THE CATALYST

In recent years, few companies have been addressing the global waste crisis by converting trash into valuable energy resources. According to the World Bank, global waste generation is predicted to rise from 2.01 billion metric tons in 2016 to 3.40 billion metric tons by 2050. This massive amount of waste poses significant environmental and health risks if it is not managed properly. However, it also presents an opportunity for innovative solutions. The global waste-to-energy (WtE) market was valued at $35.1 billion in 2019 and is projected to reach $50.1 billion by 2027.

WtE technologies present a promising approach to tackling the waste crisis while generating energy. These processes convert various types of waste into usable forms of energy, such as electricity, heat, or transportation fuels. Below are three companies that are leading this revolution by combining WtE technologies with AI and other cutting-edge innovations:

1. Enerkem is a Canadian company that employs proprietary thermochemical technology to transform non-recyclable waste into biofuels and renewable chemicals. Enerkem secured $255 million in its most recent funding round on April 6, 2022.
2. LanzaTech is a New Zealand-based company that recycles carbon from industrial off-gases and various biomass sources to produce sustainable fuels and chemicals. In early 2024, the US Department of Energy chose LanzaTech and Technip Energies to receive a $200 million investment to develop a technology to produce sustainable ethylene from captured carbon dioxide on a commercial scale.
3. Reworld, as one of the world’s largest operators of WtE facilities, uses advanced technologies to convert waste into clean, renewable electricity. The company operates numerous facilities across North America and Europe.

By transforming waste into valuable energy, these companies are tackling environmental challenges while simultaneously generating new economic opportunities.

Author: Mohamed Hersi, Licensed Environmental Engineer (P.E.)

With all the noise lately about the boom of AI, how can we leverage this technology to solve complex environmental issues?

AI will play a significant role in environmental engineering, helping to address complex problems related to sustainability, climate change, and environmental conservation. AI can convert real-world complexities into predictable models, aiding in the creation of smart and sustainable cities, and addressing issues like air and water pollution, climate change, and sustainable infrastructure.

Several companies are already leveraging AI to tackle environmental challenges. Google DeepMind, IBM, Tesla, Microsoft, Descartes Labs, Blue River Technology (a subsidiary of John Deere), Carbon Engineering, and Xylem are among the top companies using AI to optimize energy consumption, predict extreme weather events, revolutionize transportation, protect biodiversity, combat deforestation, enhance agricultural sustainability, capture carbon emissions, manage water resources, monitor air quality, and preserve marine ecosystems.

For instance, KoBold Metals uses AI to make mining more efficient, helping to find new sources of lithium, cobalt, copper, and nickel, which are key materials in battery manufacturing.

Blue River Technology, a subsidiary of John Deere, uses AI-driven machinery to enhance crop management, contributing to environmental advantages in the agriculture industry.

IBM’s Environmental Intelligence Suite, an AI-powered Software as a Service (SaaS) platform, helps in forecasting and addressing the impacts of weather and climate.

Startups are also harnessing AI to address climate change. For example, Eugenie.ai is an emission intelligence platform designed to help manufacturers in the oil and gas industries decarbonize their operations. The platform combines data from satellite images with machine learning to help companies track, trace, and reduce emissions.

In summary, AI will be a transformative force in environmental engineering, offering innovative solutions to complex environmental problems.

Author: Mohamed Hersi, Licensed Environmental Engineer (P.E.)

From 2016 to 2019, over 90% of the lithium imported to the U.S. came from Argentina (55%) and Chile (36%), highlighting the U.S.’s heavy reliance on these countries for lithium imports. In 2022, the U.S. net import reliance on lithium was approximately 25%, indicating a significant portion of lithium used in the U.S. was imported. The total import value of lithium-ion batteries nearly tripled since 2020, reaching $13.9 billion in the last year reported. Anticipated positive shifts in these figures are on the horizon, thanks to the potential contributions from McDermitt Caldera. The Caldera, located on the border of Nevada and Oregon, is a significant geological feature that has garnered attention for its potential as a lithium resource.

Economic Impact:

The economic implications of lithium mining in the McDermitt Caldera are substantial. According to a report prepared by the University of Nevada, the construction and operation of a new lithium mine and processing plant in Humboldt County, Nevada, could have a transformative effect on the local economy. The construction phase alone is projected to cost nearly $4 billion over seven years, creating jobs and generating tax revenue. The operation of the mine is expected to continue contributing to the economy through employment and ongoing fiscal inputs. The potential for the McDerritt Caldera to contain the world’s largest deposit of lithium, with estimates ranging from 20 to 40 million metric tons, could position the U.S. as a key player in the global lithium market. This would reduce the country’s reliance on foreign sources of lithium and could have far-reaching economic benefits, including increased energy independence and support for the burgeoning electric vehicle industry.

Environmental Impact:

The environmental consequences of lithium mining are a significant concern. The New York Times reported that the Lithium Americas project, which is located within the southern end of the McDermitt Caldera, has faced opposition due to its expected consumption of billions of gallons of groundwater and the potential for long-term contamination. The environmental footprint of the mine, including the creation of a large waste mound, has also been criticized. The extraction of lithium from claystone in the caldera is subject to ongoing development, with various processes, including acid leaching, being tested. While these methods may offer a domestic source of lithium, they also raise questions about the sustainability of the extraction processes and the management of associated waste products.

It becomes evident that the potential economic gains outweigh the projected environmental impacts. However, this emphasizes the critical need for responsible and sustainable mining practices to ensure that the region can harness its lithium potential without compromising its natural surroundings. McDermitt Caldera’s lithium potential presents a remarkable opportunity for economic growth, offering increased employment and boosting the regional GDP. Nevertheless, it is imperative to approach lithium extraction with caution, implementing rigorous environmental measures to minimize ecological impacts. Striking a balance between economic development and environmental stewardship is the key to unlocking McDermitt Caldera’s lithium treasure responsibly and ensuring a sustainable future for the surrounding communities.