Articles tagged with "water-conservation"
Happy Hour Clean Technology Special: Pubinno Smart Tap at CES - CleanTechnica
The article highlights Pubinno’s Smart Tap, showcased at CES, as an innovative clean technology designed to reduce waste in draft beer dispensing. Traditional draft beer systems often result in significant beer loss due to cleaning, poor pressure control, and excess foam. Pubinno’s smart tap precisely controls the pour, increasing keg yield by about 21% and reportedly saving over 1.4 billion liters of water from more than 200 million draft beers served. Unlike some competitors, Pubinno’s system does not require special glassware, reducing additional costs and carbon footprint. It also operates autonomously, making it suitable for self-service or inexperienced bartenders, and can adjust foam levels based on beer type and local preferences. The technology works with both carbonated and nitrogenated beers, as well as sodas, and delivers a consistent pour that minimizes waste and enhances user experience. The article suggests that the greatest environmental and economic benefits may come from reducing waste in expensive imported beers, which have a high transportation
IoTsmart-tapbeverage-technologywater-conservationcarbon-footprint-reductionclean-technologyCES-innovationsMicrosoft pledges water-positive AI data centers, full power payments
Microsoft has launched its Community First AI Infrastructure initiative to address environmental and economic concerns linked to the rapid expansion of its U.S. AI data centers. The company commits to preventing increases in residential electricity prices and avoiding strain on local water supplies caused by its facilities. Key pledges include paying electricity rates that fully cover the costs imposed by data centers, funding necessary grid upgrades, and collaborating early with utilities to plan power needs. Microsoft has already supported nearly eight gigawatts of new electricity generation in the Midwest, exceeding its current regional consumption, and aims to push for rate structures that prevent residential customers from subsidizing data center growth. On water usage, Microsoft plans to reduce data center water use intensity by 40% by 2030, relying on closed-loop cooling systems and minimizing potable water use. The company will fund water infrastructure improvements where local systems face capacity limits and has committed over $25 million for water and sewer upgrades near a Virginia data center. Additionally, Microsoft pledges to replenish more water than it
energydata-centersAI-infrastructurewater-conservationelectricity-gridsustainable-technologyMicrosoftWorld's largest private energy grid opts for hybrid cooling system
Fermi America has partnered with Hungarian power-cooling specialist MVM EGI to develop advanced hybrid cooling systems for its planned 11 GW energy campus and data center in Amarillo, Texas. The collaboration, formalized through a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding signed on December 1, will focus initially on engineering and feasibility studies for indirect hybrid cooling towers designed to support up to 6 GW of natural gas generation and four AP1000 nuclear reactors. These 450-foot towers will employ a hybrid dry-wet cooling approach that combines air cooling with closed-loop water circulation to significantly reduce evaporative water loss, with additional plans to explore recycled water and solar-covered retention ponds to enhance water conservation. Project Matador, situated on Texas Tech University land, aims to become one of the world’s largest data center campuses, spanning 18 million square feet and integrating multiple energy sources including natural gas, solar, wind, and nuclear power. The project has secured key energy agreements, such as a pipeline connection with Energy
energyhybrid-cooling-systemwater-conservationpower-generationdata-center-energynatural-gasnuclear-reactorsSolar Power Canopy Over Water Canal Now Generating Electricity - CleanTechnica
A pilot project called “Project Nexus” in Turlock, California, has successfully installed two solar power canopies over irrigation canals, generating enough electricity to power several thousand homes. These solar canopies feed electricity into the grid, benefiting local customers. The initiative, led by the Turlock Irrigation District, leverages the unused space above canals, avoiding the need for additional land—a significant advantage given California’s high land costs. Beyond efficient land use, placing solar panels over canals offers several environmental and operational benefits. The canopies provide shade that reduces water evaporation from the canals, addressing a major issue in California where 4,000 miles of irrigation canals lose approximately 63 billion gallons of water annually to evaporation. Additionally, the water beneath helps keep the panels cooler, improving their electricity production efficiency. Proximity to existing high-voltage power lines near canals also facilitates easier grid connections. If successful, Project Nexus could serve as a model for expanding solar power generation while conserving water resources in California’s
energysolar-powerrenewable-energysolar-panelswater-conservationirrigation-canalsclean-energy'Drone knights' protect 200-year-old trees from drought in Germany
Researchers at the University of Hohenheim in Stuttgart, Germany, have developed a high-tech drone system to protect nearly 200-year-old trees in the historic Hohenheim Gardens from drought and climate stress. Launched in April 2025, the project uses weekly drone flights equipped with multispectral and thermal cameras to monitor tree health by detecting variations in moisture content and physiological stress. This data, combined with information from about 100 sensors installed in the tree canopies by professional climbers, enables precise assessment of water needs and supports targeted irrigation, thereby improving climate resilience while reducing water consumption. The initiative represents a significant advancement in precision irrigation and climate-smart gardening, particularly important for preserving urban greenery amid increasing heat and drought conditions. The project has garnered EUR 350,000 in funding from the Eva Mayr-Stihl Foundation and operates under strict safety protocols, including licensed pilots, redundant drone systems, and regulatory compliance to ensure safe flights. The researchers hope their pilot project will serve as a model for green
drone-technologyIoT-sensorsprecision-irrigationenvironmental-monitoringclimate-resiliencesmart-agriculturewater-conservationInstacrops will demo its water-saving, crop-boosting AI at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025
Instacrops, a Chile-based startup founded by Mario Bustamante, is leveraging AI to address the critical issue of water scarcity in agriculture, particularly in water-stressed regions like Chile and India where agriculture consumes over 90% of water resources. The company helps around 260 farms reduce water usage by up to 30% while boosting crop yields by as much as 20%. By shifting from hardware to AI-driven solutions, Instacrops now processes approximately 15 million data points per hour, significantly increasing efficiency and impact with fewer staff. Their technology integrates IoT sensors or existing farm networks to collect data on over 80 parameters—including soil moisture, humidity, temperature, and satellite-derived plant productivity metrics (NDVI)—to provide precise irrigation advisories directly to farmers via mobile apps and WhatsApp. Instacrops focuses on high-value crops in Latin America such as apples, avocados, blueberries, almonds, and cherries. The startup offers its services through an annual fee per hectare, enabling farmers
IoTagriculture-technologyAIwater-conservationsmart-farmingcrop-yield-optimizationenvironmental-sustainabilityCalifornia Completes Solar Canopy Over Irrigation Canal - CleanTechnica
California has completed Project Nexus, a 1.6-megawatt solar array installed over irrigation canals in the Central Valley town of Turlock. Funded by a $20 million state investment, this project is the second canal-based solar installation in the U.S., following a similar array on the Gila River Indian Community reservation near Phoenix, Arizona. The solar canopy covers a 130-foot-wide stretch of canal in two phases and aims to generate clean electricity while reducing water evaporation—a significant issue in drought-prone agricultural regions. The water beneath the panels helps cool them, improving efficiency, while the shade reduces evaporation and algae growth in the canals. Supporters highlight multiple benefits of solar canals: they avoid land disruption associated with traditional solar farms, can be connected more easily to local power lines, and face less community opposition. These arrays primarily power canal infrastructure like pumps and gates but can also supply energy to the wider grid. Environmental groups estimate that covering 8,000 miles of federally owned canals
energysolar-energyrenewable-energysolar-panelsirrigation-canalswater-conservationclean-energyUS' tiny floating solar project uses sun-tracking for higher output
Noria Energy has initiated construction on Aurea Solar, a pioneering 50-kilowatt floating solar pilot project at the Fairmount Reservoir in Golden, Colorado. This project, developed in partnership with the Consolidated Mutual Water Company (CMWC), aims to supply clean energy for local water utility operations while demonstrating how reservoirs nationwide could serve as renewable power plants. Notably, Aurea Solar is the first U.S. project to integrate floating solar technology with high-performance sun-tracking capabilities, using Noria’s proprietary AquaPhi system. This system allows solar panels to rotate and follow the sun, increasing energy output by 10 to 20 percent compared to fixed floating solar arrays. Floating solar offers dual benefits by generating renewable energy without occupying land and reducing water evaporation from reservoirs. Scheduled to begin operations in September 2025, Aurea Solar will power pumps that regulate water supply for over 100,000 residents in the Denver area. The project involves collaboration with GRID Alternatives and Hazelett Marine, enhancing
energyrenewable-energyfloating-solarsolar-tracking-technologysolar-powerwater-conservationclean-energyTiny Floating Solar Projects Makes Big Waves In US
The article highlights the growing interest and innovation in floating solar power projects in the United States, focusing on a modest yet pioneering 50-kilowatt installation by California-based Noria Energy on the Fairmont Reservoir in Golden, Colorado. This project is notable for deploying Noria’s proprietary AquaPhi® solar tracking system, which allows floating solar arrays to rotate and follow the sun, boosting energy output by 10–20%. Unlike traditional solar trackers designed for land-based arrays, AquaPhi® is tailored for water-based systems and can be integrated into new or existing floating solar projects, potentially improving the economic viability of larger-scale deployments. Beyond the pilot project, the article points to a broader trend of expanding floating solar initiatives in the US. For example, Houston startup Third Pillar Solar is exploring a massive 500-megawatt floating solar project on reservoirs managed by Diamond Infrastructure Solutions in Texas, aiming to conserve water by reducing evaporation by an estimated 15%. This project, potentially worth over $700 million
energysolar-powerfloating-solarrenewable-energysolar-trackersclean-energywater-conservationHow deleting emails and photos might help the UK fight drought
The UK government is urging residents to conserve water amid a severe drought by taking the unusual step of deleting old digital files such as emails and photos. This recommendation, issued by the National Drought Group, stems from the significant water consumption of data centers, which require large amounts of water primarily for cooling their servers. For example, a 1-megawatt data center can use up to 26 million liters of water annually. The drought, intensified by record heat and prolonged dry weather, has led to formal drought declarations in five UK regions and a 20 percent reduction in water demand in some areas following public appeals. The environmental impact of digital storage is linked to both the direct water use for cooling data centers and the water footprint of electricity generation, especially from fossil fuel and nuclear plants. In response, some tech companies are adopting innovative cooling technologies to reduce water use, such as Microsoft’s underwater data centers, Meta’s membrane-based liquid cooling, Google’s recycled wastewater systems, and Toronto’s lake water
energydata-centerswater-conservationcooling-technologysustainable-ITliquid-immersion-coolingrenewable-energyNew curing concrete can reduce cracks, save 8 billion liters of water
Asian Paints has launched CureAssure, the world’s first internal curing concrete additive, in the UAE. This innovative self-curing liquid additive eliminates the need for traditional external curing by enhancing moisture retention within the concrete, enabling controlled and uniform hydration. CureAssure is chloride-free and compatible with all types of portland cement, including those with pozzolanic materials, and various admixtures. It is suitable for diverse concrete applications such as pumped, precast, high fluidity, high strength, ready-mixed, and long-distance transport concrete. The key benefits of CureAssure include significant water savings—up to eight billion liters annually in the UAE—and a reduction in shrinkage cracks due to minimized stress during hydration. The additive is mixed with gauging water during batching and requires specific mixing protocols to optimize performance. Asian Paints emphasizes that CureAssure represents a fundamental shift in curing technology by addressing hydration internally rather than relying on external methods, resulting in more durable and reliable concrete structures.
materialsconcrete-additivewater-conservationconstruction-technologysustainable-buildingpolymer-additivescrack-reductionArizona Tribes Explore The Benefits Of Floating Solar - CleanTechnica
energyfloating-solarclean-energywater-conservationrenewable-energyColorado-RiverIndigenous-communities