How our supercapacitors align with the UN Sustainable Development Goals
The 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted in 2015 have formed a large part of our R&D efforts in producing our supercapacitors. As a company that places great value and emphasis on driving energy storage toward greener solutions, it has been important for us to consider how we can align our products with many of the UN SDGs.
Our supercapacitors can be used in many applications and industries, so they have the potential to make a huge difference in accelerating the United Nations towards our 2030 targets.
Our supercapacitors provide affordable and clean energy
As an energy storage solution, our supercapacitors actively contribute to achieving the 7th SDG which is to ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all.
Our supercapacitors can boost renewable energy usage as they facilitate their seamless integration, efficiently storing excess energy from intermittent sources such as solar and wind power. This integration addresses the challenge of energy storage in renewable systems, crucial for achieving a sustainable and diversified energy mix.
The productivity and rapid energy storage capabilities of our supercapacitors support the modernization of energy systems, enabling a speedier shift towards advanced and sustainable technologies as outlined in the 7th SDG.
Our supercapacitors support industry innovation and infrastructure
Building resilient infrastructure, promoting inclusive and sustainable industrialization, and fostering innovation is the 9th SDG. It focuses on creating a foundation for economic growth while ensuring inclusivity, environmental sustainability, and access to technology for all. This is a goal that resonates with one specific application of our supercapacitors.
As discussed in our recent blog, ‘How supercapacitors are revolutionizing e-mobility’, supercapacitors can be used in partnership with batteries for all vehicle components, helping to reshape the future of electric vehicles (EVs). They effectively tackle challenges encountered by the e-mobility sector, especially in stop-start and hybrid designs.
Supercapacitors deliver power at a much quicker rate than conventional batteries, they provide faster charging and enhance the longevity of EVs. This makes the addition of supercapacitors into e-mobility systems have a significantly positive impact on the discourse around EVs, addressing many of the issues that some drivers face.
Our supercapacitors promote decent work and economic growth
There is also a clear alignment with the 8th goal of the UN SDGs which is to promote sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all.
Many batteries rely on lithium in their production which is a material obtained through mining. This industry has many ethical and environmental issues attached to it with concerns being raised around water scarcity, pollution, and the displacement of indigenous communities. Not to mention the unsafe working conditions that are putting the lithium miners in danger.
Supercapacitors offer a better alternative to batteries as a replacement in many scenarios – though not all – or as a companion. This rise in the use of supercapacitors will contribute to a decrease in the value and need for lithium batteries, reducing the demand in the lithium mining industry.
Our supercapacitors support climate action
A key goal listed in the UN SDGs lands at number 13 and aims to take action to combat climate change and its impacts. This means mitigating greenhouse gas emissions, enhancing resilience to climate-related hazards, and promoting global cooperation to address the challenges posed by climate change.
As outlined previously, supercapacitors boost renewable energy usage and improve the performance of EVs, both of which directly reduce greenhouse gas emissions. They also help many industries move away from the reliance on lithium-ion battery technology which has many positive implications for the environment.
Batteries use rare and, potentially, harmful materials, like lithium, cobalt, and nickel, which can damage the environment and raise ethical concerns due to the mining and refinement of such materials.
Furthermore, when batteries reach their end-of-life they are discarded and left to sit in landfills where they decay and leak chemicals that contaminate soil and water.
In contrast, supercapacitors use more sustainable electrode materials, such as activated carbon from renewable biomass sources. Their simple material composition also makes them easier to recycle than batteries at end-of-life.
Supercapacitors will aid us in achieving the UN SDGs
There is no denying that supercapacitors boast many impressive qualities that support some of the goals outlined in the UN SDGs. They play a pivotal role in creating a greener and more ethical future whether it be through improving the performance of EVs, making renewable energy a more efficient resource, or replacing lithium batteries in some scenarios.
By embracing and advancing these innovative technologies, our supercapacitors contribute not only to specific goals but also to the overarching vision of a more sustainable, inclusive, and resilient world. Through the integration of supercapacitors into various applications, we are not just meeting targets but actively propelling the global community towards a future where clean energy, economic growth, and environmental responsibility harmoniously coexist.