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didgUgo adopts InterSystems platform

2024-09-11T10:55:05+10:00

Australian care industry software startup didgUgo has signed a solutions partner agreement with InterSystems to add interoperability, FHIR, and AI functionality to its next-generation care visit verification solution.

didgUgo adopted InterSystems Iris for Health data platform to enhance its functionality and value it offers to providers.

didgUgo deployed Iris to use healthcare data standards such as HL7 FHIR and to provide interoperability with information systems used by care providers.

This will support enhanced functionality such as two-way communication with subcontractors or using AI and Machine Learning for fraud prevention.

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The agreement with InterSystems will also accelerate didgUgo’s growth.

This includes offering its solution in the United States – where Electronic Visit Verification (EVV) is mandatory for Medicare and Medicaid – in addition to Australia.

didgUgo recently exhibited at the InterSystems Global Summit 2024 in the US to raise awareness of its next-generation EVV solution and better understand global market requirements.

It demonstrated its use of Iris for Health to exchange data with other applications, including the InterSystems TrakCare healthcare information system, which also uses Iris for Health.

“Our vision is to integrate didgUgo into the Iris ecosystem so that solutions like TrakCare can plug in didgUgo check-in/check-out services to significantly improve visibility of service delivery, in real time,” said didgUgo chief technology officer and managing director Luke Benson.

“For many home services, Australian care providers don’t have any visibility into jobs until they receive the invoice, weeks later,” said Benson.

“We can fill that gap by providing real-time visit verification data. With our Solutions Partner agreement with InterSystems, didgUgo is primed to be interoperable and exchange data with provider systems in real time. By integrating a rostering or work order system, you could follow up with subcontractors and say, ‘Did you forget to check in?’”

Benson highlighted how didgUgo’s team was set to rapidly integrate with Iris for Health.

“Our engineering team took advantage of the excellent online developer resources from InterSystems, such as documentation and pre-built Docker images, and we were able to integrate our solution into Iris for Health in just a couple of days.”

“It also gives us FHIR compliance and facilitates AI and machine learning, for example, to analyse data for advanced fraud prevention. We’ve also received great support from the local InterSystems solution engineering team to help us optimise the solution.”

“InterSystems works with care industry software start-ups to meet one of their most pressing challenges – the need for interoperability to integrate with providers’ information systems and deliver value quickly,” said InterSystems country manager ANZ Darren Jones.

Designed for healthcare, aged care, and disability service providers, didgUgo is an software-as-a-service (SaaS) solution that enables subcontractors to scan an on-site QR code to check in and out of jobs.

Providers get confirmation via the didgUgo SaaS application and APIs, simplifying and streamlining their business processes and improving compliance. To avoid data privacy issues, didgUgo retains the smallest possible data footprint, with no need to store subcontractor or client and patient private data.

Research and further development in the pharmaceutical industry: challenges and opportunities for professional realities

2024-09-09T20:18:53+10:00

GUEST OPINION: Nowadays, every one of us is deeply merged in an ever-evolving landscape in which the influence of technology is more pervasive than ever, transforming every professional and social paradigm. This phenomenon is part of a wider and dynamic progress, which is particularly evident when we analyze the pharmaceutical industry. In this field, innovations are reshaping how medical care and products meet rising demands.

This sector is witnessing significant advancements, from more precise medicine to biotechnology and artificial intelligence for digital health solutions. These developments are offering new ways to enhance patient outcomes and streamline operations. Nonetheless, it’s safe to say that alongside the opportunities, today's pharmaceutical industries are also facing numerous challenges related to the integration of the latest generation’s technology by making substantial investments in order to comply with the regulations and to adapt the workforce to the needs of the actual market.

The balance between leveraging technological potential and navigating these obstacles can be found by introducing advanced machinery such as the ones provided by the Italian company LAST Technology in order to be more agile, informed and prepared to embrace the new possibilities of the digital realm. In the next paragraphs, we are going to explore the advantages of progress in the pharmaceutical industry and the latest trends and challenges that the related industries are experiencing.

The main advantages of research and technology in the pharmaceutical industry

When talking about the main advantages of research and technology in the pharmaceutical industry, our eyes can immediately meet also some of the most prominent trends of innovation in the related field. Advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, and bioinformatics, for example, can accelerate the identification of potential drug candidates by reducing the time and cost associated with bringing new products to the market.

Furthermore, such an approach, combined with the advances in genomics and biotechnology, enables the development of a more personalized way of conceiving treatments, making them as much personalized as possible, in order to meet the specific needs of the patients and improve the efficacy and safety of different kinds of therapies. Innovative research methods enhanced by real-time data analytics can provide a much sharper way of dosing and administrating medications.

It's also safe to say that new technologies can facilitate the design and management of clinical trials by improving the patient’s recovery, making trials more efficient and reliable. New technologies can ensure that medications are delivered in a much more effective way to targeted areas, reducing their lack in more critical areas. Obviously, an innovative industry can be more productive, leading to an increase in manufacturing efficiency, which can provide many more products capable of satisfying the global demand among patients.

The main challenges faced by pharmaceutical industries during the innovation process

Having access to digital innovation leads to several advantages and benefits for industries that are prone to face progress in the pharmaceutical field. However, it’s also important to underline that, on the other hand, these companies must be ready to go through significant challenges that can have an important impact on the development and delivery of new therapies. Developing new medical products, for example, requires substantial investment with no guarantee of success, making the financial burden particularly heavy for a smaller reality.

Furthermore, the pharmaceutical industry has to consider the complex and stringent regulatory environments in the countries in which it is operating by ensuring compliance with safety, efficacy and quality standards, something that is possible only thanks to the expertise of professionals and by providing them with substantial resources. Also, obtaining regulatory approval can be a very time-consuming process.

When it comes specifically to technological integration, instead, companies must face significant changes in infrastructure and processes that can be very challenging to implement and manage in the shorter term, specifically related to the habits and the workflow to which professionals were used in the past. Finally, there are some ethical considerations related to the use of new technologies, specifically Artificial Intelligence and Big Data. Data privacy and security, in fact, are becoming a priority for both institutions and private citizens.

Three WA satellites make waves in space

2024-09-03T10:25:06+10:00

A trio of Western Australian satellites that will inform scientists how well its radiation shields will work is orbiting the Earth after the deployment of Curtin University’s Binar 2, 3, and 4 from the International Space Station.

The satellites were launched from Cape Canaveral in Florida. They were docked at the International Space Station earlier this month.

After these events, the Binar team from the Space Science Technology Centre in the School of Earth and Planetary Sciences gave astronauts the final order to release the satellites – known as CubeSats - at a special viewing event with Curtin staff and representatives from the Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation.

The satellites are currently travelling at 28,000km/h, orbiting the Earth once every 90 minutes.

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Their mission will end in nine to 12 months in a ball of flames as the satellites re-enter Earth’s atmosphere.

Before their fiery demise, the CubeSats will send data to CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency while WA-based company AVI will test its spacecraft communications system while the satellites are in orbit.

Binar principal investigator John Curtin and professor Phil Bland say the deployment was a significant milestone for the team and for WA’s contribution to the global space industry.

“These CubeSats are among the most advanced satellites in the world in their class and they were entirely designed and built in WA, carrying a WA industry payload,” Bland says.

Over the next 12 months, the Binar team plans to initiate a new project with bigger spacecraft and a WA-designed propulsion system.

Professor Bland says this new mission could be capable of providing daily updates for bushfire prediction and urban heat islands.

“The BinarX team will also work with students from nine WA high schools to build payloads to fly on the next mission.”

“When you combine all of these elements, it shows we have everything in place to support a thriving WA space ecosystem.”

Tech Developments in Healthcare: What to Watch in 2024

2024-08-29T20:21:54+10:00

GUEST OPINION: Healthcare and technology have always shared a symbiotic relationship. In most of the industry's major milestones, whether it be the development of CRISPR-Cas9 or mRNA vaccine, technology seems to have played a crucial role. Tech continues to shake up and advance all aspects of healthcare, from the way a surgeon operates to the care provided by a graduate of a family nurse practitioner program.

The healthcare industry is set to undergo a pivotal time of change and evolution. Given below are eight technological meta-trends that are set to change the industry for the upcoming decade:

Artificial Intelligence

No surprises here. Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been the talk of the town for a while now, attracting both attention and investment. In fact, one in every four dollars invested in healthcare is going toward companies leveraging AI. Patient data has never been more abundant, and with AI models getting more sophisticated, expect more high-end uses than just writing an email to your boss on a lazy Monday morning. Spotting trends, providing personalized insights, and monitoring a live feed of data for anomalies and treatment reactions are just some of the many applications. Truth be told, the sky is the limit when it comes to potential use cases for AI in the healthcare space. Innovations like Zebra Medical Vision (medical imaging used to identifying conditions like fractures, lung diseases, and cancers with greater accuracy) and Tempus, ( AI driven precision medicine solution which enables doctors to analyze genetic data and tailor cancer treatments) are already setting the pace.

Blockchain

Cryptocurrencies may have tarnished the image of this technology, but write it off at your own peril. Its scope could be best explained with Estonia’s case study. In 2016 the nation’s tech-savvy government successfully transitioned from a paper-internet hybrid to a blockchain-based system for maintaining its public health records. Beyond the obvious benefits of improving data security and patient privacy, this approach has also had a positive impact on administrative efficiency as well as interoperability amongst different healthcare providers, which is a significant pain point of the industry. As the technology matures and has more such successful applications, expect it to go mainstream in the near future.

Nanotechnology

Nanotech devices may be minuscule, but their impact on healthcare will be colossal. Primarily, these devices can be very handy in diagnostic testing and drug delivery. Imagine using fabrics embedded with nanomaterials that can interact with the patient's body by regulating temperature and monitoring health or delivering drugs directly to specific cells or tissues. These are not the figments of sci-fi fantasy, but present-day reality and the use of nanoparticles in cancer therapy is just one example. Advancements in nanorobotics and precision manufacturing have the potential to fuel its advancement further, with applications going beyond patient data security into medical supply chain improvements and more.

Augmented Reality

Augmented Reality (AR) will be a game-changer for healthcare education. The level of detailing and adaptability will be unprecedented, with progress already being made. Interactive 3D anatomy models in the surrounding space will enable students to apply their learnings visually. Advanced AR headsets could also assist nurses in finding veins more easily and surgeons in the operating room. The increasing involvement of Big Tech companies like Meta and Apple in building consumer-centric AR products could also hasten developments in this field, making augmented reality more real.

3D Printing

The most mature tech on this list, 3D Printing, has already drastically changed hundreds of thousands of lives for the better across the globe. 3D printing can create implants and prosthetics as per the specific requirements of the patient. The ability to create organs and tissues with a special ink called “bio-ink” has been a massive enabler, allowing improvements to move beyond limbs. Also known as additive manufacturing, the industry is receiving a push from the White House. With renewed policy focus and government support, expect the off-shoots of this growth to have a positive impact on healthcare.

Remote Patient Monitoring

The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated all things remote, with healthcare being at the forefront of this change. Healthcare professionals can expect more and more of their patients to prefer remote diagnostics and monitoring in 2024 and the future. Improved tech has played a central role here. Wearables have become cheaper and more accurate, and the Internet of Things (IoT) is becoming more mainstream. Niche health monitoring apps for a variety of edge cases are being built. Internet penetration and digital literacy are on the rise globally. All these factors combine to make a digital-first future ripe for disruption.

Surgical Robots

We’ve come a long way since the days of PUMA-560, the first robot ever used in surgery in 1985. Robotics is poised to enhance productivity and efficiency across different industries, and healthcare is no exception. Their use is not limited to surgery; they can also be used in rehabilitation, robotic lab automation, disinfection, elderly care, nursing and medicine dispensing. While its application and scope are immense, it is important to be cautious about its deployment in the near future as more work needs to be done to make these devices more nuanced and agile.

Cloud-Based Software

While its inclusion may come as a surprise, cloud-based software and solutions have been impacting healthcare for a while now. Healthtech startups with a slick interface and interoperability have been gathering momentum in the US. These have obvious advantages for professionals, like no hassle of maintaining expensive tech hardware and access to regularly updated software. With a greater share of health practitioners going digital, this trend is set to gain traction.

Over the next decade, as these technologies mature and enter public discourse, healthcare will undergo an inevitable evolution. It is imperative that industry stakeholders be prepared and start acquainting themselves by slowly meshing these into their workflow.

Axiom Space zips its spacesuits with Nokia 4G/LTE

2024-08-26T08:39:21+10:00

Axiom Space has tapped Finnish telco vendor Nokia to integrate advanced 4G/LTE communication capabilities into next-generation spacesuits that will be used for the Artemis III lunar mission.

The Artemis III mission is described as the “most complex undertakings of engineering and human ingenuity” in the history of deep space exploration.”

According to NASA’s website, Artemis III will see astronauts travel to lunar orbit where “where two crew members will descend to the surface and spend approximately a week near the South Pole of the Moon conducting new science before returning to lunar orbit to join their crew for the journey back to Earth.”

Together, Nokia and Axiom Space will incorporate cellular-network capabilities in the Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit (AxEMU), supporting HD video, telemetry data, and voice transmission over multiple kilometers on the Moon.

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This advancement will enable Artemis III crew members to capture real-time video and communicate with mission controllers on Earth while they explore the lunar surface.

“Adding high-speed 4G/LTE network capability on the Moon will serve as a vital bridge linking astronauts to Earth, facilitating crucial data exchange, and enabling high-definition video communication over long distances,” says Axiom Space executive vice president of extravehicular activity Russell Ralston.

Nokia plans to deploy the first cellular network on the Moon as part of Intuitive Machines’ IM-2 mission, which is scheduled to be delivered to the launch site in 2024.

During that mission, Nokia aims to demonstrate that cellular connectivity can facilitate crucial communications during future lunar or Mars missions.

Nokia’s Lunar Surface Communications System (LSCS), pioneered by Nokia Bell Labs’ research and innovation, will be deployed during IM-2 and will be further adapted for use in the AxEMU spacesuit.

“Just as astronauts will need life support, shelter, and food, they will need advanced networks to communicate with each other and go about their crucial work,” says Nokia president Bell Labs Solutions Research Thierry E. Klein.

The fully autonomous LSCS has two components: a network-in-a-box combines the radio, base station, and core network elements of a terrestrial cellular network into a single unit, and device modules that will be integrated into the AxEMU spacesuits.

Both the network and device modules have been carefully engineered to withstand the extreme environmental conditions on the lunar surface and the dynamic stress of spaceflight, and have been optimised for size, weight, and power consumption.

Axiom Space’s spacesuits will provide astronauts with advanced capabilities for space exploration while providing NASA with commercially developed human systems needed to access, live, and work on and around the Moon.

Kanyini launches onboard SpaceX

2024-08-19T09:23:06+10:00

South Australian-owned and manufactured satellite Kanyini claimed in an “Australian first” that it was successfully launched today onboard a SpaceX rocket from the US.

Kanyini is the first state government-funded satellite worth $6.5 million. It was built by a local team of South Australian-based companies—SmartSat CRC, Inovor, and Myriota.

Last March, Kanyini passed its Environmental Stress Screening (ESS) ahead of its launch.

The screening was conducted at the National Space Test Facility at the Australian National University in Canberra. It confirmed Kanyini’s ability to withstand harsh conditions in space.

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Now that Kanyini is in orbit, the next milestone for the project is to establish stable communications through an operations centre located at Inovor Technologies in Lot Fourteen, Adelaide.

Once fully commissioned, Kanyini will deliver critical space data to be leveraged by government and research institutions, particularly in sustainability and climate impacts.

Kanyini was launched to improve Australia’s bushfire detection so the country can detect fires from space 500x faster than traditional processing.

The satellite will also support a program – led by South Australian Department for Environment and Water and Greening Adelaide – to sense urban heat islands in the state.

Data collected by Kanyini will be used to develop AI that can predict natural disaster events such as landslides and flooding.

This initiative is being led by Queensland University of Technology and European Space Agency Phi-Lab.

“We have now realised our mission of seeing homegrown South Australian space technologies launched into low Earth orbit. The coming months will be crucial as the team works to fully operationalise Kanyini and begin reaping the benefits of its data-gathering capabilities,” says SmartSat CRC CEO Andy Koronios.

“Putting anything into space is an extraordinary feat, and the success of this launch of the Kanyini satellite is an excellent achievement, not only for the Kanyini team, including Inovor, but also for the South Australian space sector as a whole,” says Inovor CEO Dr Matt Tetlow.

“This launch is a testament to the collaborative efforts of the Kanyini team in preparing the 6U CubeSat and our onboard IoT payload to withstand the harsh conditions of space,” says Myriota chief technology officer and co-founder Dr David Haley.

Comfort and energy efficiency ‘on the rise’ in new Australian homes: research

2024-08-13T13:34:07+10:00

New research from CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency, has revealed new Australian homes are up to 50 per cent more airtight than those tested in 2015.

“This is good news for homeowners, as houses and apartments that meet recommended air tightness levels are more comfortable, have lower energy bills and healthier indoor air quality,” according to the CSIRO, which also notes that “air tightness minimises unintended air movements within a building, preventing outdoor air from entering and indoor air from escaping.

“Poor air tightness can cause draughts, increasing energy bills by up to 20 per cent. Conversely, homes that are too airtight without controlled ventilation can lead to condensation, mould and health issues for residents such as headaches and nausea from higher carbon dioxide and monoxide levels. ”

The CSIRO says that researchers tested a total of 233 apartments and detached houses built in the last four years in Melbourne, Sydney Canberra, Brisbane and Adelaide., and homes specially designed for air tightness were excluded - and “while the research results were positive and compare well to standards in other countries like the UK, the study found room for improvement. ”

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Senior Experimental Scientist and project lead Michael Ambrose said the research used a blower door test to identify the leakage rate and determine where leakages occur.

“Leakages were found in most new homes, mainly from bathroom fans, sliding doors and poor or missing door seals,” Ambrose said.

“Some other homes, particularly apartments, were found to be extremely airtight, which can result in issues impacting building performance and resident health, if controlled ventilation is not included.

“Fortunately, there are simple and affordable ways to rectify these issues and preventative measures that can be implemented during construction."

The CSIRO notes that the report outlined a range of recommendations for Australian building codes to address common air tightness issues, including:

establishing air tightness standards in the National Construction Code (NCC)
requiring controlled ventilation in new buildings, particularly apartments to reduce indoor pollutants and moisture
making air barriers, such as building wraps mandatory in all new residences
providing on-site training and educational resources to connect builders with cost-effective solutions that improve building performance

The study, funded by the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) found that actual air tightness levels were closely aligned with those assumed by the Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS), which provides an energy efficiency star rating for residential buildings.

“This provides us with strong confidence that NatHERS is accurately predicting air tightness within specified levels,” Ambrose said.

“We see value in displaying air tightness values on NatHERS certificates and noting the impact on the star rating.

“But overall, our research found that new Australian homes are performing better than ever before."

Aqua Analytics awarded two-year extension to Yarra Valley Water asset maintenance contract

2024-08-12T09:25:50+10:00

Yarra Valley Water has awarded a two-year asset maintenance contract extension to Aqua Analytics, a leading provider of water network intelligence solutions.

The extension follows three years of successful collaboration in proactive leak detection and associated services.

Under the extended agreement, Aqua Analytics will continue to deploy its expertise and leakage management technologies to minimise water loss across Yarra Valley Water's vast distribution network, spanning 4,000 square kilometres and over 10,000 kilometres of water mains.

Yarra Valley Water Acting General Manager Service Futures Raghu Bharadwaj said Aqua Analytics had consistently proven their commitment to securing water resources for future generations.

“We're really excited to expand our partnership with Aqua Analytics, using their advanced AI data loggers to enhance our water management capabilities.”

"Their tailored approach not only optimises our operational efficiency, but also aligns perfectly with our customer commitment to deliver reliable and timely services, as outlined in our price submission.”

Aqua Analytics' innovative approach to network leak detection includes the use of acoustic equipment, sensors and data analytics to optimise specialist field teams.

“By integrating Aqua Analytics' technology into our infrastructure, we're better equipped to proactively identify and resolve leaks quickly, ensuring better outcomes for our customers, the community, and environment,” Mr Bharadwaj said.

Using planned inspections and real-time network monitoring, Aqua Analytics will promptly identify and report leaks, facilitating swift repairs through Yarra Valley Water's integrated asset management system.

Managing Director of Aqua Analytics Hugh Chapman said the company was excited to continue to play a central role in Yarra Valley Water’s asset management.

"We are thrilled to deepen our partnership with Yarra Valley Water and contribute to their ongoing commitment to water sustainability,"

"The positive outcomes of our initial collaboration underscore our shared mission to deliver reliable and sustainable water services to Yarra Valley Water's customers," Mr Chapman said.

AI is awesome but big tech must step up to keep sustainability on the table says Pure Storage exec

2024-08-11T22:27:47+10:00

Everybody is talking about the amazing things you can do with AI, but few are talking about the environmental and energy impacts it brings. In comes Pure Storage who has made this front of mind and says vendors like it must be helping businesses reduce energy consumption and boost sustainability.

Pure Storage CTO, International Alex McMullan has been visiting Australia to speak with customers and interested parties about their cloud journey. Pure Storage brings a lot of strength and expertise on this, including how to balance workloads across public and private clouds.

Where Pure Storage can also help is with cost-effective storage as a service (STaaS) and with sustainability. These are two conversations where Pure Storage is uniquely positioned, because the company has made these specific strategic focus areas, and dedicated significant thought, skill, and effort.

When it comes to STaaS, McMullan explains Pure Storage has "actual storage as a service" with a platform that brings automation and a full REST API, along with economic benefits.

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"Our STaaS brings cloud native behaviour and cloud consumption. We want to disrupt," he said. "Many large tech companies will utility and leasing, but that's just finance by a different vehicle."

"Pure Storage's view is we want to do STaaS properly. You pay for a service vs. an asset, and we retain the asset, but the customer pays on a schedule with the same freedom as you'd have with Azure, AWS, GCP, etc."

"You can consume our tech as you would the public cloud," McMullan said. "It's a market-leading position. Many competitors have made a model that looks a bit cloudy but it's not."

When it comes to sustainability, Pure Storage is bucking the trend of big tech firms, saying it has a part to play in aiding customers achieve their sustainability goal.

It's a common trend globally that AI - particularly Generative AI - has taken the world's imagination by storm. The message from technology providers is consistent: companies who embrace AI will lead, those who delay or ignore it will fall behind.

So, it's no surprise then that McMullan told iTWire no matter where he is in the world customers want to speak about how to adopt AI. However, McMullan notes, they want to adopt it sustainably.

Pure Storage knows what it's talking about; it partnered with Nvidia seven years ago, back in 2017, before AI was the fashion and trend we see today. "We produced the first AI storage platform," McMullan said, "and had a public relationship with Meta/Facebook for the same period."

It's embedded AI in its own products, bringing predictability into the storage array, as well as a copilot so storage administrators can ask natural language questions about the system's health and find solutions to problems.

Over the last two decades there has been an increasing awareness worldwide that energy consumption must be reduced. Tech firms stood up to the challenge, minituarising equipment, consolidating services, simplifying packaging, all with the aim to cut carbon emissions. Yet, it's as if this no longer mattered in some ways with today's demand for more and more GPUs to drive ever-increasingly power hungry generative AI.

While organisations everywhere are striving to set and hit environmental and sustainability goals, with committments to reduce their emissions, they are, at the same time, being lured in by the promise of super-capable AI, along with the threat if they don't embrace it, their business will become irrelevant.

Pure Storage is tackling this challenge in a number of ways, saying it has a sombre responsibility. "Big business wants to be as energy efficient as possible, and green is part of that," McMullan said. "If we, as suppliers, don't have things that use less energy and generate less carbon then we're part of the problem."

To tackle this, Pure Storage has made storage a circular economy. "We want to give customers freedom," McMullan said. "We try to recycle assets as they come back. We want more than 50% of our STaaS cloud to come from recycled assets."

"It sets us apart from the typical equipment journey of buying, returning, landfill."

Additionally, Pure Storage continues to explore the materials it uses. "A Pure Storage system of 40 to 50kg has about four to five kilograms of carbon embedded in it because of all the supply chain processes," McMullan said. "It's a big tech debt," he said, and explained the company is taking a leadership role in working with all its suppliers of silicon to embed less carbon in the chips they supply, which in turn diminishes the carbon that lands up with the end customer. "The chip vendors tell us we're the ones pushing the limit on this."

As well, "we've invested in a company working on laser-etched ceramic glass," McMullan said as one example. "We think things like that are interesting to long-term move away from silicon - not just to keep the status quo, but to improve."

In fact, with all these activities, Pure Storage has already reached 50% scoped year reductions in the carbon it embeds in its device, over the last three years. The company set their goal to 60% by 2030 and is ahead of that schedule.

Sustainability isn't simply a feel-good topic. For McMullan it's a serious issue. "AI will cost more coal, more CO2 - it's something we should push hard on," he said. Pure Storage takes it so seriously it has a lobby group inside the European Union to push power consumption in the right place.

Carbon emissions are important, but that's only one part of the problem. "Even in the EU the power grids built in the 1950s were designed for families having a cup of tea as they huddled around the radio."

"The average GPU-based system has eight GPUs in a single box from Nvidia, with each consuming enough power to run a four-person house. Each GPU system you turn on is the equivalent of eight houses. If hyperscalers are turning on half a million ... you do the maths," McMullan said. "It's quite frightening to think about the power budget.

With AI competing against carbon reduction across the world it's evident something will have to give, given the paucity of power supply around the world. "As AI takes off this creates a whole new set of pressures on the grid worldwide."

This is what Pure Storage and its CTO, International Alex McMullan spend their time thinking about. "Everyone in the industry is on the same path of building bigger systems and reducing costs, but we don't see this same innovation about energy and sustainability from our competitors," he said. "They'll recycle laptops and so on, but not in the foundational way we are applying to having a circular economy. We're pushing hard and as publicly as we can, from ESG reports through to conversations like this one."

"They'll talk about their super next box, but not what it means for carbon and the future of AI."

McMullan sees a huge opportunity for others in tech. For example, "In ANZ there's a unique opportunity for service providers like big telcos to build an AI service that's ethical and sustainable, without drawing on coal power," he said. "Maybe solar or hydro, after all, there's a lot of sunshine in Australia and New Zealand."

"We need different ways of thinking. There's a whole confluence of things where we can build sustainable AI facilities the right way and minimise our CO2 footprint."

In fact, we risk having a dystopian future of haves and have-nots where a whole series of countries could be left behind the AI wave because they lack a suitable power grid. "Some AI use cases will change the world - healthcare, genomic research, material science, and others," but with a distinct possibility these world-changing innovations cannot be realised everywhere, leaving countries left aside.

Energy is a challenge the world needs to solve. "It's not just a problem for Pure Storage; it needs tech vendors, it needs compliance," he said. "As a society, if we're not going to talk about having no power for two hours a day, then we all must collaborate and think about the solution."

It's all very sobering, and iTWire hears daily from companies of all types and industries about the amazing things AI can do. It's rare, however, to hear about the huge power consumption, and carbon production, all this AI is creating. Here, Pure Storage is certainly lifting the veil and revealing the risks behind.

Of course, while this has to be solved, there's no denying AI can help a business with cost agility, efficiency, customer service, CRM, and many, many things. Having GPUs is imperative, but right now "the supply chain is horrendous," McMullan said. "Even if you were given a big cheque, spending is hard with delivery dates extending out to six, nine, twelvem onths depending on who you know."

Thus, McMullan's recommendation for smart CIOs is to experiment in the cloud while having your own GPUs delivered. "Use the cloud to train, refine, and to drive cultural change. Then industrialise on-premises."

"You need a data-driven culture to be foundational in the way your company uses AI. Every division has its own data sets, statistics, messaging, and reporting, and all this has to be clean and managed with everyone doing it together, rather than saying I own this bit or that bit."

Breakthroughs in solar energy storage impact public opinion on renewables

2024-08-07T18:46:10+10:00

GUEST OPINION: Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the last few years, you’ve probably engaged in the ongoing debate about renewable energy sources. Solar power, hydro and wind power are all key examples of renewables, and there is a fierce political debate about their usage, reliability and cost.

If you’re a homeowner with a solar system for your property, you might already know the benefits of investing in a solar battery. But there have actually been other recent advancements in solar energy storage that have greatly boosted the potential of renewable energy in Australia.

So where are we in our race to embrace renewables and make the switch to clean energy? Let’s find out, as we outline all the groundbreaking news we’ve seen coming out of Australia’s renewables sector over the past year.

What are Renewable Energy Sources?

As mentioned above, renewable energy sources are types of energy such as solar, wind and hydro. They are called renewable because their sources of energy - the sun, wind and water, are all part of the natural ecosystem that renew themselves after usage. Whereas fossil fuels, which are traditional energy sources, are burned and then disappear, leaving nothing behind but harmful emissions that cause global warming.

While there are still some emissions associated with renewable energy, such as in the mining and development of materials to make solar panels, once they are created, they cause little to no emissions. The same applies to wind and hydro. They are also cheaper to run, maintain and repair when compared to fossil fuel power plants such as those that burn coal or gas. Furthermore, they are much safer than nuclear energy which carries a high risk factor and is also very expensive to establish.

The Evolution of Public Opinions on Renewables

Renewable energy has always been a highly charged, politicised, contentious topic. In recent years, this same hot topic issue has been debated countlessly on the floor of Parliament as well as at your local pub – and of course, in internet comment sections across the globe. Those who lean towards the more progressive side of politics and social progress have usually been advocates and in favour of renewable energy, while those who lean conservative have doubted them or pushed for more fossil fuel mining and burning.

However, in recent years, Aussie homeowners have been quick to take up solar panel installation incentives and rebates from state and federal governments because they can save money on their power bills. Solar energy is a great benefit to cutting down a power bill, especially during the peak of summer. Those who invest in a solar battery can also see longer benefits, being able to store the energy their solar panels generate and power their home even on overcast days.

The recognition of cost savings in embracing renewables seems to have been the catalyst for many Aussie consumers, and even business owners, who swap out their bottom line approach for ESG-focused triple bottom lines that take into consideration environmental performance metrics like carbon emissions. With more consumers and business owners embracing sustainability initiatives, it’s safe to say that the public opinion regarding renewables has been in a state of flux, with financial incentives greatly propelling actors to take action.

Breakthroughs in Solar Energy Storage

The last few years have seen significant breakthroughs in solar energy storage technology. Most notably, there have been some significant innovations in battery storage technology that have made solar battery storage more efficient, affordable and scalable. Some of the most notable innovations in battery technology for solar energy storage include the development of lithium-ion batteries, the type of rechargeable battery that powers electric vehicles and smart devices like IoT home and office tech.

There are other cutting-edge battery technology developments as well that may see solar batteries able to retain energy through winter, reducing the amount of grid power a home needs to draw on during the cold, overcast months. Several start-ups around the world, as well as established solar companies, are continuing to invest in solar battery storage innovations and increased capacity and energy retention.

The ongoing improvement of solar battery storage has also prompted state governments across Australia to invest in their own solar initiatives. In Victoria alone, there are ongoing projects to roll out solar systems that utilise innovative thermal water-based storage solutions for large civil engineering projects. These technologies will feasibly allow solar energy to be stored that can power infrastructure like street lights, digital signs on roadways, and even urban solar farms. The untapped potential of solar energy for powering green cities is likely to be a major focus of government agencies over the next decade or so as Australia continues to map out its greener future.

Public Opinion Swaying

Naturally, all these solar battery technologies and other energy storage and harvesting breakthroughs have swayed public opinion, with more people warming to the idea of renewable energy as a worthwhile investment. Surveys of the public in America have revealed that people have recognised some of the key benefits of investing in solar, including energy self-reliance, emissions reductions, and reliability of solar energy as a stored asset. The breakthroughs in solar batteries and storage solutions offer all of these, making not only the American public but also people across the globe more in favour of renewable energy as the technology progresses through innovation.

It’s clear to see that renewables are the way of the future, with investment in solar, wind and hydro likely to power the way forward for countries as they seek to divest from fossil fuels. Consumers are adopting renewables, too, with solar panels becoming more popular both in Australia and abroad. As solar storage evolves and improves, public opinion on renewables is being impacted, with more people opting for solar power to save money. However, the political spectrum greatly influences public opinion, with people’s political leanings playing into how much they support renewable energy. It’s likely that more investment and innovation in solar will see public opinion change further as renewable energy sources become the norm.