Solar Impulse Foundation

💡 Octopus Energy Generation champions action on #3xRenewables by generating affordable energy in Sierra Leone 📍 Sierra Leone’s first-ever wind farm is under construction on Sherbro Island, led by Octopus Energy. This groundbreaking project combines wind turbines, solar panels, and energy storage systems to bring reliable, affordable electricity to a country where nearly 71% of the population lacks access to power, and rural electrification stands at just 5%. Why it matters: 1️⃣ Affordable clean energy: provides reliable, affordable and clean electricity to areas with limited energy access, reducing reliance on fossil fuels. 2️⃣ Economic opportunities: creates jobs, provides workforce training, and drives local economic growth. 3️⃣ Driving future investments: collects vital data to support clean energy development across Sierra Leone and the African continent. 🗣️ “This project is a major milestone - marking our first renewables project in Africa. Working with Idris Elba and his team, we’ll build a wind farm on Sherbro Island that will generate affordable, clean power for homes and businesses where access to energy is currently very low. We can also leverage vital renewables data we’ll collect to help unleash even more green energy projects in the country and across Africa,” said Zoisa North-Bond, CEO of Octopus Energy Generation. GRA, in partnership with the Solar Impulse Foundation (SIF), is bringing light on 20 inspiring stories of successful renewable energy and energy efficiency projects. These stories clearly show that we can reach the global clean energy goals established at COP28 by 2030, turning a clean, secure and just energy future into reality. It’s time to seize the opportunity to deliver #3xRenewables and #2xEnergyEfficiency. 🔗 Check out the inspiring cases: https://lnkd.in/eFHnnR6B GRA Members: Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) Ben Backwell | Global Solar Council (GSC) Sonia Dunlop | Green Hydrogen Organisation - GH2 Jonas Moberg | Long Duration Energy Storage Council (LDES Council) Julia Souder | International Hydropower Association (IHA) Eddie Rich | International Geothermal Association Marit Brommer #3xRenewables #Time4Action #NowDeliverChange

🎄 As the holiday season fills our tables with abundance, let’s make sure fruits and vegetables don’t go to waste. 🌟🍲 Did you know that food waste contributes to 6% of global greenhouse gas emissions? And during the festive season, when we stock up on fresh produce for all those generous meals, it’s easy to overestimate and let food spoil. The good news? At the #CityofTomorrow exhibition, you’ll discover solutions like StixFresh by Ryp Labs. These smart, natural stickers extend the freshness of fruits by up to two weeks, giving us more time to enjoy what we’ve bought – and reducing food waste along the way. 🔍 Explore this solution and others, not only in food waste management but across five other key sectors, until January 10, at the City of Tomorrow Exhibition. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/dXpCnbpw This season, let’s savor every bite and make fresh produce last longer. 🍓🥕 📍 Tour & Taxis, Brussels 🗓 Until January 10, 2025 🎟 Free entrance An exhibition in partnership with: STIB-MIVB⏐Ville de Bruxelles - Stad Brussel⏐Brussels Environment⏐NetZeroCitiesEU⏐Somfy⏐Fondation Antoine de Saint Exupéry pour la Jeunesse⏐AXA⏐Aliaxis⏐N-SIDE⏐BXVentures⏐John Cockerill | ENGIE Belgium⏐Cartoonbase | Martin Saive | Agence Win-Win.com

Plus léger que l'air - le vol de la libellule: l’esprit de Solar Impulse en résonance 🎐 A la Fondation Baur, musée des arts d'Extrême-Orient, l’exposition Plus léger que l'air - le vol de la libellule, nous invite à un voyage, sans frontières, dans des dimensions inexplorées.    Le musée genevois rend hommage à l’artiste Uehara Michiko, virtuose du tissage ; dans sa région natale, à Okinawa, archipel de l’extrême sud du Japon, elle crée de sublimes étoffes aussi légères que « l’aile de la libellule ». C’est là, dans cette quête de la légèreté et de la résistance, dans cette exploration pour défier les limites du possible, que l'on trouve l'écho avec l'histoire de l'avion solaire Solar Impulse. Lorsque nous avons imaginé Solar Impulse, nous savions que le défi serait immense. Comment concevoir un avion capable de voler jour et nuit, uniquement grâce à l’énergie solaire ? Comment allier une envergure majestueuse à une légèreté essentielle pour se lancer, autour du monde, sans une seule goutte de carburant ? Il fallait réinventer les règles, abandonner les dogmes et trouver un équilibre subtil entre innovation et respect de ce que nous offrait la nature.   On retrouve cet esprit d’exploration qui a guidé Uehara Michiko dans son travail pour atteindre ce qu’elle nomme « l’air tissé », une évocation du lien entre la terre, le soleil et le ciel…    Au cœur de cette exposition se trouve une réflexion qui nous est chère: repousser les limites, transformer l’impossible en réalité et imaginer un avenir où les synergies entre les éléments naturels ouvrent de nouvelles perspectives. Une expérience inspirante à découvrir jusqu’au 2 février 2025, à la Fondation Baur, musée des arts d'Extrême-Orient. Photo 1: De gauche à droite: Éléments d’armature de l’aile du Solar Impulse, fibres de carbone, 2013. L’avion solaire Solar Impulse prototype 1 HB-SIA au-dessus du lac de Morat, Suisse, 2010. Modèle réduit du Solar Impulse, fibres de carbone et plastique, 2014. Photo 2: Corail bleu《コーラルブルー》(535 × 78 cm), 2010 Motifs tatewaku (vapeur montante) colorés de différentes teintes de bleu. Soie dévidée à la main et indigo des Ryūkyū. ©Uehara Michiko, Nema Yoshikazu. Photo 3: Mousson《モンスーン (2400 × 73 cm), 2022 Chaîne: ramie de Corée – trame: 1. ramie de Corée, 2. ramie de Chine, 3. fibre de bananier fait maison, 4. fibre de bananier indien, 5. ramie de Yaeyama, 6. piña (fibre d’ananas des Philippines).

We were thrilled to welcome the ENGIE team to explore the Solar Impulse Foundation’s City of Tomorrow exhibition in Brussels! Among the highlights, two groundbreaking ENGIE innovations are showcased: ❇️ SMATCH: A software enabling smart charging for electric vehicles—charging when electricity demand is low and pausing during peak times. This solution will be increasingly key for grid management and peak shaving as we transition to renewable-based energy systems. Discover more: https://lnkd.in/ecJF7254 ❇️ HeliaSol: A thin, flexible photovoltaic film by Heliatek that adapts to nearly any surface, solving spatial and infrastructure challenges in PV energy production. Discover more:  https://lnkd.in/eKiiuUye A heartfelt thank you to the Fondation ENGIE for their invaluable support of the SIF mission through our longstanding partnership, and to ENGIE Belgium for their contribution to the exhibition. 🏮 The City of Tomorrow exhibition is open until January 10th at Tour & Taxis in Brussels. Don’t miss the chance to discover efficient solutions shaping the cities of the future. Learn more and plan your visit: https://lnkd.in/dXpCnbpw Catherine Debroe | Daphné Cawet | Anne-Sophie Hugé

🌀 SSE plc champions action on #3xRenewables by powering and connecting Shetland 📍 Located in Shetland, Scotland, the Viking Wind Farm, the United Kingdom’s third-largest onshore wind project, generates 443MW of renewable energy - enough to power 500,000 homes. A new subsea HVDC cable now connects Shetland to the UK mainland grid, bolstering energy security and advancing the country’s clean energy goals. What are the main benefits of the project? 1️⃣ Energy security: establishment of the first-ever energy grid connection for Shetland, ensuring reliable and sustainable power. 2️⃣ Local economic boost: 400+ jobs created and £80 million invested in the local supply chain, benefiting over 70 local businesses. 3️⃣ Community transformation: £72 million community fund to attract youth, improve housing, cut living costs, and preserve Shetland’s nature. 🗣️ “The completion of these projects is a significant step in unlocking the green energy potential of the Shetland islands. These developments will not only aid us in our efforts to decarbonise our energy system, but help to stimulate sustainable economic growth in the local area,” said John Swinney, First Minister of Scotland. The Viking Wind Farm is part of SSE’s £20.5 billion commitment towards investing in British renewable energy infrastructure by 2027, posing as one of the biggest private commitments to clean energy in the UK. GRA, in partnership with the Solar Impulse Foundation (SIF), is bringing light on 20 inspiring stories of successful renewable energy and energy efficiency projects. These stories clearly show that we can reach the global clean energy goals established at COP28 by 2030, turning a clean, secure and just energy future into reality. It’s time to seize the opportunity to deliver #3xRenewables and #2xEnergyEfficiency. 🔗 Check out the inspiring cases: https://lnkd.in/eFHnnR6B GRA Members: Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) Ben Backwell | Global Solar Council (GSC) Sonia Dunlop | Green Hydrogen Organisation - GH2 Jonas Moberg | Long Duration Energy Storage Council (LDES Council) Julia Souder | International Hydropower Association (IHA) Eddie Rich | International Geothermal Association Marit Brommer #3xRenewables #Time4Action #NowDeliverChange

🚰 From drips to solutions: tackling urban water waste 💧 Here, devastating floods. There, extreme droughts. But what do we know about the solutions that help us use water more intelligently? While nearly 40% of the global population suffers from water stress, aging urban infrastructure allows up to 50% of water to be lost due to leaks. 💧 This waste, coupled with rising demand, puts unsustainable pressure on our resources, worsening both economic and climate imbalances. Yet, innovation can reverse the trend – and that’s what the #CityofTomorrow exhibition aims to demonstrate through solutions like AQS by Aliaxis, making water management more efficient and responsive. 💧 Using smart sensors, AQS detects leaks in real time, enabling rapid intervention to minimise losses and save up to 5,000 kWh of energy per sensor– optimising our infrastructure, extending its lifespan, and reducing costs! 🔍 Discover more about this solution and others making an impact not only in water management but across six other sectors at the City of Tomorrow exhibition: https://lnkd.in/dXpCnbpw 📍 Tour & Taxis, Brussels 🗓 Until January 10, 2025 🎟 Free entrance An exhibition in partnership with: STIB-MIVB⏐Ville de Bruxelles - Stad Brussel⏐Brussels Environment⏐NetZeroCitiesEU⏐Somfy⏐Fondation Antoine de Saint Exupéry pour la Jeunesse⏐AXA⏐Aliaxis⏐N-SIDE⏐BXVentures⏐John Cockerill | ENGIE Belgium⏐Cartoonbase | Martin Saive | Agence Win-Win.com

❄️ 🏠 With winter energy bills soaring and the building sector responsible for nearly 40% of global energy use, solutions like Airium™ mineral foam insulation by Holcim offer a timely answer❗ 💡 In Algeria, one-off school roof renovation project grew into a national energy-saving initiative. Today, over 220,000 m² of buildings—including schools, hospitals, and homes—are insulated with Airium™, saving 12.21 million kWh annually and avoiding 5,104 tonnes of CO2 emissions. 💢 This lightweight and fully recyclable material helps buildings stay warmer in winter, reducing heating needs by up to 61% and lowering energy bills, all while minimising environmental impact. At the Solar Impulse Foundation, we believe #EfficiencyNow is the cornerstone of a sustainable future. By scaling proven solutions like Airium™, we can create immediate impact while paving the way for long-term change. 🚩 In collaboration with Global Renewables Alliance (GRA), we have featured energy efficiency and renewable solutions that are changing industries worldwide. Discover them in action: https://lnkd.in/e6zGbuyu

How could SMEs secure the upfront investment needed for efficient solutions in order to benefit from lower operating costs and combine decarbonisation with higher profit margins? Bertrand Piccard explains how energy efficiency can work as a service in this article 👇

❇️ Innovating together: highlights from EPFL investor day The Solar Impulse Foundation was thrilled to attend this flagship event, immersed in a vibrant ecosystem of investors, innovators, experts, and partners. It was a pleasure to connect with Voltiris and TeraSol SA, two promising solutions participating in an acceleration program designed to help 10 vaud based companies seize international opportunities. The event also provided a great opportunity to strengthen ties with key players in the Swiss innovation ecosystem, including EPFL Innovation Park, FIT - Fondation pour l'Innovation Technologique, Venturelab, and many more. During the pitching sessions, we discovered inspiring solutions like Seprify, Windworks, and Bloom Biorenewables, while engaging in meaningful exchanges with impactful projects. We’re proud to be part of an ecosystem where innovation meets positive impact.

🏙️ Flipping the switch on urban energy Urban areas are at the forefront of the global energy challenge, consuming 65% of the world’s energy and generating 70% of CO2 emissions. This makes them not only a major contributor to climate change but also a key area for impactful solutions. In this third post of our series on the City of Tomorrow exhibition by the Solar Impulse Foundation, we explore how urban spaces can lead the transition to cleaner energy with innovations such as HeliaSol by ENGIE—a flexible solar film that turns facades and rooftops into renewable energy sources, reducing emissions and optimising urban energy use. Discover more efficient solutions at the #CityofTomorrow exhibition and explore how cities can reimagine energy use to build a sustainable future. Practical information: 📍 Location: Tour & Taxis, Brussels 🗓 Dates: until January 10, 2025 🎟 Free entrance 🔗 Learn more: https://lnkd.in/dXpCnbpw An exhibition in partnership with: STIB-MIVB⏐Ville de Bruxelles - Stad Brussel⏐Brussels Environment⏐NetZeroCitiesEU⏐Somfy⏐Fondation Antoine de Saint Exupéry pour la Jeunesse⏐AXA⏐Aliaxis⏐N-SIDE⏐BXVentures⏐John Cockerill | ENGIE Belgium⏐Cartoonbase | Martin Saive | Agence Win-Win.com