Sub's Alternative Energy Thread

[SubGod22]

Taking small steps when they makes sense, makes sense.

First Flying Electric Ferry in US Will Shuttle Lake Tahoe Crowds With Zero Emissions

In 2023, GNN reported that the world’s first ‘flying’ electric ferry boat had entered into mass production after sailing through its performance and safety tests.

Well now, the Candela P-12 hydrofoil ferry boat is bound for these shores, having already begun service inside Stockholm.

With Lake Tahoe attracting over 15 million outdoor enthusiasts year-round, road congestion has become an ever-increasing problem. Travelers often find themselves stuck in long car lines, especially in winter, due to road closures caused by heavy snowfalls.

However, local company FlyTahoe is set to solve this by introducing a revolutionary zero-emission vessel that will make its US debut: Candela hydrofoil electric ferry. FlyTahoe, a ferry company specifically set up to introduce the Candela in America, will feature a 30-minute cross-lake service, cutting the travel time in half compared to the daily 20,000 car trips along the same route.

This 30-seat vessel, designed to accommodate both skis and bikes, uses hydrofoil technology—computer-guided underwater wings—to fly above the water’s surface at high speeds, unaffected by waves and winds.

The wings lift the hull above the water, significantly reducing drag and cutting energy consumption by a staggering 80% compared to conventional vessels. This is what allows the P-12 to be fully propelled by renewable electricity instead of fossil fuels, while providing a smooth ride above the waves even at high speeds.

Cutting travel times while being cleaner is never a bad thing.

[SubGod22]

Giant 2-GW Geothermal Project in Utah Gains Federal Approval

The development of America’s geothermal resources has picked up steam, one could say, after the US Interior Department approved a project in Utah that could generate up to 2 gigawatts of electricity.

Houston-based Fervo Energy received department approval in October for their Beaver County project that is set to start generating energy for clients in 2026.

Wells will be drilled across 631 acres of an area called the Cape, 158 acres of which are public lands.

Fervo said in September that flow rates from the Cape project’s first well test show it has the potential to be the “most productive enhanced geothermal system in history.”

The test demonstrated a single well flow rate of steam sufficient for the generation of 10 megawatts of clean energy, triple what earlier estimates had suggested.

Tim Latimer, Fervo CEO and co-founder, says the company “continues to achieve technical milestones for geothermal development that experts predicted to be set decades from now.”

[SubGod22]

Another small, but good step towards the future. This just makes sense.

Easily Compostable Bioplastic Now Replaces Millions of Plant Pots Across New Zealand While Nourishing Soil

A New Zealand-based eco-startup has cracked the code for replacing single-use plastic—targeting garden nurseries with their breakthrough bioplastic that breaks down naturally in soil.

After five years of development and testing, Compostify is aiming to replace the 350 million waste-producing plastic pots produced annually across the country.

“Our mission is to replace conventional plastics with materials that work in harmony with nature,” said Compostify co-founder and CEO Peter Wilson. “Not only is Compostify’s bioplastic practical and robust, it decomposes naturally, turning what was once waste into something beneficial for the soil.”


Multi-ton orders have already been placed by partners like Scion that are manufacturing the eco-friendly containers for the horticultural sector to create industry-wide impact for the retailers which have long sought solutions to reduce plastic waste.

Made from sustainably grown crops such as sugarcane, cassava, and corn, the pots can last 12 months above ground before biodegrading, with the biodegrading process starting as soon as soil is added. When planted directly in the ground, the pot provides fertilizer for the plant as the pot biodegrades.

Importantly, the bio-polymers made from the crops contain only naturally occurring chemicals and nutrients attractive for microbes to eat, and leaves no micro-plastics or toxic residue.

The construction sector has similar needs for bioplastic solutions and is an obvious next target for sustainable alternatives to products such as the plastic rebar safety caps that typically litter building sites at the end of a project. Initial orders for these rebar safety caps have also been secured.

“Our bioplastic is the foundation for a future where single-use plastics are a thing of the past,” Wilson says. “We’re here to empower our partners, in New Zealand and beyond, to contribute to a world that doesn’t just reduce waste but reimagines it.”

There's a short video at the bottom.

I wonder how many single use plastic planters are used in the US every year. New Zealand surprised me with 350M.