Valued at €25bn, the global insulation market is dominated by two groups of products: i) inorganic mineral wools (made from stone or glass), ii) fossil-based plastics, like polystyrene. However, these products are not recyclable/ biodegradable. In comes Finland-based Fiberwood, which produces 100% ecological insulation + packaging sheets, with a special foam-forming technology, using wood pulp & (wood industry) side streams (i.e. turning cheap feedstock into a high-value product). The firm’s foam-forming technology is said to be “more energy-efficient & use less water than similar processes in general”. Unlike those made with mineral wool, Fiberwood’s insulation sheets are breathable (can absorb & release moisture) + fire-resistant (as well as easy, safe & quick to install). Fiberwood’s...

UK-based, GeoPura develops the “Hydrogen Power Unit” (HPU), a 6m portable shipping container, which can provide 250kVA of (standard three-phase 400V) electrical power (backed up by an 216kWh battery system) to replace on-site diesel generators (with an emissions-free alternative i.e. hydrogen). The HPUs are used – for temporary, supplementary, off grid & backup power – in a) electrical power industry, e.g. National Grid uses one to power low-voltage equipment for innovation testing projects & site operations (trialing it as a potential direct replacement for backup diesel generators across <250 substation sites); Uniper has used one as back-up during a 3-month maintenance outage at one of its plants (to power the outage village, incl. welfare facilities...