Adrian J Cotterill, Editor-in-Chief
London-based start-up and cleantech pioneer Pluvo has joined forces with Kinetic Worldwide, to launch ground-breaking technology that cleans the air of harmful pollution and other biological contaminants.
Matteo Maccario, CEO, Pluvo told us “More than seven million people die prematurely each year from air pollution. While the initial lockdowns caused a steep drop, we are already seeing pollution levels back to pre-lockdown levels in the majority of UK cities. Air pollution isn’t a problem that’s going away, and our respiratory health has never been more important. Pluvo’s mission is to help solve this problem, and the completion of our trial takes us one step closer to that. With the support of Kinetic and Landsec, we look forward toscaling our columns across the UK and eventually the globe to support the goal of cleaner air for us all.”
The collaboration (first announced back in 2019) will fund the roll-out of clean air technology in pollution hotspot areas and locations where viruses are more likely to be transmitted such as rail stations, airports and at key roadside locations.
The eleven-foot-high Pluvo Columns, which double as brand sponsorship displays, can scrub up to one cubic metre of air per second, the equivalent of 2,000 human breaths. The technology is proven to clean up to 99% of harmful particulate matter, noxious gases, and airborne viruses, as demonstrated in a successful six-month trial at a site owned by property company Landsec in Finchley, London.
The launch comes at a time when the UK government is facing mounting pressure to reduce national pollution limits, and the population is increasingly aware of the adverse effects of pollution on their health and the environment. Covid-19 has introduced another level of concern for clean internal air, which means internal spaces will need higher levels of air changes post-Covid. The Pluvo Columns air filtration capabilities can mitigate the increased HVAC energy use and cost without compromising air safety.
The units could become a critical tool in reassuring people about the safety of enclosed spaces, as well as making a tangible impact on pollution hotspots. Pluvo is already conversing with retail property groups, transport hubs, universities, local authorities and event spaces. Hundreds of units are expected to be installed over the next few years.
With the first batch of units set to go live in October, installation cost will be funded similarly to ‘Boris Bikes’, with brands sponsoring the units, which can be wrapped in outdoor advertising for periods of time. Therefore, the Pluvo Columns and their clean air service will come at negligible cost to the landowner or taxpayer.
To launch the units, Pluvo has partnered with Kinetic. The agency is in talks with a range of major brands and has seen strong interest from renewable energy suppliers and EV companies.
Dominic Murray, Head of Innovation, Kinetic said “Kinetic are committed tosupporting innovation and ideas that can shape the future of our industry and affirm OOH as a force for good. With the support of our partners we can nurture new technologies that will have a positive impact on our world. We recognise the need for sustainable and environmentally friendly solutions and are excited tocreate this alliance for our clients.”
Developed by the Pluvo team, the device works by attracting, trapping and neutralizing airborne pollutants. Polluted air is sucked in to the unit, where three stages of filtration mechanisms are applied to remove different targeted pollutants (e.g. PM, NOx), before clean air is released back in to the environment. The technology is thought to be unique in terms of air cleaning capability, readiness to be deployed and cost-neutral business model.
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