance architectural fabric as the dome’s “shell”. This is prefabricated off-site, and then assembled and inflated by an intelligent mechanical unit to form the envelope of the structure. The Air Dome combines advances in aeromechanics, new materials, ergonomics, energy saving and environmental protection to provide space for recreational facilities, logistic and warehousing centers.

China

10

Power bank ZNBR flow battery for grid storage

Zbest Power Co. Ltd, has developed an innovative solution to renewable energy storage which they have called ‘Power Bank’. The company has developed a zinc-bromine flow battery, an emerging technology that provides a viable energy storage option for the fast-growing renewable energy market. Part of the solution also includes capability for developing key components and materials for the zinc-bromine flow battery including bipolar electrodes, membranes, electrolytes and flow frames, which could reduce the cost of the battery to half current levels.

China

10