WeavInsight bridges the green data gap for companies with its tech solutions
The SME uses a range of cutting-edge tools, such as AI-driven digital twin technology and satellite hyperspectral imaging
[SINGAPORE] As more companies set green targets, they are running into a common challenge: a lack of high-quality data that allows them to measure and assess their environmental impact.
This is where Singapore-based WeavInsight wants to make a difference. The five-year-old company provides companies in three distinct sectors – property, finance and transport – with technologies that “bridge the gap” with data, said its chief executive officer and founder Natalia Mykhaylova.
“This was inspired by a lot of requests we were getting from the manufacturing, real estate and even transportation industries, who all face this challenge of tracking data accurately and efficiently to meet their decarbonisation goals,” she told The Business Times.
WeavInsight’s tech solutions – such as artificial intelligence (AI)-driven digital twin technology, real-time Internet of Things sensor data, satellite hyperspectral imaging and predictive analytics – monitor and track companies’ environmental metrics. These tools provide insights into energy use, emissions and safety.
Dr Mykhaylova, who has a doctorate in chemical engineering from the University of Toronto, believes that WeavInsight’s work aligns with Singapore’s national agenda to go net-zero by 2050. She estimates that the company’s projects have reduced up to 50 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions per initiative over five years.
For its efforts, WeavInsight was recognised with an Excellence Award under the small and medium-sized enterprise category of this year’s Sustainability Impact Awards, jointly presented by BT and UOB.
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Making Singapore’s real estate sector greener
Sustainability in real estate is a key focus for WeavInsight, given that buildings account for 20 per cent of Singapore’s carbon emissions.
The company works with building owners, developers, facility managers and technology partners such as semiconductor company Infineon to reduce energy consumption in buildings.
“(Our technology) can be integrated at three stages: the planning stage, operational stage, and even when the site is being redeveloped. We can help plan to make sure that the impact on the environment is minimised,” said Dr Mykhaylova.
WeavInsight develops new technologies and integrates new ways to reduce two forms of carbon in buildings: embodied and operational. Embodied carbon refers to greenhouse gas emissions released during a building’s life cycle, and operational carbon comprises the emissions produced from the energy used to run a building daily.
The company taps not just traditional sensor data, but also geospatial data from satellites.
“We look at thermal and weather changes and see their impact on Singapore’s buildings and infrastructure… It will be very important to take into account climate-change factors when keeping a building running efficiently,” she said.
Such data can help companies decide where to place solar panels or how to protect the building from flooding. A real estate company can use satellite data to examine the portfolio of assets it owns and analyse its climate impact through the buildings it operates.
With these efforts, WeavInsight has delivered energy savings of 20 to 40 per cent in participating buildings for more than three years. It has thus far collected data for buildings in the office, retail and hotel sectors; it is in talks with residential building developers and looking to support their operations in the next year.
Push for sustainable finance
On the finance front, WeavInsight provides fund managers with data to reduce investments into projects that might be associated with greenwashing, said Dr Mykhaylova.
This is so that they can have “accurate data that is not just coming from biased, self-reported information, but from validated, verified information from satellites”, she said.
Fund managers can make better-informed investment decisions, which accelerates approvals for green bonds and sustainable loans. This also helps them develop a more data-driven approach to investing.
WeavInsight said that it has enhanced climate-risk accuracy by 50 per cent. More than 100 fund managers are leveraging its data insights to align their portfolios with their net-zero goals.
Dr Mykhaylova noted that there is a cost for managers who invest in unsustainable companies – not just in terms of investment returns, but also reputation. As funds track their companies with better data, they might choose to invest in areas where there is less environmental impact.
Enhancing EV battery safety
Battery safety in electric vehicles (EVs) is yet another focus for WeavInsight, which is riding on the push for clean mobility with its WeavChargeSafe initiative, which detects EV battery failures.
This is especially important as Singapore moves towards higher EV adoption on a national scale.
Dr Mykhaylova said: “In Singapore, we’re going to be completely running on EVs shortly. It’s critical for us to set up infrastructure to operate EVs in a safe and efficient way. That’s why the Land Transport Authority and other government agencies are looking at better tools to improve monitoring EV batteries and charging infrastructure.”
She acknowledged recent incidents in South Korea and the US, where EV batteries have caught fire. Early detection of battery failures will also minimise environmental impact, as defective batteries release harmful gases.
WeavInsight has developed non-invasive sensor technology that can be added to any EV without needing to be integrated into the battery itself.
“Essentially, you can reduce incidents of battery thermal (runaway) or battery-failure issues that can be life-threatening and detect them earlier to prevent them. This enables us to roll out more efficient EV technologies more quickly,” Dr Mykhaylova said.
These efforts align with Singapore’s Land Transport Master Plan 2040, which is aiming for 100 per cent cleaner-energy vehicle adoption by 2040.
Growth and community initiatives
WeavInsight is seeing strong demand, with project requests growing by over 150 per cent each year, said Dr Mykhaylova. The company is using feedback from customers to expand its features and capabilities.
On the sustainability front, WeavInsight has achieved a 25 per cent reduction in its own operational carbon emissions over the past three years. It aims to achieve net-zero emissions by 2035.
WeavInsight already works with companies in Japan, South Korea and Europe, but hopes to expand further into South-east Asia. The founder noted that there are many “opportunities for growth” in the region, as well as higher potential for green energy and sustainable development.
She is particularly excited about building a larger community of companies dealing with satellite technology to enhance geospatial data collection, which she said is “critical”. WeavInsight has upcoming collaborations with Airbus and the European Space Agency to expand capabilities in this area.
WeavInsight also runs community initiatives in Singapore to educate the public about sustainability through a micro-learning platform it developed with the Institute for Adult Learning. It was originally launched for partners, but has since been made accessible to other interested organisations.
“The programme offers training into how you can implement sustainable systems and operating procedures in your own organisation through your network to better track and reduce emissions,” said Dr Mykhaylova, noting that “a few thousand people” have benefited so far.
“Right now, we have a lot of demand in the EV space. We are launching these modules as we go and we have this platform to deliver the modules and run those workshops in the community,” she added.
Despite facing challenges such as geopolitical tensions and inflation, Dr Mykhaylova said: “We feel like we can be a catalyst to drive impact by connecting our technology with new investments into new projects in South-east Asia.”
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