Every third booth at CES showcased one new AI product or another. If you wanted to get a lawnmower, throw a rock. Humanoid robots, smart keys and ultra-thin TVs were everywhere. But if you’re looking for solid products, you’ll have to hunt a little.
Last year, the Sustainability section at the Las Vegas Convention Center had 20 booths. This year, there were 38, but that’s partly due to the consolidation of the energy and sustainability categories. So exhibitors like South Korea’s biggest power company, a nuclear power company from the same country and many battery manufacturers. There was also an AI data platform in a category that had nothing to do with sustainability as far as I know. Guess the programmers just ran out of space for all the AI.
Within the sustainability section, and in other areas of CES, I found several inspiring displays of sustainable products – organizations and devices that are trying to tackle the many problems the world is facing when it comes to energy production, climate and pollution.
But none of them got the best of Engadget’s CES status this year. Some of the things we saw were scale in use, some were not ready for consumer use and some were not very good or had too many caveats to make the list. I won’t go so far as to say sustainability is dead at CES, because that sends me into the dark, but it’s getting there, friends.
Here are the companies I’ve seen with promise and new ideas. And gosh darn it, at least these guys are trying.
Shine Turbine 2.0
Spinning the Shine 2.0 wind turbine (Amy Skorheim for Engadget)
This little guy could be the forerunner of a personal spiritual power generation. This is where the company is headed. Meanwhile, Shine 2.0 can use the slightest breeze to start generating power to charge your smartphones, laptops or power station. The whole unit weighs about three kilograms and sets up in about two minutes. The second generation model can output 75 watts and the company is working on a third version that goes up to 100 watts to produce even more power.
Read more about Shine.
Flint battery technology
Flint batteries degrade by 70 percent in four weeks in the compost pile. (Amy Skorheim for Engadget)
When I approached Flint’s place, the representative told me that the company made cellulose batteries. And I thought, like batteries wrapped in paper? No. The chemicals inside batteries are made from cellulose. They have a solvent-free, lithium-free, PFAS-free chemistry and are 70 percent less compostable in four weeks. They use the same basic architecture as a lithium-ion cell, with an anode, a cathode and a separator with ion transfer between the two. As of now, Flint is focused on working with manufacturers, and consumer products are close at hand.
Learn more about the host, Flint.
Clear Drop soft compactor
Clear Drop soft plastic compactor next to the pile of productive bricks. (Amy Skorheim for Engadget)
Clear Drop is a flexible plastic compound that makes eight and twelve by four inch bricks for hundreds of grocery bags, bubble wrap, straws and plastic packaging. One brick is equivalent to 30 kilo garbage bags. Once the brick is created, it can be shipped to one of our Clear Drop partner facilities in a prepaid USPS shipping envelope. They are currently working with several US-based recycling centers and hope to one day build an infrastructure that will integrate municipal recycling.
Read more at Clear Drop.
Alpha Power by CPTI
Alpha Power by CPTI (Amy Skorheim for Engadget)
From what I read at the show, perovskite is the hottest material in solar right now. It is a combination of minerals that have been used to create highly efficient solar panels. Some are so sensitive to light that just indoor light is enough to create usable energy. Alpha Power by CPTI creates lightweight, flexible perovskite solar panels that are compatible with many environments. Also, this is a company that partners with manufacturers, so look for panels built into your laptop to charge it under the glare of your harsh office lights.
Read more at CPTI.
Green Energy
3D models of buildings using Green Vigor technology. (Amy Skorheim for Engadget)
Down on the lower levels of the Venetian Expo at CES I found Green Vigor in the Hong Kong area. This small company has two solutions to create energy in buildings by using the potential energy from existing systems. HydroVigor produces energy through water systems. So every time someone washes their hands or flushes the toilet in the building, the rooftop system produces less energy. CoolVigor uses the same principles to harness energy from HVAC systems. HydroVigor is currently being used in many buildings in Singapore and Hong Kong and they are working to expand to more buildings around the world.
Read more about GreenVigor.
Jackery Solar Gazebo
Jackery’s Solar Gazebo. (Amy Skorheim for Engadget)
This outdoor hangout can generate up to 10kWh of energy in a given day. It’s a modular design that lets you choose louvered walls, sun shades, lights and fans when you order it and the solar panels are so powerful that a Jackery representative who is a perfect human was able to stand on a sample panel in front of me and nothing cracked (even though the company officially estimates 20 pounds of ice per square foot). You can use the power directly, tie it into your home system, plug it into the grid or plug it into one of Jackery’s many power stations to save energy later. The gazebo costs $12,000 and will ship in mid-2026.
Learn more about the host, Jackery.
Bluetti RV Solar System
Bluetti solar power system for DIY RV (Amy Skorheim for Engadget)
Bluetti, like Jackery, is known for its large line of portable and stationary power stations and batteries. This year, it introduced a new power station made of bio-based plastic and a DIY system for adding solar power to your existing RV.
Learn more about the host, Bluetti.
Airloom wind power generation
An Airloom roller-like wind power generator for data centers. (Amy Skorheim for Engadget)
Engadget’s Anna Washenko does a great job of explaining the Airloom technology. In short, the wind roller coaster is built 40 percent smaller than a conventional turbine and uses 42 percent fewer parts and 96 percent fewer unique parts. That makes it faster to deploy and cheaper to install. I can also be placed in many places. Again, this is a utility-scale solution, targeted at data centers and their insatiable need for power to power AI-critical Things.
Read more about Airloom.
Gaotu Innovation Energy Group
Gaotu had a range of solar products in various formats. (Amy Skorheim for Engadget)
If you’re looking for anything solar powered, hit up Gaotu. At the company’s booth, I saw helmets, a fishing seat, a bag, a sunbrella and a retractable roof that opens to charge your Tesla. The Shenzhen-based company has been in business for 18 years and plans to continue sticking with solar panels in whatever it does.
Learn more about the host, Gaotu.
Segway Muxi cargo e-bike
Segway’s latest e-bike (Amy Skorheim for Engadget)
One of the biggest booths in the CES sustainability section was the Segway. This year, the company showed off two new ee bikes, put together by our own Dan Cooper. This here is the Muxi, a cargo bike with an easily replaceable battery, an optional rider seat with foot pegs and a central basket. Plus a drink cup holder.
Learn more about Segway.
If we don’t all go overboard before then, maybe CES 2027 will have a strong showing of sustainability technology. In the meantime, I will take small comfort from these few brave organizations still committed to keeping us afloat.
