In this episode, Rhys and Divya discuss the global premiere of 'Our Blue World, A Water Odyssey' in New York, highlighting the fantastic celebration of the planet and the event's success, attributed to the support from various partners. They also touch upon the Brave Blue World Foundation, aimed at fostering scientific, educational storytelling for public engagement. 

Additionally, the discussion veers into Bluetech Research updates, focusing on recent works around soft sensor technologies and reverse osmosis membranes, including insights into innovation impact analysis related to carbon nanotubes and graphene membranes. 

The episode provides an engaging overview of recent advancements and events in water technology, alongside personal stories from the hosts.

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Presented by BlueTech Research, Actionable Water Technology Market Intelligence.

Join us at BlueTech Forum 2024 in Edinburgh, Scotland!
Watch the trailer of Our Blue World: A Water Odyssey. Get involved, and learn more on the website: braveblue.world

In this episode of the Blue Notes podcast, hosts Rhys and Divya discuss a variety of topics including the excitement surrounding the global premiere of Bluetech's second documentary 'Our Blue World: A Water Odyssey' on Earth Day in New York, welcoming key collaborators. 

A significant portion of the conversation focuses on the new PFAS regulations by the EPA, setting strict maximum contaminant levels for drinking water, which poses challenges and opportunities within the water industry. Furthermore, an upcoming report on water and hydrogen showcases the intersection of the hydrogen economy and environmental sustainability. 

The episode also highlights the Bluetech Forum in Edinburgh, focusing on hydrogen and PFAS, and an upcoming web briefing on soft sensors technology. The episode wraps up with anticipation for the Bluetech Forum and the insights it promises to bring to water industry professionals

00:00 Opening Greetings and Personal Updates
00:21 Excitement for the Global Premiere in New York
01:21 Easter Holidays and Personal Life Updates
02:30 Diving into PFAS Regulations and Industry Impact
06:21 Exploring Water and Hydrogen Report Updates
08:03 Bluetech Forum and Upcoming Events
09:09 Introduction to Soft Sensors Web Briefing
10:46 Closing Remarks and Goodbyes

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Presented by BlueTech Research, Actionable Water Technology Market Intelligence.

Join us at BlueTech Forum 2024 in Edinburgh, Scotland!
Watch the trailer of Our Blue World: A Water Odyssey. Get involved, and learn more on the website: braveblue.world

This episode of Blue Notes dives into the world of water innovation. Join Divya and Rhys as they discuss the upcoming Bluetech Forum in Edinburgh, Scotland (June 3rd-4th), where industry leaders will explore the latest water tech solutions.

They then shift gears to chat about a critical environmental issue: greenhouse gas emissions from wastewater treatment plants. They highlight a new Bluetech Research report on measuring and reducing nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions, the biggest culprit. Learn about effective strategies for tackling this challenge.

Looking to the future, the conversation explores the role of sensors and data in transforming the water industry. But it's not all smooth sailing - discover the challenges of integrating various technologies and ensuring cybersecurity.

Divya and Rhys wrap up by sharing some recent industry news, including a surprising bankruptcy and a major company facing wastewater discharge violations. Plus, get a sneak peek at Bluetech Research's upcoming investigations into reverse osmosis, Legionella control, and advancements in biological treatment processes.

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Presented by BlueTech Research, Actionable Water Technology Market Intelligence.

Join us at BlueTech Forum 2024 in Edinburgh, Scotland!
Watch the trailer of Our Blue World: A Water Odyssey. Get involved, and learn more on the website: braveblue.world

We delve deep into the transformative role of artificial intelligence (AI) and large language models (LLMs) in the water industry as we explore the rapid evolution of AI technology, including machine learning and generative AI, and how large language models are revolutionizing data analysis, decision support, and customer service within the water sector.

We also introduce our new artificial intelligence large language model watch service, designed to keep our clients informed about the latest developments in AI and its impact on the water industry.

Furthermore, we share insights from the recent Produced Water Society conference, highlighting critical discussions on water scarcity and produced water management in the energy sector.

Additionally, we discuss the results of a global survey conducted by Bluetech Research and the International Desalination Association, focusing on emerging desalination technologies such as brine mining, batch RO, and membrane distillation.

A special spotlight is placed on Kemira’s KemConnect technology, a digital platform aimed at optimizing various aspects of water treatment. We explore its integration with large language models for future releases, underscoring the digital transformation occurring within the water industry.

Stay tuned for more thought-provoking discussions and insights from BlueNotes Podcast as we continue to explore the intersection of technology and water innovation.

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Presented by BlueTech Research, Actionable Water Technology Market Intelligence.

Join us at BlueTech Forum 2024 in Edinburgh, Scotland!
Watch the trailer of Our Blue World: A Water Odyssey. Get involved, and learn more on the website: braveblue.world

In the latest episode of BlueNotes, hosts Divya Inna and Rhys Owen cover a range of pressing topics shaping the intersection of technology, sustainability, and water management.

They kick off with a deep dive into the burgeoning lithium industry and its profound implications for the water economy. With the demand for lithium-ion batteries skyrocketing, the hosts underscore the critical role of water technologies across the lithium value chain. They spotlight emerging extraction methods and the evolving landscape of lithium supply, emphasizing the need for sustainable water management practices.  

Transitioning to the semiconductor industry, Divya and Rhys shed light on the sector's increasing reliance on ultra-pure water and the sustainability challenges it faces. They explore the intricate technicalities involved in semiconductor manufacturing processes and the pressing need for innovative water management solutions.  

Next, the hosts delve into the realm of Earth observation science, highlighting WaterPlan as a standout company utilizing satellite data to assess water risk. They discuss the complexities of aggregating diverse data sources and the potential of Earth observation technology to revolutionize water risk management.  

The episode concludes with a focus on digital water technology and innovation, as BlueTech Research presents findings to the US EPA. Divya and Rhys unpack utilities' top concerns regarding water scarcity and aging infrastructure, emphasizing the potential of AI and large language models to address these challenges.

If you’re a BlueTech client, you can access the reports featured in this episode:

🔎 Lithium and Water 2024 Update, by Dr. Steve Gluck and Martino Finotelli

🔎 The semiconductor Industry and Water by Dr. Slava Libman

Interested in joining the next web briefing on AI, Large Language Models and the Future of Water, presented by Gigi Karmous and Olga Murujev? Register here.

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Presented by BlueTech Research, Actionable Water Technology Market Intelligence.

Join us at BlueTech Forum 2024 in Edinburgh, Scotland!
Watch the trailer of Our Blue World: A Water Odyssey. Get involved, and learn more on the website: braveblue.world

In this second episode of the BlueNotes podcast, hosts Divya and Rhys discuss various topics related to the water industry. They begin by mentioning their recent team trip to Lisbon, where they set objectives for 2024 and reviewed the research calendar. 

The episode covers a recap of the end-of-year webinar, Water Almanac, focusing on key trends in investments and patent activity in the water sector in 2023.

👉🏼 Tune in on the Water Almanac recording here.

Rhys provides insights into the top 10 patent applicants, highlighting companies like Evoqua, Ecolab, and Veolia. He discusses specific patents, such as Evoqua's work on electrochemical treatments for brackish water and Organo's innovation in boron removal for lithium refining.

The hosts delve into investment trends, noting that zero liquid discharge and brine management attracted the most investment in 2023. They mention the significant investment in Gradiant, contributing to this trend. Other areas of investment include Agri-tech, smart irrigation, and resource recovery.

The podcast shifts focus to France's efforts to address water scarcity, with President Macron announcing a national water scarcity plan. France aims to increase wastewater reuse from 1% to 10% by 2030, with over a thousand new reuse projects planned.

Two emerging technologies are highlighted: Suez's Dehydris Ultra technology for municipal and industrial sludge dewatering and Moleaer's nanobubble technology. Moleaer has seen rapid growth, particularly in applications for farms and greenhouses.

The hosts conclude with a preview of an upcoming webinar on advances in direct lithium extraction, emphasising the growing importance of lithium in the water industry. Secure your seat and register here.

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Presented by BlueTech Research, Actionable Water Technology Market Intelligence.

Join us at BlueTech Forum 2024 in Edinburgh, Scotland!
Watch the trailer of Our Blue World: A Water Odyssey. Get involved, and learn more on the website: braveblue.world

Join hosts Divya Inna and Rhys Owen as they reflect on the pivotal water-related events of 2023. From the rise of PFAS concerns, extreme weather events, and innovations in water treatment technologies to exploring the mysteries of sludge treatment and the quest for effective microplastic detection methods, the hosts delve into the latest insights and breakthroughs. Special attention is given to Blue Tech's November intelligence briefing, highlighting topics such as recycling reverse osmosis membranes, the adoption of anaerobic membrane bioreactor technology, and the ongoing battle against PFAS contamination in sludge treatment. 

Tune in for a comprehensive overview of the water landscape and a sneak peek into what the water industry may hold in 2024.

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Presented by BlueTech Research, Actionable Water Technology Market Intelligence.

Join us at BlueTech Forum 2024 in Edinburgh, Scotland!
Watch the trailer of Our Blue World: A Water Odyssey. Get involved, and learn more on the website: braveblue.world

We had the wonderful opportunity to speak with water scientist, NASA Earth Systems Science fellow and co-founder of the Mc Kinsey and company water practise Dr. Giulio Boccaletti. Many of you may be familiar with Guilio from his foundational work on the most seminal report that was ever written “Charting our water future” in collaboration with the World Bank. 

In this interview we speak with Guilio about his current thoughts on the charting our water future report, his journey thus far in the water industry and of course his new book "Water: a biography” which aims to share how humanity’s relationship to moving water has shaped civilization, transformed political institutions, and defined people’s lives.

“We might find the biggest impact of water insecurity, is a flood of people, as opposed to a flood of water”

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Presented by BlueTech Research, Actionable Water Technology Market Intelligence.

Join us at BlueTech Forum 2024 in Edinburgh, Scotland!
Watch the trailer of Our Blue World: A Water Odyssey. Get involved, and learn more on the website: braveblue.world

“We’ve forgotten that we’re one planet and one family in every sense of the word and if we’re going to successfully reverse global warming, we have to take care of each other and regenerate everything … and that’s what Regeneration does, it provides a much bigger sense of possibility" - Paul Hawken, Author of Regeneration

In this episode we interviewed Paul Hawken, author of Regeneration who will be a keynote speaker at BlueTech Forum this year and discussed with him what regeneration really means, climate solutions that provide people with jobs, purpose, meaning and dignity and of course our upcoming event in Vancouver! Paul speaks to us about an abundance mindset and a renewed solutions orientated approach to climate challenges.

We are excited to launch the full podcast episode, and we look forward to Paul Hawken’s BlueNote at BlueTech Forum #regeneration #bluetechforum2022 #watertechnology

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Presented by BlueTech Research, Actionable Water Technology Market Intelligence.

Join us at BlueTech Forum 2024 in Edinburgh, Scotland!
Watch the trailer of Our Blue World: A Water Odyssey. Get involved, and learn more on the website: braveblue.world

At BlueTech, innovation in the water sector is our favourite subject to discuss. 

Did you know that just under 10% of water technology innovations have a successful application and even then the impact is often disappointing. If you are wondering why this is the case than this is certainly the podcast episode for you!

Towards the end of last year Paul O’Callaghan the CEO and founder of BlueTech Research was awarded his PHD at Wageningen University on the Dynamics of water innovation.

The PHD aims to provide insights into the rate of adoption, diffusion and success of innovative water technologies globally. As well as discussing what makes certain innovations successful in his PHD, he also presented the water technology adoption model. Which can be used to monitor the spread of innovations. 

In this highly anticipated podcast episode Paul will speak to one of the challengers of his PHD, Dr Reinhard Hübner, the CEO at Skion Water.  In this episode Paul and Reinhard will unpack the different types of innovation, rates of success, adoption and give some very valuable advice to start ups in the water industry.

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Presented by BlueTech Research, Actionable Water Technology Market Intelligence.

Join us at BlueTech Forum 2024 in Edinburgh, Scotland!
Watch the trailer of Our Blue World: A Water Odyssey. Get involved, and learn more on the website: braveblue.world

We are on our third attempt since the 1980s to provide universal access to water. 

SDG 6 – achieving clean water & sanitation for all by 2030, was not on track even before the pandemic. According to the UN, the rate of progress needs to quadruple if we are to get there by 2030.

One of the fundamental challenges we face is that the UN’s sustainable development goals use outdated assumptions of water availability; water scarcity is not adequately taken into account and if we were to roll out the established Victorian system of piped water to every home, to an extra 2 billion people will most certainly end up replicating all of its current problems. 

A paradigm shift is needed which focuses on innovations in technology, but also within business models: how can we realise the market opportunity of meeting SDG6? 

Paul O’Callaghan, CEO, BlueTech Research, recently conducted a thought leadership interview with David Lloyd Owen, author of ‘Global Water Funding: Innovation and Efficiency as Enablers for Safe, Secure and Affordable Supplies’ (Palgrave Macmillan, 2020).

David began following the water sector in 1989, previously at BNP Paribas and Ecofin Limited and is a member of the Advisory Board for the Pictet Water Fund. He has been carrying out detailed surveys for clients on the current status and future role of PSP in water in Africa, Asia, Europe and the Americas since 1995. These have evolved into studies on specific aspects of privatization and the analysis of PSP’s evolution since the 1980s. Three major surveys on the practicalities of global water finance have been published between 2006 and 2020.

The conversation sets the scene on our current progress towards SDG6 and asks the following questions: 

• What is the role of the private sector?
• How do we make water affordable for people?
• Are bottled water kiosks the “cell phone” of water infrastructure?
• Rural vs. urban – which problem do you solve first?
• What innovative practices and technologies for water and sanitation exist? How do they scale up?
• Funding vs. the funding gap – how much money have we spent and how much more money is required

BlueTech will be producing a report in the near future looking at both how alternative business models will shape the water industry between now and 2030, and where the business opportunities are in addressing SDG6. We believe it to be one the most significant market opportunities in the water sector so far.

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Presented by BlueTech Research, Actionable Water Technology Market Intelligence.

Join us at BlueTech Forum 2024 in Edinburgh, Scotland!
Watch the trailer of Our Blue World: A Water Odyssey. Get involved, and learn more on the website: braveblue.world