Greentech (Green Technology) is somewhat of an umbrella term which refers to innovative technology that helps to reduce the human factors that are having a detrimental impact on the environment such as deforestation and over cultivation.
Greentech can come in many forms, some examples include creating renewable energy sources, including solar, wind and hydro. The use of electric vehicles to reduce greenhouse gas emmissions and technology to help commercial fisherman catch fish more sustainably in order to protect our oceans and marine life.
Sustainability and climate change is an important global topic, and the Aussie tech industry is contributing and making huge advances in this space.
Greentech is a market which is still relatively new compared to other industries and sectors however according to Statista the global green technology and sustainability market is expected to peak at 417.35 billion U.S. dollars by 2030.
In 2023 there is an increased demand for corporate responsibility and a push for innovative solutions as companies revisit their business models and put sustainability to the forefront of their mission and values.
Last year, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese promised that Australia would enter a “new era” of climate action and energy innovation under his government and reiterated his new climate legislation which includes a target of net zero by 2050.
So, What is Greentech?
To be put simply, Greentech is the use of software to create solutions to environmental problems.
Greentech is used to improve energy-efficiency, and to make processes and workflows more environmentally friendly. It is used in many industries including farming, energy and transport.
Greentech uses science based technology to solve global challenges and have a positive impact on the planet. Types of Greentech include alternative energy, recycling and sustainable agriculture and fishing.
The rise of Aussie green tech businesses
A Greentech company is an organisation that has a positive environmental impact as its main focus. In 2023 there are a considerable number of Australian based tech companies and startups working towards a better future for all.
Renewable energy
The Australian continent has the highest solar radiation per square metre of any continent and therefore has one of the best solar energy resources in the world.
Renewable energy is huge when it comes to greentech and Aussie private company Diamond Energy has been doing great things in this space. Currently voted in The Green Electricity Guide (by Greenpeace) as Australia’s number 1 green energy provider. Diamond Energy was founded by two basketball and engineering teammates Tony & Mark who have over 20 years experience in providing solar solutions to consumers who want to go carbon neutral by optimising on our natural sunlight.
Food waste
Australian households waste 2.5 million tonnes of food each year, or more than four kilograms per household per week.
Canberra based company Goterra are “creating a future where nature and automation work in tandem to solve the food waste and climate crisis” by using insects to process food waste and by turning it into high protein fertiliser, this fertiliser is then used on farms. This initiative is not only cost effective, but eco friendly and sustainable.
Agriculture
Australian Agriculture accounts for 55% of Australian land use.
Agri Digital provides a digital grain management software solution, the technology allows Aussie farmers the ability to connect to global supply chains making the entire process, simple and secure. AgriDigital uses digital and cloud technologies to connect data, inventory and finance in one place 15% of all Australian-produced grain is now managed by AgriDigital.
Fishing
According to sources the world’s oceans could be empty by 2048 if we don’t change the way we commercially fish.
Shoretrade is an industry only built app which has been created on iOS and Android that allows wholesale buyers and sellers to connect directly reducing the supply chain. Founded by Sydney entrepreneur Peter Manettas the Digital seafood marketplace closed an $8 million funding round in 2021 with the view of taking the software to Asia and the United States.
Shoretrade also recently signed an agreement with Sydney Fish Market bringing the technology to a very old and established community of fishermen.
“This digital expansion of the fish market will give buyers and sellers more power to get a fair price so more Aussie seafood end up on our plates”
Greentech in everyday life
Technology impacts a large percentage of our everyday lives already and below is a brief list of things that we may already be doing or can implement to make our lives “greener”
Electric vehicles (EV’s)
Electric vehicles are cars or other vehicles that are powered by electricity rather than petrol diesel or other liquid fuels. Electric cars work by plugging them in at a charge point and taking electricity from “the grid”. Whilst it’s possible to save money on petrol and reduce impact on the environment by reducing the use of fossil fuels the initial investment is generally higher than the average petrol or diesel run vehicle.
Server technology – cloud computing
Cloud computing is the process of moving to cloud infrastructures also known as data centres, these data centres often use renewable energy sources to run. The environmental benefits of moving to the cloud include reducing the use of energy resources, paper, carbon emissions
IoT – smart homes
IoT devices in homes can now be used to regulate household appliances to reduce the amount of electricity consumed. For example motion sensors can be connected to lights ensuring they only activate when someone walks into a room. Household appliances such as thermostats can also now be controlled by applications on mobile devices ensuring your home is only heated and cooled around your schedule..
Remote work
As we all know, 2020 saw the global pandemic which meant offices were shut down all over the world changing the way we work. Companies globally now allow for fully remote and hybrid working models. Whilst there are pro’s and con’s to remote work it must be noted that a large proportion of cars were off the road during the height of the pandemic thus reducing carbon emissions and the use of fossil fuels and therefore we saw an improvement in air quality. When WFM began in 2020 Breathe London showed that Greenhouse Gas Emissions fell by 25%
Final Thoughts
Technology is changing the world we live in and in the case of greentech it is for the better. There is no doubt that greentech will be a driver for change and have enormous positive effects on the environment.
Greentech will create new jobs, improve public health and promote economic growth.
With this being said, we shouldn’t be relying on this technology alone to do the work for us. We can make small changes to our everyday lives to reduce the demand for energy and resources. We can switch to energy saving light bulbs, invest in reusable water bottles and reduce our use of plastics where possible.
“Great things are done by a series of small things brought together”
