The Beam The Beam Magazine is a quarterly print publication that takes a modern perspective on the energy transition. From Berlin we report about the people, companies and organizations that shape our sustainable energy future around the world. The team is headed by journalist Anne-Sophie Garrigou and designer Dimitris Gkikas. The Beam works with a network of experts and contributors to cover topics from technology to art, from policy to sustainability, from VCs to cleantech start ups. Our language is energy transition and that's spoken everywhere. The Beam is already being distributed in most countries in Europe, but also in Niger, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Japan, Chile and the United States. And this is just the beginning. So stay tuned for future development and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Medium.
May 12th, 2018 | by The Beam
Where is this technology going to go? How safe can it be? Is automation the next frontier in transportation? To learn more about the challenges and opportunities facing EasyMile, we met with CEO Gilbert Gagnaire to discuss the possibilities he sees for automation in transportation.
April 30th, 2018 | by The Beam
Germany-based international heating manufacturer Viessmann has unveiled its new fuel cell, and it’s a marked improvement on all fronts. Both heat and electricity are generated with the Vitovalor PT2, and the advanced technology employed will yield up to a 40% reduction in energy costs with the effect of reducing emissions.
March 30th, 2018 | by The Beam
It might be worth your while to take advantage of incentives in 2018 such as widespread scrappage schemes from the car makers themselves. To see how it might affect you and your region, here’s a quick look at what is happening in some of the countries with high diesel sales: Germany, Norway, Sweden, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg, France, Spain, and Italy
March 15th, 2018 | by The Beam
Sumitomo Forestry Co. recently released a plan to build the tallest wooden high-rise in the world. At a height of 350 meters and comprised of 90% wood, the building has been dubbed the W350.
February 22nd, 2018 | by The Beam
How do you get sustainable energy solutions to more than two million people in the most remote areas -- the last mile -- of Africa and Asia? And how do you make sure the solutions are really used? The answer is as brilliant as it is simple: appeal to the power of women.
February 20th, 2018 | by The Beam
Recent findings bolster the case that, counterintuitively, divestment need not harm portfolio performance. One study found that portfolios which divest from fossil fuels and utilities and invest in clean energy perform better than those with fossil fuels and utilities.
February 18th, 2018 | by The Beam
Kitui Industries, started experimenting with biodiesel in 2008, when oil prices were peaking. This alternative fuel produced from vegetable oil is obtained from crushing cotton seed, and can replace conventional diesel.
February 16th, 2018 | by The Beam
A first of its kind study simulating a global electricity system based entirely on renewable energy on an hourly basis throughout a whole year shows that the existing renewable energy potential and technologies, including storage, are able to generate sufficient and secure power supply worldwide by 2050.
February 14th, 2018 | by The Beam
Falling solar panel prices have led to a steep surge of economically viable off-grid solutions all over the world -- as well, and especially, in sub-Saharan Africa
February 12th, 2018 | by The Beam
We’ve picked out the top 3 New Year’s resolutions you’ve made and presented them alongside some tips to help keep them all year long!
February 6th, 2018 | by The Beam
One industry which is actively working with Blockchain technology is the energy sector, a traditionally “un-innovative” sector with well established near-monopolies. In this sector, Blockchain is already enabling peer-to-peer energy transactions between neighbors. Imagine that your solar panels are going to deliver energy to the grid and/or charge your batteries at the most convenient time. And it all lies in the palm of your hand
February 4th, 2018 | by The Beam
A fast growing market for solar products is driving an energy revolution in Ethiopia. Like many low-income countries, Ethiopia is a point of focus for international development and finance agencies as well as donors. Such organizations are channeling tens of millions of dollars to Ethiopia for energy access
February 2nd, 2018 | by The Beam
A New York-based energy project built on blockchain is currently attempting to create peer-to-peer marketplaces for distributed energy. As the global energy market is still trapped in a previous era and needs an urgent and thorough redesign, the Brooklyn Microgrid could be a game changer
January 31st, 2018 | by The Beam
Olivier Feix is Head of Environmental Protection and Permitting at the German transmission system operator (TSO) 50Hertz, which operates in a region with very high shares of variable Renewable Energy Systems (RES)
January 29th, 2018 | by The Beam
Only by reducing energy poverty and empowering women entrepreneurship a real social and economic development can be achieved. We spoke with Anya Cherneff, Executive Director of Empower Generation, a US nonprofit social enterprise with affiliates in Nepal, which aims to empower women to set up businesses selling solar energy products in rural communities
January 27th, 2018 | by The Beam
As a social enterprise, Solar Sister works to eradicate energy poverty by offering local women a chance to kickstart a clean energy business
January 25th, 2018 | by The Beam
As we start 2018, there is good news and bad news. First, the bad news. There is a lot to do. An estimated 600 million Africans do not have access to electricity that would allow them to be productive contributors to the economy. Roughly the same number of Africans also lack access to clean cooking fuels. The good news is that the solutions are not beyond our reach
January 19th, 2018 | by The Beam
Led by British venture capital company Bailie Clifford, innovative startup Bolt Threads has secured a whopping $123 million in a Series D funding round. The company is focused on producing spider silk on a large scale, and using this material for clothing and other applications.
January 15th, 2018 | by The Beam
Israel-based biotech and food-tech startup SuperMeat has just secured a tasty $3 million in seed funding to help it on it mission to produce lab-grown ‘clean’ meat for the masses
December 20th, 2017 | by The Beam
From a technology perspective, the borders within the energy sector are becoming increasingly fuzzy. No longer is it just about the best, cleanest, or cheapest power generation technology
December 15th, 2017 | by The Beam
The call for submissions for the 5th annual "Good Practice of the Year" award is now open until February 16th, 2018! The competition rewards those who dare to think outside the box when it comes to creating the grid for the energy transition
December 13th, 2017 | by The Beam
Major cities all around the world will play an increasingly important role in addressing the challenges of climate change in the near future, and Berlin is at the forefront of this race to reach a zero carbon economy. The German capital wants to be seen as a pioneer, and is the ideal example to illustrate that even large urban areas can achieve climate neutrality.
December 11th, 2017 | by The Beam
We have talked to the most inspiring people during the COP23 in Bonn, and those who are at the forefront of the fight against climate change. Here are some bites of the interviews.
December 9th, 2017 | by The Beam
Today we’re able to build self-driving trucks, to communicate with smart humanoids, and to play video games with virtual reality technologies. Yet there are 1.06 billion people living without access to electricity across the world (IEA and World Bank, 2017). That’s one in every five people, most of them living in rural Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, they rely on kerosene, candles, and battery torches for essential lighting.
December 7th, 2017 | by The Beam
Following the success of the first ever solar flight around the world, the famous pilot Bertrand Piccard has officially launched the second phase of its action -- the World Alliance for Efficient Solutions -- with the goal of selecting 1000 solutions that can protect the environment in a profitable way, and bring them to decision makers at COP24 to encourage them to adopt more ambitious environmental targets and energy policies.
