Activities which develop (including consultancy and research), produces or implement new or improved processes or products, that contribute to:
- produce renewable energy or sustainable materials
- reduce the use of natural resources by exploiting the resources or energy more efficiently
- reduce the harm caused by fossil fuels
- reduce pollution problems through products, processes and / or consultation
Cleantech represents a diverse range of products, services and processes, all intended to:
- provide superior performance at lower costs, while
- greatly reducing or eliminating negative ecological impact, at the same time as
- improving the productive and responsible use of natural resources
As it encompasses many different types of technologies, cleantech as an investment category has typically been divided into 11 sectors, for which non-exclusive examples of technologies are provided here:
1. Energy Generation: wind, solar, hydro/marine, geothermal, biofuels
2. Energy Storage: advanced batteries, hybrid systems
3. Energy Infrastructure: management, transmission
4. Energy Efficiency: lighting, buildings, glass, fuel cells
5. Transportation and Logistics: vehicles, logistics, structures, fuels
6. Water and Wastewater: conservation, purification, treatment
7. Air and Environment: emissions monitoring and offset, trading
8. Advanced Materials: nano, bio, green chemicals
9. Manufacturing and Industrial: advanced packaging, smart production
10. Agriculture: natural pesticides, land management, aquaculture
11. Recycling and Waste: recycling, waste treatment and recovery
| ENERGY | ENVIRONMENT |
| Green energy Hydro energy Wave energy Wind energy Solar energy Geothermal energy Biomass energy Biogas Biofuels |
Sustainable materials Sustainable building materials Bio plastics Biological based materials Biodegradable materials Materials using nanotechnology Recycled materials Noise-reducing materials |
| Energy infrastructure District heating Smart grid Pipes Cables Insulation Natural gas or biogas distribution |
Water and waste Water supply Water treatment Sewage drainage Wastewater treatment Desalination technologies Water filters Water saving technologies |
| Energy efficiency Light-saving technologies Low energy buildings Biotechnologies Low-energy water supply Measuring equipment Energy saving electronics Industrial equipment and processes Cooling equipment |
Air and environment Air purification Air and particle filters Ventilation Soil treatment Advice about green accounting Environmental monitoring Agricultural technologies |
| Energy storage Fuel cells Fuels Accumulators Batteries |
Waste and recycling Waste incineration Recycling of resources Landfill sites and dumps Waste separation Handling of hazardous waste |