BlueNotes

BlueTech's TAG expert Dr. Sebastien Tillman joins Rhys and Divya to unpack a wave of projects in places as unexpected as Belgium and the UK, challenging the “it rains here” mindset. The driver? Not just technology, but trust. Public outreach remains the decisive factor between a flagship success and a stalled proposal. The long-standing “RO is the gold standard” stance is giving way to new th...

Autonomous water plants are here—and 49 of them are already running in China, serving 17 million people with no one on-site. Dr. Kim Wu unpacks this jaw-dropping stat and what it signals for digital twins, smart networks, and the new edge of AI in water. She also flags the rise of low-power IoT and how cybersecurity is shifting from afterthought to core infrastructure need. Later, we welcome Dr. R...

Did you know there are at least 16 different ways to capture carbon—and some of them actually generate water? Others, however, could increase water consumption at power plants by up to 30%. In this episode, Rhys and Divya unpack the complex relationship between water and carbon capture technologies, where scale-up is accelerating and trade-offs are becoming harder to ignore. They also turn their f...

Dr Vishal Wagholikar joins Rhys and Divya to break down findings from his new Horizon Scan on cooling technologies. As data centres grow more power-hungry, water use is emerging as a blind spot—and a growing concern.  The trio unpacks liquid cooling breakthroughs, water use effectiveness metrics, and shifting industry priorities. If you’re in cooling, water, or digital infrastructure, don’t miss t...

January 2025 brought significant changes to the water industry. From extreme weather events affecting Cork, Australia, and LA, to the EPA's withdrawal of proposed PFAS limits following the new Trump administration. Bluetech will host a press briefing on the implications of these PFAS regulatory changes, particularly for biosolids management. New research reports Bluetech's latest researc...

In this finale episode, Rhys and Divya reflect on the year's achievements, including the launch of a Market-creating Legislation and Regulation Tracker and a review of photodynamic disinfection technology. They also delve into BlueTech's Top 10 Patent Applications for 2024 and share a sneak peek at the exciting topics slated for 2025. Stay tuned for updates on Bluetech Forum Unplugged, a...

In this special episode of the BlueNotes Podcast , hosts Rhys Owen and Divya Inna are joined by Jacob Steele , Senior Research Analyst and author of BlueTech’s latest Horizon Scan on PFAS Destruction Technologies . This episode builds on the recent client-only web briefing, broadening the conversation to the wider water community about the persistent challenge of PFAS (“forever chemicals”) and the...

Green Chemistry takes center stage as Rhys and Divya dive into the world of sustainable chemical manufacturing and the importance of the 12 principles from the US EPA. Discover the challenges and potential of market adoption and the exciting developments in green alternatives like Hydrex and bio-based polyacrylamide flocculants.  Shift focus to Ultrafiltration (UF) membranes as we explore emerging...

With WEFTEC a couple of weeks from now, hosts Divya Inna and Rhys Owen dive into the highly anticipated event, which is the largest water industry event in North America, taking place in New Orleans. Join them as they highlight BlueTech Research’s top picks for the most impactful presentations and innovations, along with key events not to miss. You’ll hear an expert breakdown of the top abstracts...

Earth Observation Science (EOS) is a rapidly growing field, with applications ranging from water risk assessment to sustainability reporting. Satellite data can be used to monitor drought and flood risk, water quality, and leak detection. The market for EOS solutions in the water sector is estimated to reach $2 billion by 2027. Utility and technology providers are increasingly interested in this s...

In this episode of the Blue Notes podcast, hosts Divya and Rhys discuss recent travels and conferences, including high-profile events on lithium and hydrogen. They delve into the lithium market and the technology breakthroughs in direct lithium extraction, as well as the challenges in the hydrogen economy. The conversation also covers advanced thermal sludge treatment technologies and recent regul...

In this episode of the Blue Notes podcast, the hosts, Rhys and Divya, begin with a discussion about recent technical hiccups Rhys faced and a brief update on Divya's camper van office situation due to a house move. They reflect on their experiences at the Bluetech Forum, highlighting key presentations and personal stories, including Professor Kongjian Yu's talk on China's sponge cit...

This episode features the upcoming Bluetech Forum , an event hosted by BlueTech Research that convenes experts from the global water sector. Scheduled for June 3rd and 4th, the forum highlights include innovation showcases.  Hosts Rhys and Divya also discuss the event's emphasis on partnerships and collaborations, such as the five by five session. Keynote speakers, Kong Jianyu, discussing spo...

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,...

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 maximu...

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 Re...

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 intell...

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 wat...

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 sect...

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 Bl...

Michael Pawlyn is an architect and innovator who has been described as a pioneer of biomimicry. He established his firm Exploration Architecture in 2007 to focus on designing high performance buildings and solutions for the circular economy. Prior to setting up Exploration Michael Pawlyn worked with Grimshaw for ten years and was central to the team that designed the Eden Project. Regularly booked...

In this closing keynote at BlueTech Forum 2018, Michael Flynn from NASA Ames Research Center shared his insights  on managing water in a closed loop environment. -- Presented by BlueTech Research ® , Actionable Water Technology Market Intelligence. Watch the trailer of Our Blue World: A Water Odyssey .  Get involved, and learn more on the website: braveblue.world

Before founding BlueTech Research, Paul O’Callaghan was lead author on the groundbreaking report Water Technology Markets 2010. This report analysed the prospects of a wide range of innovative technologies across the water and wastewater treatment space. A decade later, we take stock of the changes in Water Technology Markets 2020. What has come to pass? What never materialised? What we can expect...

BlueTech Forum 2019 Nick works in the Insight and Analysis team of the Ellen Macarthur Foundation, a group of scientists, engineers and other technical specialists, that strive to provide evidence of the benefits of a circular economy as well as insights into the transition pathways. His roles at the Foundation include: managing the case study program that disseminates real life examples of circul...

BlueTech Forum 2020  Every industry contains a troop of pioneers – the catalysts, the moonshot thinkers – and doers, the ones we all end up following. It is no different when it comes to water.  BlueTech Research call these companies ‘The Lighthouses’. This opening plenary at BlueTech Forum 2020 featured a cross-section of the world’s leading companies who feature in the Brave Blue World Foundatio...