Energy Department Announces Nearly $9 Million for Small Businesses Focused on Clean Energy Innovations
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) recently announced $8.7 million for 58 grants to small businesses in 22 states to develop clean energy technologies with a strong potential for commercialization and job creation. These clean energy projects—among a total of 263 grants DOE-wide—help small businesses with promising ideas that could improve manufacturing processes, boost building efficiency, increase transportation sustainability, and generate more electricity from renewable sources. Companies competing for these grants were encouraged to propose innovations to meet ambitious cost and performance targets. The small businesses receiving the awards are located in 22 states, including Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin.
See the full list of EERE projects.
Among the 58 projects selected for awards are:
From Hannover, New Hampshire, Creare LLC has proposed a wave-powered desalination system that could benefit the more than one billion people near coastlines in developing countries that suffer from the effects of water scarcity.
From Cincinnati, Ohio, Melink Corporation proposes a geothermal seasonal energy storage based on innovative phase change materials that could dramatically lower the cost of storing energy.
From San Antonio, Texas, Leaptran Inc. has proposed an open source management system for control of energy storage in solar powered buildings that will enable buildings to respond to grid requirements collectively and interactively.
From Pewaukee Wisconsin, V-Glass LLC has developed windows with tiny wire whiskers as pane spacers, which can insulate up to three times better than today’s standard triple pane windows—up to R10.
From Wallingford, Connecticut, Proton Energy Systems proposes selective nano-cavity catalysts that if precisely controlled would enable low-temperature electrochemical ammonia synthesis. Current ammonia production technology—the steam-based Haber Bosch process—consumes one to two percent of energy worldwide.
From Lexington, Massachusetts, CAMX Power LLC has proposed a long life, high-performance battery for start-stop applications, such as small hybrid vehicles for use in congested traffic, that promises significant increases in fuel economy and reduction of pollutant emissions, without significant increases in cost.
Funded by the Energy Department’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy through the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs, today’s selections are for Phase I grants to explore the feasibility of innovative concepts that could be developed into prototype technologies. For more information on the Department’s SBIR/STTR program, visit the SBIR/STTR website or the EERE SBIR website.
Source:Energy.gov
