Update: Green-Tech Innovations

The idea: Recycling plastic election posters into new products

After every election, I can’t help but wonder: What actually happens to all those piles of posters? Do they end up as residual waste? Are they recycled? No one ever seems to know for sure.

In Ellingen, a town in the district of Weißenburg-Gunzenhausen, a recycling company has found an innovative solution: giving plastic election posters a second life. The plastic boards used for the posters are shredded and returned to the recycling loop. The company collaborates with the East Bavarian Technical University to transform the material into a recyclable form. The result? New products made from old posters.

The idea: AI-powered technology for early wildfire detection

Here’s a sobering stat: up to 20 percent of CO₂ emissions are caused by wildfires. We all still remember the devastating images from California at the start of 2025. And unfortunately, it's not a one-off.

Wildfires can be triggered by many things — lightning, flying sparks — and spread rapidly, wreaking havoc over large areas. New technologies are now relying increasingly on artificial intelligence to detect fires earlier and give emergency crews a valuable time advantage.

One promising initiative is FireSat, a satellite network launched by Google and several partners, which aims to detect fires in their very early stages, with image updates every 20 minutes. Meanwhile, the German company OroraTech is working on small satellites that use thermal sensors to identify fires. And Pano AI is installing camera stations on elevated spots like mountaintops to spot blazes from afar.

The idea: Developing green methanol to support climate protection in key industries

C1 Green Chemicals AG is tackling a major climate issue: the greenhouse gas methanol. Their green methanol is produced from renewable sources like biomass or captured CO₂ and is designed to replace fossil fuels. It’s especially helpful in the shipping industry, where it can reduce reliance on oil and gas and lower carbon emissions.

The startup has developed a patented process that promotes circular economy principles. Next up: building the world’s first demonstration plant for homogenously catalyzed methanol.

The idea: A solar fence that generates power efficiently — even in winter

I love solutions that kill two birds with one stone. Solar cells in a garden fence? Sounds like just that. Not only do you get privacy, but also a reliable source of electricity. A balcony power plant for homeowners who don’t want to put solar panels on their roof or don’t have the possibility to install them there.

And here’s the kicker: This vertical module captures sunlight from both sides, resulting in greater energy output compared to traditional panels. In winter, it benefits from the albedo effect — the reflection of sunlight off the snow boosts its performance.

The idea: Transparent solar cells integrated into windows to generate power

Sticking with solar — researchers at the University of Southern Denmark have developed a transparent solar cell that converts over 12% of incoming energy into electricity, all while letting most visible light through.

The technology holds great promise for office and commercial buildings, potentially turning glass facades into power-generating surfaces. Although it’s still in the experimental phase, successful real-world tests have already been carried out. The vision: an efficient, nearly invisible way to power large buildings with solar energy.