Top Climate Tech Breakthroughs of 2025: IEEE Spectrum’s Picks
▼ Summary
– Researchers demonstrated a passive technology that captures ammonia from the wind, aiming for more efficient production of this crucial industrial chemical.
– A startup is developing a system that uses piezoelectric catalysts and natural water flow to destroy harmful “forever chemicals” in waterways.
– Engineers are working to replace the potent greenhouse gas SF6 in electrical equipment with supercritical CO2 to reduce global warming impact.
– An analysis explores the methods, current scale, and immense challenge of capturing and storing carbon dioxide underground.
– Political clarity, not just engineering, is a critical limiting factor for mining Greenland’s rare earth elements needed for climate technology.
The year 2025 has seen remarkable progress in climate technology, with engineers and scientists delivering innovative solutions aimed at reducing emissions and cleaning our environment. From novel chemical processes to ambitious carbon capture projects, these breakthroughs represent a diverse toolkit for addressing the planet’s most pressing environmental challenges.
A significant development comes from the work of researchers like Richard Zare and Xiaowei Song, who are reimagining how we produce ammonia. This compound is fundamental for global agriculture and is emerging as a potential fuel for cargo ships. Their approach combines classical laboratory chemistry with advanced artificial intelligence to create far more efficient synthesis methods. In a fascinating real-world application, a passive technology has been demonstrated that can literally capture ammonia from the air, operating without any need for batteries or external power sources.
In the fight against water pollution, a promising startup is taking aim at so-called forever chemicals. Instead of relying on energy-intensive mechanical filtration systems, this company employs piezoelectric catalysts activated by the kinetic energy of flowing water. This clever method uses the natural movement of rivers or streams to generate the electrical charge needed to break down these persistent and harmful contaminants, offering a potentially sustainable and low-energy cleanup solution.
While carbon dioxide often dominates the climate conversation, other potent greenhouse gases demand attention. Sulfur hexafluoride (SF6), used as an insulator in high-voltage electrical equipment, has a heat-trapping capacity thousands of times greater than CO2. Fortunately, engineers have developed a viable alternative: using supercritical carbon dioxide gas in circuit breakers. This switch could eliminate a source responsible for a notable portion of historical warming, making our electrical grids cleaner.
Removing carbon that’s already in the atmosphere is a colossal task. A detailed analysis explores the realistic scale of carbon capture and storage, mapping out potential underground injection sites and assessing current capabilities. The sheer magnitude of the challenge becomes clear when comparing the tiny volumes successfully sequestered so far against the vast amounts of CO2 that need to be drawn down to meet climate goals.
Technological potential often meets political reality, as seen in the case of Greenland’s rare earth elements. These minerals are essential for manufacturing everything from wind turbines to electric vehicles. However, unlocking this resource is less an engineering puzzle and more a complex geopolitical and environmental negotiation. The path forward requires clear policies that balance economic opportunity with ecological stewardship and the rights of local communities.
Amidst these technical endeavors, it’s valuable to remember the human element. A poetic reflection from a fiber-optic engineer muses on the simple joys of a summer day, weaving together observations of nature with the fundamental particles that power our modern world. This blend of art and science underscores the multifaceted relationship we have with our planet.
(Source: Spectrum)