The SolarImpulse Foundation's 1000+ to address environmental challenges - a case of innovation scouting

The SolarImpulse Foundation's 1000+ solutions to address environmental challenges - a case of innovation scouting

The Energy industry is one of the most affected by the need for innovation. Environmental issues are at the heart of social and political debate, and Energy companies are at the forefront of the global fight against climate change.

It is therefore no surprise that 6 out of 17 United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are related to the environment:

As a result, innovation initiatives around energy in the broadest sense are bubbling up everywhere, and are gaining visibility. Several governmental and non-governmental organisations are trying to structure this burgeoning field. Among them, the SolarImpulse Foundation deserves a closer look. Far beyond the historic flight that travelled 40.000 km without fuel, the Foundation has identified 1000+ solutions to protect the environment, with the goal of addressing environmental challenges without compromising economic growth. All of these solutions were created with an innovation-led spirit, and are now all available online.

This initiative shows that:

There is a boiling research worldwide around climate and energy-related challenges
Innovation and technology are clear paths to solving the problem and prepare a better future
The tremendous work done by the SolarImpulse Foundation demonstrates that innovation scouting is not an easy task

Novable, as an innovation scouting technology provider, has staff-picked one solution per SDG, briefly presented below. We encourage you to browse the full database and get inspired.

SDG6 / Clean Water and Sanitation (283 solutions)

Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all

Waterkiosk – Solar desalination system

A simple solar desalination system to offer hygiene drinking and irrigation water at a low price to villagers.

This solution offers an affordable and simple battery free solar water desalination system that is capable of delivering different water qualities for different applications, such as irrigation and drinking.

SDG7 / Affordable and Clean Energy (518 solutions)

Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all

Wattpark – Collaborative EV charging stations

Wattpark is a a smart-grid ready and collaborative solution to charge all electric vehicles. Energetic transition and global warming require the development of a new electrical approach to mobility: with the arrival of millions of electric vehicles on the market, an efficient charging infrastructure has to be installed right now, which must protect the grid as well as the financial capacities of the economic players. WattPark opens the power network to all electric cars’ drivers, everywhere, every time, without constraints: for less than 600 EUR, each user can have his own charging system easy to install, which they can share and monetize with everyone.

SDG9 / Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure (571 solutions)

Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialisation and foster innovation

Tapio – Carbon Management Software

An all-in-one carbon management software providing companies the digital tools to reach carbon neutrality. From an environmental, regulatory and business standpoint, companies need to act on their carbon footprint, if not it will cost them billions. In addition to being costly, the procedure towards carbon neutrality is extremely complex, risky and time-consuming due to laborious data collection among many players each addressing a different stage of the value chain, the volatility of frameworks & regulations and the inability to track on-going emissions. Overall, the carbon accounting, analytics, reduction and compensation market is booming but suffers from a lack of transparency and is poorly understood and regulated. Tapio positions itself as a partner in the journey towards carbon neutrality, by being the intermediary actor centralising in an integrated offer, every tool that a company or organisation needs to calculate, reduce, offset, monitor and communicate on its carbon emission. This Solution is an all in one carbon management software.

SDG11 / Sustainable Cities and Communities (541 solutions)

Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable

SAF – A Solar Activated Facade An exterior wall paneling that can trap solar energy

SDG12 / Responsible Consumption and Production (500 solutions)

Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns

Lactips – A sustainable packaging alternative

Design a 100% biobased material for a sustainable packaging alternative. Lactips designs, develops and manufactures thermoplastic pellets based on casein.