Today the cleantech group and the Guardian announced their Global Cleantech 100 list. From making biofuels out of algae to producing concrete that absorbs carbon dioxide, the Global Cleantech 100 list touches upon all on the sectors, businesses and ideas at the forefront of the clean technonlogy revolution.
Water technologies are represented nicely, at 8% of the list, but with a focus on the treatment side – from desalination to waterwater. In the category of resolving water distribution issues (that result in water loss and energy waste), called “Water Management” – just TaKaDu. Water innovation has abounded on the water production side (desalinsation and water recycling) and treatment and consumption side (smart meters and irrigation), but the distribution network, lying at the middle and with water loss rates of 25-30% as well as energy wasted moving water around, is yet to be considered as an innovation target.
The water and wastewater sector accounted for 11 spots on the list.
To take a look at how cleantech is evolving from solar and energy to other categories, such as manufacturing and water, take a look at this chart:
it certainly makes you wonder what the future holds, ten or twenty years from now, in terms of the focus of cleantech innovation.
