Good News: Issue 11
Solar-powered canoes in the Amazon, giant sand battery in Finland, old smart phones used as data centres, solar panels recycled with water, and wind turbines-turned into bus shelters
Hello friends,
Now that school is out and summer is in full swing, I’m enjoying some time out of the city with my family. Nature is my happy place. Whether I’m swimming with my kids, birdwatching, identifying plants, or photographing flora and fauna, this is where I feel most grounded and at peace. And I see a transformation in my kids, as they run around barefoot and delight in the dragonflies. This is what inspires me, what I want to protect, and why I started the Greener Good.
While compiling this week’s top 5 stories, I noticed that many of the articles centred around a common theme: innovation. Scientists are finding ways to give old technology a second life, transforming wind turbine blades into bus shelters, and turning old cell phones into data centres that can monitor marine life. They’re using simple substances to reduce emissions, from recycling solar panels with water to heating cities with sand. And they are taking inspiration from Indigenous culture to craft solar-powered canoes.
I hope you find these stories as inspiring as I do.
Solar-powered canoes transform life in the Amazon
In Ecuador’s Amazon, solar-powered canoes are revolutionizing transportation for Indigenous Achuar communities. These quiet, solar-powered boats replace noisy, polluting diesel engines, providing vital access to schools, clinics, and markets in remote river-based communities. Inspired by Achuar folklore and developed by nonprofit Kara Solar, the canoes symbolize both technological innovation and cultural preservation. The project has empowered the Achuar to reduce diesel dependency, protect their rivers, and improve access to essential services, demonstrating a harmonious blend of modern engineering and local values.
Despite challenges like engine reliability and preferences for diesel’s speed, the Achuar remain committed to expanding the solar canoe initiative. Plans to launch 250 more vessels underscore their vision of sovereignty, avoiding deforestation from roads while preserving their rainforest and traditions. Kara Solar is adapting to local needs by modifying engines for solar-diesel hybrids, ensuring practicality while maintaining environmental goals. By transforming rivers into solar highways, the Achuar are charting a sustainable future rooted in autonomy and respect for their natural habitat.
REWIND project turns wind turbines into public infrastructure
Denmark gets 40% of its energy from wind, and the country aims for 70% wind power by 2030. This means progress for clean energy, but it also presents a challenge: as wind turbines reach their end of life, they are costly and difficult to dispose of. So, to keep wind turbines out of landfills, the country is participating in the REWIND project — a global initiative that is developing ways to dismantle turbine blades, and repurpose or recycle them to avoid landfilling or incineration.
One way turbine blades are being repurposed is by using by using the curved, durable blades as roofs for bicycle shelters and pedestrian bridges. Because turbine blades are designed to withstand extreme weather and constant use, they are ideal for long-term outdoor installations. With thousands of turbine blades expected to retire in the coming decades, these reuse projects could inspire a global rethink on how to give them a second life.
Finland’s sand battery cuts emissions by 70%
Engineers in Pornainen, Finland have built the world’s largest “sand” battery, which stores surplus wind and solar power as heat. Standing 13 meters high and 15 meters wide, it can hold 100 megawatt-hours of thermal energy. When temperatures drop, heat is transferred to the town’s district heating system. In the summer, the battery can provide enough heat to last a month; in winter, about a week.
Built by Finnish company Polar Night Energy, the battery is made with crushed soapstone, a by-product from a Finnish fireplace company. Rather than use construction sand, which is in high demand and causes environmental impacts, the company sources local, sustainable materials. Soapstone has the density and heat tolerance needed to store thermal energy efficiently.
The battery is now the network’s main energy provider, with an existing biomass boiler to provide backup during peak energy demand. The system will allow to town to phase out oil heating and reduce wood chip use by 60%, slashing the town’s heating emissions by nearly 70%.
Old smartphones are being used as mini data centres
Researchers have come up with a way to extend the life of discarded smartphones: turning them into mini data centres. They remove the phone’s battery to prevent chemical leaks, attach an external power source, and group together four smartphones in 3D-printed casings. The researchers tested the system underwater, and it was able to count marine species in real time.
These repurposed smartphones could be used anywhere real-time data is needed, from monitoring fish to tracking passengers at transit stops. For only $8.60 USD per device, these tiny data centres consume less energy than conventional servers, and keep e-waste out of landfills.
Perovskite solar cells can be recycled with water
Swedish researchers have developed a way to recycle perovskite solar cells using water. Perovskite cells, made with the mineral perovskite, are more efficient than traditional solar panels — but until now, recycling them has required toxic chemicals.
The water-based solution contains sodium acetate (to separate the materials), sodium iodide (to reform the perovskite crystals), and hypophosphorous acid (to keep the solution stable). After the solution is heated, solar cells are submerged, and the perovskite crystals are separated using a centrifuge. Every component can be recovered, from the perovskite to the electrodes to the glass.
Solar cells made from these recycled materials are just as effective as the original cells, meaning they can be recycled multiple times — instead of going to the landfill. And by reusing perovskite instead of mining it, manufacturers can reduce both the cost and environmental footprint of solar production. As the demand for solar power continues to increase, and more solar panels reach their end of life, sustainable recycling solutions are key to ensuring the solar industry grows in an environmentally responsible way.
I hope you can enjoy some time in nature with your loved ones this summer, whether it is at a cottage, campground, or local park.
Yours for the Greener Good,
Brett
We need more good news these days, especially when it comes to the environment!