IBM (NYSE:IBM) has a new way to help companies accelerate the capture, calculation and analysis of Scope 3 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions through an AI tool it developed called Envizi. The new text classification capabilities in this software is designed to help enable a leap forward in efficiency and accuracy by helping organizations automatically ingest, organize and manage the spend data required for emissions calculations and external disclosures.

Taking stock of greenhouse gases is a liability and a headache but when you do it right you can also get good green press and earn a Butterfly Mark (Positive Luxury) or B Corp status. Companies like Estee Lauder have taken it very seriously, aiming to not buy carbon credits but stop them at the source by using upgrades like solar energy.

Findings released in the the IBM 2023 Sustainable Business Snapshot revealed that there’s a perception gap among corporate sustainability professionals, including sustainability and IT decision-makers. Some 93% of respondents think their company is somewhat or very mature in using data to track sustainability progress. But only 45% say they are ready to report on Scope 3 emissions. The sample included 250 participants from 13 markets, including US, UK, UAE, Australia, Brazil, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Singapore, and Spain.

Applying AI to green the gaps

IBM’s new AI and emissions reporting tool called called Envizi has been helping organizations to collect, calculate, analyze and report on GHG emissions for over a decade. The product isn’t a new startup promising the moon: it offers coverage for all 15 Scope 3 categories, using a calculation engine to apply GHG Protocol calculation methods that are underpinned by a robust data management system, says material provided by IMB.

It includes automated data capture, supplier survey data capture, Scope 3 emissions factor libraries, reporting framework templates, a dedicated Scope 3 analytics dashboard, audit tools and functionality to support supplier benchmarking analysis.

A spend-based emissions factor library that is harmonized across over 180 countries, creating uniformity in Scope 3 calculations for purchased good and services. These datasets are designed to help organizations to produce their emissions calculations quickly, accurately and efficiently.

“Growing regulatory requirements and external interests are driving organizations to disclose GHG emissions, including those from Scope 3,” said Christina Shim, VP and and Global Head, Product Management and Strategy, IBM Sustainability Software. “As requirements increase and as organizations prioritize enhancing operational insights, so does the need for robust, auditable data management, calculation, and reporting processes. IBM Envizi is now integrated with the new capabilities to help organizations seamlessly garner insights from spend data to facilitate Scope 3 emissions calculations for ESG reporting.”

For example, a manufacturer may buy computer and electronic components from various suppliers. In one entry, these components may be recorded as ‘chips,’ and in another, they may be called ‘hard drives.’  Ultimately, they all need to be in the category of ‘computer and electronic components’ so the correct emissions factor can be applied.

This application of text classification can help to automatically categorize potentially thousands of lines of spend data so teams can focus on higher value work.

Green Prophet is covering new ground in sustainability by featuring companies using AI in sustainable development. Have an MBA, software, company idea to share? AI@greenprophet.com

The post IBM’s sustainability software Envizi uses AI to green GHG gap appeared first on Green Prophet.

You already know how to deal with the research paper in general. Let us pay 2-minute attention to the basics just to freshen up your memory and then we will talk about the specific rules and ideas for writing on solar energy. You research paper should include:

• Abstract. Short summary of your work, like the annotation in a book.
• Introduction. Clear and precise thesis statement is a must.
• Annotated bibliography/Materials. Sources of information you used to complete the research paper.
• Methods/Methodology. Scientific methods you used to conduct a research and evaluate the results.
• Results. What you have understood as a result of the research.
• Discussion. The interpretation of your recent findings.
• Summary/Conclusions. Summarize your findings and draw a conclusion. If the dilemma wasn’t solved, state what you think is needed to solve it.

You have this list in your course book, definitely, but most probably the description of each part is rather vague which might be rather confusing.

How to Write a Stellar Research Paper on Solar Energy

Idea #1. State the topicality

You should show that your research covers actual issues, relevant to the moment. Example. Solar energy was the fastest growing source of global energy in 2016, showing dynamics better than other types of energy production. Such data is contained in a recent report of the International Energy Agency, which is one of the most credible organization for quoting in your solar energy research paper. There are services that offer people to write my research paper for me.

Idea #2. Show the understanding of trends

Don’t just state something, explain it and show international correlations.

Example.The result is largely due to lower prices and a change in government policy that facilitates a departure from traditional energy sources such as coal. For example, China plays an important role in expanding the use of renewable energy sources. This country accounts for almost half of all new solar panels installed around the world.

Idea #3. Pay attention to negative sides and assumptions

Don’t make your paper too shallow — elaborate on side effects.

Example. Today, harmful substances are used, for the manufacture of solar cells, which in one way or another can harm nature. Already ready photocells contain poisonous elements, such as lead, cadmium, gallium, arsenide. The service life of solar batteries is 30 – 50 years, so the problem f the subsequent processing of modules arises, and the solution of the issue of their utilization has not been found so far. A significant drawback of the process of obtaining solar energy is the so-called impermanence. Solar systems are not able to work at night, and in the evening the efficiency of stations significantly decreases. Just as the absence of sunlight and its excessive radiation reduces the efficiency of the system as a whole, it is necessary to provide for the cooling of the modules additionally.

Idea #4. Give illustrative real-life examples

To make the results of your research more descriptive, use engaging examples.

Example. In 2016 Tesla, Inc. joined by the company SolarCity, which creates solutions for the transition of homes to solar energy. One of their first joint projects was the almost 100 percent conversion of the Pacific island of Tau to “green” energy. The new “goal” of Tesla was the island of Kauai, which is part of the Hawaiian archipelago. Enjoying a year-round abundance of sunshine, this US state practiced “green” energy before the arrival of Tesla. Nevertheless, the solutions on the island could not solve the problem of electricity consumption at night, since solar panels generating energy without saving it. The new system installed by the company is equipped with 52 MWh Powerpack 2 accumulators assembled at the Tesla factory in the United States, and the power of the solar farm itself is 13 MW.  Now the Hawaiian Islands have the opportunity to increase the share of solar energy consumption up to 100, what they intend to achieve by 2045.

Idea #5. Show the ability of big-picture thinking

Show that you understand the market’s perspectives.

Example. Many experts note that the “new era” of solar electricity has come, expecting that the growth of solar electric power will be higher than any other types of renewable energy sources up to 2022. In fact, the agency’s experts admitted that they underestimated how fast green energy is growing, noting that many countries will be in the center of the solar boom in the coming years. For instance, it is expected that the renewable energy potential in India will double by 2022, outstripping the EU. However, representatives of the International Energy Agency said that, despite these encouraging figures, there is still uncertainty ahead. This is due to Donald Trump’s plans to revive the coal industry.

Writing on solar energy don’t forget that it is a speedy growing field and you should use only the most recent case study and reports. Otherwise you can hire professional research paper writers online who provide academic writing services for students. Good luck!

The post Guide: Writing a Research Paper on Solar Energy appeared first on Green Prophet.

IBM invented water-embedded microprocessors quite some time ago and have successfully put them to work in their Zurich-based SuperMUC computer; now they are applying the same technology to Concentrated Photovoltaic (CPV) arrays which normally lose efficiency when they get too hot. Although the technology is still being perfected, they invited what Gizmodo called “begoggled journalists” to check it out. 

When water travels through the microchips, it carries away heat. In Zurich, this heat is used to keep buildings warm. IBM has applied the same concept to CPV cells.

An array of these cells are placed on a 1.5 meter dish onto which sunlight is concentrated at 150 times its normal intensity. Water flushed through the array cools down the cells, optimizing their efficiency performance.

Currently, the prototype has an 18% efficiency rate. IBM says that is decent efficiency for a prototype, although according to a Wikipedia entry, “the most efficient solar cell so far is a multi-junction concentrator solar cell with an efficiency of 43.5% produced by Solar Junction in April 2011.”

Still, IBM isn’t stopping there.

Eventually they hope to be able to concentrate sunlight at 5,000 times and reach efficiencies of 40%. That would truly revolutionize the photovoltaics industry, yet even that isn’t enough for IBM.

Instead of wasting the water that is used to cool down the electronics, they firm hopes to use it in desalination applications.

Solar-powered desalination plants are finally beginning to replace the standard, energy-intensive reverse osmosis technology, but now IBM is introducing a whole new concept that would be especially good in regions like ours that have an excess of sunlight but a perilous shortage of water.

Head over to Gizmodo for their wonderful writeup of IBM’s demonstration in Zurich, which they attended “ultra-dark goggles” and all.

Image credit: Parabolic solar dish, Shutterstock

The post IBM’s Water-Cooled Solar Energy Microchips Also Desalinate H20 appeared first on Green Prophet.