When I first studied forestry at the University of Toronto with Professor Sandy Smith, I didn’t realize how deeply the school’s ecological roots would shape the way I look at the world. The University of Toronto has always been, at its core, an environmental university. from its forestry program and plant biology labs to courses in sustainable cities.

So it’s not surprising that one of Canada’s emerging cleantech companies tackling plastic pollution also began there. Meet erthos, a Toronto-area startup developing plant-based materials designed to replace traditional petroleum plastics and help move the global economy toward a circular model.

The company began as a student project at the University of Toronto, where the founders started exploring alternatives to plastic while studying subjects ranging from environmental economics to plant biology. Their early work focused on whether agricultural byproducts and plant-derived ingredients could replicate the performance of conventional plastics, without leaving behind the same environmental legacy.

What began as a campus sustainability idea has since grown into a cleantech company that uses AI to design bio-based resins that can replace common plastics such as polypropylene or polystyrene, while still working within existing manufacturing systems. One of their recent talks was with Colgate-Palmolive.

That compatibility with industry matters. One of the biggest barriers to replacing plastics is the massive infrastructure already built around them. Factories, molds, and production lines are designed for petroleum-based materials. If a sustainable material requires entirely new manufacturing systems, adoption slows dramatically. We see that working with big brands isn’t enough. The pineapple textiles and leather company Pinatex, which uses pineapple waste, emerged to great fanfare and worked with brands like Stella McCartney, but one-off and non-committal marketing opportunity can’t build a business. We need more commitment and responsibility taken by brands such as Colgate-Palmolive, H&M, and all ranges of food and plastics industries.

Can erthos help? It focuses on designing materials that can fit into the systems companies already use, making it easier for brands to transition away from fossil-fuel plastics without rebuilding their supply chains. Getting a product to fit into existing moulds and machines is the key for change from plastics to bio-plastics.

The company combines biomaterials science with advanced data tools, they say, to design plant-based formulations made from renewable ingredients such as plant fibers, starches, and oils. By using AI to test and refine formulations quickly, the goal is to create materials that match the durability and functionality of traditional plastics while reducing environmental impact. See Tipa, a brand that works.

The stakes are enormous. Hundreds of millions of tonnes of plastic are produced globally each year, and only a small portion is recycled. The rest accumulates in landfills, waterways, and ecosystems where it can persist for centuries. Worse even, bits of plastics called microplastics are getting into our lungs, our waterways, our food, our brains.

Startups like erthos are trying to change that equation by addressing plastic at its source, replacing the material itself rather than simply managing the waste it creates.

Today the company works with brands exploring alternatives for packaging, consumer products, and other plastic-heavy industries, helping design materials that can be recyclable, compostable, or derived from renewable feedstocks.

Erthos is a Canadian cleantech startup developing plant-based materials designed to replace petroleum plastics and support a circular economy. Founded in 2019 by Nuha Siddiqui, Kritika Tyagi, and Chang Dong at the University of Toronto, the company combines biomaterials science with artificial intelligence to create sustainable plastic alternatives.

Its proprietary platform, ZYA, uses AI to design bio-based resins that can perform like traditional plastics while working within existing manufacturing systems.

Erthos has raised $11.2 million in total funding, including a $6.5 million oversubscribed Series A led by Horizons Ventures, with participation from The51 Food & AgTech Fund, Thrive Venture Fund at BDC Capital, Francis Family Fund, TELUS Pollinator Fund for Good, DcarbonVC, Middle Cove Capital, and earlier investors Golden Ventures and Bee Partners.

::erthos

More Bio Plastics News from Green Prophet

• This Plastic Is Made From Corn: A Biodegradable Alternative to Fossil Plastics
• Sustainable Plastics That Emerge From the Sea
• Teen Scientist Creates Bioplastic from Banana Peels
• Eco-Friendly Compostable Food Packaging for Restaurants
• DuPont Turns to Algae to Create Alternative Seafood

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Every day, the Middle East’s desalination industry produces more brine than freshwater. Aquifers are drying up and becoming full of brine. Companies like Iyris claim to be able to farm on brackish water, solving part of the problem of access to freshwater. But a a small Saudi startup has found a solution to the problem inside the problem itself.

The math of desalination has long been troubling. Its energy-intensive and polluting. For every gallon of water pulled from the sea, a typical reverse osmosis plant discharges roughly 1.5 times the among of concentrated, chemically laden brine back into the ocean. Multiply that across the Middle East and North Africa, which is the region responsible for more than half of the world’s desalination output, and the scale of brine becomes alarming.

Global brine discharge now exceeds 140 million cubic meters per day, according to a 2019 UN-backed study, with Saudi Arabia alone accounting for 22 percent of the world’s total, according to a UN University Institute for Water study. The Arabian Gulf, already naturally one of the saltiest bodies of water on earth at 45 grams of salt per liter compared to a global ocean average nearer 35, is absorbing the consequences.

Into this problem has stepped Qalzam, a Saudi startup with a counterintuitive proposition: the brine is not the problem. It is the raw material.

Founded in Riyadh and incubated at the Saudi Water Innovation Center (SWIC), Qalzam has developed a process to extract sodium hypochlorite (the active compound in chlorine disinfectant) directly from the waste brine produced by reverse osmosis plants. That sodium hypochlorite is then fed straight back into the same plant to disinfect the freshwater it has just produced, closing what Qalzam describes as a circular loop within the desalination process itself. In conventional plants, sodium hypochlorite must be manufactured separately, transported to site, and purchased as a chemical input.

Qalzam eliminates all three steps simultaneously.

The chemistry is not new. Sodium hypochlorite can be generated electrochemically from saline solutions, which is a process long understood in laboratory settings and applied at small scales in wastewater treatment. What Qalzam is engineering is the industrial translation of that process specifically for the high-salinity, high-volume conditions of Gulf desalination, where brine concentrations are substantially higher than those seen elsewhere in the world, and where the scale of operations can make even marginal improvements in cost or chemistry enormously significant.

“The chemicals should be all neutralized,” said Noreddine Ghaffour, a research professor at the Water Desalination and Reuse Center at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), speaking about brine management at Saudi desalination plants more broadly. His comment reflects a growing scientific and regulatory consensus: the era of dumping chemically complex brine into already-stressed marine environments is approaching its limits.

The timing is propitious. Saudi Arabia has positioned itself as a global leader in desalination capacity, doubling its output in recent years and announcing $9.33 billion across 60 new projects in its latest expansion.

The Saudi Water Partnership Company is targeting a near-tripling of national desalination capacity to 7.5 million cubic meters per day by 2027. Each new plant that comes online represents both a new source of brine and a potential customer for Qalzam’s on-sitewater

disinfectant solution. The startup has also graduated from Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources’ “Numuw” industrial incubator and accelerator program, giving it institutional credibility at a formative stage.

The wider scientific case for brine valorization is strengthening rapidly. Research published in the journal Water in November 2025 modeled a 100,000-cubic-meter-per-day reverse osmosis facility and found that a sequential brine recovery process could achieve over 90 percent total salt recovery while producing marketable materials including sodium chloride, magnesium hydroxide, and bromine.

The estimated revenue from recovered materials in such scenarios ranges between $4.5 million and $6.8 million per year, potentially offsetting 65 to 90 percent of annual desalination operating costs, with a payback period of three to five years.

Qalzam’s narrower focus on sodium hypochlorite extraction and reuse sits within this broader economic logic but is considerably simpler to implement, requiring no complex mineral separation trains or crystallization equipment. This matters because complexity has consistently been the enemy of adoption in industrial water treatment. The technologies that scale are typically those that integrate cleanly into existing infrastructure rather than requiring its wholesale redesign. A bolt-on electrochemical unit that converts waste brine into a disinfectant that the plant already needs is, in engineering terms, a much easier sell than a full brine-mining operation requiring downstream chemical processing and commodity markets for the outputs.

Beyond the economics, the environmental calculus is straightforward. Saudi Arabia’s Gulf coastline is already under documented ecological stress from brine discharge, with dense, oxygen-depleted plumes affecting benthic marine life near major outfalls. Over in the Red Sea, dolphins, coral reef and at-risk species cannot tolerate more stress on the already noisy and polluted shipping areas.

Any technology that reduces both the volume and chemical load of that discharge addresses a concern that regulators, ecologists, and increasingly the operators themselves recognize as unsustainable at the scale to which the region is building.

Qalzam is still early-stage, with its team small and its first commercial deployments ahead of it. But the company sits at the intersection of three converging forces: a region building desalination capacity at a pace unmatched anywhere on earth (despite the scaling back of Saudis’ Vision 2030 with lowering prices of oil), a scientific community that has spent a decade documenting the harms of brine disposal, and a policy environment.

Saudi Vision 2030 and the UAE’s Net Zero 2050 strategy incentivize circular economy approaches to industrial water management.

The Middle East did not choose to become the world’s desalination laboratory. Geography and hydrology made that decision for it. But the region’s sheer scale of operations means that solutions proven here, including whatever Qalzam refines on the shores of the Gulf, will be exportable to every water-stressed coast on the planet.

Red Sea Farms (now Iyris) who we interviewed here, is a separate but thematically related KAUST spinout worth contextualizing alongside Qalzam, not as partners, but as parallel examples of Saudi water innovation coming out of the same university ecosystem.

Not far away, with Jordan between them, Israel’s IDE Technologies, founded in 1965 and headquartered in Kadima-Zoran, built the Sorek desalination plant south of Tel Aviv, which for years was the largest seawater reverse osmosis desalination facility on earth, producing 624,000 cubic meters of drinking water per day and supplying roughly 20 percent of Israel’s municipal water demand.

Today, desalination supplies over 70 percent of Israel’s domestic water consumption, a figure that has effectively drought-proofed a country that receives less than 200 millimeters of rainfall annually across much of its territory.

::Qalzam

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Elon Musk has made it clear. He’s going to inhabit Mars. But the first natural step, he says, will be the moon. We’ve reported on the moon base station. NASA knows that plants can grow on the moon. And countries like China and Russia have declared they will build cities there too using nuclear power. Stepping up to democratize the moon is an EU-funded company, Deep Space Energy, which has just raised more than $1 million USD as a seed fund to help it create energy generators on the moon. It’s a bid to strengthen the European sovereign space and defense industry and power Moon surface exploration.

The researchers are from Latvia: “Our technology, which has already been validated in the laboratory, has several applications across the defence and space sectors.

“First, we’re developing an auxiliary energy source to enhance the resilience of strategic satellites. It provides the redundancy of satellite power systems by supplying backup power that does not depend on solar energy, making it crucial for high-value military reconnaissance assets,” says Mihails Ščepanskis, founder and CEO of the company.

Based in Riga, the company is developing a radioisotopic generator toward commercialisation. The electricity comes from nuclear decay — a nuclear process. And the equipment does not include a nuclear reactor which could explode.

The funding was made up of its €350k pre-Seed round led by Outlast Fund and Linas Sargautis, an angel investor and a former co-founder of NanoAvionics. The company also secured additional €580k in public contracts and grants by the European Space Agency (ESA), NATO DIANA, and the Latvian government. It’s not a huge sum of money for such an ambitious project but it’s a start.

European and American military and space technologies are what leads to new inventions in medicine, ecology and renewable energy.

Military spy satellites evolved into Earth-monitoring satellites that now track deforestation (Amazon, Congo), (see MIT using AI and imaging for trees in cities) they can monitor methane leaks and pollution; and satellites predict droughts and crop failures.

Military thermal imaging using infrared vision is now used to detect inflammation and vascular disease, it can screen for breast cancer and detect fevers at airports.

In the 2025–2026 period, EU-Startups has reported substantial capital flows into the European SpaceTech sector, primarily at Seed and Series A stage.

Germany’s Reflex Aerospace secured €50 million to scale sovereign satellite platforms, while France’s Infinite Orbits raised €40 million to expand in-orbit servicing capabilities. Also in France, Look Up attracted €50 million to grow its radar-based space surveillance network, and UNIVITY secured €31 million to accelerate development of a space-based 5G constellation.

In Germany, Marble Imaging raised €5.3 million to scale its very high resolution Earth observation satellites ahead of launch, while Spain’s Kreios Space secured €8 million to advance propulsion systems for very low Earth orbit. Italy’s Astradyne raised €2 million to commercialise ultralight solar panels, and Spain’s Orbital Paradigm closed a €1.5 million pre-Seed round to develop reusable space capsules.

Collectively, these rounds represent approximately €187 million in disclosed funding moving into European SpaceTech across adjacent segments including satellite infrastructure, propulsion, communications, servicing and observation.

Deep Space Energy says it will put a focus on energy resilience for satellites and lunar missions rather than platform deployment.

“As Europe is trying to become more independent, it is imperative to produce satellites with advanced capabilities on our own. Our technology provides an auxiliary energy source for satellites, which makes them more resilient to non-kinetic attacks and malfunctions,” Mihails adds.

Founded in 2022, Deep Space Energy is developing a new radioisotope power generator for space that uses the heat produced by the nuclear self-decay of radioisotopes – materials extractable from waste of commercial nuclear reactors.

The product aims for applications in deep space science missions, lunar surface missions and high-value defense satellites. Their solution converts that heat into electric power, requiring 5 times less radioisotope fuel than a thermo-electric generator (RTG), currently used in space.

The company highlighted that its radioisotope-based energy generator is not designed for any kind of weapons. It will target high-value, dual-use satellites to increase their resilience and operational reliability. The primary focus is on satellites operating in Medium Earth Orbit (MEO), Geostationary Orbit (GEO) and Highly Elliptical Orbit (HEO), which are all critical for modern military reconnaissance and early-warning systems.

These satellites support a range of defence functions, from synthetic aperture radar (SAR)
satellites for detecting troop concentrations through clouds and foliage, to signal intelligence for intercepting communications and radio transmissions, as well as missile-launch detection, which is essential for anti-missile defense systems.

Egita Poļanska, partner at the lead investor Outlast Fund, shares: “Space energy tech has been stuck with certain limitations for decades, but we’re finally seeing the pieces come together for a real breakthrough – new materials, smarter power systems, and actual commercial demand for lunar operations.

“Deep Space Energy is building the infrastructure that will literally power the next chapter of space exploration and industry. As Europe ramps up its space ambitions, we need our own companies to lead in these foundational technologies. We’re thrilled to back this team and honestly pretty excited to have an actual moonshot in our portfolio, in the most literal sense possible.”

In the long term, the company aims to focus on the Moon economy. The radioisotope power generator looks to address critical energy challenges in the next phase of lunar exploration, including NASA and ESA’s Artemis, Argonaut and lunar rover programs, as well as the Moon Village framework led by the Moon Village Association. In particular, the technology is designed to support lunar night survival and operations in permanently shadowed regions, enabling extended scouting and prospecting missions.

On the Moon, where the temperatures at night drop below 150 degrees Celsius, and nights last for roughly 354 hours, moonrovers can’t rely on solar power.

The company’s technology requires approximately 2kg of Americium-241 fuel to generate 50W of power for a lunar rover, compared with around 10kg of radioisotope material needed by legacy RTG systems for comparable output. Given current projections that Americium-241 production capacity will reach around 10kg per year by the mid-2030s, this efficiency could enable lunar exploration missions to begin more than five years earlier and at up to five times the mission volume.

According to Ščepanskis, the company’s technology can significantly enhance the economics of moon rover missions by enabling them to last multiple day-night cycles up to a few years. The sole expenses of bringing payload to the Moon cost up to a million euros per kilogram; thus, by enhancing the lifetime of the rovers, the company helps to save hundreds of millions.

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There is a narrow window, once about every 2 years (26 months), when SpaceX can send a rocket to Mars. Given the narrow timeframe, distance and time to get to the moon, Elon Musk has augmented the bigger mission and has turned getting to the Moon, and inhabiting, a smaller, easier to achieve mini-mission.

He wrote on X today, “For those unaware, SpaceX has already shifted focus to building a self-growing city on the Moon, as we can potentially achieve that in less than 10 years, whereas Mars would take 20+ years. The mission of SpaceX remains the same: extend consciousness and life as we know it to the stars.

“It is only possible to travel to Mars when the planets align every 26 months (six month trip time), whereas we can launch to the Moon every 10 days (2 day trip time). This means we can iterate much faster to complete a Moon city than a Mars city.

“That said, SpaceX will also strive to build a Mars city and begin doing so in about 5 to 7 years, but the overriding priority is securing the future of civilization and the Moon is faster.”

 

We love to dream about humans on the moon, not because we personally want to go there, but because the technology and design needed to support life on the moon can actually make our lives on Earth more sustainably focused. Agriculture, water use, and building on the moon or Mars will need to be lean, sustainable and probably closed loop.

They will need technologies that can provide limitless energy from the sun, and which can squeeze water from human waste and even from the air.

This Dune-inspired spacesuit can recycle urine on Mars – want to help them raise money?

Aiming for the stars has always had a knock-on effect for health as well. Many technologies used in diagnostics were derived from the Space and Defence industries.

Elon Musk isn’t the only one reaching for the moon and Mars. China said last year that it will build a space station with Russia on the moon (it plans on mining the moon first), using nuclear power (please do not blow up the moon!) and the United Arab Emirates plans on joining SpaceX on Mars. 

He says it’s not important who gets there first; it’s important who brings equipment to build civilization. 

It can take 3 to 5 days to get to the moon. Would you go if you were given the chance?

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]]> https://www.greenprophet.com/2026/02/elon-musk-to-create-mars-base-station-on-the-moon/feed/ 1 https://www.greenprophet.com/2025/12/10-proven-israeli-technology-somaliland/ Sun, 28 Dec 2025 09:31:40 +0000 https://www.greenprophet.com/?p=151497 Israel’s water and agricultural technologies didn’t emerge from ideal conditions. They were developed under pressure: low rainfall, saline water, political isolation, lack of energy resources, and the constant need to feed a growing population with limited land. Over the years, I’ve written about many of these companies not as miracle-makers, but as problem-solvers. That’s what makes them relevant to places like Somaliland. Israel was the first country in the world to recognize Somaliland as an independent state although Ethiopia has been treating the nation as such for decades.

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Israel’s water and agricultural technologies didn’t emerge from ideal conditions. They were developed under pressure: low rainfall, saline water, political isolation, lack of energy resources, and the constant need to feed a growing population with limited land. Over the years, I’ve written about many of these companies not as miracle-makers, but as problem-solvers. That’s what makes them relevant to places like Somaliland. Israel was the first country in the world to recognize Somaliland as an independent state although Ethiopia has been treating the nation as such for decades.

Below are 10 technologies, and the Israeli companies behind them, that could realistically support Somaliland’s long-term food, water, and energy resilience.

The first is drip irrigation, pioneered by Netafim, founded in the 1960s on Kibbutz Hatzerim after engineer Simcha Blass noticed that slow, targeted watering produced healthier plants. Netafim’s systems are now used worldwide to cut water use while increasing yields, especially in dry regions.

Closely related is low-pressure irrigation and fertigation, advanced by companies like NaanDanJain and Rivulis. These systems work well for smallholder farmers, allowing nutrients and water to be delivered together with minimal waste.

For water supply, desalination technology developed by IDE Technologies has transformed Israel’s water security. While IDE is best known for large plants, the company has also developed smaller-scale systems suitable for coastal communities, which could be relevant for Somaliland’s long shoreline.

In parallel, solar-powered water pumping systems—used widely in Israel’s peripheral regions—can replace diesel pumps. While not a single-company solution, Israeli integrators often combine solar technology from firms like SolarEdge with water systems to power wells, treatment units, and irrigation without fuel imports.

Another promising approach is wastewater reuse, an area where Israel leads globally. Municipal-scale treatment combined with agricultural reuse has been refined through decades of practice, with engineering firms and public utilities supporting reuse rates that reach nearly 90 percent. Scaled-down versions of these systems could help Somaliland’s towns reuse water safely rather than losing it entirely.

In agriculture, greenhouse and net-house farming has been advanced by Israeli companies such as Hishtil, which supplies seedlings and controlled-growing solutions designed for heat and water stress. These systems allow year-round production of vegetables with far less water than open-field farming.

Precision agriculture has also become more accessible through Israeli startups like CropX and Phytech, which use soil sensors and plant data to tell farmers exactly when to irrigate. Even basic versions of these tools can significantly reduce water waste.

On the seed side, Israeli breeders such as Hazera and Zeraim Gedera (now part of Syngenta) have developed heat- and drought-tolerant vegetable varieties suited for semi-arid climates. Crop genetics matter as much as irrigation in a warming world.

Food loss after harvest is another overlooked challenge. Israeli cold-chain innovations, including solar-powered cold rooms used across Africa, help reduce spoilage and increase farmer incomes. These systems don’t require a national grid and can be deployed at cooperative or village scale.

Finally, there is knowledge transfer, often the most underestimated technology of all. Israel’s international development agency MASHAV has trained tens of thousands of farmers and water managers worldwide through hands-on programs focused on dryland agriculture, water reuse, and cooperative farming. Technology adoption succeeds when training is local, practical, and gradual.

None of these tools promise instant prosperity. But together, they form a practical toolkit shaped by environments not unlike Somaliland’s own. In a region too often discussed only through politics or security, focusing on water, food, and energy systems offers a quieter, more durable path forward.

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]]> https://www.greenprophet.com/2025/10/all-about-uae-green-finance-sovereign-wealth-regulation-the-next-cleantech-frontier/ Fri, 24 Oct 2025 07:42:45 +0000 https://www.greenprophet.com/?p=150414 Masdar is the the UAE’s flagship renewable energy company. Compare it to Neom in Saudi Arabia. Masdar has become one of the world’s most active clean energy investors, with projects in more than 40 countries across six continents. Established in 2006 and jointly owned by ADNOC, Mubadala, and TAQA, Masdar operates and develops solar, wind, and green hydrogen projects with a current portfolio exceeding 50 gigawatts of capacity. Masdar also buys companies, and paid $50 million for this US business Terra-Gen last year. 

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The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a dominant force in the Middle East’s green-finance landscape, driven by strong government commitments, influential sovereign-wealth funds, and clear regulatory frameworks. The market continues to grow in sophistication and volume, reinforced by initiatives following COP28. The country first came on our radar in and around 2008 when it began developing Masdar City, which was to be a zero carbon city. It has become an innovation hub and poster for the country’s sovereign wealth that is investing in cleantech and innovation. As the UAE knows full well, the fossil fuel economy can’t grow innovation or a future once the world reaches peak oil, or peak tolerance for carbon emissions.

Market Leadership and Growth

How does the UAE lead in bond market resilience? The UAE remains a primary source of sustainable bond issuance in the Middle East. While regional issuance saw a slight dip in 2024 due to global economic factors, the market is expected to recover, with S&P Global Ratings projecting USD 18 to 23 billion in total regional sustainable-bond issuance for 2025.

Financial-institution dominance: Financial institutions drive a large portion of the sustainable-bond market in the UAE, while corporate issuances have been more volatile.

Green financing in the UAE focuses heavily on renewable energy, energy efficiency, sustainable real estate, and transportation.

The Catalytic Role of Sovereign Wealth Funds (SWFs)

Leading wealth funds: Abu Dhabi-based entities like Mubadala, ADQ, and Masdar are pivotal in driving the UAE’s green transition.

Masdar’s green bonds:

As a global clean-energy leader, Masdar uses its green bonds to finance greenfield projects in renewable energy, green hydrogen, and battery storage. In May 2025, Masdar’s third USD 1 billion green bond was oversubscribed by 6.6 times, attracting strong international and regional investor interest. The proceeds have been deployed globally, supporting solar, wind, and storage projects. Masdar releases 2024 Green Finance Report.

Masdar City never reached its projected population but it now houses thousands of students, residents, and businesses (e.g., Siemens, IRENA). It’s a functioning R&D and university hub, not abandoned.

The Alterra Fund:

Launched by the UAE at COP28 with a USD 30 billion commitment, Alterra aims to mobilise USD 250 billion by 2030 to finance the new climate economy. It includes a USD 5 billion arm focused on catalysing investment in underserved markets.

ADQ’s strategy:

ADQ embeds ESG principles across its portfolio and has a dedicated Sustainable Finance Framework to guide its investments toward creating a low-carbon economy.

Mubadala’s commitment:

Mubadala integrates sustainability across its investment lifecycle and has committed to achieving net-zero emissions across its global portfolio by 2050.

Regulatory Framework and Transparency

Financial regulators like the Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE), the Securities & Commodities Authority (SCA), Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), and the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) have established strong frameworks.

ADGM’s framework: In 2023, ADGM implemented a comprehensive sustainable-finance regulatory framework, including ESG disclosure requirements and regulatory designations for various green financial instruments.

Combating greenwashing: The ADGM framework and SCA regulations aim to mitigate greenwashing by requiring third-party verification, regular reporting and adherence to international standards like the ICMA Green Bond Principles. Because the UAE does not have a history or culture of free press, we cannot verify how those international standards will be monitored and supervised.

UAE Sustainable Finance Working Group: The SFWG, which includes federal regulators, is actively developing a nationwide taxonomy and pushing for enhanced sustainability disclosures. International third parties, without monetary stakes must be involved in supervision of policies and procedures.

Forced disappearances, the lack of worker rights, and lack of human rights questions how the UAE will be able to disclose, monitor and support green frameworks which include these standards at the core. Cross-dressing and homosexuality is illegal in the UAE.

Initiatives for a Sustainable Transition

The UAE continues to rollout frameworks such as the UAE Energy Strategy 2050 in support of its transition to a green economy.

Carbon market: In 2022, ADGM launched the world’s first regulated carbon-credit trading exchange, the AirCarbon Exchange (ACX).

Capacity building: Forums such as the Abu Dhabi Sustainable Finance Forum and educational initiatives from ADGM are building awareness and expertise in sustainable finance.

Green Finance Mechanisms and Models in the UAE: A Strategic Blueprint for a Sustainable Economy

The UAE is rapidly cementing its position as a global leader in green finance, moving beyond its traditional role as an oil-dependent economy to become a hub for sustainable investment. A sophisticated mix of regulatory frameworks, strategic investments by sovereign wealth funds and innovative financial instruments is driving this transition. Backed by ambitious targets like the UAE Net Zero 2050 Strategic Initiative, the country has built a robust ecosystem for financing a green economy.

Sovereign Wealth Funds: The Primary Catalysts

At the heart of the UAE’s green finance strategy are its influential SWFs, which are transitioning from traditional capital allocators to strategic enablers of sustainable finance. Their long-term investment horizons make them ideal for funding large-scale, capital-intensive green projects.

The Alterra Fund, launched with a USD 30 billion seed at COP28, aims to mobilise USD 250 billion by 2030 for global climate action. It has a unique two-part structure, including a USD 5 billion arm dedicated to de-risking investments in the Global South.

Masdar, owned by ADNOC, TAQA and Mubadala, is a global catalyst for sustainable development. It has been instrumental in issuing green bonds and scaling clean-energy projects internationally.

Masdar is the the UAE’s flagship renewable energy company. Compare it to Neom in Saudi Arabia. Masdar has become one of the world’s most active clean energy investors, with projects in more than 40 countries across six continents. Established in 2006 and jointly owned by ADNOC, Mubadala, and TAQA, Masdar operates and develops solar, wind, and green hydrogen projects with a current portfolio exceeding 50 gigawatts of capacity. Masdar also buys companies, and bought a 50% stake in the US business Terra-Gen last year. While the sum was not disclosed, it’s estimated to be a deal worth $500 Mllion

The company’s ambition is to reach 100 GW of installed renewable capacity and produce one million tonnes of green hydrogen annually by 2030. Its projects stretch from the deserts of Abu Dhabi to the steppes of Uzbekistan, where Masdar is developing multi-gigawatt wind farms, and to the Philippines, where it has signed a $15 billion deal for solar, wind, and battery storage projects.

In Europe, Masdar has expanded into Spain and Portugal through the acquisition of a large wind and solar portfolio, while in Africa and island nations like Seychelles it supports off-grid solar and microgrid systems. Domestically, its Shams 1 solar plant remains a regional landmark. Collectively, Masdar’s projects generate more than 26,000 GWh of clean power each year, offsetting around 14 million tonnes of carbon emissions, and symbolizing the UAE’s broader ambition to lead the global clean energy transition.

Innovative financial instruments for foreign investment

The UAE has adopted and adapted a variety of financial instruments to channel capital toward sustainable projects, leveraging both conventional and Islamic finance models.

Sustainable bonds and sukuk: Issuances of green and sustainability-linked bonds and sukuk are foundational to the UAE’s green-finance market. For example, corporate green sukuk were used to fund green commercial buildings. Private sector green sukuk in UAE to incentivise green commercial buildings.

Blended finance: UAE financial institutions, supported by the UAE Banks Federation’s pledge of AED 1 trillion toward green finance by 2030, are increasingly applying blended finance models to attract private capital for sustainable projects.

Carbon-credit trading: The ADGM-based AirCarbon Exchange turns emissions reductions into tradable financial assets, creating a new frontier of green-finance innovation.

Regulatory frameworks

Robust and proactive regulation from both financial free zones and federal bodies is essential for building investor trust and mitigating green-washing risks.

ADGM: A free-zone regulator that now offers regulatory “labels” for Green, Climate Transition and Sustainability-Linked funds and mandates ESG disclosures.

DIFC: The Dubai International Financial Centre runs its own Sustainable Finance Framework and recently launched a Sustainable Finance Catalyst, an AI-driven platform to boost sustainable-finance investment flows.

Federal coordination: The Sustainable Finance Working Group (SFWG) is finalising a national green taxonomy and enhancing ESG-reporting standards.

While the UAE’s green-finance landscape is advanced, significant challenges remain. A unified national green taxonomy is still in development, regulatory differences persist between mainland and free-zone jurisdictions, and data transparency and capacity building remain work-in-progress. Nevertheless, major growth opportunities lie ahead, including:

• Increased focus on green infrastructure beyond renewable energy—such as water and waste management.
• Green fintech platforms and climate-technology innovation environments.
• Improved ESG data-quality and disclosure frameworks, enabling more informed investment decisions.
• Investing in the UAE gives investors close access to Asian markets.

With its religious tolerance policy and a current embrace of western culture, despite practicing Sharia law, UAE’s green-finance model is dynamic and forward-looking — built on a foundation of sovereign wealth, regulatory sophistication and market-driven innovation. This multi-pronged approach not only underpins its own national climate ambition, but positions the UAE as a critical engine for mobilising global climate-finance flows into the sustainable economy of the next decade. It is certainly leading the green financing market by far in the Middle East, in practice and action.

Zakat, taxes and cultural surprises in the UAE

Beyond finance-instruments and regulation, investors and companies operating in the UAE should be aware of several cultural, religious and tax-related “surprises.”

Zakat is a Muslim duty: Though the UAE does not officially mandate zakat under federal law, many Muslim-owned businesses voluntarily observe it as a religious obligation. Typical calculation is about 2.5 % of eligible wealth (cash, inventory, receivables) after deducting liabilities. And of course, there are regulations, lawayers and advisers in this space: see Zakat advisory & compliance services in the UAE.

If you want to live in the UAE and raise a family there, it’s not easy to become a citizen: Non-Muslims can become citizens of the United Arab Emirates, but the process is highly selective and tightly controlled. Traditionally, UAE citizenship was reserved almost entirely for Emiratis by birth. However, since 2021, the UAE has introduced special pathways for foreigners with exceptional contributions to the country. Citizenship if granted, is mostly symbolic. They don’t have an open-immigration process for the millions of laborers who come there from Pakistan or India. Unlike, Canada.

Also, learn about why Muslims don’t drink alcohol. And how to behave as a foreigner in Dubai.

Taxes: While the UAE is known for having no personal income tax, and a certain kind of tax freedom, it does levy other taxes and fees:

• Value-Added Tax (VAT) at a standard rate of 5% on most goods and services. Official UAE taxation portal.
• Corporate Tax (CT): As of 1 June 2023 for qualifying businesses, a standard rate of 9% on taxable income exceeding AED 375 000. KPMG corporate tax overview.
• Additional levies: Municipal taxes on rental contracts, hotel services, and selective “excise” taxes on certain goods (e.g., energy drinks, tobacco). See: TAXATION OF INTERNATIONAL EXECUTIVES – UAE guide.

Cultural surprises:

• Business relations in the UAE are still heavily influenced by personal trust, relationship-building, and local customs. Respect for Islamic tradition, Friday prayer schedules and Ramadan timing remain very important important if you are doing business there. Things which are normal at home, may not be acceptable in the UAE, like having cannabis in your blood or using CBD oil. If you come on an official visit, invited by a person of power of influence you should be fine.
• Operational licence regimes differ across emirates and free-zones: rules can vary between Dubai, Abu Dhabi and other emirates so on-the-ground due diligence is critical.
• The regulatory framework for green finance is young and evolving — local interpretation of “green” or “sustainable” may still diverge from global norms, so verification and local partner-insight matter.

Further reading on Green Prophet:

1. Arab Energy Fund commits $1 billion to energy transition and decarbonization
2. World Green Economy Summit 2025: Sandeep Chandna’s mission to make sustainability core to business strategy
3. The history and promise of geological hydrogen for fuel
4. $100 million USD fund unites Arab Gulf and Israel (cleantech investments)
5. Abu Dhabi’s Masdar buys 50% stake in American renewables Terra-Gen
6. The Future of Energy: Nuclear Realism vs. Solar Idealism
7. The wind farms of the Middle East

The post UAE Green Finance Report 2025 appeared first on Green Prophet.

Battery-equipped induction stoves just took a major step toward the mainstream. Copper—maker of a 120-volt, plug-in induction range with an internal battery—raised $28 million to expand production and enter new markets. As American consumers race to replace their polluting indoor gas stoves and ovens with solutions that work, Copper is a step in the right direction.

The financing was led by climate-focused investor Prelude Ventures with participation from Building Ventures and existing backers Voyager, Collaborative Fund, Climactic, Designer Fund, Necessary Ventures, Leap Forward Ventures, and Climate Capital.

The round comprises equity and venture debt. Prelude Ventures led the Series A; the company also confirmed venture debt in the capital stack. “Copper has built a category-defining company… we were particularly impressed with the team’s relentless execution and the strength of their patent portfolio covering batteries in appliances,” said Mark Cupta, Managing Director at Prelude Ventures.

Copper CEO and co-founder Sam Calisch added, “This new capital will enable Copper to scale into additional products, helping millions upgrade their homes, ditch gas, and support the clean grid.”

Americans have been wary of gas appliances since news came out that cookstoves leaking methane gas may be causing health problems like cancer in the US.

Why is Copper a game-changer?

Most induction ranges require a 240-V circuit and an electrical panel upgrade—an expensive non-starter in older buildings. Copper’s range plugs into a standard 120-V outlet; its built-in battery supplies bursts of extra power when needed for searing or boiling. That design slashes installation cost and complexity for landlords and homeowners, accelerates gas-to-electric switching, and opens the door to using millions of small, distributed batteries as flexible grid resources.

The model is already landing fleet-scale deals. New York City’s Housing Authority (NYCHA) selected Copper for a $32 million program to install 10,000 stoves in public-housing apartments—part of a push to reduce indoor air pollution and electrify kitchens without rewiring buildings.

Beyond cooking, embedded batteries can form a virtual power plant (VPP)—so appliances help the grid ride through peaks and avoid gas peaker plants. Copper piloted a California VPP in 2024; broader analyses show VPPs can deliver substantial capacity and consumer savings if programs are funded and scaled.

The science and public-health case for switching from gas

Induction eliminates combustion indoors. Multiple studies from top universities find that gas and propane stoves raise indoor nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) to unhealthy levels, contribute to childhood asthma, leak climate-warming methane, and can emit benzene during use. Key findings come from Stanford’s Doerr School of Sustainability and collaborators (NO₂ exposures, methane leakage), Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health (health burden estimates), and peer-reviewed studies on benzene emissions.

For renters and homeowners, a plug-in induction range removes the need for an electrician and panel upgrade, delivering fast, precise heat and cooler kitchens. Early reviews have praised performance; press reports put retail pricing around $5,999 for Copper’s least-expensive model, with potential incentives available depending on location and policy. $6 grand for a stove is a luxury item that we believe will limit buy-ins, but which will accelerate copy-cat appliance makers, especially from China, to fill the void for lower income earners who want to get rid of gas appliances.

Copper’s financing signals investor appetite for electrification that solves retrofit pain points and unlocks grid value. Expect copycats and adjacent products (battery-equipped heat-pump appliances, water heating, and laundry) to follow.

The company says it will expand its platform into additional products—with patents covering batteries in appliances providing defensive moats.

Related reading on Green Prophet

• Solar batteries 101: what homeowners need to know
• Distributed energy and the Texas grid
• Virtual power plants in Europe’s energy reset
• DIY solar: what to know before you install
• 8 ways to make your home more sustainable
• Heating systems 101 (gas, electric, heat pumps)
• Ventilation and indoor air quality at home
• How air filters cut indoor pollution
• Cookware safety: what to watch
• Cooking in clay: traditional, low-tox alternatives

The post Replacing gas with Copper’s battery-equipped $6000 induction stove appeared first on Green Prophet.

Germany has announced a landmark strategy to break its near-total dependence on Chinese-made components for offshore wind turbines, particularly the permanent magnets essential to the industry. This move, unveiled by the Economy Ministry, forms part of a broader plan to build a more resilient and geopolitically secure renewable energy infrastructure. The Resilience Roadmap aims for 30 percent of permanent magnet supply to come from alternative sources by 2030, increasing to 50 percent by 2035. China currently supplies about 90 percent of these components globally, mostly through its dominance in the rare earth metals market.

Related: China and Russia building a nuclear power plant and base on the moon

To meet its ambitious climate and energy goals, Germany is targeting an offshore wind capacity of 30 gigawatts by 2030—triple its current levels. Offshore wind already contributes around 5 percent of Germany’s electricity supply, and the government hopes renewables will account for 80 percent of national electricity production by the end of the decade. The shift away from China is not merely about energy diversification; it represents a strategic reshoring of the energy transition and a rejection of supply chains vulnerable to geopolitical risk.

This German announcement fits into a broader European trend. Across the continent, governments are accelerating investment in clean technology, aiming to secure domestic manufacturing capacity and reduce exposure to international bottlenecks. The global cleantech market, valued at approximately $916 billion in 2024, is projected to double to $1.84 trillion by 2030, with an annual growth rate of nearly 13 percent. In the European Union alone, clean energy investments are expected to reach nearly $390 billion in 2025.

Related: Chinese submarine finds rare life in deepest ocean trench

Venture capital trends in the EU’s cleantech sector reflect the momentum. After a slow start to the year, venture funding rebounded in the second quarter of 2025, reaching €2.5 billion—the strongest quarterly performance since early 2024. The average deal size has also grown, reflecting increasing investor confidence in scale-up technologies and manufacturing. While early-stage funding remains cautious, the appetite for industrial decarbonization and infrastructure-linked technologies is clearly rising.

Policymakers are backing this momentum with sweeping industrial legislation. Under the EU’s Net-Zero Industry Act, passed in June 2024, the bloc aims to produce at least 40 percent of its annual net-zero technology needs domestically by 2030. The act also sets a target for Europe to produce 15 percent of the world’s clean-tech equipment by 2040. However, this ambition comes in response to a stark reality: Europe’s share of global wind turbine manufacturing fell from 58 percent in 2017 to just 30 percent in 2022. Solar panel manufacturing remains even more concentrated outside the continent, despite EU efforts to reshore production.

In terms of deployment, Europe is making strong progress. In 2024, renewables supplied nearly half of the EU’s electricity, with wind and solar leading the charge. Solar photovoltaic capacity alone reached around 269 gigawatts by the end of 2023, and the EU is targeting 600 gigawatts by 2030. The Clean Industrial Deal, launched earlier this year, promises to push 100 gigawatts of new renewable energy capacity annually through 2030, while also funding green innovation and supporting the transition of energy-intensive industries.

Germany’s strategy to secure its wind industry against supply shocks highlights a key shift in clean-tech policy. While markets once favored the cheapest global supplier—often China—the future is likely to reward regional resilience, strategic partnerships, and closed-loop value chains. Germany is already in talks with Japan and Australia to source rare earths more sustainably and with less environmental and political risk.

As the EU mobilizes hundreds of billions of euros to decarbonize its economy, challenges remain. Permitting delays, rising material costs, and global competition for critical minerals could still slow the pace of change. Yet Germany’s move to de-risk its offshore wind supply chain is an unmistakable signal: in the energy transition, security and sustainability must go hand in hand.

The post Europe’s Clean-Tech Pivot: Germany Leads Supply Chain Shift Amid €390B Investment Surge appeared first on Green Prophet.

Choosing the right air operated double diaphragm pump for your needs can make a big difference in the success of your operation. Knowing what features to look for helps you find a pump that meets your specific requirements and works well with different types of fluids and conditions.

There are many models and suppliers available, so looking at an online supplier of wilden air operated double diaphram pumps allows you to compare different options more easily. Understanding the basics will help you make a confident decision as you shop for the best pump for your job.

Pump Material Compatibility with Fluids

You need to match the pump materials with the fluids you plan to move. Different fluids can cause wear, corrosion, or chemical reactions if the wrong materials are used. Always check the fluid’s temperature, abrasiveness, and chemical makeup before choosing a pump.

Metals like stainless steel may be better for some chemicals, while plastics like polypropylene work well with others. Diaphragm and seal materials also vary, so check what’s most compatible with your liquids.

Choosing the right materials helps your pump last longer and work better. This step prevents leaks, breakdowns, and unnecessary repair costs. Always check chemical compatibility charts and consult with a professional if you have any doubts.

Diaphragm Durability and Wear Resistance

When looking at air-operated double-diaphragm pumps, it is important to check how long the diaphragm will last. A durable diaphragm helps reduce the need for frequent repairs and unexpected downtime.

Diaphragms can wear out from repeated movement, chemical exposure, or abrasive materials in the fluid. Choose materials that handle your fluid’s temperature, chemical makeup, and any gritty particles.

Common diaphragm materials include rubber, Teflon, and other flexible plastics. Each one has different levels of resistance to chemicals and wear. If you use the wrong material, it may fail quickly, leading to leaks or pump breakdowns.

Checking the design and thickness of the diaphragm can also help. Thicker or reinforced diaphragms often last longer in tough applications. Always match the diaphragm type to your specific job to get the best life and performance from your pump.

Air Valve Efficiency and Design

When choosing an air operated double diaphragm pump, you should pay close attention to the air valve. The air valve controls how air is directed through the pump, affecting its energy use and how smoothly it runs.

A well-designed air valve helps the pump cycle efficiently. This means fewer slowdowns or stalls during operation. Pumps with smooth-shifting air valves also tend to need less maintenance over time.

Look for air valves made of durable materials. This helps in longer wear, especially when the pump is used in tough environments.

Check if the air valve allows easy access for cleaning or replacement. User-friendly designs let you fix problems quickly, which reduces downtime.

The size and configuration of the air valve should match your application. Adjustable or self-lubricating valves can give you better control and smoother performance.

Flow Rate and Pressure Capacity

When choosing an air-operated double-diaphragm pump, you should pay close attention to flow rate and pressure capacity. These two factors tell you how much fluid the pump can move and at what force.

Check the maximum flow rate, usually measured in gallons per minute (GPM). Pick a pump that meets your system’s needs without being too small or too large for the job.

Look at the pressure capacity as well. You want a pump that can handle the highest pressure needed for your application. Too little pressure means your pump may not move fluid efficiently.

Flow rate and pressure are often linked. Increasing the air supply can boost both, but it is important not to exceed what your setup can handle. Adjust the air supply for consistent output when needed.

Checking these features helps make sure the pump works properly and matches your requirements.

Ability to Handle Abrasive and Viscous Fluids

When you choose an air operated double diaphragm pump, it is important to check how well it can move abrasive and thick fluids. Some pumps are made with tough parts that resist wear when handling grit, slurries, or other rough materials.

Look for pumps with diaphragms and valves made from strong materials. This helps prevent damage and keeps the pump working for longer periods.

A good pump should also handle fluids with high viscosity without getting clogged or slowing down too much. This is useful for industries that work with heavy oils, pastes, or sludges.

You want a pump that can keep its performance steady, even as it moves thick or grainy fluids. By looking for these features, you can help reduce maintenance needs and keep your system running smoothly.

Ease of Maintenance and Repair

When choosing an air-operated double-diaphragm pump, look for designs that make routine care simple. Pumps with fewer moving parts are usually easier to clean and take apart for inspection.

Check if the pump allows easy access to key parts, like diaphragms and valves. This helps you spot wear or damage early and replace parts without a lot of effort.

Some pumps use standard repair kits. Using these kits can make repairs quicker and reduce downtime. Clear instructions from the manufacturer also help you carry out maintenance without confusion.

Pay attention to how much air or fluid is leaking during use. Excess leaks can indicate parts that need attention. Regular checks keep your pump working well and can prevent surprise breakdowns.

Conclusion

When selecting an air-operated double-diaphragm pump, focus on features like material compatibility, flow rate range, and ease of maintenance.

Check for design elements that allow for simple cleaning and fast part replacement.

Review the pump’s ability to handle dry running, solid content, and various fluid viscosities.

You improve the safety and efficiency of your system by matching the pump’s features to your application’s needs.

The post What Features to Check for the Best Air Operated Double Diaphragm Pump? Top 6 Important Qualities to Consider appeared first on Green Prophet.

The latest Renewable Energy Statistics 2025 report from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) based in the United Arab Emirates reveals a widening global divide in the renewable energy transition. While Asia added the lion’s share of new renewable energy capacity in 2024—an astounding 71%—regions such as Africa, Central America, and the Caribbean collectively contributed only 2.8% to global growth.

Africa, in particular, expanded its renewables capacity by just 7.2%, despite its vast untapped resources and pressing need for energy access.

This imbalance poses a serious challenge to the global goal of tripling renewable capacity by 2030, as agreed at COP28. If the current growth trajectory continues, the world will reach only 10.3 terawatts (TW) of installed renewables by 2030—falling 0.9 TW short of the 11.2 TW target. To stay on course, annual capacity must grow by at least 16.6% over the next five years.

Francesco La Camera, Director-General of IRENA, underscores the urgency of closing this investment and infrastructure gap. “The renewable energy boom is transforming global energy markets, driving economies and creating vast investment opportunities,” La Camera said. “However, the growing regional divide highlights that not everyone is benefiting equally from this transition.”

Indeed, countries that have succeeded in attracting renewable investment—particularly in Asia and parts of Europe—are now reaping broader economic rewards, including increased energy security, job creation, and industrial growth.

The 2024 data also highlights the overwhelming dominance of solar and wind energy, which accounted for 97.5% of all net renewables additions. Solar energy alone contributed 453 GW, reinforcing its position as the most cost-competitive and rapidly scalable clean energy source on the planet. Wind followed with 114 GW.

With renewables now representing 46.2% of global installed power capacity—nearly equal to fossil fuels at 47.3%—the economic and environmental case for continued investment is stronger than ever. Renewable electricity generation grew by 5.6% in 2023 compared to 2022, reaching 8,928 terawatt-hours, while non-renewable generation grew by only 1.2%.

Still, the benefits of this energy revolution are not evenly shared. As La Camera notes, “Bridging the divide and closing the investment gap between countries and regions is critical. It requires targeted policies, international financing, and partnerships that unlock capital and technology where they are needed most.”

UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell echoed this call to action: “To deliver on the global agreement at COP28 to triple renewables by 2030, we need to move much further and faster, and make more progress on the key enablers for vulnerable developing countries. The investments required will pay huge dividends—cutting emissions, driving economic growth, creating jobs, and supporting affordable, secure energy for all.”

The message is clear: the green energy future is well underway, but unless more inclusive policies and financing mechanisms are put in place, the clean energy divide could become the defining inequity of the 21st century.

The post Asia Powers Ahead in Global Renewable Boom, But Africa Risks Being Left Behind appeared first on Green Prophet.