Announcing CalSEED Cohort 7: Powering California’s Clean Energy Future
December 24, 2024
We’re excited to present the seventh cohort of CalSEED Concept Awardees—early-stage innovators ready to help reshape California’s energy landscape. After a rigorous five-month selection process, CalSEED Cohort 7 was chosen from nearly 100 applicants, each bringing a unique approach to solving California’s biggest energy challenges. Each awardee will receive a $200K grant to develop their concepts.
Our mission was clear: identify clean energy technologies with the potential to benefit California’s electricity ratepayers and support the state’s ambitious energy and climate goals. To achieve this, we launched a comprehensive outreach campaign in March 2024, reaching innovators through virtual info sessions, webinars, and targeted social media while highlighting the journeys of past CalSEED awardees. This year’s focus centered on four essential technology areas:
Battery circularity – Innovations in recycling, reuse, and sourcing alternative materials for EV batteries.
Long-duration energy storage – Affordable, safe, and long-lasting solutions for energy storage during periods when wind and solar aren’t generated.
Electrifying medium- and heavy-duty vehicles – Technologies that drive transportation electrification at a larger scale, replacing diesel trucks, buses, and other commercial vehicles with zero-emission electric models to reduce air pollution.
End-use electrification – Advanced solutions to electrify industrial processes, EV charging, and next-generation heat pumps.
To ensure we selected the best, CalSEED employed a two-step application process. Applicants first submitted a preliminary application, and those meeting our eligibility requirements advanced to a full application stage. Of the initial 97 applications, only 28 met the rigorous screening criteria, including alignment with EPIC objectives, a California base, and a funding cap under $1 million. The most common reason for disqualification? Misalignment with our targeted technology areas, proving just how competitive this year’s cohort was.
A distinguished review committee of experts—from industry leaders to representatives from California’s top energy agencies—scored the full applications on Innovation, Social Impact & Energy Equity, and Team & Approach. After weeks of careful evaluation, the top-scoring innovations rose to the top, culminating in a final selection meeting in July.
CalSEED Cohort 7 Concept Awardees are pioneering technologies accelerating California’s journey toward a sustainable, zero-emission future. Each project promises to drive tangible benefits for California communities, creating jobs, improving energy equity, and addressing critical gaps in the clean energy landscape.
You can watch the California Energy Commission business meeting where the awards where approved and listen to the positive public comments about the importance and impact of this program.
So join us in welcoming the newest CalSEED companies shaping the future of energy in California!
17, Inc.
Green ammonia systems
17, Inc. is building small, portable systems that use excess intermittent clean energy to produce green ammonia, a zero-carbon fuel. These systems can be placed right at the wind or solar power plants and the ammonia can be stored and transported. this technology will allow distributed, autonomously operated production units that can be turned off overnight to fit diurnal/intermittent clean energy without large batteries, extensive hydrogen storage, or grid power.
AmpTrans Inc.
Optimized EV fleet charging
AmpTrans Inc. building IntelliCharge, a medium and heavy-duty electric fleet charging optimization platform. It will help manage the charging of large groups of electric trucks using artificial intelligence (Al) to balance when the trucks need charging with when the grid is busiest, using solar energy and battery storage to reduce energy costs. IntelliCharge will make charging easier and help reduce pollution by making electric trucks more efficient, while keeping the grid stable.
Aris Hydronics
Smart HVAC for apartments
Aris Hydronics is building a smart heating, cooling, and hot water system for multi-family buildings. The ARIS Thermal Plant Pod combines these functions into one system, using heat pumps, storage tanks, and controls to efficiently manage energy. It adjusts to each apartment’s needs, saving energy and money. The system is modular and easy to install, reducing the number of heat pumps needed.
Calectra
High-temp electric thermal storage
Calectra is building a thermal storage system with special heat-storing bricks that can reach super-high temperatures using electricity instead of burning fuels. The system will provide low cost, high-temperature (700-1600°C) process heat by achieving an 1800°C thermal storage temperature, maximizing the brick material lifetime, and using a simple, air-based heat transfer system. The heat stored in these bricks can be transferred to factories for making things like steel and cement.
Coulomb Technology, Inc.
Zinc-ion battery storage
Coulomb Technology, Inc. is developing a zinc-ion based battery energy storage system to support medium- and heavy-duty vehicle charging stations. The zinc-ion batteries don’t catch fire like lithium-ion ones and can handle high power safely. The team is testing and improving the battery design to last longer, charge faster, and expects to provide energy storage at half the cost of lithium iron phosphate batteries while increasing the energy density by 50% over standard zinc-based battery chemistries.
Cryodrives, LLC
Electric drives for heavy trucks
CRYODRIVES is building a heavy-duty variable frequency electric drive system that will replace a diesel engine in heavy duty truck/trailer applications. It will allow operators to check the trailer’s performance remotely and be strong enough for tough road use. This innovation has the potential to replace over 50,000 diesel pony-auxiliary motors on heavy duty trailers with reliable heavy duty electric drives to eliminate carbon, particulate, and NOx and SOx emissions.
Eco Recycle Tech
Repairable solid-state battery systems
Eco Recycle Tech is designing a new solid-state lithium-ion battery cell and pack that facilitates easy repair, repurposing, and automated disassembly of the pack and cell without shredding. By eliminating adhesives and preserving the electrode structure, this approach is expected to reduce production costs by 30% and slash greenhouse gas emissions by sixfold compared to traditional recycling methods.
KVA Technologies
Advanced thermal processing for alloys
KVA Technologies is developing integrated thermal processing methods for additive manufacturing and welding of high performance alloys which can enhance material properties and uniformity. It uses electricity to only heat specific areas of a metal system needed to optimize mechanical and physical properties – significantly reducing the need for emission-heavy thermal processing resulting in less energy, emissions, time and costs during manufacturing and over a product’s lifecycle.
Gridwave
Solar charging for EV fleets
GRIDWAVE is building modular solar-powered charging stations for electric medium- and heavy-duty vehicles. These stations are easy to set up, can connect to each other, and use smart technology to manage energy use. They include solar panels, batteries, and advanced controls to avoid overloading buildings or the electrical grid. The goal is to make charging stations that are affordable, reliable, and expandable as fleets grow, saving money on electrical upgrades.
Manara Materials LLC
Nickel & Vanadium recovery
MANARA is developing a method to recover over 99% of high-purity nickel and vanadium from California’s spent catalyst oil refinery waste. It is a closed-loop solution to recover metals that are used to manufacture high energy density sodium-ion cathode material for energy storage applications. The recovery of these battery materials will also reduce costs associated with the disposal of hazardous material while securing a domestic supply of critical battery materials.
Navion Energy
Sodium battery rapid charging for EVs
Navion Energy is building an onsite rapid charging system using sodium batteries to deliver rapid, safe, and cost-effective charging for electric trucks. Most existing battery chargers are incompatible with deeply discharged sodium-ion cells, but this technology uses an innovative combination of a low voltage architecture and a specialized bidirectional DC-DC converter to bridge this gap. The system charges quickly without needing expensive cooling, making it a more affordable solution for Medium- and Heavy-Duty electric vehicle charging.
OpenRoad Technologies
Fast charging EV battery system
OPEN ROAD is building a fast-charging battery system for EVs with special battery packs that can be installed using consumer-grade wiring. This way, places like apartment buildings or stores can offer fast EV charging without expensive upgrades, making fast charging available in more places. The batteries also store power and will help reduce the cost of electricity.
SolGraph is developing a unique structured graphite anode material for lithium-ion batteries that enables recovery at the end of battery life. The interconnected structure of the woven graphitic material is easily removed and recycled, is made using solar synthesis, reduces battery weight, and leads to high electrical and thermal conductivity, eliminating the need for a metallic current collector while keeping the battery cooler and improving battery life.
SOL ROBOTICS is developing a wireless charging solution for autonomous fire threat detection electric vehicles (EVs) that operate along remote power lines. These EVs will identify vegetation overgrowth and maintenance issues that have triggered past devastating wildfires. This technology uses a novel low-frequency wireless inductive charger mounted on a compact retractable robot arm, and can harvest energy directly from the electromagnetic field generated by the power lines to recharge its battery.
Three Rivers Power is creating super-small, powerful battery systems that will eliminate the separate inverter, charger and battery management system (BMS) normally employed in energy storage systems. The size of a complete battery system will be at least 2-3 times smaller than competitive products and will enable new use cases such as ultra-compact utility pole-mounted battery storage units.
Wayside Energy
Recyclable battery pack innovation
Wayside Energy is building a battery pack made from a recyclable enclosure that simplifies construction and end-of-life material recovery. The design integrates three components – the battery enclosure, a non-flammable biodegradable fluid cooling system, and a mounting device – into a unibody composite structure to simplify the pack, which reduces weight and increases manufacturability.
WE THINK GLOBAL is building a portable, IOT enabled, solar-powered system to that can recover, isolate, and purify a large range of metals and critical minerals from a variety of waste streams including mine tailings, industrial waste, brine, and other sources. The metals are purified on-site and sold through an virtual market (CIRCRIT ARCHIVE) accessible to technology manufacturers.
Insights from California’s leading clean energy entrepreneurs at our inaugural ‘NEX Level’ event
November 5, 2024
We recently had the pleasure of bringing together 160 of the brightest minds in California’s clean energy ecosystem for our inaugural NEX Level event. Entrepreneurs from all over the Golden State convened with policymakers, funders, and clean energy experts to share clean energy resources and success stories in Berkeley. We proudly showcased the new CalTestBed cohort, PowerForward grant awardees, and leaders who’ve navigated the ecosystem and seen success through CalSEED and beyond. Attendees engaged in tailored matchmaking sessions, connecting with funders, energy leaders, and key partners in funding, industry, policy, national labs, and mentorship.
CEO of Climformatics, Dr. Subarna Bhattacharyya, explained why this gathering was so important, “many of the attendees have technologies that can be game-changing and planet-saving, including ours. And so you can see those kinds of ideas, how you can build on them, how your technology can fit into how their technology can fit into yours, all of that amalgamation can happen. The best part is that this is inspired by our work here and supported by the California Energy Commission. So we get to learn a lot more about that.”
Dandelion Energy CTO, Kathy Hannun, is working to bring geothermal energy to residential buildings. She was excited to connect with folks working on similar projects. “I’m most excited about being in a place with many other people who care about the same things as me and are working towards clean energy in California.”
This event showed that California opportunities are rich and the ecosystem to support clean energy startups is robust. Through connections and creativity, we can solve big problems and advance toward a more just, clean energy future.
CEO of Community Energy Labs, Tanya Barham, spoke on a panel and expressed gratitude for the event.
“We talk about vibrant collaboration. I’m really excited because I get to see all these other clean-tech entrepreneurs,” she said. “I think these are some of the best entrepreneurs worldwide trying to solve this problem being supported by one of the most innovative state funding mechanisms in the world. So it’s amazing to be a part of that.”
Here are recordings of some of our core sessions, including the new CalTestBed cohort introduction, an address by the California Energy Commission Chair, a keynote panel on the opportunities available to California clean energy companies, and a founder-to-founder discussion between two women leaders.
You can also browse a collection of photos from the event on CalSEED’s website.
Key Takeaways from ConNEX Workshop: Building Your Winning Clean Energy Workforce
September 18, 2024
The second installment of ConNEX’s expert workshops, Inclusive Innovation: Building Your Winning Clean Energy Workforce, brought together thought leaders to discuss building diverse, equitable, and inclusive teams to drive long-term success. Hosted by New Energy Nexus, California, as part of the CalSEED program, this virtual event provided valuable insights on strategies for fostering diversity in hiring, team culture, and workforce development.
At New Energy Nexus, we design all our programs with equity at the core. A just energy transition is our goal, requiring mindful work and the deconstruction of old mindsets. In this workshop, attendees asked panelists what kind of trade-offs they had to make to build out diverse teams, and the experts pushed back, explaining diverse teams aren’t a “nice-to-have”. They are a force multiplier and essential to long-term success. Throughout the hour workshop, experts from three successful clean energy startups shared concrete types and processes for building a winning team.
Defining Diversity Beyond Appearance
From the outset, the panelists stressed that diversity goes beyond race and gender. Zora Chung, CFO of ReJoule, highlighted the importance of diverse educational and experiential backgrounds, as these contribute to a richer diversity of thought within the company. Whether in technical roles or management, the collective variety of perspectives is a key driver of innovation.
Steve Pratt, Director of People at Twelve, echoed this: “A group of individuals from many different backgrounds brings their own experiences, perspectives, and creativity.” In fast-growing startups, this diversity enhances problem-solving and helps build stronger connections within the communities they serve.
Challenges in Recruiting Diverse Talent
Recruiting diverse talent is not without its challenges. Chung noted that smaller clean energy startups often face obstacles like a lack of brand recognition and competition with larger companies offering more stability and higher salaries. She credited the CalSEED program with helping ReJoule build a strong mission that resonates with potential candidates, noting that storytelling through mediums like video can be an effective way to attract talent.
Pratt shared how Twelve, which grew from 80 to over 260 employees, overcame recruitment hurdles by developing talent pipelines with a multi-faceted approach. Twelve partners with nonprofits, tribal governments, and minority-serving institutions to create talent pools while maintaining ongoing relationships with colleges and community organizations.
Strategies for Workforce Retention
Building a diverse team is only the beginning; retaining talent requires a concerted effort. Vince Wong, Co-founder and COO of ElectricFish, emphasized that fostering an inclusive workplace starts from the top. Inclusion isn’t just about having diverse employees in the room—it’s about ensuring they have a seat at the table. Wong underscored the importance of strategic partnerships with entities like labor unions and tribal nations, which create economic opportunities and open doors to grant funding.
At Twelve, inclusion is built into their recruitment and onboarding processes. They’ve developed a fair and transparent system from structured interviews that ensure every candidate has a similar experience to diverse hiring panels that incorporate multiple perspectives. They also focus on career development through each employee’s learning and development budget, regular check-ins, and a strong feedback culture to continuously evolve their practices.
Pratt urged participants to use surveys, focus groups, and one-on-one conversations to get feedback and make decisions.
“Make changes based on actual feedback, not what you assume,” he said.
The Power of Partnerships
Strategic partnerships emerged as a recurring theme throughout the workshop. Wong shared how ElectricFish has collaborated with community-based organizations and labor unions to create a pipeline of diverse talent. These partnerships contribute to workforce diversity and position companies well for funding opportunities targeting underserved communities.
Similarly, Twelve’s collaboration with community colleges has helped develop a workforce for operator roles, creating a pathway into the clean energy economy for non-traditional candidates. These partnerships are crucial for companies looking to scale inclusively while contributing to local economic development.
Investing in Diversity as a Competitive Advantage
The speakers all agreed that investing in diversity is not a trade-off but a strategic advantage. Wong noted that diversity has become a “force multiplier” for ElectricFish, contributing to its global impact. When diversity is built into the company culture from the start, it drives innovation and positions the organization for long-term success. Given each of ElectricFish’s four founders is from a different continent, they know the power of a diverse leadership team.
As the clean energy sector continues to grow, building an inclusive, equitable workforce is essential for companies looking to lead in the transition to a sustainable future. By leveraging resources like CalSEED’s Equity-in/Equity-out framework, engaging in strategic partnerships, and fostering an inclusive culture, clean energy entrepreneurs can position themselves at the forefront of this transformation.
Stay tuned for more insights from future ConNEX events as we continue to explore the strategies and innovations shaping the clean energy landscape.
Join Us Next Time! Interested in joining our upcoming ConNEX workshops? Here’s a link to register for our next event all about building strategic partnerships for maximum impact.
These California companies are receiving vouchers to test their technologies in world-class labs.
CalTestBed proudly announces its newest cohort of 12 clean-energy companies, pioneering research, and development around charging infrastructure, novel materials, grid monitoring, and more. These forward-thinking California-based startups were selected to receive vouchers that grant them access to world-class testing facilities at University of California laboratories to help them further test and validate their discoveries.
Funded by the California Energy Commission and operated by New Energy Nexus California, the CalTestBed initiative supports early-stage technologies by providing the necessary resources to refine and validate their groundbreaking solutions. The program’s commitment to equity and diversity in California’s clean energy transition is evident in its active recruitment of entrepreneurs from diverse backgrounds, including BIPOC, LGBTQ+, rural, and veteran communities (here are the specific CPUC designations). This focus ensures that the benefits of clean energy innovation extend to all Californians, particularly those in disadvantaged and low-income areas.
CalTestBed’s rigorous application and review process ensures that promising and impactful technologies receive support. Applicants undergo a comprehensive evaluation, considering their technologies’ innovation, feasibility, scalability, and potential impact.
The program focuses on diverse technology types, from renewable energy and energy storage to advanced materials and grid infrastructure. By partnering with leading UC laboratories, CalTestBed offers these companies opportunities to test and optimize their innovations in state-of-the-art facilities. This cohort showcases various technologies and applications, each contributing to California’s clean energy goal of reaching carbon neutrality by 2045. Learn more about the technologies CalTestBed supports and the program at CalTestBed.com.
Below, we highlight the innovative work and potential impact of these 12 companies, demonstrating why we chose them and where they will be testing their technologies.
Enventix
Testbed: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratories
Advanced thermocatalytic conversion of lignocellulosic biomass
Enventix, Inc. employs a patented thermocatalytic pyrolysis-reformer pathway to convert dry plant biomass waste into hydrogen, biofuel blend stock, biochar, and wood vinegar. This approach results in high conversion efficiency and flexibility in feedstock variability, producing multiple valuable products at a commercial scale of 230–460 tons per day while addressing energy security, sustainable farming, and carbon reduction.
Impact: Enventix’s technology has the potential to transform biomass waste into valuable products like biofuels and fertilizers, reducing the need for open burns and landfilling, improving local air quality, and lowering greenhouse gas emissions, with a carbon intensity range of -7 to -11 gCO2e/MJ.
Flex Power Control
Testbed: UC Davis
Smart Power Integrated Node (SPIN) vehicle-to-home charging
Flex Power Control‘s Smart Power Integrated Node (SPIN) is a Vehicle-to-Home (V2H) product providing a 10kW bidirectional charging system, expandable to 30kW, for whole-home backup using an electric vehicle.
This system integrates advanced power electronics to manage DC loads, including solar, stationary storage, and EVs, enabling both on-grid and off-grid operation. It can also island at home during power outages and export power to the grid upon request.
Impact: The SPIN product uses the growing number of EV batteries as a new category of Distributed Energy Resources (DERs), helping to stabilize the electric grid during peak demand. Its unique bidirectional charging capability using the Combined Charging Standard (CCS) sets it apart from other products, making it a valuable asset for grid resilience and energy management.
Evoloh
Testbed: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratories
Novel Anion Exchange Membrane (AEM) Electrolyzer
EvolOH is developing a cost-effective, scalable water electrolyzer stack using anion exchange membranes (AEM) that rely on earth-abundant materials like steel and plastic, avoiding the need for rare earth elements. This innovative approach enables high-volume manufacturing of electrolyzers with 100% domestic supply chains, achieving significant cost reductions and efficiency improvements in green hydrogen production, with proven performance benchmarks in efficiency, current density, and durability.
Impact: EvolOH’s low-cost electrolyzers can produce green hydrogen more affordably than current technologies, offering substantial savings compared to battery storage for long-term renewable energy storage. This transition to green hydrogen could save California approximately $80 million annually and significantly reduce CO2 and NOx emissions, aiding in decarbonizing the state’s energy and transportation sectors.
Evolectric
Testbed: UC Riverside
Modular technology converts existing commercial diesel trucks to 100% electric.
Evolectric is creating a hardware and software solution for retrofitting existing combustion engine commercial vehicles with new battery-electric powertrains. This innovative approach leverages AC-based overnight charging, reducing thermal impact and GHG emissions while enhancing vehicle efficiency and longevity. Evolectric offers a cost-effective and scalable pathway to transition commercial fleets to zero-emission vehicles by using modular software and hardware for retrofitting.
Impact: By reusing existing vehicle chassis, Evolectric lowers the economic and environmental costs of manufacturing new electric vehicles. Their retrofit kits, produced in California, enable rapid deployment and scalability, offering a faster and more cost-effective solution for fleet owners, especially small and medium-sized businesses, to transition to electric vehicles.
Kfobix
Testbed: UC Irvine
A superhydrophobic coating applied to wind turbine blades and power lines to prevent water retention and icing.
Kfobix invented a lightweight, low-cost, and durable superhydrophobic nano-composite coating called K-FobiX. This innovative coating can be easily applied via airbrush or drone to prevent ice formation on power lines and wind turbines, enhancing electrical distribution safety and renewable energy efficiency. The nanocomposite achieves superhydrophobic properties without fluorinated chemicals, maintains light transmittance of around 80%, and lasts up to four years.
Impact: K-FobiX has the potential to significantly reduce maintenance costs for energy transmission lines by 24.2% and prevent ice buildup on wind turbines, improving their efficiency and performance. This leads to lower operational costs and increased reliability of renewable energy infrastructure, aligning with California’s commitment to environmental sustainability.
Twelve
Testbed: Lawrence Berkeley National lab
Novel Membrane Electrode Assemblies for CO2 Electrolysis
Twelve is pioneering a scalable electrolyzer technology that converts carbon dioxide into essential building blocks for chemicals and fuels. The initial focus is sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) produced through the Fischer-Tropsch process from electrolyzed carbon monoxide. Twelve is constructing a groundbreaking CO2-to-SAF plant, with their SAF certified for up to a 50% blend in jet engines under ASTM D7566 Annex A1. The project aims to enhance the performance and durability of the membrane electrode assembly, the electrolyzer’s core component. Twelve’s electrolyzer can efficiently utilize excess electricity, promoting renewable energy’s economic viability and reducing overall electricity costs.
Impact: Twelve’s SAF offers significant environmental advantages, including 80% less fine particulate matter and over 90% less ozone than petroleum jet fuel. Additionally, SAF emits less NOx and SOx, benefiting residents near California airports, often low-income communities. Deploying this technology at scale could reduce CO2 emissions by 2-3 billion tons annually, mitigating climate change impacts such as wildfires and flooding.
Relyion Energy
Testbed: UC Riverside
Repurposed EV batteries with extended life span and storage.
Relyion Energy is pioneering an advanced energy storage system that utilizes repurposed electric vehicle (EV) batteries, extending their lifecycle and minimizing environmental waste. Their prototype integrates second-life EV batteries into a scalable system, enhanced by advanced control algorithms and machine learning for optimized performance. The system provides a sustainable and cost-effective solution for energy storage, crucial for supporting the transition to renewable energy and the electrification of transportation while promoting a circular economy by minimizing battery waste.
Impact: Relyion’s energy storage system significantly reduces upfront capital expenditures for energy storage by 30-50% compared to first-life battery systems. This cost-effectiveness, combined with extended battery life and improved performance, leads to long-term savings. Reduced strain on California’s electricity grid during peak times translates into lower energy costs for ratepayers, benefiting commercial and industrial users and underserved communities.
UNIGRID
Testbed: UC San Diego
Advanced Sodium-Ion Battery
UNIGRID is advancing a sodium-ion 18650 cylindrical cell, a standardized battery form factor widely used in the industry. This innovation competes with lithium-ion (Li-ion) 18650s, offering a safer, more cost-effective energy storage solution. The sodium-ion battery addresses key challenges associated with current technologies, including cost, safety, and material supply chain issues. By leveraging low-cost, abundant, and domestically sourced sodium materials, UNIGRID’s battery reduces the bill of materials by 50% compared to lithium-ion batteries while being non-flammable and releasing no toxic fumes.
Impact: The advanced sodium-ion battery offers superior performance metrics, including lower cost, improved safety, a wider operating temperature range, and higher energy densities than lithium-ion and lead-acid batteries, ensuring more reliable and efficient energy storage.
Tyfast
Testbed: UC San Diego
High-performance batteries for heavy-duty vehicles
Tyfast‘s innovation is a high-performance lithium-ion battery that replaces conventional graphite with a proprietary vanadium-based anode. This technology allows for ten times faster charging (under six minutes), ten times the cycle life (over 10,000 cycles), new charging capability below freezing temperatures (as low as -40°C), and enhanced safety due to the metal oxide anode. Tyfast designed the battery to meet the rigorous demands of heavy-duty and construction vehicles, providing continuous high power and reliability in challenging conditions.
Impact: The batteries’ enhanced safety features, including non-flammability and resistance to lithium-metal plating, lower the risk of battery fires and toxic fume emissions. These improved safety features are crucial for heavy-duty and construction vehicles operating near residential areas, reducing health hazards for communities and workers.
Nelumbo
Testbed: UC Davis
Anti-Frost Heat Pump for Cooling & Heating Efficiency Boost
Nelumbo‘s innovation involves advanced surface treatments for heat exchangers in residential heat pumps, enhancing resistance to frost formation and accelerating frost shedding. This technology increases the operational efficiency of heat pumps, particularly in frosty conditions, by extending operating time and reducing defrost cycles. Additionally, Nelumbo’s surfaces enable the use of more efficient heat transfer designs that are otherwise prone to performance degradation due to frost, thereby supporting the transition of 14.5 million homes in California from natural gas furnaces to heat pumps.
Impact: Nelumbo’s technology can save over 2 billion kWh annually by transitioning electric resistance heaters to heat pumps three to four times more efficiently than traditional heaters. The significant energy saving from this technology helps reduce electricity consumption and peak load demand, contributing to a more resilient and efficient power grid in California.
The GridSweep instrument is an advanced hardware technology integrated with firmware and software that enhances grid reliability, efficiency, and solar deployment capacity. It measures the stability of distribution grids with inverter-based resources like solar power inverters and battery storage inverters. GridSweep uses a subsynchronously modulated electric heater to probe a 120-volt outlet while measuring voltage changes at a different location on the grid, providing parts-per-billion resolution. This technology increases the hosting capacity for solar generation resources, enabling more solar power deployment without grid replacement or upgrades.
Impact: By identifying faults and ignition points early, GridSweep can contribute to wildfire prevention and overall grid safety. Its precise measurement capabilities and low-cost deployment make it a valuable tool for enhancing the safety of California’s electricity grid, especially in areas prone to wildfires.
ChargePodX is developing a charging technology that provides a Level 3 DC Fast Charging experience using existing Level 2 (240V AC) infrastructure. This portable design eliminates the need for extensive construction of fixed charging stations, offering a flexible and efficient charging solution. ChargePodX’s portable DC-fast chargers can be easily deployed in various locations, ensuring accessibility in underserved regions and urban areas without complex installations.
Impact: ChargePodX’s portable DC fast chargers enable rapid deployment in diverse locations, bridging the gap in areas lacking permanent charging infrastructure. Portable fast chargers increase accessibility and convenience for EV owners, particularly in underserved and urban regions, encouraging wider adoption of electric vehicles and supporting California’s goal of increasing EV usage.
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ConNEX Workshop: Securing Working Capital & Advanced Financial Planning
August 6, 2024
Speakers at the ConNEX Workshop: Securing Working Capital & Advanced Financial Planning
On July 25, 2024, we hosted a virtual workshop on Advanced Financial Planning, attended by entrepreneurs from all over California and as far as Ethiopia. The event provided insights into the unique financial landscape for clean energy startups and featured the following speakers:
Harris delved into the shifting landscape of clean energy funding. She highlighted the necessity for startups to communicate their intrinsic value beyond their technology and look for additional revenue and collateral options. Harris discussed blending public and private capital to transition projects from the research phase to viable businesses.
Harris also highlighted the importance of doing product market fit work before the product is ready. She encouraged entrepreneurs to ask:
“Who’s started to think about earmarking money for the specific problem you’re solving, and if they haven’t done that yet, how do you get them to?”
Scott Pitts: Creative Funding and Cash Flow Management
Scott Pitts shared insights on creative funding solutions, emphasizing the importance of finding financing partners who are open to innovative approaches. He provided the example of how his financing partner bought equipment and resold it to the startup, using collateral to secure more funding. Pitts discussed the need for high-fidelity cash flow forecasts and building strong relationships within the industry – before needing to ask for money.
“If you only manage your business based on the money you have in the bank, you have a capacity issue,” explained Pitts. He encouraged leveraging incubators and local venture/angel groups to find supporters passionate about clean energy.
“Find lovers with money.”
He urged entrepreneurs to find people who are excited about their technology and have the resources to invest.
Erin Davis: Simplifying Equity Raises and Financial Maturity
Davis encouraged founders to use SAFE notes (Simply Agreement for Future Equity) using the Y-combinator template. She stressed the importance of securing non-dilutive capital quickly and bridging funding gaps with loans. Davis highlighted the significance of maintaining well-organized financial records and building a robust pro forma. She encouraged companies seeking early-stage financing to visit Enduring Planet’s website and apply.
Strategic Advice for Startups
The session concluded with strategic advice for startups. Pitts emphasized the importance of having a backup plan and advised being prepared for potential capital crunches. Harris encouraged treating regulatory requirements as drivers of innovation and leveraging networks to increase funding access.
Una nueva investigación revela los pasos que debe tomar California para captar más empleos del auge de las baterías de litio
March 26, 2024
Oakland, 26 de marzo de 2024 – California está captando sólo el 2.4% de los empleos previstos en las operaciones planificadas en la cadena de suministro de baterías de litio de la nación, y la mayoría van a parar a estados que ocupan puestos bajos en términos de protección laboral, salud y seguridad de los trabajadores, y leyes salariales.
Las conclusiones publicadas hoy en un nuevo informe de New Energy Nexus, en colaboración con el Instituto para la Transformación Social de la Universidad de California en Santa Cruz, y socios del Centro Laboral de la Universidad de California en Berkeley, detallan cómo la propia iniciativa estatal del “Valle del Litio” en la región del mar Salton no aprovechará el creciente auge del litio, donde menos del 1% de los empleos están asociados con la extracción de litio. Se prevé que la inmensa mayoría de los más de 100.000 nuevos empleos serán en la fabricación de baterías y vehículos eléctricos (VE)..
El informe – “Generando prosperidad: Creando una cadena inclusiva de suministro de litio en la región del mar Salton de California” – analiza los datos de empleo en la cadena de suministro a través de una plataforma interactiva en línea, “Lithium Battery Supply Chains of North America,” (Cadenas de suministro de baterías de litio de Norteamérica), que por primera vez traza un mapa de los empleos en relación con los indicadores laborales, climáticos y de justicia económica. También recomienda cómo la región podría captar más empleos “de alto nivel” y beneficios comunitarios de la extracción de litio con un mayor enfoque político, inversiones públicas específicas y asociaciones sólidas entre la industria, los trabajadores, las comunidades y las tribus.
“Las decisiones que se tomen ahora determinarán si el auge de las baterías de litio será una carrera hacia la cima o una carrera hacia el fondo”, afirmó Rebecca Lee, coautora del informe y Directora General de New Energy Nexus California.
“California ha sido líder mundial en innovación de vehículos eléctricos y baterías, y para mantenerse a la vanguardia, necesita apoyar a las empresas que tomen la vía alta, y que se queden y fabriquen sus tecnologías en el estado. Esto podría ser un modelo global de prosperidad compartida, generando empleos que sustenten familias y beneficios para las comunidades locales, y al mismo tiempo descarbonizando la economía.”
La región del mar Salton en California es un rincón del estado en el que no se ha invertido lo suficiente, y donde una cuarta parte de la población total y la mitad de la población nativa americana de la región vive por debajo de los índices de pobreza. También alberga algunas de las mayores reservas de litio del mundo, lo que ha dado lugar al nombre de “Valle del Litio”.
La Ley Bipartidista de Infraestructuras y la Ley de Reducción de la Inflación crearon importantes incentivos financieros para la producción nacional de baterías de litio y vehículos eléctricos. Crear una cadena nacional de valor del litio – desde el procesamiento, la fabricación de baterías y el reciclaje- podría crear buenos empleos, nuevas oportunidades comerciales y beneficios significativos para las comunidades locales.
“Tenemos que asegurarnos de que los empleos en la extracción de litio en el condado de Imperial sean buenos empleos, pero un beneficio mayor para la región podría surgir de la ubicación conjunta de la fabricación de baterías y vehículos eléctricos”, afirmó Chris Benner, coautor del informe y profesor y director de la facultad del Instituto para la Transformación Social de la Universidad de California, Santa Cruz.
“Las empresas de baterías y vehículos eléctricos que se instalen aquí obtendrían beneficios en términos de reputación y de mercadotecnia por estar vinculadas a una de las fuentes de litio más limpias del planeta, así como un acceso cercano a un gran mercado de consumidores concienciados con el medio ambiente – la base de consumidores de vehículos eléctricos más grande del país.”
Conclusiones clave:
California es actualmente el núcleo de la industria nacional del vehículo eléctrico, con aproximadamente el 19% de los empleos existentes en toda la cadena de suministro de litio y vehículos eléctricos, es con diferencia el mayor porcentaje de todos los estados.
California, Arizona y Nevada representan casi un tercio (31%) de los empleos en toda la cadena de valor de las baterías de litio y los vehículos eléctricos, pero solo el 10% de las nuevas inversiones previstas. (1).
Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama y Georgia representan en la actualidad aproximadamente el 16% del empleo total existente a lo largo de la cadena de valor, pero representan casi el 34% de los empleos previstos en nuevas instalaciones. Estos estados ocupan los últimos puestos en cuanto a protección laboral, salud y seguridad y salarios de los trabajadores..
De los más de 150.000 empleos existentes en la cadena de valor del litio en EE.UU., el 43% corresponde a la fabricación de VE, el 26% a la fabricación de los componentes, baterías y paquetes de pilas, y solo el 6% de los empleos corresponde a la minería o a la extracción de minerales críticos.
En la región del mar Salton, el número de empleos directos derivados de la extracción directa de litio será relativamente modesto: unos pocos cientos de empleos al principio, que aumentarán a unos 2.000 empleos en curso cuando se proyecte su pleno desarrollo dentro de muchos años.
La gran mayoría de los empleos relacionados con el litio de la región del mar Salton se crearán a lo largo de la cadena de valor: unos 1.600 empleos en la fabricación de cátodos, 20.000 empleos en la fabricación de pilas y baterías, y más de 100.000 empleos en la fabricación de vehículos eléctricos (2). Actualmente no existen acuerdos para traer estos empleos a la región del mar Salton, y mucho menos para garantizar que estos empleos sean de alta calidad o se destinen a residentes locales (3).
Noemí O. Gallardo, Comisionada de la Comisión de Energía de California: “La visión del Valle del Litio tiene el potencial de proporcionar una tremenda oportunidad económica que eleve simultáneamente a la industria, los trabajadores y los residentes. Basándose en los esfuerzos estatales existentes, las recomendaciones descritas en este informe pueden ayudar a hacer realidad esta posibilidad e impulsar la región del mar Salton.”
Brigette Browning, Secretaria General Ejecutiva del Consejo Laboral de los Condados de San Diego e Imperial: “Este informe muestra que California debe consolidar urgentemente su liderazgo en energías limpias y asegurarse de captar y conservar empleos que sustenten familias en el auge de las baterías de litio. Tanto en la fase de construcción de los proyectos como en las operaciones y el mantenimiento en curso, el sector debe apoyar buenos empleos sindicales y vías profesionales en los nuevos empleos de las industrias verdes, especialmente para los residentes locales.”
Sanjiv Malhotra, fundador y director ejecutivo de Sparkz: “Hemos visto un verdadero valor en adoptar el enfoque de “alto nivel” en el Valle del Litio, enfocándonos en la innovación, invirtiendo en nuestra fuerza laboral y generando buenos empleos. Estamos orgullosos de asociarnos con el sindicato United Auto Workers para asegurar al trabajador estadounidense un lugar en la nueva economía de la energía, y al mismo tiempo desarrollar la cadena de suministro de baterías a nivel nacional.”
California podría proporcionar un modelo global del desarrollo económico inclusivo y favorable al medio ambiente de las cadenas de suministro de litio y baterías. Las recomendaciones incluyen:
Apoyar el desarrollo de la fuerza laboral “de alto nivel”. Esto incluiría imponer condiciones para la financiación pública de las empresas, basándose en Acuerdos de Beneficios Comunitarios negociados, así como la capacitación de trabajadores de la construcción, obreros y profesionales y técnicos en el condado de Imperial.
Reforzar la “canalización de la innovación a la implementación”: proporcionar beneficios a las empresas de ” alto nivel” que desarrollen y fabriquen tecnologías en el Estado. Esto debería incluir un aumento en la financiación a organizaciones de apoyo para emprendedores de energías limpias que apoyan vías de alto nivel para la comercialización de empresas emergentes.
Invertir en infraestructuras locales. Esto incluye infraestructuras físicas y sociales como servicios de salud pública, transporte público, viviendas resistentes al cambio climático y restauración medioambiental relacionada con la gestión del mar Salton y la calidad del aire.
Abordar los obstáculos a la concesión de permisos. Por ejemplo, se podría acelerar la obtención de permisos para proyectos que hayan formalizado acuerdos y cuenten con el apoyo de las comunidades.
Transparencia de la cadena de suministro de baterías. Deben existir mecanismos que controlen, midan y respeten los estándares medioambientales, laborales y de la calidad del aire, tales como el Pasaporte Global de Baterías.
El informe y el mapa Lithium Battery Supply Chain (Cadena de Suministro de Baterías de Litio) cuentan con el apoyo de una subvención de la Fundación James Irvine, y representan la culminación de más de un año de investigación, que incluye aportaciones de una amplia gama de partes interesadas de los sectores laboral, comunitario, industrial, público y tribal.
(2) Este cálculo se basa en la cantidad anual de litio extraído de todas las plantas geotérmicas existentes y utilizado para fabricar baterías
(3) Al menos dos empresas promotoras han firmado acuerdos de proyectos laborales (PLA por sus siglas en inglés) con sindicatos del sector de la construcción para la fase de construcción de los proyectos.
Acerca de New Energy Nexus:
New Energy Nexus es una organización sin fines de lucro que lucha por una economía 100% de energía limpia para el 100% de la población en el menor tiempo posible. Con 20 años de experiencia, ofrecemos aceleradores, financiación y capacitación de primera clase para ayudar a diversos emprendedores a desarrollar una transición energética limpia, más justa y equitativa..
New Energy Nexus comenzó en California en 2004 y ahora opera programas en Nueva York, China, India, Sudeste Asiático, África Oriental y Occidental, y Australia. Desde 2016, hemos apoyado a 1.200 empresas emergentes, más de 8.000 emprendedores y movilizado más de 3.700 millones de dólares en inversiones. Más información en: www.newenergynexus.com/california
Acerca del Instituto para la Transformación Social de UC Santa Cruz
El Instituto, integrado en la División de Ciencias Sociales de UC Santa Cruz, el Instituto apoya la investigación innovadora que cambia al mundo. El instituto es un centro intelectual y social crítico, que conecta a académicos de toda la UC Santa Cruz y a socios de fuera de la universidad, creando soluciones basadas en la investigación de urgentes problemas sociales, medioambientales y políticos del mundo. La investigación del instituto tiene como objetivo comprender y transformar las causas sistémicas subyacentes de los problemas en estas áreas, y aporta la experiencia basada en la investigación y los recursos de UC Santa Cruz a colaboraciones con otras entidades comprometidas con la creación de sociedades locales y globales que se basan en la equidad, el acceso y las oportunidades para todas las personas, la regeneración del medio ambiente y la revitalización democrática. https://transform.ucsc.edu/
Acerca del Centro Laboral de UC Berkeley
El Centro de Investigación y Educación Laboral de UC Berkeley es un programa de servicio público y divulgación del Instituto de Investigación sobre Trabajo y Empleo. Fundado en 1964, el Centro Laboral lleva a cabo investigación y educación sobre temas relacionados con el trabajo y el empleo. Los currículos del Centro Laboral y las capacitaciones de liderazgo sirven para educar a una nueva generación diversa de líderes laborales. El Centro Laboral lleva a cabo investigaciones sobre temas como la calidad del empleo y el desarrollo de la fuerza laboral, y trabaja con sindicatos, gobiernos y empleadores para desarrollar programas y perspectivas políticas innovadoras. El Centro también ofrece una importante fuente de investigación e información sobre los sindicatos y la evolución de la fuerza laboral para estudiantes, académicos, legisladores y el público en general. https://laborcenter.berkeley.edu/
Contacto para los medios de comunicación:
Tristan Tremschnig, Director de Global Communications, New Energy Nexus, correo electrónico: tristan.tremschnig@newenergynexus.com (con sede en San Francisco)
New Energy Nexus (NEX) is an international organization that strives towards a 100% clean energy economy for 100% of the population. It does this with a laser focus on diverse entrepreneurs, supporting them with accelerators, funds, skills, and networks they need to thrive.
NEX has accelerated over 1,200 startups, supported nearly 9,000 entrepreneurs, and mobilized over US$3.7 billion in investment. Celebrating 20 years since its founding in California in 2004, NEX now operates programs or advisory services in Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Philippines, Thailand, the UAE, Uganda, the USA (California and New York), and Vietnam. More at www.newenergynexus.com
New research reveals steps California must take to capture more jobs from lithium battery boom
March 19, 2024
Oakland, 26 March 2024 – California is capturing only 2.4% of projected jobs in planned operations in the nation’s lithium battery supply chain, with most going to states that are ranked low in terms of labor protection, worker health and safety, and wage laws.
The findings released today in a new report from New Energy Nexus, with partners at the Institute for Social Transformation at UC Santa Cruz and the UC Berkeley Labor Center, detail how even the state’s very own “Lithium Valley” initiative in the Salton Sea region is projected to miss out on the growing lithium boom, where less than 1% of jobs are associated with lithium extraction. The vast majority of the more than 100,000 expected new jobs are projected to be in battery and electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing.
The report – “Powering Prosperity: Building an Inclusive Lithium Supply Chain in California’s Salton Sea Region” – analyzes employment data in the supply chain through an interactive online platform, “Lithium Battery Supply Chains of North America,” which for the first time ever maps jobs in relation to labor, climate, and economic justice indicators. It also recommends how the region could capture more “high-road” jobs and community benefits from lithium extraction with greater policy focus, targeted public investment, and stronger industry, labor, community and tribal partnerships.
“The decisions taken now will determine whether the lithium battery boom will be a race to the top or a race to the bottom,” said Rebecca Lee, co-author of the report and Managing Director of New Energy Nexus California.
“California has been a world leader in EV and battery innovation, and to stay ahead of the curve, it needs to support companies that take the high-road, and that stay and manufacture their technologies in the state. This could be a global model for shared prosperity, generating family-supporting jobs and benefits for local communities, while also decarbonizing the economy.”
California’s Salton Sea region is an underinvested corner of the state where a quarter of the total population, and half of the region’s Native American population, live below the poverty line. It is also home to some of the largest lithium reserves in the world, which has given rise to the name “Lithium Valley.”
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act created major financial incentives for domestic lithium battery and EV production. Building out a domestic lithium value chain – from processing, battery manufacturing, and recycling – could potentially create good jobs, new business opportunities, and meaningful benefits for local communities.
“We need to ensure that the jobs in lithium extraction itself in Imperial County are good jobs, but a larger benefit to the region could come from co-locating battery and electric vehicle manufacturing,” said Chris Benner, co-author of the report and Professor and Faculty Director at the Institute for Social Transformation, UC Santa Cruz.
“Battery and electric vehicle firms locating here would gain reputational and marketing benefits of being tied to one of the cleanest sources of lithium on the planet, as well as close access to a large environmentally conscious consumer market – the largest consumer base for electric vehicles in the country.”
Key findings:
California is currently the core of the nation’s electric vehicle industry, accounting for roughly 19% of existing jobs in the full lithium and electric vehicle supply chain, by far the highest share of any state.
California, Arizona and Nevada account for nearly a third (31%) of jobs in the full lithium battery and EV value chain, butonly 10% of planned new investment. These states rank highly in the nation for policies that support good jobs and wages (1).
Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, and Georgia currently account for approximately 16% of total existing employment along the value chain, but represent nearly 34% of projected jobs in new sites. These states are low-to-bottom ranked in terms of labor protection, worker health and safety, and wages.
Of the more than 150,000 existing jobs in the lithium value chain in the USA, 43% are in EV manufacturing, 26% are in battery component, cell, and pack manufacturing, and only 6% of jobs are in mining or critical minerals extraction.
In the Salton Sea region, the number of direct jobs from direct lithium extraction will be relatively modest: a few hundred jobs initially, rising to roughly 2,000 ongoing jobs at projected full build-out many years from now.
The vast majority of jobs associated with the lithium from the Salton Sea region will be created further along the value chain: roughly 1,600 jobs in cathode manufacturing, 20,000 jobs in battery cell and pack manufacturing, and over 100,000 jobs in EV manufacturing (2). There are currently no agreements in place to bring these jobs to the Salton Sea region, much less ensure these jobs are high-quality or will be targeted for local residents (3).
Noemí O. Gallardo, Commissioner, California Energy Commission: “The Lithium Valley vision has the potential to provide tremendous economic opportunity that simultaneously uplifts industry, workers, and residents. Building on existing state efforts, the recommendations outlined in this report can help realize this possibility and boost the Salton Sea region.”
Brigette Browning, Executive Secretary-General, San Diego and Imperial Counties Labor Council: “This report shows that California must urgently build on its clean energy leadership, and ensure it captures and retains family supporting jobs in the lithium battery boom. Both in the construction phase of projects and ongoing operations and maintenance, the sector must support good union jobs and career pathways in new green industries jobs, especially for local residents.”
Sanjiv Malhotra, Founder and CEO, SPARKZ: “We’ve seen real value in taking the “high-road” approach in Lithium Valley, focusing on innovation, investing in our workforce, and generating good jobs. We are proud to partner with the United Auto Workers to secure the American worker’s place in the new energy economy, while also growing the battery supply chain domestically.”
California could provide a global model for the inclusive and environmentally friendly economic development of lithium and battery supply chains. Recommendations include:
Support “high-road” workforce development. This should include conditional public funding for businesses based on negotiated Community Benefits Agreements, as well as training for construction trades, blue collar, and professional and technical workers in Imperial County.
Strengthen the “innovation to implementation pipeline”: provide benefits for “high-road” companies that develop and manufacture technologies in the state. This should include an increase in funding to clean energy entrepreneur support organizations that support high-road pathways for startup commercialization.
Invest in local infrastructure. This includes physical and social infrastructure such as public health services, public transportation, climate resilient housing, and environmental restoration related to Salton Sea management and air quality.
Address permitting barriers. For instance, expedited permitting could be made available for projects that have formalized agreements and support from communities.
Battery supply chain transparency. Mechanisms must be in place that monitor, measure, and uphold environmental, labor and air quality standards, such as the Global Battery Passport.
The report and the Lithium Battery Supply Chain map are supported by a grant from The James Irvine Foundation, and represents the culmination of more than a year of research, including input from a wide range of labor, community, industry, public sector and tribal stakeholders.
(2) This calculation is based on the annual amount of lithium extracted from all existing geothermal plants and used to make batteries.
(3) At least two developers have signed project labor agreements (PLAs) with building trades unions for the construction phase of the projects.
About the Institute for Social Transformation, UC Santa Cruz
Rooted in the Social Sciences Division at UC Santa Cruz, the institute supports innovative scholarship that changes the world. The institute is a critical intellectual and social hub, connecting scholars across UC Santa Cruz and partners beyond the university, developing research-based solutions to urgent social, environmental and political problems in the world. The institute’s research aims to understand and transform the underlying systemic causes of problems in these areas and brings the research-based expertise and resources of UC Santa Cruz to collaborations with others committed to building local and global societies that are rooted in equity, access and opportunity for all people, environmental regeneration and democratic revitalization. https://transform.ucsc.edu/
New Energy Nexus (NEX) is an international organization that strives towards a 100% clean energy economy for 100% of the population. It does this with a laser focus on diverse entrepreneurs, supporting them with accelerators, funds, skills, and networks they need to thrive.
NEX has accelerated over 1,200 startups, supported nearly 9,000 entrepreneurs, and mobilized over US$3.7 billion in investment. Celebrating 20 years since its founding in California in 2004, NEX now operates programs or advisory services in Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Philippines, Thailand, the UAE, Uganda, the USA (California and New York), and Vietnam. More at www.newenergynexus.com
6 startups that could shape California’s clean energy transition
February 14, 2024
From more aerodynamic trucks, through to non-flammable batteries, we’re proud to announce the six winners of the CalSEED program’s sixth annual Prototype Awards.
Funded through the California Energy Commission’s US$130 million-a-year EPIC program, these awards aim to surface some of the most cutting edge clean energy technologies being developed in California, and ultimately help them commercialize faster.
The awardees were selected through a rigorous business plan competition, closely coordinated with Cleantech Open (CTO), where companies demonstrated the commercial promise of their innovations. Each winner will receive US$500,000 to bring their technology closer to market.
“The companies selected for these awards not only showed commercial promise, but they demonstrated how scaling their technology could result in other benefits that go beyond reducing emissions and cutting costs. There is something about each of these innovations that is easier to install, easier to manufacture, and easier to deploy, and these things can increase access and resilience.”
Joy Larson, Director of CalSEED at New Energy Nexus
Community Energy Labs: simplifying building control systems
Community Energy Labs (CEL) has developed a cheaper and simpler building control system, which can increase energy savings by up to 23%, reduce peak demand by up to 30%, and drive adoption of renewables through load shifting. Due to the low up-front costs, customers pay back their initial investment in months, not years.
Building control systems are the systems that typically automate centralized control of a building’s HVAC, electrical, lighting, shading, access control, and security systems. CEL’s solutions can be installed in under a week (as opposed to months or years for transitional Building Automation Systems), requiring minimal intervention or engineering.
“With the CalSEED Prototype Aware we plan to build support tools that smooth customer acquisition and onboarding in a friendly, consistent, and scalable way. The proposed enhancements are central to supporting CEL’s go-to-market strategy and ability to convert pilots and demonstrate scalability to potential investors.”
Tanya Barham, CEO at Community Energy Labs
Tyfast: more efficient, robust batteries
Tyfast is building high-performance Lithium-ion batteries (LiBs) in heavy duty, construction, and military vehicle applications.
Tyfast has developed a proprietary vanadium-based anode called LVO, which delivers 10-times faster charging (in less than 10 minutes) resulting in shorter downtimes, and increasing the lifecycle 10-fold. It can also be charged at sub-zero temperatures (-40C).
“With the CalSEED Prototype Award, we aim to fabricate and deliver >5 Ah Li-ion cells to our diesel OEM customers for evaluation of this breakthrough technology at the cell and early module/pack level.”
GJ la O’, CEO at Tyfast
Solvari: ready-to-install residential solar
Solvari SR is a ready-to-install, all-in-one residential solar panel that ships as a single unit with everything needed to install it. It installs four-times faster than current options, reducing cost by as much as 25%.
Rooftop solar typically has an average of 425 individual parts for a typical 7kW residential solar system. Solvari has simplified this to only 22 modules, resulting in a 50% reduction in operation and installation costs.
“Solvari plans on completing two key automation manufacturing stations of the Solvari SR product to reduce manufacturing costs. We will also complete certification of the Solvari SR module to close out its final market requirement.”
Samuel Truthseeker, Founder and CEO at Solvari
Ariya: developing non-flammable batteries
Ariya Energy is developing a proprietary, low-cost, non-flammable battery for stationary storage. The team estimates that this battery can save commercial and industrial ratepayers up to 25% on their electricity bill, and residential ratepayers up to 20%.
Ariya’s battery uses a water-based electrolyte and zinc, making the battery both non-flammable much more robust. A lower cost is achieved with readily available (inexpensive) materials that can easily be recycled. The low battery price could enable a “Energy Storage as a Service” (eSaaS) that provides storage as a guaranteed service for a monthly fee. Little or no upfront payment is required, and the monthly fee never exceeds the ratepayer’s monthly savings.
“With the Prototype Award, we will perform further technical development of our low cost stationary energy storage battery. Specifically, we plan to increase the storage capacity of our prototype battery to bring it closer to commercialization.”
Arthur Kariya, Founder at Ariya
Aeromutable: making trucks more aerodynamic
Aeromutable is developing more aerodynamic trucks, with a simple, low-profile device added to the back of trucks. It could improve the energy efficiency of the trucking industry by up to 16%.
The design changes the aerodynamic signature of a tractor trailer to minimize drag and reduce energy consumption and emissions by injecting air into the back of the trailer in a unique way.
Unlike the static technologies on the market today, this technology provides dynamic, real-time aerodynamic optimization.
“To accelerate our entry to market, Aeromutable is proposing to develop a faster testing method. By leveraging additional testing platforms that will allow us to work both on in-house development and advancing our on-road testing through commercial developmental pilots we can demonstrate performance improvements our device provides for heavy vehicles.”
Sandra Manosalvas-Kjono, Co-Founder and COO at Aeromutable
Climformatics: localized near-to-long term prediction of extreme weather events
Climformatics builds models to simulate the global climate using state-of-the-art, Nobel-Prize winning algorithms. It predicts with a high degree of certainty the climate and weather state for long-term timescales at specific geographic locations.
Climformatics has developed innovative technology using climate and weather models together with machine learning that can anticipate the extreme climate events well before they are imminent (beyond a week or two). This data empowers utilities to prepare and protect their installations.
”… the “CALSEED Prototype award will help Climformatics build an innovative decision support tool for energy utilities and grid operators to help them decide how to meet the increased energy demand for cooling and at the same time mitigate the fire-risk ignition.”
Subarna Bhattacharyya, Co-Founder and CEO at Climformatics
About CalSEED
CalSEED is funded through the CEC’s EPIC program which invests approximately $120M annually for innovative clean energy technologies and approaches benefiting the ratepayers of California’s three largest electric investor-owned utilities. Through the CalSEED initiative $25M will be deployed to back over 80 startups in coming years. CalSEED is administered by New Energy Nexus.
Reflecting on 12 years of battery innovation, from CalCharge to Just Batteries
February 6, 2024
The California Clean Energy Fund (CalCEF) realised over a decade ago that batteries play a critical role in the energy transition. Since its inception, CalCEF, which evolved into New Energy Nexus in 2016, has been at the forefront of global initiatives to foster a robust and inclusive advanced battery ecosystem.
Reflecting on the end of the CalCharge program that started it all, New Energy Nexus CEO Danny Kennedy shares insights into the role the organization played in connecting the dots between energy storage technology, innovation, and policy.
Batteries are the secret ingredient to unlocking the potential of renewable energy, but it wasn’t always inevitable that this nascent technology would take off as it has this decade. CalCEF – the organization I led back in 2106 and which later became New Energy Nexus – had seen the importance of lithium-ion batteries for electric mobility potential; in fact, it had even invested in a fledgling company called Tesla, that some of you may know, around 2005. Several CalCEF board members and staff, who included long time solar and utility executives, knew that grid storage would become “a thing” as the penetration of variable renewable energy increased on the grids.
Fast forward to 26 January this year, the UN’s first ever International Day of Clean Energy, and I’m at the groundbreaking of California’s first commercial lithium production facility, and the world’s first “fully integrated lithium facility and clean energy campus”. Picture this: John Podesta is leading the groundbreaking with a Congressman, Assembly member, and union heads. Senior officials from Sacramento have trekked down to this side road off Highway 111 near Niland (look it up on Google Maps – we’re not in Kansas nor the California many know) along with former Secretary of Transport, Rod Slater. Rod Colwell, the CEO of Controlled Thermal Resources, the startup commissioning this billion dollar facility, is beaming from head to toe after years of talking about getting this thing going.
Key to the story of Lithium Valley is the buy-in of the traditional custodians of the place, the Torres Martinez tribe of the Cahuilla Bands of Indians, who live throughout this part of desert California and northern Mexico. Councilman Butcher was present at the ceremony and his community are working to host energy projects to power some of the Lithium processing that will ensue from commercial production of the powder. Questions remain about the footprint of all this industrial activity and as Eduardo Garcia, the local representative, said the skeptics have to be given a hearing, which they will. But the prospect of a green Lithium battery supply chain, powered by renewable electricity throughout the manufacturing, which could provide enough batteries for all the cars in America, is tantalizingly close. Even a pundit who has long poo-poo’ed this possibility is changing his tune in the LA Times.
Living the CalCharge dream: 2012-2016
This was always the dream of CalCharge: to engender a soup-to-nuts, next-gen technology based on the brains and clean resources of the Golden State, rich with good, so-called “high road” jobs capable of paying family-supporting wages while ushering in climate solutions.
There was no certainty batteries would even be a big part of the mix, given the hype cycles that ensued about everything from a nuclear renaissance to hydrogen. Solar and wind were far from streaking ahead as they are now. As such, storage on the grid wasn’t perceived to be that important and people thought cars would be “fueled” forever. But CalCEF’s founders had also seen the green shoots of effort by entrepreneurs in California doing creative things with an alphabet soup of chemistries (Li, Zn, Br, Na) and their job was to support these entrepreneurs, which they did systematically.
In particular, in 2012 we formed a new trade association for energy storage companies called CalCharge around a cluster of around 18 startups. The mandate was to create a “center of gravity” for the California energy storage sector that enables diverse stakeholders to collaborate, identify barriers to emerging technology success, and develop solutions that help clear the path to commercialization.
In the early years of Calcharge the main event was literally an event known as the “Bay Area Battery Summit”. This gathering of geeks and scientists and journalists covering new tech was held each year at one of the Bay Area’s three national labs – Lawrence Livermore, Lawrence Berkeley or SLAC, the Stanford Linear Accelerator. It became the place “to be” if you were in batteries in the United States of America. I remember the first BABS (as it became known) that I attended in 2015. It was thrilling in only the way that a lecture theater behind the high security fence line of one of the US’ national labs can be!
We were discussing information that seemed critical for national and dare I say it, planetary security. Speaker after speaker talked of the potential of breakthroughs in energy density and other improvements in battery storage that would allow renewables to take up more than 100% of power demand by pairing wind and solar with the right storage. That their energy density could also move cars, bikes and all modes of transport quickly and cheaper became clearer as well. But challenges for this fledgling industry were also clear.
Supercharging the work: 2017-2021
This is when the CalCharge board decided to supercharge the information-sharing. We made a proposal to the federal government to develop a national networked manufacturing initiative on advanced batteries called Supercharge. This NNMI was supposed to bring together all of the interests, not only in California but across the country, including the American Jobs Project, many labor unions, some of the automobile industry, and New York’s Battery Energy Storage Technology (BEST). Over the course of 2016 we put together a powerful coalition of state agencies and industry, unions and universities and presented to the Department of Commerce our proposed strategy. In October 2016 we were deemed to be worthy of federal support and approved for a US$70 million grant to build out the vision.
As you might remember a month later a new government was formed in the United States, which did not seem interested in the energy transition or promoting new technologies with industrial strategies. We were never awarded the actual funds from the grant despite winning the bid, and instead the United States went into a period of uncoordinated effort around these issues.
There was a small grouping inside the federal government known as the Federal Consortium on Advanced Batteries (FCAB) that kept the light on for such thinking and of course many entrepreneurs and scientists and others in nonprofit and for-profit sectors, who pursued better batteries for those four years of the Trump administration. In parallel, the European Union, China and many other nations really stepped up their efforts in the formation of their own industrial strategies for batteries.
Back to the future: 2021-now
By the time Trump lost his second election the United States was behind, and in some ways had had a sort of “Sputnik moment” – bested in its own tech. Lithium-ion chemistries in particular, which American companies and scientists had contributed to more than any, were now being made at scale mostly in China and in a value chain that mostly left America out except as the buyer of these batteries.
On the first day of the Biden administration an executive order was put out to work out the problem of dependency that America had on a number of critical supply chains including pharmaceuticals, semiconductors and batteries. CalCEF, now known as New Energy Nexus, was asked along with the NY BEST and NattBatt, the national battery industry association, to support the government in its quest to solve this problem.
New Energy Nexus was engaged a number of times by LG Energy Solutions, at the time the top battery maker in the world, to find the best and brightest chemists and startups in the battery space. These “Battery Challenges”, which we went on to develop for Kia and Hyundai as well, have helped keep the Korean battery industry abreast of the cutting edge in chemistries.
We also grew our programs in California to support energy storage companies because so much of the state’s climate and energy mandate required more storage on the grid. We developed support for dozens of startups including Cuberg, Coreshell, Sepion and SparkZ. In New York we teamed up with Stan Whittingham’s lab and our old friends at New York BEST and others upstate to pitch to the Department of Commerce again a vision called New Energy New York. And in Australia we built a program to decarbonise the upstream production of raw lithium from spodumene resources through our innovation challenge with our partner, EnergyLab.
Bringing it home
In a little known corner of the country, literally where Arizona and Mexico meet California there is a nationally significant resource of lithium coming out of the geothermal brines that also produce about 5% of California’s electricity. If this resource were turned into reserves and a productive capacity, which has been the focus of many startups since 2010 with a company called Simbal, then America could provision its own batteries with a no-carbon source of lithium. As incredible as that sounds this is the prospect facing California and in particular Imperial County with its Lithium Valley now that CTR has begun building a Li powder and power production facility.
Lithium Valley is the name that has been given to this potential eco-industrial precinct that could grow up around the geothermal power plants already operating by the Salton Sea. Here in the poorest county in California there is an opportunity to produce clean lithium and turn it into precursor chemicals, active cathode materials, battery cells and ultimately battery packs. We published a report “Building Lithium Valley” in 2020, which became the basis for consideration by a Blue Ribbon Commission of the California Legislature and other efforts around the vision of a clean industry hub in the southern Californian inland counties. The local indigenous community have taken a lead in advancing this vision, governed by their values and long-term commitment to the place. Watch this space for more on this concept soon.
New Energy Nexus now stands ready to work with the Torres Martinez and the Cahuilla Indians, on whose land this potential could be achieved. Our aim is to do this right, by which we mean include communities who have historically been taken advantage of by extractive industries at the design phase of the industrial development.
If lithium is recovered from the geothermal sector at scale and gigafactories spring up in and around Imperial County it will be important that the tribal communities as well as farm workers and others who live in the area are at the table. To enable this, we are working with the Torres Martinez on a tribal innovation accelerator proposal, as well as with young people interested in STEM education on a Youth Entrepreneurship Accelerator (YEA!) last year.
Youth Entrepreneurship Accelerator (YEA!)
Just Batteries
Across the globe, New Energy Nexus teams are looking for ways to advance this linchpin technology – batteries – in ways that are just and equitable. Our impact reports have started to track our progress with the cohorts of entrepreneurs who we train and introduce to partners and capitalise each year. We call this updated vision Just Batteries and look forward to keeping you posted on our progress.
The exciting prospect is that we imagine a world just a few decades hence wherein sufficient lithium and other battery metals have been recovered from the earth’s crust or its brines and need never be extracted again as virgin raw material. Instead, by the ‘40s we could be in a fully circular economy, recovering sufficient material for our energy storage needs from an urban mining process which will be much more economic than new mines or geothermal recovery of lithium. If this is to be realized it is important that those communities this decade and next, from whose land lithium and other battery metals will be recovered, are involved in the full cradle-to-cradle value chain of better batteries.
As for CalCharge, we have wound it up (as of late January 2024, I am resigning as President and we have mothballed the entity and its CRADAs with the national labs). Entrepreneurs looking for support from New Energy Nexus in California for battery-related technologies can apply to our CalSEED and CalTestBed programs. These offerings have all of the advantages and many more than Calcharge provided. Moreover we think we have come to a time that requires global collaboration – not just national – in order to both advance advanced batteries and ensure that they do not become the plaything of geopolitics. Charge on!
CalSEED awards US$4M in grants to early-stage clean energy innovations
September 13, 2023
Oakland, CA 13 September 2023 – The California Sustainable Energy Entrepreneur Development (CalSEED) program is thrilled to announce that 27 new Concept awards have been approved by the California Energy Commission (CEC).
For the Concept award, 27 companies out of 153 were selected to receive grants of US$150,000 to develop their breakthrough technologies. In total US$4 million of CEC EPIC funds will be invested in clean energy innovations throughout California.
“The CalSEED program has been successful in helping entrepreneurs working on promising climate solutions to get the support they need to scale up,” said David Hochschild, Chair of the California Energy Commission (CEC).
“Through the California Energy Commission’s EPIC research program, CalSEED is helping entrepreneurs turn great ideas into marketable solutions and providing benefits to California ratepayers.”
Concept awardees went through a rigorous process including a review with CalSEED’s curated review committee, who offered their time and expertise to score applications for technical merit, potential for social impact and energy equity, and team expertise. CalSEED’s solicitation is designed as a call for early-stage clean energy innovations that fall within the following technology areas: energy storage, DER integration and load flexibility, transportation electrification, building decarbonization, and industrial decarbonization.
“We’re thrilled to see so many clean energy entrepreneurs who are not only developing cutting-edge technology, but also thinking about circular and inclusive designs in the way they’re implemented” said Rebecca Lee, Managing Director New Energy Nexus California Programs. CalSEED is a program of New Energy Nexus in California.
Each year the CalSEED program selects new and emerging clean technology areas to fund to help California meet its climate goals. Within the upcoming cohort, 2 out of 27 companies are developing solutions to decarbonize the cement industry, which is currently responsible for 8.8% of industrial sector GHG emissions in California. The potential impact of transforming the way in which one of the most used materials in the world is created is one of the many ways the CalSEED program is working to bring the rapid transformation to a clean energy economy.
“This new cohort of CalSEED grant recipients stands at the forefront of new energy solutions and exemplifies California’s innovative ethos,” said Joy Larson, Program Director of CalSEED.
“With financial support, mentorship, connection to a large network, and the support of a community of fellow entrepreneurs, the CalSEED program offers a springboard for entrepreneurs to bring sustainable energy solutions and energy equity into the energy landscape.”
CalSEED is funded through the CEC’s EPIC program, which invests approximately $120 million annually for innovative clean energy technologies and approaches benefiting. the ratepayers of California’s three largest electric investor-owned utilities.
Details of the 27 companies awarded a total of US$4 million:
COHORT 6 CONCEPT AWARDEES:
ActivatedEnergy is designing and demonstrating a long duration energy storage system for urban environments, where system footprint cost is a driving factor, without the use of lithium or cobalt. This innovation is a system that will store energy in the form of compressed liquified carbon dioxide and will release energy by expanding the gas through a turboexpander, using commercially evaluated and certified components.
BioZen Batteries is developing a low-cost, carbon-based redox-active electrolyte (“redoxloyte”) fluid for redox flow batteries (RFBs). Redoxolytes are a green-plant-inspired organic chemistry leveraging modular, single-atom scale molecular modifications to tune solubility (capacity), redox potential (cell voltage), intermolecular interactions (lifetime), and manufacturing efficiency (cost). This technology has the potential to significantly reduce the cost of deploying long-duration RFB energy storage on the grid, thereby dramatically decreasing pollution burdens and increasing energy resilience in underserved communities.
Calion Technologies is developing a zero global warming potential and carbon-negative heat pump using our non-vapor compression Ionocaloric heat pumping technology that will provide a drop-in replacement for vapor compression technologies. Because the ionocaloric technology utilizes the solid/liquid transition instead of the liquid/vapor transition, the ionocaloric refrigerant doubles as thermal storage material and there is never any vapor produced during the heat pumping process, so there is no refrigerant that can harm the atmosphere.
Carbon Blade Corporation is building an energy efficient hardware solution for carbon dioxide removal that can be placed directly at sequestration/usage locations with no additional cost for electricity or pipeline infrastructure. The proposed innovation is a stand-alone device that uses onboard wind and solar electricity generation to power a chemical process that captures CO2 from the atmosphere in a modular containerized solution.
C-Crete Technologies is developing a process that turns naturally occurring abundant “non-carbonate” rocks to cementitious binders with significant energy savings, affordability, flexibility, emissions reductions while maintaining similar comfort level and performance for end-users.
Ceja Engineering Solutions developing a self-powered line mounted wildfire detection system that will employ embedded sensors to continuously monitor for wildfire conditions and provide a remote automatic circuit breaker protective trip if a wildfire is detected.
CONUSANT is developing and implementing a micro-controller in residential refrigerators to efficiently store thermal energy and permanently shift load on a daily basis. This invention will use off-peak energy to cool the refrigerator freezer compartment below the normal set point of 0 degrees Fahrenheit. By lowering the temperature 2-3 degrees below 0, we can turn off the compressor usage for up to 8 hours. This will help alleviate solar/wind over-generation and curtailment concerns during peak electricity production times and insufficient load,
EarthEn is developing a flexible energy storage solution that uses CO2 in a closed loop to store 4-100+ hours of energy at a low cost & highly scalable & safe manner. The proposed innovation is an Energy Pod that uses supercritical CO2 (sCO2) as a circulating fluid that is compressed to store excess energy from solar and wind. When excess energy is present, CO2 is compressed into sCO2 at high pressures.
EELi Technology is developing an economical, efficient, and scalable electrochemical-based direct lithium extraction platform technology using electricity rather than carbon-intensive reagent chemicals. Electrochemical extraction processes (EEPs), in which voltage/current is the driving force to capture ions, provide exceptional lithium selectivity, recovery rate, and rapid processing.
ENAMP is advancing a distributed energy resources management & EV charging hub that will be an all-in-one solution enabling all residential buildings, even those with limited utility power capacity, to go all-electric. Enamp will use real-time data to implement the instantaneous dynamic control of major electric loads, enabling homeowners to integrate interoperable DERs, electrify major appliances, manage loads during the grid-islanded mode, and charge electric vehicles without the need to upgrade the behind-the-meter distribution system (Utility Service, Electric panel, and subpanels).
EnergizedAI is increasing EV fast charger uptime through the development of a predictive maintenance algorithm, allowing service to occur before failure. EnergizedAI is developing a tool that will utilize an ensemble of methods including deep learning, forecasting, and statistical survival analysis to identify fast chargers at risk of becoming non-functional. This analysis takes into account multiple data points from each fast charger and local environmental information to derive a charger health score with continuously improving accuracy as feedback from each prediction is incorporated into the analysis and the model is exposed to more data.
ExPost Technology is developing a reuse and recycling process for end-of-life lithium-ion batteries to conserve critical materials, reduce environmental impacts, and lower material costs of new battery manufacturing. This closed-loop, direct recycling/upcycling technology uses a combination of physical and chemical processes based on pyrometallurgy and hydrometallurgy.
Furno Materials. is producing Portland cement using small cement plant technology that will leverage hydrogen fuel and waste recycled concrete fines to produce carbon-neutral cement at >90% efficiency. Furno’s hydrogen-fired cement plants with novel reactor design use hydrogen as a fuel, removing the fuel emissions from cement production.
Grid Science is determining the value of behind the meter DER such as battery storage. The value of DER is determined by local supply and demand conditions in that specific utility circuit, the load capacity, and the reliability of that individual feeder. Grid Science will use sensors to deliver real time distribution power flow telemetry.
Helios Climate Industries is developing a variable-speed heat pump controller to maximize comfort, minimize operating costs and provide demand response capabilities aligned with the electricity network. The controller will make machine-learned decisions by monitoring the indoor and outdoor climate conditions, Time-of-Use billing, forecasting weather, solar PV production and consumption, thermal and battery storage charge level, and electricity network demands.
Kinetix Energy Storage is engineering an integrated reluctance motor with a carbon fiber flywheel energy storage system to minimize lifetime project costs for short-duration energy storage applications. This innovation integrates high-efficient system components and maximizes energy storage capacity in a 20 ft shipping container to minimize shipping and installation costs while providing reliable, resilient power for 20 years without degradation.
Leeta Materials is developing a scalable, microwave-assisted manufacturing process for battery cathode materials. Microwave heating reduces the energy consumption of the manufacturing process and in-situ characterization will allow for direct probing of the material quality. This enables efficient production of high-quality materials while decreasing the environmental footprint of battery materials.
Mirai Solar is developing, implementing, and testing a self-learning control logic for enhancing the energy use efficiency of greenhouses through the automation of retractable photovoltaic shade screens. This smart algorithm will pull from relevant data points, both historical and real-time, to make decisions that optimize both the crop growth and electricity output of the greenhouse by choosing when to let the sun fall on the plants or photovoltaic shades.
Project K is developing a potassium-ion battery that is lithium-free, low-cost, energy-efficient, and long-lived for grid-scale energy storage. The innovation combines old and new battery features, like a Prussian blue analog (PBA) cathode with a graphite anode and an electrolyte composed of a small-molecule organic solvent; conductive salts; and stabilizing additive into a device with an architecture that is essentially identical to that of contemporary, mass-produced lithium-ion batteries.
Root 121, Inc. is demonstrating a sodium-ion cathode manufacturing technology that will enable an affordable and domestically resilient battery supply chain. The proposed innovation is a vertically integrated process to manufacture high-energy density sodium-ion cathodes and a materials optimization methodology that uses data collected during manufacturing, materials characterization, and battery testing.
Scalvy is designing and demonstrate a fully modular and granular drivetrain system for medium- and heavy-duty vehicles to accelerate the electrification of this sector. This project enables low-volume OEMs to electrify their fleets using simple integration and an easier-to-access supply chain while operating efficiently. The drivetrain system will be composed of tens to hundreds of modular self-controlled drivetrain building blocks operating to drive the traction motor, charge the battery packs, supply the electronic loads, and perform the battery management system functionalities.
Sea Dragon Energy is developing an energy management system for homeowners to monitor and control circuits using their existing circuit breaker panel. The innovation, mPower, will better utilize self-generated and stored energy while on or off grid and is easily installed into an existing panel, by snapping it into an empty slot, without requiring replacement of the panel.
Solar Ice is building a prototype of a solar thermal-powered absorption air conditioning & refrigeration system utilizing high efficiency solar collectors, modern absorption chillers, and state-of-the-art phase change material storage. Compared to conventional systems, this solar thermal cooling innovation will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality by operating without the HCFC refrigerants, and eliminating the compressor drastically reduces energy consumption, translating to cost savings and system reliability while eliminating the constant noise and vibration.
Sunchem is developing and scale up a low-cost precision Nano Filtration device that can continuously capture critical metals used for the clean energy transition from any complex water mixtures. The Nano Filter (NF) technology is based on a library of compositions made up of highly porous sponge-like metal-organic framework (MOF) and polymer building blocks that can process complex water mixtures for precision separation and concentration of metals that are critical for the creation of renewable energy sources and storage such as solar photovoltaic cells, batteries and onshore/offshore wind.
ThermoShade is developing a passive cooling panel that can be installed above outdoor spaces, creating a shady space that feels up to 20°F cooler than the outside air. ThermoShade integrates ultra-reflective coatings, which reflect >90% of the Sun’s energy, and phase change materials, which release stored cool thermal energy during the daytime heat, and recharge at night when temperatures drop, into a modular, highly scalable design. ThermoShade will work 24/7 with zero electricity, zero water, and zero upkeep, helping to keep customers cool, while reducing their electricity and water bills.
Waste Salt Technologies LLC is demonstrating a process that repurposes the unseparated and minimally processed solid salt of the desalination process in an inexpensive, safe, modular, and scalable Thermal Energy Storage (TES) system that can be used to store thermal energy. Waste Salt Technologies’ approach includes physical and chemical steps to prepare the salt and involves a data-driven procedure for designing a heat exchanger that can thermally interact with the processed salt to provide and extract thermal energy.
Westwood Aerogel is incorporating aerogel technology into energy efficient window designs. Sol-gel Solutions produces ambiently dried aerogel technology that will be applied through an optically clear adhesive onto a pane of window and assembled into insulating glass units. It is transparent, has extremely low thermal conductivities, and unlike existing technologies, can be mass produced in a continuous line process.
About CalSEED
CalSEED is funded through the CEC’s EPIC program which invests approximately $120M annually for innovative clean energy technologies and approaches benefiting the ratepayers of California’s three largest electric investor-owned utilities. Through the CalSEED initiative US$25M will be deployed to back over 80 startups in coming years. CalSEED is administered by New Energy Nexus.
About the California Energy Commission
The California Energy Commission is leading the state to a 100 percent clean energy future. It has seven core responsibilities: developing renewable energy, transforming transportation, increasing energy efficiency, investing in energy innovation, advancing state energy policy, certifying thermal power plants, and preparing for energy emergencies. For more information, please go to energy.gov.ca .
New Energy Nexus (NEX) is an international organization that strives towards a 100% clean energy economy for 100% of the population. It does this with a laser focus on diverse entrepreneurs, supporting them with accelerators, funds, skills, and networks they need to thrive.
NEX has accelerated over 1,200 startups, supported nearly 9,000 entrepreneurs, and mobilized over US$3.7 billion in investment. Celebrating 20 years since its founding in California in 2004, NEX now operates programs or advisory services in Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Philippines, Thailand, the UAE, Uganda, the USA (California and New York), and Vietnam. More at www.newenergynexus.com
