By Brandon Lewis for Mouser

Published August 5, 2026

In November 2024, the United Nations Climate Change Conference 2024 (COP29) announced the COP29 Declaration on Green Digital Action, whose first three objectives are “…leveraging digital technologies and tools for climate action…building resilient digital infrastructure…[and] mitigating digitalization’s climate impact.”^[1] The conference and its declaration underscore a growing global commitment to clean technologies, or “clean tech”—technologies designed to mitigate or reverse the environmental impacts of human activity.^[2],[3]

As global communities continue to expand the use of existing and new technologies, it’s important to create innovative solutions that lessen the impact this may have on the environment and humanity. This article provides an overview of sustainable technologies Mouser has previously explored and how each is critical to the overall goal of clean tech.

Energy Storage

Renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, and hydroelectricity play a substantial role in clean tech. By 2022, total renewable electricity generation exceeded 8,500TWh, over 600TWh (nearly 8 percent) more than in 2021.^[4] To integrate more renewable energy into the grid, innovations are needed in energy storage systems and backup power sources.

Traditional mechanical energy storage systems (ESS), like pumped hydro and flywheel, are effective and simple but subject to cost and efficiency constraints. Thermal solutions, such as molten salt systems, show advantages in heat storage and are becoming more feasible with ongoing advancements. Hydrogen storage is gaining momentum with improvements in electrolysis materials, reducing the need for expensive components and bringing the technology closer to widespread adoption.

Meanwhile, battery technologies are rapidly evolving. While lithium-ion batteries have been favorable, concerns over safety due to thermal runaway now stipulate newer topologies. Technologies like lithium iron phosphate (LFP), sodium ion, and solid-state batteries are poised to improve power density, charge/discharge speed, and safety profile.

Energy Infrastructure

Increased emphasis on renewable energy also has a major impact on the grid. Initially designed for one-way power flow, traditional grids tend to struggle with inefficiencies, a lack of flexibility, and a limited ability to integrate renewable energy.

Smart grids that use digital technologies, sensors, and software can better match electricity supply and demand in real time while minimizing costs and maintaining stability and reliability.^[5] Advanced sensors, two-way communication, and real-time data analytics can help optimize energy use, integrate renewable sources, and improve grid resilience.

The most distinct feature of smart grids is an ecosystem of distributed energy resources (DERs). The smart grid infrastructure must account for numerous small, scattered sources of energy that integrate into the grid.^[6] These DERs enable localized energy generation and storage and are often managed through microgrids to support the adoption of renewable energy and enhance grid resilience.

Microgrids are an ingenious solution for channeling growing energy generation toward enhancing energy security. By operating as localized, self-sufficient systems, microgrids ensure that energy is generated, stored, and distributed closer to where it is consumed.^[7]

A larger parent smart grid must establish communication with the microgrids to ensure grid reliability and efficiency. Advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) systems provide two-way communication for real-time energy management, accurate demand forecasting, and adaptive power flow adjustments. Industry 4.0 elements like the Internet of Things (IoT), 5G, and artificial intelligence (AI) are also being incorporated into electrical grids to create an Internet of Energy (IoE).^[8]

Smart Transportation

Like electrical grids, vehicles have gone digital. Modern vehicles are now equipped with sensors, software, and connectivity features that enable communication with each other, infrastructure, and even the power grid. Integration of this vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication paves the way for enhanced vehicle performance, safety, and efficiency while supporting emerging technologies such as autonomous driving and energy management.^[9]

As vehicles integrate with smart grids, they become not just energy consumers but also active participants in the energy ecosystem, contributing to grid stability, improving energy efficiency, and supporting a sustainable future.

Air & Environment

Air quality has taken center stage with current climate change concerns. While air pollutants contribute to chronic environmental issues, immediate concerns regarding indoor air quality (IAQ) are often more pressing, as poor indoor air conditions can lead to significant health problems.^[10] Indoor air quality can be two to five times worse than outdoor air quality. Improving IAQ is crucial, especially in spaces where people spend significant time, such as offices, homes, and schools.

Advances in sensor technology have made IAQ monitoring more accessible and cost-effective. Air quality sensors are now smaller and more accurate. IoT and AI are helping improve the data-driven accuracy of sensors. There is also a trend toward wireless sensors, which are preferred for flexibility, especially in retrofitting existing buildings. Selecting the right sensors and balancing cost, performance, and power efficiency are crucial to providing meaningful and actionable data.

The immediate goal of IAQ monitoring is to provide actionable insights. For example, sensors can help identify sources of pollutants like volatile organic compounds (VOCs), dust, or mold and prompt simple fixes—such as relocating equipment or improving ventilation—rather than costly overhauls.^[11]

Innovating clean tech in this segment has broader implications. Integrating advanced sensors into an IoT network enables real-time monitoring and maintenance of both air and water quality. Evolving sensor technology lays the foundation for automating environmental monitoring systems, providing enhanced reliability and precision.

Industry 5.0

The digitization of industries under Industry 4.0 with IoT, 5G, AI, and machine learning (ML) technologies introduced a profound wave of efficiency. The new industrial revolution—Industry 5.0—aims to leverage the creativity of human experts in collaboration with efficient, intelligent, and accurate machines to obtain resource-efficient and user-preferred manufacturing solutions.^[12]

Collaborative robots (cobots) are key to this revolution. Unlike traditional robots, cobots work alongside humans, enhancing productivity and human roles rather than replacing them. Cobots operate under supervised autonomy and direct strategic and creative decisions to humans. This approach enables workflow flexibility that was missing in Industry 4.0. It also means efficient use of labor and materials by optimizing production processes.^[13]

What manufacturing flexibility really means is the freedom to quickly scale production and align with fluctuating consumer demands, reducing overproduction and associated waste. This “just-in-time” approach minimizes excess inventory, promoting sustainability.

Semiconductor Materials

Many of the advances in clean tech are driven by innovations in materials. For example, wide bandgap (WBG) semiconductors are improving energy efficiency across numerous sectors, including automotive, power management, renewable energy, industrial, communication infrastructure, and aerospace and defense. Materials like silicon carbide (SiC) and gallium nitride (GaN) minimize energy losses during power conversion due to their high switching frequencies, low conduction losses, high breakdown voltages, and minimized parasitic capacitance. SiC and GaN are also more thermally efficient as they can operate at high voltages and temperatures while generating less heat than silicon devices.

WBG semiconductors and their evolving topologies are imperative to the prevalent high-energy density trend. GaN, specifically, enables higher power densities due to its smaller physical footprint and ability to operate at higher temperatures and voltages. GaN topologies can achieve power densities of up to 40W/in², decreasing the number of components needed in power electronics systems.^[14]

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