Switzerland builds the world’s largest water battery to store surplus renewable energy
Large energy storage projects like water batteries are particularly useful for storing surplus energy from intermittent energy sources like solar and wind.
Europe
U.K.’s opens its largest carbon capture project which will turn 40,000 tons of CO2 into baking soda
The $24 million investment has been completed by U.K.-based Tata Chemicals Europe, one of Europe’s leading producers of sodium carbonate, salt and baking soda, and they expect it to lower their carbon emissions by more than 10%.
Slovenia set to be the first former communist country with marriage equality
Slovenia’s Constitutional Court ruled that the Balkan nation’s ban on LGBTQ marriage equality and adoption is “inadmissible discrimination against same-sex couples.”
World’s first commercial sand battery begins energy storage in Finland
The company claims an efficiency factor up to 99 percent, a capability to store heat with minimal loss for months on end, and a lifespan in the decades.
E.U. to end undercounting of plug-in hybrid emissions
Currently, regulators assume PHEVs are driven far more in electric mode than is actually the case, leading to unrealistically low emissions ratings.
First couples wed as Swiss same-sex marriage law takes effect
The first same-sex marriages came about nine months after 64.1% of voters backed the “Marriage for All” law in a national referendum.
In world first, The Netherlands caps flights at major airport to cut pollution
The new policy, set to take effect at the end of 2023, is the world’s first to limit flights for environmental reasons.
Polish court rules that four “LGBT-free zones” must be abolished
“Today’s decision… is a great victory for democracy, human rights and respect for people,” Poland’s Campaign Against Homophobia wrote in a social media post.
Airbus flies first helicopter with both engines burning 100% green fuel for the first time ever
The recent test flight is part of Airbus’ policy of reaching certification of 100 percent sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) by 2030 for both commercial aircraft and helicopters.
Revolutionary new photoimmunotherapy lights up and wipes out cancer cells
Experts are predicting that this new photoimmunotherapy will be the world’s fifth major cancer treatment following surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy.