Researchers developed a simple way to remove salt from seawater using solar energy

[July 29, 2021: Ural Federal University]

Alharbawi Naseer Tawfiq Alwan assembled a prototype of the distiller. (CREDIT: UrFU / Ilya Safarov)

Ural Federal University (UrFU) power engineers have developed a new desalination technology. It will significantly reduce the cost of desalination and quadruple the volume of production. The results of the research are published in the journal Case Studies in Thermal Engineering.

Today one of the most popular and simple ways of desalination is the distillation of water with the help of solar energy. UrFU scientists, together with colleagues from Iraq, have developed a hybrid technology to increase the efficiency of evaporation inside a solar distiller by means of a rotating hollow cylinder and a solar collector.

“We created a desalination technology by using a rotating hollow cylinder inside the solar distiller to accelerate water evaporation in the vessel by forming a thin film of water on the outer and inner surface of the cylinder, which is constantly renewed with each turn. To increase the temperature of water under the cylinder we use a solar collector,” said the head of the department Nuclear power plants and renewable energy sources UrFU Sergei Shcheklein.

As part of the experiment, the rotation speed of the cylinder inside the solar distiller was 0.5 rpm. This intensity and time are enough to evaporate a thin film of water from the surface of the cylinder. Experimental tests were held in Ekaterinburg, Russia for several months (June-October, 2019) and showed high efficiency and reliability of the developed device. In addition, the researchers noted that the relatively high intensity of solar radiation and low ambient air temperature also contributed to the performance of water distillation.

“The performance improvement factor of the created solar distiller, compared to traditional devices, was at least 280% in the relatively hot months (June, July, and August) and at least 300% and 400% in the cooler months (September and October). At the same time, the cumulative water distillation capacity reached 12.5 l/m2 per day in summer and 3.5 l/m2 per day in winter,” said Alharbawi Naseer Tawfik Alwan, a research engineer at UrFU and an employee of Northern Technical University (Iraq).

The developed desalination technology with its simple design and low cost could be of interest in the Middle East and Africa — in countries with high solar energy potential and a shortage of fresh water, believe researchers.

In the future, scientists plan to improve the technology and increase the performance of the solar distiller at the lowest possible capital and operating costs for different climatic conditions.

Note:

According to the UN, more than 40% of the world’s population suffers from water shortages: more than 700 million people on the planet have no access to clean water, and more than 1.7 billion people living in river basins need additional sources of fresh water.

For more science stories check out our New Innovations section at The Brighter Side of News.

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Tags: #New_Innovations, #Green_News, #Water, #Desalination, #The_Brighter_Side_of_News

Apple will use Tesla’s ‘megapack’ batteries at its California solar farm

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The company’s new energy storage project is built around Tesla’s tech

The construction site of the energy storage project at the California Flats solar farm.

The construction site of the energy storage project at the California Flats solar farm.
Image: Apple

Apple announced Wednesday that it’s building a big battery storage project at a Northern California solar farm it spearhead in 2015. But what the company didn’t share is that the battery packs will come from Tesla, The Verge has learned.

The newly-announced setup, which will store up to 240 megawatt-hours of energy, was approved by the Monterey County Board of Supervisors in 2020, according to documents submitted last year. It will consist of 85 Tesla lithium-ion “megapacks” and be used to help power the company’s corporate headquarters in Cupertino. Monterey County’s planning chief confirmed that Apple will use the Tesla batteries in an email to The Verge. Apple declined to comment. Tesla did not respond to a request for comment.

Tesla first announced the megapack battery system back in 2019. The 60MW storage setup Apple will be using is not Tesla’s biggest, though. The company has built bigger overall battery storage solutions in Australia and south of Houston, Texas of around 100MW in size. Still, Apple touted it as “one of the largest battery projects in the country” in a press release, saying the battery system could power more than 7,000 homes for a whole day. The Tesla batteries will make it possible for Apple to store energy generated by its 130-megawatt solar array at the farm, which is called California Flats.

“The challenge with clean energy — solar and wind — is that it’s by definition intermittent,” Apple VP Lisa Jackson told Reuters on Wednesday. “If we can do it, and we can show that it works for us, it takes away the concerns about intermittency and it helps the grid in terms of stabilization. It’s something that can be imitated or built upon by other companies.”

While Apple uses lithium-ion batteries in many of its products, it’s not known to be working on any grid-scale projects. The company is reportedly developing a lithium iron phosphate battery for its electric car project, though.

Apple and Tesla don’t have much overlapping history, though each company is notorious for poaching talent from the other. Tesla CEO Elon Musk also said in December that he tried to pitch the idea of Apple buying his company back in 2018, but that Apple CEO Tim Cook “refused” to take the meeting.

Tesla is best known for its electric cars, but it’s spent years trying to build up an energy storage business to compliment the solar products it acquired when it bought Solar City. It has gotten increasingly involved in large-scale energy storage projects like Apple’s over the years in addition to its home battery business.

While it’s still modest compared to the billions of dollars generated by Tesla’s car business, the energy storage division’s products has already netted at least one other strange bedfellow customer: in 2019, Volkswagen announced it was using Tesla batteries at some of its Electrify America charging stations.

Apple will use Tesla’s ‘megapack’ batteries at its California solar farm

Apple announced Wednesday that it’s building a big battery storage project at a Northern California solar farm it spearhead in 2015. But what the company didn’t share is that the battery packs will come from Tesla, The Verge has learned.

The newly-announced setup, which will store up to 240 megawatt-hours of energy, was approved by the Monterey County Board of Supervisors in 2020, according to documents submitted last year. It will consist of 85 Tesla lithium-ion “megapacks” and be used to help power the company’s corporate headquarters in Cupertino. Monterey County’s planning chief confirmed that Apple will use the Tesla batteries in an email to The Verge. Apple declined to comment. Tesla did not respond to a request for comment.

Tesla first announced the megapack battery system back in 2019. The 60MW storage setup Apple will be using is not Tesla’s biggest, though. The company has built bigger overall battery storage solutions in Australia and south of Houston, Texas of around 100MW in size. Still, Apple touted it as “one of the largest battery projects in the country” in a press release, saying the battery system could power more than 7,000 homes for a whole day. The Tesla batteries will make it possible for Apple to store energy generated by its 130-megawatt solar array at the farm, which is called California Flats.

“The challenge with clean energy — solar and wind — is that it’s by definition intermittent,” Apple VP Lisa Jackson told Reuters on Wednesday. “If we can do it, and we can show that it works for us, it takes away the concerns about intermittency and it helps the grid in terms of stabilization. It’s something that can be imitated or built upon by other companies.”

While Apple uses lithium-ion batteries in many of its products, it’s not known to be working on any grid-scale projects. The company is reportedly developing a lithium iron phosphate battery for its electric car project, though.

Apple and Tesla don’t have much overlapping history, though each company is notorious for poaching talent from the other. Tesla CEO Elon Musk also said in December that he tried to pitch the idea of Apple buying his company back in 2018, but that Apple CEO Tim Cook “refused” to take the meeting.

Tesla is best known for its electric cars, but it’s spent years trying to build up an energy storage business to compliment the solar products it acquired when it bought Solar City. It has gotten increasingly involved in large-scale energy storage projects like Apple’s over the years in addition to its home battery business.

While it’s still modest compared to the billions of dollars generated by Tesla’s car business, the energy storage division’s products has already netted at least one other strange bedfellow customer: in 2019, Volkswagen announced it was using Tesla batteries at some of its Electrify America charging stations.

Investing in Electric Vehicle (EV) Battery Stocks

The automotive industry is going electric. Every major automaker is actively developing or already selling electric vehicles (EVs). Tesla (TSLA 0.1%) is the industry pioneer. Now, Ford (F -3.35%), General Motors (GM -2.56%), Volkswagen (VWAGY -1.92%), Daimler (DAI -0.88%), and other carmakers are pushing ahead with plans to capitalize on the growing consumer preference for electric cars.

Rivian R1S electric vehicle.

Image source: Getty Images.

GM expects to be able to produce 1 million electric vehicles per year by 2025, while Ford expects to be able to produce 2 million per year by 2026. Volkswagen’s plan is even more ambitious. It is targeting 80% of EV sales in Europe and 55% of sales in the U.S. by 2030. And despite disruption from Russia’s war in Ukraine, Mercedes-Benz maker Daimler will continue its €40 billion investment in electric vehicles over the next decade. The company plans for all of its new Mercedes Benz vehicle platforms to be purely electric by 2025.

Investing directly in electric vehicle stocks is one way to profit from this mass transition. Another is investing in the companies that supply the batteries, which are the most important and costly components of electric vehicles. If electric vehicle production significantly increases over the next decade, the demand for EV batteries will similarly skyrocket.

Major battery producers are investing heavily to meet rising EV battery demand. Meanwhile, battery technology start-ups (some of which are going public via SPAC mergers) are developing new types of energy storage systems that could revolutionize the industry. It’s an exciting time to consider investing in EV battery stocks.

Best electric vehicle battery stocks in 2023

These are the top EV battery stocks for investors to consider:

Data source: YCharts. Data as of March 24, 2023 
Company Market Capitalization Description
BYD (OTC:BYDD.F) $94.5 billion A vertically integrated manufacturer of EVs and components, including batteries.
Albemarle (NYSE:ALB) $24.9 billion A top producer of battery-grade lithium.
Panasonic (OTC:PCRFY) $20.2 billion A Japanese conglomerate and battery supplier to Tesla.
QuantumScape (NYSE:QS) $3.2 billion An early-stage company that develops solid-state battery technology.
Microvast (NASDAQ:MVST)

$356 million

A designer, developer, and manufacturer of lithium-ion battery solutions.
FREYR (NYSE:FREY) $966 million Another early-stage development company building battery factories.
Solid Power (NASDAQ:SLDP) $465 million A company developing solid-state battery technology.

1. BYD

BYD is an integrated EV company based in China and one of the world’s most valuable automakers. It manufactures and sells hybrid and battery-powered cars, buses, trucks, and monorails. In addition, it builds the batteries, semiconductors, and other components used in its EVs.

One factor that makes BYD stand out in the EV industry is that Warren Buffett is a major shareholder. His Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A 0.55%)(BRK.B 0.07%) first bought shares of the battery and EV company in 2008. Buffett trimmed Berkshire’s stake in BYD at the start of September 2022 but still held 18.9% of shares outstanding, worth more than $5.3 billion at the time.

BYD’s EVs are top sellers in China. The company sells five of the top 15 new energy vehicles in the country, where it ranks as the leading overall brand. BYD was the leading global manufacturer of battery electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids in 2022. As a fully integrated EV company, its battery business is benefiting from the brisk sales pace.

2. Albemarle

Albemarle is one of the world’s top producers of lithium — a key ingredient in most EV batteries. The mining and base materials company has narrowed its focus on lithium in recent years.

To meet surging demand for battery-grade lithium, Albemarle is busy developing several projects in Chile, Australia, and China. Paired with rising prices for lithium itself, increased production capacity has led Albemarle to raise its financial guidance multiple times in the past year. Revenue grew 120% in 2022, with adjusted EBITDA climbing 299%. For 2023, management expects revenue growth between 55% and 75%, and adjusted EBITDA to improve 20% to 45%.

As is often the case with producers of commodities, Albemarle will be a cyclical business. Its revenue and profits will ebb and flow along with supply and demand for lithium and the other base materials it extracts from its mining operations. However, given the expected boom in EV sales this decade, Albemarle could have plenty of tailwinds to keep its overall trajectory headed higher for years to come.

3. Panasonic

Japanese conglomerate Panasonic is a large producer of EV batteries and has been a partner and supplier of Tesla for many years. The two companies first entered into a supply agreement in 2009. Although Panasonic is no longer Tesla’s exclusive battery supplier, the company continues to produce a high volume of batteries for the EV carmaker via their “gigafactory” joint venture.

Panasonic co-located its North American battery production facility in Nevada with Tesla’s massive Gigafactory 1 and expanded there in 2021 by installing a new production line. In 2022, it made plans to add another factory in Kansas, and it’s exploring the possibility of yet another factory in the U.S. It’s also adding production capacity at its Japanese EV battery factory. The company makes multiple types of EV batteries and is installing new production equipment to satisfy the demand from Tesla for larger batteries.

Panasonic’s supplier relationship with Tesla may not last forever. However, the battery maker remains well-positioned to supply EV batteries to all the major automakers that have unveiled grand plans to produce electric vehicles. While Panasonic isn’t a pure-play EV battery company, it’s likely to remain a leader in the sector.

4. QuantumScape

QuantumScape is developing solid-state battery technology to increase the range of electric vehicles and enable them to recharge more quickly. The U.S. company is just beginning to test its battery technology at scale. It plans to start producing more than 200,000 batteries annually, although it currently doesn’t generate any revenue.

QuantumScape is spending heavily to bring its technology to market. The company delivered its first prototype battery samples to EV automakers in 2022. Management says tests have gone well, and it expects to provide batteries for test cars in 2023, and begin commercial battery production in 2024 or 2025. It says it has a cash runway through mid-2025.

Although QuantumScape believes it has a strong enough balance sheet to cover several more years of development and testing, investing in the company is risky. Companies that don’t turn a profit were highly out of favor in 2022, and QuantumScape shares dropped about 75%. If its technology ultimately fails or is a commercial flop, then QuantumScape’s stock could become worthless. Still, this is a promising EV battery company with immense growth potential if its research and development eventually comes to fruition.

5. Microvast

Microvast designs, develops, and manufactures lithium-ion battery solutions. Founded in 2006, the company went public in July 2021 through a merger with Tuscan Holdings, a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC). The deal gave Microvast more than $700 million in cash to help fund its future growth.

The company is spending heavily to grow. Microvast spent $150.9 million in capital expenditures in 2022. That’s a hefty amount for a company that generated just $204.5 million in revenue that year. The investments will enhance its battery production capacity and expand its range of battery solutions so it can tap into a large and growing market.

Besides the risk of developing its battery technology, there’s an additional risk with Microvast. Since it’s majority owned by shareholders in China, the company was notified by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) that it has until 2024 to comply with the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act (HFCAA). If it fails to meet the qualifications, Microvast’s stock would be delisted from U.S. stock exchanges.

6. FREYR Battery

FREYR is another early-stage development company working on battery technology and manufacturing processes. It also went public via a SPAC merger over the summer of 2021. It’s trying to secure battery production capacity with the goal of becoming one of Europe’s top battery companies for EVs and electric grid storage systems.

Like the other start-ups on this list, though, FREYR’s future viability is far from assured. It doesn’t generate any revenue yet and is incurring operating losses via its research and securing of battery manufacturing agreements. However, FREYR opened its customer qualification plant in March of 2023, starting production on its first battery agreements, including with top industrial conglomerate Honeywell (HON -1.39%).

Want to compare brokerages?

7. Solid Power

Solid Power designs solid-state battery technology. Founded in 2011, the company went public in December 2021 via a SPAC merger.

Unlike other solid-state battery competitors such as QuantumScape, Solid Power intends to license its designs or sell its solid electrolyte for use in production at other battery manufacturers. What’s more, its technology is compatible with existing technologies, which means its designs can get to market faster. Solid Power is already generating a small amount of revenue, taking in $11.8 million in 2022.

The company plans to start producing its electrolyte at scale in 2024, quickly ramping up to 40,000 metric tons by 2028. That’s enough to support production of about 800,000 EVs annually. Since it’s backed by Ford and BMW, it should have customers lined up for its batteries if it can execute on its timeline. Still, there’s a risk that its technology doesn’t work as well as expected or competitors come out with a better product in that time.

Related investing topics

Fully charged growth prospects

Batteries are a crucial component of EVs. As sales accelerate, they will drive higher battery sales, benefiting the companies focused on making them. Forward-thinking investors might want to consider adding battery makers to their portfolio to potentially profit from this megatrend. Bear in mind, though, these investments in an emerging technology will likely exhibit above-average volatility.

Adam Levy has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends BYD, Berkshire Hathaway, Tesla, and Volkswagen Ag. The Motley Fool recommends General Motors and recommends the following options: long January 2025 $25 calls on General Motors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

If Electric Vehicles Take Over, These Energy Stocks Will Be Big Winners

Electric-vehicle (EV) stocks have been on fire over the past year as investors bet that the industry will continue to grow. And as EV sales grow, there could be a number of industries and companies that benefit. 

As we scoured the market for opportunities adjacent to EV production, Xcel Energy (NASDAQ:XEL), Lithium Americas (NYSE:LAC), and QuantumScape (NYSE:QS) jumped out to our Foolish contributors as big opportunities. 

Electric vehicle fleet all being charged.

Image source: Getty Images.

The utility play

Travis Hoium (Xcel Energy): If electric vehicles continue to grow and eventually take over the vehicle market, it’ll mean a significant rise in electricity consumption. A report prepared for the Department of Energy in 2019 estimated that by the end of the decade, an incremental 14 gigawatts or more of power generation will be needed to keep up with the growth of EVs by 2030. That would nearly double the amount of incremental electricity-generating capacity added each year and may lead to growth in electricity consumption, which has stagnated for more than a decade. 

Stagnant demand is having an impact on utility revenue growth. Over the last decade, Xcel’s revenue has grown just over 1% compounded annually, so this isn’t exactly a growth stock. But the growth rate could change if electric vehicles take over transportation. 

XEL Revenue (TTM) Chart

XEL Revenue (TTM) data by YCharts.

EVs alone could boost every utility’s growth, and Xcel Energy would be no different. And with shares trading at 22 times earnings and the dividend yielding 2.8%, this stock could be a long-term winner if Xcel’s growth rate improves because of electric vehicles. 

Speculating on batteries

Howard Smith (Lithium Americas): Investors can bet on the emergence of electric vehicles in a number of ways. There’s much uncertainty, including developing technologies, competition, and theorizing on market adoption. One approach for investors is to create a basket of holdings with a range of risk-and-reward potential.

EV battery-technology investments lie at the high-risk end of the spectrum. But as part of a basket approach, assuming lithium-ion batteries remain a prominent choice for EV makers, lithium suppliers themselves should be part of the equation. Lithium Americas doesn’t even have an operating mine as of yet, but it’s in the construction and approval stages on two projects, including one on U.S. soil. 

Lithium Americas  retention pond with mountains in background

Lithium Americas retention pond. Image source: Lithium Americas.

Lithium Americas’ two mining projects include one under construction in Argentina expected to start up in mid-2022 and the Thacker Pass project in Nevada. Thacker Pass is particularly notable due to its location, as leaders seek to secure domestic supplies of materials needed for electric vehicles.

The company believes its Thacker Pass project remains on track to begin operations in late 2022. In its fourth-quarter 2020 earnings release earlier this month, the company said, “All remaining state permits and water right transfers required to commence construction are expected later this year.”

The Thacker Pass project is currently 100% owned by Lithium Americas, but the company could bring in partners or investors. But after a recent capital raise, Lithium Americas had $518 million in cash as of Feb. 28, 2021. Most of that is available for the Thacker Pass project, as its Argentina mine project has already spent about 70% of the required capital. 

An investment in Lithium Americas is very much speculation at this point, and an investment could be a total loss. Besides the company-specific risks, there will also be competitive domestic lithium mining operations in the U.S. But if electric vehicles do take over, and lithium-ion batteries remain the technology of choice, getting in early could also pay off nicely. 

Disrupting the disruptor

Jason Hall (QuantumScape): I think it’s more of a “when” than an “if” electric vehicles come to dominate, though it’s likely to take years for that to happen because of the high costs and limited supply of batteries. This is a problem that QuantumScape is working to remedy, and with a technology that could lead it to be the biggest disruptor the auto business has seen since Tesla.

The catch? In order to do so, the company has to deliver on a technology that nobody else — so far — has been able to deliver at the cost and scale it will take to supply the auto industry. 

Without getting bogged down in the details, solid-state batteries are lighter, more reliable, and much faster to recharge than the liquid or gel batteries we are more familiar with such as lithium-ion. The catch? QuantumScape is still years away from delivering a commercially viable product and has yet to prove it can deliver on its promises at scale. So this is far from a sure thing.

But investors including Tesla co-founder JB Straubel, who led battery cell design at the company, and Volkswagen, which invested $300 million in the company before it went public, have put their money behind the company’s efforts. It’s likely to be several more years before we know if it can do it, but if QuantumScape can crack the solid-state code, its technology would be a massive competitive advantage, making it potentially the most important — and most profitable — automotive supplier in the world. 

The risk is big. If they can’t pull it off, investors will lose a lot of money. Take that risk into consideration just as much as the upside potential. 

Riding the EV tailwind

If electric-vehicle sales continue to grow, we’ll likely see an increase in electricity consumption, lithium consumption, and a need for better batteries. That’s why these three stocks could all beat the market long term and why they’re our top picks today. 

This article represents the opinion of the writer, who may disagree with the “official” recommendation position of a Motley Fool premium advisory service. We’re motley! Questioning an investing thesis — even one of our own — helps us all think critically about investing and make decisions that help us become smarter, happier, and richer.

Biden’s Clean Energy Revolution Could Send These Stocks Soaring

There’s no denying that last year was an incredible year for electric vehicle stocks.

Elon Musk briefly took the crown of the richest man in the world thanks to Tesla’s shocking 750% climb…

While a Chinese competitor, Nio Inc., rose by a remarkable 1295% over the same amount of time.

While those who didn’t buy in on these two giants while they were cheap may feel that they’ve missed the rally…that couldn’t be further from the truth.

The story is much larger, and there are other EV and EV-related stocks that continue to have tons of room to run.

There are even stocks that are flying completely under Wall Street’s radar–and they could even see gains that exceed those of Tesla or Nio.

Nothing screams the “next Tesla” like Fisker (NYSE:FSR), an EV maker that is betting on futuristic and fully recyclable materials, headed up by a legend in automotive design …

Or even a tech company creating its own green ecosystem like Facedrive (TSXV:FD; OTC:FDVRF), a leading Canadian startup that’s got several EV verticals, including its recent acquisition of Steer– a Washington, DC-based EV subscription company that is looking to upend the auto industry by completely transforming the notion of car ownership as we know it.

It would also be a good idea to keep a close eye on infrastructure plays like Blink Charging (NASDAQ:BLNK), a new leader in EV charging equipment that’s got very long legs.

Anything EV Is Golden Right Now

Yes, EVs are golden ….

Biden’s victory, a global clean energy push and the ongoing pandemic are the main drivers behind a $40-trillion energy transition of which electrified transportation will be the lion share.

Yes, Tesla will continue to surprise the markets, and for short-sellers who lost $40 billion betting against the EV behemoth, it’s time to look for a new gig.

Fisker, for example is much like a Tesla type EV maker: It’s working on fresh EV concepts, and has a legend behind the wheel in the form of Henrik Fisker. And don’t be fooled, it’s not just another EV SUV–it’s a vehicle constructed with recyclable parts, something that pleases activist investors and huge institutional funds that are looking for the next epic investment that could mimic Tesla.

Fisker isn’t going to start producing its famed Ocean SUV until 2023, with significant revenues coming in from advance orders not expected until late 2021. This may be a reason for Wall Street’s elite not to go long on Fisker, but may just be the perfect opportunity for investors to get in on the ground floor of what could become the next big EV producer.

Next to Fisker, there’s Facedrive – one of the front-runners of Canada’s ‘Silicon Valley’—and another EV related success. We like the flagship carbon-offset ride-sharing and food delivery side their business, but we’re extremely excited about their recent acquisition of Steer.

Why?

Because this isn’t just the start of the golden age of EVs … it’s the start of a completely different lifestyle.

Facedrive’s (TSXV:FD; OTC:FDVRF) added Steer to their growing list of acquisitions in September 2020, and we expect the news flow to increase over the next few months as two of the most innovative EV-linked tech companies combine their forces to upend car ownership in North America.

Steer isn’t anything like your average car rental company (Hello Hertz). It offers consumers their own private EV showroom (virtual, of course), sporting on-demand EV delivery for consumers, offering a flexible alternative to car ownership.

Steer users are able to drive the newest and hottest EVs on the market. The platform offers something for all budgets and tastes. Forget about the extra insurance – it’s all included in the price. No maintenance. No hassle whatsoever. It’s simply the most revolutionary app in on-demand EVs so far.

Facedrive stock has pulled back over the last few days after going on a bit of a tear. There appears to be support at this level and this could be a good entry point for new investors.

Exelon (NYSE:EXC), a $40B market cap energy giant is a strategic partner in Steer.

And with everyone switching to EVs … the next stock to watch is Blink Charging. This innovative company could turn out to be one of clearest emerging beneficiaries from the EV boom.

The incoming Biden administration is looking to invest $2 trillion into renewables infrastructure, and nothing speaks to EV infrastructure right now like superchargers do.

Blink operates, provides and owns EV charging equipment and networked EV charging services in the United States. The company has been one of the first in its field, and that’s why its share price has exploded 2,500% in 2020, and if you think the rally can’t go any further … consider the string of deals that the company has recently closed.

Each one of these innovative tech companies are set to ride the Tesla wave in a time where EVs are set to transform the world.

Fisker (NYSE:FSR) is a promising up-and-coming American electric vehicle company that looks to go head to head with some of the biggest names in the industry. While it hasn’t seen quite the attention other electric vehicle stocks have seen, it is an important company to watch. It’s unique in the industry because it boasts the most sustainable vehicle on the road: It’s not just electric… it’s also is made with some recycled materials. That’s a huge plus considering how much investors are focusing on sustainability these days.

While Fisker has underperformed on the market compared to NIO, Tesla, Xpeng or Li, it’s still trading on massive volume and it’s not seeing much major movement in either direction. That’s not necessarily a bad thing. Especially with how crazy the markets are these days. Clearly, it’s group of savvy investors are still waiting to see how the company will hold up over time. And given the current climate, it is an outlier in the market because of its stability. This is definitely a company to buy and hold for the long term, and that’s largely due to its innovative approach to the industry.

The four-year old California based EV provider is already turning heads thanks to its innovative battery tech, and it’s already securing some major deals. In fact, just recently, Fisker signed a deal with Viggo, a European ride-hailing service to add hundreds of vehicles to its fleet. Moves like this will be key in its future success, and investors

Electra Meccanica Vehicles Corp (NASDAQ:SOLO) is another up-and-coming electric vehicle producer to watch. It’s turning heads on the street and on Wall Street with its sleek and unique single-seat electric vehicles. The Canadian company’s electric car carries a lower, and more appealing price point for consumers that do not need all the bells and whistles that come with luxury brands like Tesla and NIO or even conventional Detroit classics like GM and Ford. It’s also on the cusp of an emerging market. In fact, demand for single-seat electric vehicles are projected to grow significantly in the coming years, and SOLO is one of the few companies in this market, representing a great opportunity for investors looking for an easy-entry EV stock with a lot of potential upside.

Electric Meccanica isn’t focused solely on the single-seat niche, however. It’s also planning to roll out an electric sports car for two, the Tofino, and another electric two-seater boasting an old-school design that will appeal to a wide range of consumers. From classic car lovers to EV fanatics, it’s latest fleet will definitely generate some headlines and water cooler conversations. Given that the stock is only trading at $8 at the moment, there is a lot of room to grow. And early investors in Electra Meccanica could stand to see some substantial returns.

Though electric vehicle companies are getting most of the attention, autonomous vehicles should not be ignored. Robot cars will not only reduce emissions, but completely change the idea of car ownership as we know it. And Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOGL) is, without a doubt, a leader in this burgeoning industry.

Waymo, a subsidiary of Alphabet, has had cars driving themselves across the United States for several years. In fact, in Arizona alone, Alphabet’s self-driving cars have logged over 6.1 million miles. To put that in perspective, that means that Alphabet’s autonomous cars have driven the distance between New York City and San Francisco over 2100 times. Or, as the company explains, “over 500 years of driving for the average licensed US driver.” Even more impressive, however, the vehicles were only involved in 47 “contact events”, and the vast-majority of the collisions were the result of human error and none resulted in any sort of severe injury for anyone involved.

Though these tests are very promising for Alphabet’s Waymo, there are still some hurdles to overcome. First and foremost, these lengthy trials took place in Phoenix, a city not exactly known for extreme weather. Second, an issue that may frustrate many drivers, the vehicles operated in a sort of hyper-cautious mode, driving at slower speeds and taking sometimes unnecessary precautions to avoid conflict.

Though Alphabet has received much of the credit for these massive feats, a widely loved and wildly popular chipmaker is actually the driving force in these endeavors. Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC) and Waymo teamed up nearly half-a-decade ago, and have worked together to fine tune this futuristic technology together ever since. Through their mutual knowledge of hardware and software, the tech giants have made leaps and bounds towards building the car of the future.

And Intel isn’t one to be pigeonholed into a sole industry, either. In addition to its efforts with Waymo, Intel has also been on the forefront of developing its own artificial intelligence and vision hardware. Back in 2017, it acquired MobileEye, a supplier of camera-based chips and software to the global mobile industry. And now, in a new deal with Luminar, another emerging tech company on the forefront of this movement, Intel is positioning itself as its own giant of this new sector.

LIDAR technology will play a massive role in the future of not only self-driving cars, but also in the advancement of robots, mapping, security and more. The world is ever-changing and these industries will help shape the future as we know it, and Intel is acutely aware of this. While the electric vehicle industry is grabbing headlines today, Intel is already looking to the future. And that bodes well with investors looking to capitalize on these trends.

With Big Tech and upstarts like SOLO and Fisker getting so much attention, some alternative fuel companies are flying under the radar, and that could be beneficial for those who jump on this train early. Take Bloom Energy Corp. (NYSE:BE), for example. Bloom designs, manufactures and sells solid-oxide fuel cell systems. And, yes, there’s been a ton of cash burn up to this point, but it’s heralding massive innovation–and that’s what tech startups are all about. Growth runways, not immediate profit.

That’s why we are willing to throw tons of money at our innovative future. Eventually, the narrative changes and for the successful companies, the cash burn stops and there starts to be payback for investors. Anyone who didn’t get in on time got left in the innovation dust.

That’s what’s already happening with Bloom. Savvy investor patience is paying off. Bloom is now on track to be the first fuel cell maker to become cash-flow positive. And this could all be about to get even bigger. Why? Because this relatively small company is thinking in huge terms: We’re not just talking about fuel cells for construction vehicles or to power remote electricity generation … Bloom is thinking far bigger than that. It’s targeting utility-scale applications of fuel cells and industrial-scale applications, and drawing in some very big names in the process.

GreenPower Motor (TSX:GPV), like SOLO, is an exciting Canadian company with a unique approach to the electric vehicle boom. At the moment, its focus is primarily on the North American market, but its ambitions are much larger. Founded over 10 years ago, GreenPower has been on the frontlines of the electric transportation movement, with a focus on building affordable battery-electric busses and trucks

Over the past year, GreenPower Motor has seen its share price soar from $2.03 to a high of over $30 before stabilizing around $29. That means investors have seen 1300% gains in just a year. And this could be just the beginning of the ambitious EV company’s run.

Like GreenPower, NFI Group (TSX:NFI) is another one of Canada’s premier electric bus producers. And it’s following the same path as its peer. Year to date, NFI has climbed a noteworthy 27%, and it’s just getting started. NFI still offers investors a promising opportunity to capitalize on the electric vehicle boom at a relative discount.

Over the past year, NFI has cleaned up its financials and continued paying a comfy dividend to its investors. This is great because many competitors don’t offer these incentives. Investors can take advantage of the extra income while this industry heads even higher. And once this gem is discovered, it’s likely to head into the stratosphere.

Another way to gain exposure to the electric vehicle industry is through AutoCanada (TSX:ACQ), a company that operates auto-dealerships through Canada. The company carries a wide variety of new and used vehicles and has all types of financial options available to fit the needs of any consumer. While sales have slumped this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, AutoCanada will likely see a rebound as both buying power and the demand for electric vehicles increases. As more new exciting EVs hit the market, AutoCanada will surely be able to ride the wave.

Magna International (TSX:MG) is a special stock with a long history of success. It’s a great way to gain exposure to the exploding clean energy and electric vehicle markets without betting big on one of the trendy Reddit stocks that have fallen victim to their own hype. The 63 year old Canadian manufacturing giant provides mobility technology for automakers of all shapes and sizes. From the legacy Detroit giants like GM and Ford to luxury brands like BMW and even Tesla, Magna is a premier distributor to all of them. And it’s easy to understand why. The company has lived up to all expectations and is clearly great at making deals.

Since March of last year, Magna has seen its share price jump from a low of $37 to an all-time high of $98. And with the car industry rebounding in full force, Magna still has a lot of upside potential. Especially if it keeps impressing with its solid financials and deal making abilities.

Westport Fuel Systems (TSX:WPRT) is another great way to gain exposure on the booming green energy and electric vehicle industries. Like Magna, Westport produces auto parts that will be necessary in the transition away from oil-based products. With over 50 years of experience in developing and deploying alternative fuel systems, Westport has the drive and innovative edge to make waves in the market. The company’s biggest innovation, however, has been in its natural gas products. And while natural gas vehicles don’t quite get the attention of electric vehicles, they’re still going to play a viable role in the world’s energy transition. There are already over 22 million natgas vehicles on the road, and that market is expected to grow exponentially over the next few years.

The market is already looking towards stocks like Westport. In fact, since January of this year alone, Westport has seen its share price surge drastically, rising from $6 to its current price of $14.37. And if its multi-year chart says anything, this stock has a lot of momentum to continue climbing even higher.

By. Chloe Mole

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Rolls-Royce tests 100% sustainable aviation fuel in small jet engine

As part of its goal to reach net zero carbon dioxide emissions by 2050, Rolls-Royce has begun testing the viability of using 100-percent Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) in small commercial business jets. The ground tests used the new Pearl 700 business jet engine in Dahlewitz, Germany, where the Rolls-Royce BR700 family of turbofan engines is manufactured, and follows on previous tests in the larger Trent 1000 engine in Derby, UK.

Sustainable Aviation Fuel is a name the aerospace industry prefers to biofuel because some biofuels are often relatively primitive or, like palm oil, cause too much environmental damage. Instead, SAFs are produced from a variety of sustainable sources, including municipal solid wastes; cellulose waste from the forestry industry; used cooking oil; energy crops, including comelina, jatropha, halophytes, and algae; and non-biological fuels like waste gases from steel works.

SAFs are attractive to the aerospace industry because they can address the problem of reducing carbon dioxide emissions immediately. Such fuels can be “dropped in” by simply being added to conventional fuels without the need for extensive changes to existing infrastructure.

The test involved a fuel blend that had no conventional jet fuel in it
The test involved a fuel blend that had no conventional jet fuel in it

Rolls-Royce

The Rolls-Royce tests used an SAF produced by World Energy in Paramount, California, for Shell Aviation. According to Rolls-Royce, the new fuel has the potential to reduce life-cycle carbon dioxide emissions by over 75 percent, and potentially even more with later refinements.

Currently, the civil air authorities only allow blends of up to 50 percent SAFs to be used with conventional kerosene-based jet fuels so the present tests are intended to show that a 100-percent SAF can be used in conventional jet engines as a drop-in option.

“Sustainable aviation fuels have the potential to significantly reduce the carbon emissions of our engines and combining this potential with the extraordinary performance of our Pearl engine family brings us another important step closer to enabling our customers to achieve net zero carbon emissions,” says Dr. Joerg Au, Chief Engineer – Business Aviation and Engineering Director Rolls-Royce Deutschland.”

Source: Rolls-Royce

Rolls-Royce tests 100% sustainable aviation fuel in small jet engine

As part of its goal to reach net zero carbon dioxide emissions by 2050, Rolls-Royce has begun testing the viability of using 100-percent Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) in small commercial business jets. The ground tests used the new Pearl 700 business jet engine in Dahlewitz, Germany, where the Rolls-Royce BR700 family of turbofan engines is manufactured, and follows on previous tests in the larger Trent 1000 engine in Derby, UK.

Sustainable Aviation Fuel is a name the aerospace industry prefers to biofuel because some biofuels are often relatively primitive or, like palm oil, cause too much environmental damage. Instead, SAFs are produced from a variety of sustainable sources, including municipal solid wastes; cellulose waste from the forestry industry; used cooking oil; energy crops, including comelina, jatropha, halophytes, and algae; and non-biological fuels like waste gases from steel works.

SAFs are attractive to the aerospace industry because they can address the problem of reducing carbon dioxide emissions immediately. Such fuels can be “dropped in” by simply being added to conventional fuels without the need for extensive changes to existing infrastructure.

The test involved a fuel blend that had no conventional jet fuel in it

The test involved a fuel blend that had no conventional jet fuel in it

Rolls-Royce

The Rolls-Royce tests used an SAF produced by World Energy in Paramount, California, for Shell Aviation. According to Rolls-Royce, the new fuel has the potential to reduce life-cycle carbon dioxide emissions by over 75 percent, and potentially even more with later refinements.

Currently, the civil air authorities only allow blends of up to 50 percent SAFs to be used with conventional kerosene-based jet fuels so the present tests are intended to show that a 100-percent SAF can be used in conventional jet engines as a drop-in option.

“Sustainable aviation fuels have the potential to significantly reduce the carbon emissions of our engines and combining this potential with the extraordinary performance of our Pearl engine family brings us another important step closer to enabling our customers to achieve net zero carbon emissions,” says Dr. Joerg Au, Chief Engineer – Business Aviation and Engineering Director Rolls-Royce Deutschland.”

Source: Rolls-Royce

US consumes more green energy than coal for first time since 1885

In 2019, US annual energy consumption from green energy sources exceeded coal consumption for the first time in 134 years, according to the US Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) Monthly Energy Review.

Green energy’s new US record

How was this major milestone achieved? Simply put, coal is declining and wind and solar are growing. Coal consumption in the US decreased by nearly 15% in 2019, and total renewable energy consumption grew by 1%, compared with the previous year.

The EIA explains:

In 2019, US coal consumption decreased for the sixth consecutive year to 11.3 quadrillion Btu, the lowest level since 1964. Electricity generation from coal has declined significantly over the past decade and, in 2019, fell to its lowest level in 42 years. Natural gas consumption in the electric power sector has significantly increased in recent years and has displaced much of the electricity generation from retired coal plants.

Total renewable energy consumption in the United States grew for the fourth year in a row to a record-high 11.5 quadrillion Btu in 2019… In 2019, electricity generation from wind surpassed hydro for the first time and is now the most-used source of renewable energy for electricity generation in the United States on an annual basis.

Wood was the main source of US energy until the mid-1800s. Then the first hydropower plants began to produce electricity in the 1880s. The US used coal in the early 19th century to fuel steam-powered boats and trains and manufacture steel. It was later used to generate electricity in the 1880s, and 90% of its consumption is now used primarily to generate electricity. 

Renewable energy is more broadly consumed by every sector in the United States. About 56% of commercially delivered US renewable energy is used in the electric power sector, mostly from wind and hydroelectric power, but different types are also consumed in the industrial (22%), transportation (12%), residential (7%), and commercial (2%) sectors.

Electrek’s Take

Well, this is a nice New Year’s Eve reminder from the EIA, which originally posted this announcement in May. It’s nice to reflect on something positive from the past year.

Keep in mind that these are the EIA’s statistics from 2019, so 2020, as weird as it was as a whole due to the pandemic and the turbulent US election, is going to have even better green energy versus coal/fossil fuel statistics due to COVID-19 lockdowns.

But the US has got to get that natural gas consumption down, as no matter how hard gas companies try to sell it as clean, it’s not.

Once the Biden administration takes its collective seat and gets to work on its climate change plan, we are optimistic that future EIA reports are going to look even greener when it comes to renewables.

US consumes more green energy than coal for first time since 1885 – Electrek

In 2019, US annual energy consumption from green energy sources exceeded coal consumption for the first time in 134 years, according to the US Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) Monthly Energy Review.

Green energy’s new US record

How was this major milestone achieved? Simply put, coal is declining and wind and solar are growing. Coal consumption in the US decreased by nearly 15% in 2019, and total renewable energy consumption grew by 1%, compared with the previous year.

The EIA explains:

In 2019, US coal consumption decreased for the sixth consecutive year to 11.3 quadrillion Btu, the lowest level since 1964. Electricity generation from coal has declined significantly over the past decade and, in 2019, fell to its lowest level in 42 years. Natural gas consumption in the electric power sector has significantly increased in recent years and has displaced much of the electricity generation from retired coal plants.

Total renewable energy consumption in the United States grew for the fourth year in a row to a record-high 11.5 quadrillion Btu in 2019… In 2019, electricity generation from wind surpassed hydro for the first time and is now the most-used source of renewable energy for electricity generation in the United States on an annual basis.

Wood was the main source of US energy until the mid-1800s. Then the first hydropower plants began to produce electricity in the 1880s. The US used coal in the early 19th century to fuel steam-powered boats and trains and manufacture steel. It was later used to generate electricity in the 1880s, and 90% of its consumption is now used primarily to generate electricity. 

Renewable energy is more broadly consumed by every sector in the United States. About 56% of commercially delivered US renewable energy is used in the electric power sector, mostly from wind and hydroelectric power, but different types are also consumed in the industrial (22%), transportation (12%), residential (7%), and commercial (2%) sectors.

Electrek’s Take

Well, this is a nice New Year’s Eve reminder from the EIA, which originally posted this announcement in May. It’s nice to reflect on something positive from the past year.

Keep in mind that these are the EIA’s statistics from 2019, so 2020, as weird as it was as a whole due to the pandemic and the turbulent US election, is going to have even better green energy versus coal/fossil fuel statistics due to COVID-19 lockdowns.

But the US has got to get that natural gas consumption down, as no matter how hard gas companies try to sell it as clean, it’s not.

Once the Biden administration takes its collective seat and gets to work on its climate change plan, we are optimistic that future EIA reports are going to look even greener when it comes to renewables.

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