Green technology showcases sustainability at CES 2024 with WaterCube and MolluScan leading the way
The annual CES gadget extravaganza showcased technology designed to combat climate change and extract fresh water from the atmosphere, drawing large crowds. Organizers of the Consumer Electronics Show (CES 2024) stated that technology companies are increasingly finding ways to contribute to the fight against climate change, reflecting the growing urgency to address this issue. The event concluded in Las Vegas on Friday.
Water from the air
Genesis Systems was at the show with its first-of-its-kind WaterCube – about the size of a central air conditioning unit – which pumps water from the air so efficiently that it could supply all the water a home needs.
“Our first mission is to sustainably solve the global water shortage,” said David Stuckenberg, who founded Genesis with his wife, Shannon.
“Once you’ve connected this to your house… you can turn yourself (off) the city water.”
In places where wells and aquifers have dried up, the WaterCube can take water from the air with its unique process, he explained.
The decision to become a “water entrepreneur” came from farmers complaining about wells drying up and serving with the U.S. military in the Middle East as nations there sought new sources of precious water, according to Stuckenberg.
“One of the challenges we face in terms of the sustainable development of humanity is the things we need to live,” he told AFP.
“Next to air, water is the most important.”
There are trillions of tons of unused water in the air, and one of the effects of a warming planet is an increase in water vapor in the atmosphere, Stuckenberg said.
The water in the air replenishes quickly, creating an “infinite source of water” that the WaterCube taps into at scale, he explained.
“We’re democratizing water supply,” Stuckenberg said.
His Florida-based company also plans to incorporate carbon dioxide capture capabilities into the WaterCube, since one step in that process already involves drying the air stream, he said.
– Sea meters of mussels –
Small companies like MolluScan from France were at CES with their own innovative ways to protect the environment.
MolluScan combines sea shells or mussels with sensors to detect water or ocean pollution and shares the findings with companies or regulatory authorities – saving the time and cost of water sampling.
“You are working with industries to improve the environment,” MolluScan founder Ludovic Quinault told AFP.
According to Quinault, pollution detectors based on molluscs, known as molluSCAN-eye, have been deployed in the North Pole, Tahiti and elsewhere.
Durable material products
Companies at CES also touted the increased use of products made from recycled or sustainable materials and power-saving features, as well as more efficient batteries and solar power generation systems.
French auto accessories supplier Forvia explained how it uses hemp, wood, pineapple and other organic materials in its designs.
Meanwhile, Britain’s Matter – backed by Hollywood stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Ashton Kutcher – introduced filtration technology that captures the harmful flood of tiny plastic fibers typically released into washing machine waste water.
Ambient Photonics, whose early investors included Amazon’s Climate Pledge Fund, demonstrated a solar cell that can charge from indoor lighting, eliminating the need for batteries in devices.
“Connected electronics require continuous power, which too often comes from disposable or rechargeable batteries,” said Photonics CEO Bates Marshall.
The South Korean conglomerate SK Group playfully dedicated its exhibition to presenting how environmentally friendly technologies could bring a happier future.
Visitors can ride a hydrogen-powered train or go on a “magic carpet” ride in a clean energy vehicle guided by artificial intelligence.
The idea is that the influential telecommunications, chip and energy company will encourage other players in the industry to join its mission of carbon neutrality, Ah Cho said at the SK booth.
