Climate Tech Trends in 2024

Plumveil Technology

6/9/202412 min read

The year 2024 brings big changes to dealing with climate change. The world is more aware of the environment and the need for green tech. This year, experts predict major shifts in how we tackle climate issues.

Picture a world where advanced AI speeds up research and makes energy systems better. It also changes the way we solve problems by using predictive tools.1 This AI wave is set to open new doors in our fight against climate challenges. It marks the start of a brighter tech-based era.

In energy, there's a big move to use clean hydrogen and update batteries.2 Plus, we're making current energy systems more flexible. This all aims to shift towards cleaner energy sources.2 Carbon capture, solar and wind energy, and tech that puts solar panels on buildings will all help a lot.12

Industries like manufacturing and construction will start going green, too. They'll use tech to lower their carbon footprint. Digital tools and machines will make their work cleaner.1 The way we move products around and how we pack things will also change. Using more digital ways, being clear about how things move, and using better packaging will help the planet.

Key Takeaways

Generative AI will revolutionize environmental research, renewable energy optimization, and predictive decision-making.
The energy sector will witness the rise of clean hydrogen fuels, new battery solutions, and increased infrastructure flexibility.
Carbon capture and storage technologies, along with advancements in renewable energy, will play a crucial role in climate change mitigation.
Low-carbon manufacturing and construction, supported by digitalization and automation, will reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Logistics and supply chain sectors will embrace digitalization, transparency, and sustainable packaging innovations.

The Rise of Generative AI in Climate Tech

In 2024, generative AI will transform climate tech. It will speed up environmental research, giving scientists better insights.3 By focusing on renewable energy, AI will boost the use of solar, wind, and clean energy sources.3 It will also change how businesses and governments deal with climate risks, using big data for smarter decisions.3

AI-Driven Environmental Research

AI can quickly sift through lots of data, including satellite images and climate models.3 This will help scientists understand the environment better and make wiser choices.

Optimizing Renewable Energy Systems

Using AI, we can predict how well solar and wind power will do in different places. It can also see how new rules might affect pollution in certain industries.3 Generative AI makes clean energy sources work even better. This pushes us closer to using energy that doesn't harm the Earth.

Predictive Modeling and Decision-Making

AI looks at many things to guess what products people will like or how much they will be needed. This helps companies and governments plan better for climate challenges.3 They can use huge amounts of data to make smart, effective choices.

Sustainable Mobility and Transportation Solutions

The world is changing the way it moves to be more Earth-friendly. Electric vehicle (EV) innovations like better batteries, longer ranges, and cheaper costs are making EVs more popular with people and companies.4 More and better charging infrastructure helps make EVs even handier, pushing their use farther.4 Businesses are also switching their vehicle fleets to electric, aiming to cut their pollution and hit green targets.5

Electric Vehicle Innovations

The realm of electric cars is growing fast. It's powered by better batteries, longer travel distances, and lower prices.4 Using artificial intelligence and data analytics in how we plan transport can make things smoother, cutting down on traffic, and making travel better for everyone.4

Charging Infrastructure Advancements

With electric cars, the need for more charging points and the high cost at the start has been an issue.4 To fix this, the European Union is putting nearly $20 billion to help sell more electric cars.5 Joining forces with private companies helps bring the best of both worlds together, public money and private sector skills, to make traveling easier and cleaner.5

Corporate Fleet Electrification

Mobility-as-a-service (MaaS) models are becoming more popular. They offer many ways to get around in one easy-to-use place, supporting green travel and varied transport choices.4 Using public money wisely to draw in private investors can encourage more people to back transport projects, even if they have different risk levels.5

Climate Tech Trends in the Energy Sector

In 2024, the energy sector will change a lot, making our future more sustainable. Clean hydrogen fuels will become popular in planes and ships, offering a clean option over traditional fossil fuels.2 This change will bring new battery solutions to the e-mobility and logistics sectors, giving them more power and efficiency.2

Clean Hydrogen Fuels for Aviation and Shipping

Switching to clean hydrogen fuels is key for the aviation and shipping sectors. They aim to cut down on pollution, and clean hydrogen is seen as the best way forward.2

New Battery Solutions for E-Mobility and Logistics

New solid-state batteries and advanced flow batteries will boost how much energy we can store and use. This will help e-mobility and logistics grow and function better.2 They will be used in everything from electric cars to making logistics greener, changing how we move for the better.

Enabling Existing Infrastructure Flexibility

New technologies will also make our current energy systems more flexible, adding renewable energy sources more easily.2 They will help our existing systems work better with new, clean energy, pushing us towards a greener future faster.

Carbon Capture and Storage Technologies

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies are crucial in fighting climate change. They work by capturing and storing or using carbon dioxide. As they improve, they will become cheaper, more effective, and widely used.6 This will help cut down on harmful emissions, making our planet more sustainable.

The Global Carbon Capture Utilization & Storage industry shows hope in battling climate change. It takes carbon emissions from industries, turns them into useful things, or stores them safely underground. This process includes capturing, using, and storing carbon to lower emissions significantly.

The focus is moving towards reaching net-zero emissions and supporting a circular economy. New companies worldwide are leading the way with fresh CCUS technologies. For example, Greenlyte Carbon Technologies in Germany, CREW Carbon in the US, Airhive in the UK, and others are at the forefront.

These new firms offer a variety of solutions. They range from capturing carbon directly from the air to using rocks for carbon extraction. They even work on making CO2 separation membranes from graphene. By exploring these unique ways, they aim to combat carbon emissions effectively.

Overall, the sector is getting better at capturing carbon in ways that are more eco-friendly. These companies help by cutting down environmental damage. They also improve soil health and lessen the negative impact of making concrete.

Renewable Energy Advancements

In 2024, we expect big changes in renewable energy technologies.8 By 2025, renewable sources like solar and wind will make more electricity than coal.8 Wind power will overtake nuclear power in 2025.8 Then, in 2026, solar power will become bigger than nuclear power.8

Solar Power Innovations

New solar technologies will boost solar energy's growth.9 Small companies are making solar panels better with new materials.98 In 2023, three-quarters of new renewable power came from solar energy.8 By 2030, solar power aims to generate 8,300 TWh each year.8

Wind Energy Developments

Improvements in wind energy will increase its part in the world's power mix.9 Better, bigger wind turbines and AI help place them more effectively.98 In 2023, China's wind power capacity grew by 66%. They plan to add more.8

Building Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV)

Building Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV) is changing how buildings look and operate with solar power in 2024. Architects and designers are using solar panels, tiles, and other BIPV solutions in their designs more than ever before. This doesn't only create renewable energy. It also makes buildings look better.10 This change is leading to more use of solar energy and the design of buildings that are both beautiful and sustainable.

Solar Integration in Architecture

Using solar technology in building designs is reshaping sustainable construction. BIPV systems make buildings work better by helping with insulation, controlling temperatures, and cutting down on the need for heating and cooling.10 Also, BIPV systems help earn LEED points for using sustainable building methods.10 This makes them a good choice for those who care about the environment.

Beautifying Solar Power

Solar panels don't have to be ugly. New BIPV tech lets solar power fit smoothly into building designs, making them look good and work well too.10 Special solar cells called perovskite solar cells are efficient, flexible, and maybe cheaper to make than the usual solar cells.10 This makes solar power look even better in buildings.

Government help in the form of tax credits, subsidies, and feed-in tariffs is pushing more people to choose BIPV. But, the BIPV industry is young, and we expect prices to go down as more panels are made.10 With new ways to make BIPV panels, like roll-to-roll manufacturing, costs are predicted to drop a lot.10 This means using solar power in buildings will keep changing the way we see sustainable architecture.

Low-Carbon Manufacturing and Construction

Manufacturing and construction are turning to new green methods. They use sustainable building materials. These are ecologically friendly and help cut down pollution. For instance,11 StoneCoat's eco-friendly exterior cladding reduces carbon emissions massively.

This includes their solutions like StoneCoat SMOOTH and CARVE. These cut carbon by up to 90% versus usual cement products.11 StoneCoat FUSION, with great insulation, also lessens the materials needed for building.

Optimizing Production Processes

Companies are improving how they make things. They're using digitalization and automation. They're also moving to renewable energy. This helps in cutting down pollution a lot.

12 Current industrial work, power making, and moving goods spew out lots of CO2. They make about eight times more than cars each year.12 ExxonMobil plans to spend big to lower these harmful emissions.

Digitalization and Automation

Using AI and smart data is making manufacturing cleaner. It's reducing waste and using resources better.11 StoneCoat's products lower greenhouse gases by a lot, up to 90% less.

For example, StoneCoat's claddings are great for the environment. They've been verified to reduce carbon a lot, up to 90%, versus cement-based ones.

Climate Tech Trends in Logistics and Supply Chain

The logistics and supply chain world is set to change a lot by 2024. Digitalization will make things work better and be more clear.13 This means using things like IoT, blockchain, and predictive analytics more. They'll help know where things are better, making everything smoother and reducing waste and theft.14 So, these new ways will make the whole chain more sustainable and help reach green goals.

Digitalization of Logistics

13 AI is expected to flip logistics upside down by 2030. It will make operations more precise.13 The use of AI in guessing what will sell helps better manage goods.13 Then, using digital models and AI, they can plan for the unknown. Plus, simulating with AI makes things run even smoother.

13 Keeping data in one place is key for these simulations to work.13 Tools like data lakes are used for messy data. They make sure inventory numbers and such are right.13 This makes the whole process less error-prone.

Transparency in Inter-modal Transportation

13 Good data is vital for getting stock guesses right.13 Big data can find and fix issues in the supply chain.13 If forecasts are fine-tuned, this also boosts safety stock planning. AI makes these better and supports regular operations.

Reducing Waste and Theft

14 A small number of supply chains pump out most global CO2. Making these chains greener might not cost much more for buyers.14 Nearly 28% of the EU's CO2 comes from moving stuff around. About a fifth of this is from big trucks.14 High energy prices hit firms moving items hard. In Germany, a few big names control the shipping game, making it hard for new players.14 XPRESS Ventures is putting its money on startups with green shipping ideas. They can cut costs and pollution in a big way.

Sustainable Packaging Innovations

In 2024, the packaging world is all about going green. Biodegradable packaging solutions are picking up steam. They're made from materials that are easy on the planet and can break down naturally.15 These options help fight the plastic problem and push for better ways to use and reuse packaging.

Biodegradable Packaging

There are new and better recyclable packaging options too. Not just any kind, but smart designs and materials that think about tomorrow as well.15 Laws have been put in place, like California's SB 54, aiming for better plastic recycling. It says we should be recycling more and more plastic over the years.15 Also, the EU wants to hit a 75% recycling rate by 2030 for all packaging.15 These rules show the world is really serious about sustainable packaging.

Recyclable Packaging Solutions

On top of that, the future of packaging includes packaging automation and 3D printing. This new tech will make packaging that fits perfectly, works great, and helps the environment.16 The amount of packaging we make today is huge, like 82.2 million tons in the U.S. alone.16 But, soon, green packaging materials will take up about one-third of the market, from just one-fifth now.16 This change shows how much we all want better packaging for our products.

Packaging Automation and 3D Printing

Big companies are really stepping up. HP, for instance, wants to cut down on 75% of its throwaway plastic packaging by 2025.16 To do this, they're looking to new ways, like 3D printing, to make less of a mess on the planet.16 The world over, spending on sustainable packaging is expected to hit $274 billion a year soon.16 This means in the future, we'll see more and more green, custom, and clever packaging, made possible by technology.

Conclusion

In 2024, climate tech will change a lot because of big trends. These include generative AI and better ways to make renewable energy, move around sustainably, and create things with less carbon.17 All this will help move us towards a future that's kinder to the planet. It will let companies and towns lower their harm on the environment, fight climate change, and handle its effects better.

Earth's sustainability and taking care of our planet are urgent. The climate tech ideas we've talked about give us a peek into the future. They show us how we can solve the big challenges we face today.

The climate tech field has stayed strong, even though funding went down.18 Investors see how climate tech can really change things for the better. That's shown by the nearly $300 billion ready for new climate tech companies by the end of last year.18 This interest and money are very important. They will help new climate tech grow fast. This will make the climate tech scene look very different soon.

There are many new ways to make energy, like using the sun17 and wind.17 Also, we're getting better at using electric cars,17 making shipping green,17 and creating things with less harm to the planet.17 These climate tech ideas are ready to make real changes. They'll not only fight climate change but also create jobs, help economies grow in a good way, and make communities stronger against nature's changes.

FAQs

What are the key trends shaping the climate tech landscape in 2024?

In 2024, experts see big changes in climate tech. They point to new trends like AI, better renewable energy, and green transport. Also, low-carbon ways of making things and building will be key.

How will generative AI impact climate tech in 2024?

Generative AI is set to shake up climate tech in 2024. It will speed up environmental studies and help make green energy better. Plus, it will change the way choices are made by using clever models.

What sustainable mobility and transportation solutions are expected to emerge in 2024?

2024 will bring huge steps in how we move around. We'll see better electric cars, more charging spots, and companies using more electric vehicles. This shift is towards greener journeys.

What climate tech trends are shaping the energy sector in 2024?

Energy is focusing on clean fuels like hydrogen and new batteries. There will also be more ways to adjust our current energy setups. All this aims to turn energy into a green force.

How will carbon capture and storage technologies evolve in 2024?

Carbon capture and storage will remain key in fighting climate change. They are getting better, cheaper, and easier to use. These techs are expected to grow in 2024.

What advancements are expected in renewable energy technologies in 2024?

Renewable energy, such as solar and wind, will make big steps in 2024. Solar cells and wind turbines will become more efficient and integrate better into our power networks.

How will Building Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV) impact the climate tech landscape in 2024?

BIPV will change how we use solar power. It will be everywhere in our buildings, making solar a common choice. This will also make our structures look better and more eco-friendly.

What climate tech innovations are expected in the manufacturing and construction sectors in 2024?

In 2024, making and building things will be greener. They'll use eco materials and smarter ways to produce. AI and precise data will manage resources and cut waste.

How will climate tech advancements impact the logistics and supply chain sector in 2024?

Climate tech will change how we move goods. More digital tools will make shipping transparent and green. It will all add up to a more sustainable way of handling goods.

What sustainable packaging innovations are expected in 2024?

In 2024, packaging will get a green overhaul. This includes materials that break down, better recyclables, and high-tech tools for making eco packages. All to make our packaging choices better for the planet.