Willdan Group, Inc., announced that the city of South Lake Tahoe, California has awarded a $ 11 million contract to modernise the energy and infrastructures. This two-year effort will meld together energy efficiency, operational efficiencies that align with their long-term plans and objectives around the growth of this city towards more sustainability.

Lessening the Emissions Carbon footprint and Developing Climate Action

Sara Letton, the Sustainability Coordinator for the City of South Lake Tahoe, expressed her excitement about the project since it will allow the city to enjoy low carbon emissions withlong-term investments in infrastructure, providing benefits for generations. She pointed out that the project brings the city closer to meeting goals in the Climate Action Plan, including achieving 100% municipal renewable energy by 2032 and reducing community-wide emissions by 50% by 2030.

Key Features of the Modernization Project

The project will include the installation of a cogeneration microturbine, photovoltaic solar panels capable of producing 415 kWdc, and advanced building automation systems for all City-operated buildings. These measures will significantly enhance energy efficiency across various city facilities.

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Environmentally Friendly Upgrades for Long-Term Benefits

In addition to solar panels and automation systems, Willdan will install right-sized water meters and energy-efficient power transformers. A notable addition to the project will be a new CO2 ice plant, which uses an environmentally friendly refrigerant to produce ice for the community’s ice arena, further contributing to the city’s sustainability efforts.

A Step Toward a Greener Future

By combining renewable energy sources, energy-efficient technologies, and sustainable infrastructure, this modernization project not only supports South Lake Tahoe’s immediate goals but also sets the stage for continued environmental progress and growth in the coming years.

Carbon Vanish, a climate tech firm, has unveiled a novel method of extracting CO2 from the environment. For quick carbon capture, the company uses air bubbles in conjunction with olivine, a mineral that absorbs CO2. Theo Bouts, a startup specialist and scientist Dr. Bob Hoogendoorn, backed the Dutch inventor Ap Verheggen’s creation, which promises a major advancement in CO2 removal technology.

How Carbon Vanish Works

Carbon Vanish’s method combines olivine with air bubbles to accelerate the CO2 absorption process. The use of air bubbles in water containing olivine dramatically speeds up the mineral’s natural CO2-absorbing properties. Preliminary tests have shown impressive results, proving that the process can reduce CO2 levels within hours, far quicker than existing technologies, which can take decades.

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Origins and Discovery

Verheggen developed the idea for this technology during an artistic project commissioned by Deltares, an independent research institute in Delft. Verheggen created an installation featuring olivine, which led to his collaboration with Dr. Bob Hoogendoorn. Together, they discovered that introducing air bubbles could significantly increase the rate of CO2 absorption by olivine.

Scientific Breakthrough

The team’s discovery represents a major advancement in the field of carbon capture. The technology allows for a rapid CO2 reduction process using minimal energy. Dr. Hoogendoorn mentioned that, while the full mechanisms of the process are still not fully understood, the results have shown that the right combination of olivine, air flow, and energy can achieve rapid CO2 removal.

Patents and Future Plans

Encouraged by their success, Carbon Vanish has filed a patent application to protect the intellectual property behind this novel technology. The company’s goal is to make the technology widely available, offering a powerful solution to combat climate change.

The Potential of Carbon Vanish

This technology has the potential to contribute to efforts aimed at reducing CO2 emissions. By enabling rapid carbon capture, Carbon Vanish could play a role in addressing climate change and supporting sustainable energy solutions. With continued development and testing, this approach may offer a new method for tackling rising CO2 levels.

Carbon Vanish’s approach to CO2 removal represents a new development in climate technology. By combining olivine with air bubbles, the team has created a process that could reduce CO2 levels efficiently. Early results are promising, and with a patent in place, the startup is positioned to contribute to global efforts in combating climate change.