Story
Uganda
Energy Access
Meet the entrepreneurs behind rural Uganda’s transition to clean energy

New Energy Nexus has been supporting clean energy startups longer than any other accelerator in Uganda. What we find most exciting is the unique way in which we operate here, empowering entrepreneurs in off-the-grid communities.

New Energy Nexus Uganda’s model leverages the untapped potential of local Community Based Organizations (CBOs) and Village Savings and Loans Associations (VSLAs) to incubate clean energy entrepreneurs and distribute clean energy technologies to last mile communities.

Furthermore, our program supports local entrepreneurs through financing, and capacity building such as bootcamps, mentoring and coaching, as well as cloud bookkeeping technology via our own ENVision software.

Only 32.8% (as of 2020) of the rural population in Uganda have access to electricity, and very few  have access to clean cooking facilities. There’s an opportunity for Uganda to leapfrog fossil fuels and transition directly to clean energy and cleantech products.

nex uganda model

 

The CBOs provide many essential services – supporting better health, education, sanitation and work for local people. We learned very quickly that these organizations have the networks, trust, and community reputation to bring new technologies, such as solar lighting, water filters, briquettes and clean energy cookstoves to rural villages. That was the basis for our program in Uganda, ENVenture – a social enterprise that empowers rural distributors to start sustainable clean energy businesses – that started in 2016. ENVEnture became part of New Energy Nexus in 2020.

ENVenture is also an award winning program having won the Ashden Award for Energy Access Innovation’ at COP26 in 2021.

Read on to learn about some of the inspiring people we support in northern Uganda’s last mile and refugee communities.

Lubanga Ngeyo group members after successfully sharing their achievements and the project's impact on the community.

1. Gabriel runs a retail store selling clean energy products

Tampia Nyim Energy Cooperative (TECA) is an energy enterprise in the Kiryandongo refugee settlement in Uganda. With the support from the ENVenture program they were able to set up a clean energy kiosk selling a host of clean energy products to both refugees as well as others in their host communities. With the kiosk running successfully, Gabriel, one of the members of TECA, used part of the savings to build a permanent physical retail store beside the kiosk. Opening this store has not only given more refugees access to clean energy sources (often being their only source of energy), but the sales generated from the store also helps Gabierl provide for his family.

2. Harriet manages a clean energy kiosk to support her family

Harriet, another member of TECA who has been employed as the kiosk secretary, and is trusted with managing the day-to-day operations. Working here has turned her life around. Through the ENVenture program she was able to receive continued mentoring and coaching that has helped her upskill, and track sales and inventory. This job has given her the financial independence to provide for her family. Other than having the perks of being able to charge her phone at the kiosk for free, with her salary she has been able to purchase a solar kit to improve the quality of life at home and provide security for her family in the settlement.

“I now have the knowledge I did not have before. Now I own a solar kit that helps my children read at night, and we use it while eating food at night…’’ – Harriet, TECA member

A group photo with Oribcing members after completing a project verification exercise with the donor.

3. A clean energy cooperative led by 22 refugees 

A group of 22 refugees from the Kiryandongo Refugee Settlement, Cluster D, Ranch 37, in northern Uganda came together to form the Oribcing Energy Cooperative Association (OCECA). This refugee-led cooperative provides clean energy to their communities. Their products include solar lanterns, water purifiers, briquettes and cook stoves, and they offer phone charging services and sell cold beverages. . This is particularly important for those living in refugee settlements where access to electricity is limited. With the profits generated from selling these energy products and services, OCECA has invested in offering financial services to the community. Having been officially registered and acquiring an agent banking system, a point of sale (POS) device, OCECA is now empowered to offer banking services via a cost-effective route to serve its unbanked enterprising customers within their community, including offering access to loans.

4. Abau Joyce manages a clean energy kiosk and a vegetable business  

An all-women team of 20 refugees set up the Lubanga Ngeyo Energy Cooperative (LNECA). Apart from managing and operating an energy kiosk that sells clean energy products like solar lanterns, briquettes and improved cookstoves, LNECA also offers financial agent banking services, phone and laptop charging services, and refrigeration services.

“Our kiosk is more than just an energy shop” – Joyce Achirokop, Chairperson, LNECA

Meet Abau Joyce, a mother of six who took a non-interest loan of UGX150,000 (US$40) from LNECA’s energy kiosk savings to set up a vegetable selling stall in the market near the kiosk. She also manages the energy kiosk, ensuring its daily operations run smoothly. Abau’s husband is unemployed, and without the kiosk, feeding her family would entirely depend on handouts. Thanks to the energy kiosk, Abau has a daily income, and her family can buy the food they need. The capital she required to set up and successfully run a vegetable business came from the savings and profits generated by the kiosk, offering her a level of financial independence.

Another ENVenture program is the ‘Energy for Productive Use’ (PUE) project, which offers financing to entrepreneurs to purchase solar powered appliances that enable them to grow their businesses.

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5. Nangobi Sophia

Nangobi Sophia, a 38-year-old entrepreneur from Singila, had a dream of expanding her hair salon business. She knew that in order to achieve her goal, she needed to invest in new equipment. With the help of the ‘Energy for Productive Use’ (PUE) project, another initiative by our ENVenture program, that offers Appliance Financing Loans, Sophia was able to buy hair dryer equipment on loan, which she now uses to offer her customers a wider range of higher quality services

“I am grateful for the Appliance Financing Program because it has helped me to grow my business. Now I can offer my customers the best services using modern equipment, which has attracted more customers to my salon.” – Nangobi Sophia, Hair Salon Owner

6. Wanda Alex

Wanda Alex, is a young entrepreneur from Golofa. He recently acquired towel warmers and hair clippers through our PUE Appliance Financing Program, which has allowed him to expand the services he offers at his salon. Now, his customers can enjoy a variety of grooming services all in one place. With increased sales, Wanda is confident that he can continue to grow his business and attract even more customers to his salon.

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7. Namudiba Aisha

Namudiba Aisha, a 34-year-old entrepreneur from Singila, had big dreams of starting her own fast food business selling fried chicken and chips. With the help of our PUE Appliance Financing Program, she was able to purchase a deep fryer to kickstart her venture. Now, Aisha can provide for her family while also sharing her love for food with her community.

8. Kaamu Obbo

Kaamu Obbo, a 24-year-old entrepreneur from Golofa has set up a new business selling popcorn. With the help of ENVenture’s PUE project initiative, Kaamu was able to acquire a popcorn machine on loan and start his business. He now sells fresh popcorn everyday to all the happy customers in his community, while also creating a steady source of income for himself.

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New Energy Nexus is incredibly proud to support these entrepreneurs. With affordable loan terms and support from our expert team on the ground, they have been able to grow their businesses, increase their income and help Uganda transition to clean energy.

Find out more about our programs in Uganda here.

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Indonesia
3 Indonesian climate startups to watch out for from our Smart Energy Program

Earlier this year, New Energy Nexus Indonesia called upon innovative clean energy and climate startups in the country to participate in our Smart Energy Program 2023 Cohort. This business acceleration and incubation program aims to provide tailored support to startups that are accelerating the clean energy transition in Indonesia.

Given the incredible response to our program last year and the steady growth of our climate startup alumni, it is becoming clear that clean energy and climate innovation is thriving more than ever before in Indonesia.

We are excited to announce the addition of three new startups to our  Smart Energy Program 2023 Cohort that is currently running. The world is transitioning towards a more sustainable future, and these startups are leading the charge by creating innovative clean energy solutions that are contributing to the growth of the sustainable economy in Indonesia.

1. BuangDisini

BuangDisini is a startup that is making waves in the ESG space by connecting informal sectors to recycling industries. The company offers an end-to-end digitized waste management service with high-value recycling and recovery rates for the waste collected.  By connecting users or depositors of waste to waste pick-up agents, as well as processing the plastic waste into recycled plastic material, BuangDisini is helping the community to ensure that waste is disposed off responsibly.

Buang Disini

Databiota

2. Databiota

Databiota is a carbon emissions recycling biotechnology company utilizing data, technology, and microorganisms to convert CO2 in the air into a sustainable source of protein. Their microorganism technology can produce a single-cell protein (SCP) to be effectively used in animal feeds.

3. CarbonEthics

CarbonEthics is a clean tech startup with a grassroots approach, accelerating the supply of high-quality carbon credits through nature-based solutions.  As the world is grappling with climate change, CarbonEthics’ innovative approach is helping to reduce the carbon footprint of companies and individuals alike.

CarbonEthics

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Story
California
Advice for clean energy startups looking to scale with public funding
Enzinc

Michael Burz, Founder and CEO of Enzinc

Enzinc is leading the charge in the pursuit of better, more sustainable battery technology. Through strategic use of public funds, the company is breaking through the limitations that have held back the use of zinc as a powerful and rechargeable battery material. What makes their innovation unique is that zinc is not only safe and nontoxic, but it is also fully recyclable and affordable for everyone. By prioritizing both innovation and accessibility, Enzinc is helping to pave the way towards a cleaner, brighter future for all.

Private v. Public

As the clean energy industry continues to grow, entrepreneurs require more funding than ever to transform their groundbreaking ideas into reality. Though initial seed investment from private investors is commonly sought after, unproven technologies and startups at an early stage are often deemed too risky by these investors. This lack of funding has hindered the progress of clean tech innovation, prompting the California Energy Commission (CEC) to establish the Electric Program Investment Charge (EPIC) program. Utilizing EPIC funds, the CEC has created an energy innovation pipeline that includes funding and programming to minimize the risks associated with new technologies and to bring clean energy solutions from the laboratory to the market.

Michael Burz, the Founder and CEO of Enzinc, a battery startup based in the Bay Area, never thought that an ARPA-E award to work with the U.S. Naval Research Laboratories (USNRL) would set him on a journey through EPIC’s burgeoning energy innovation pipeline. Several years later, Enzinc has received four out of five of California Energy Commission’s (CEC) Energy Program Investment Charge (EPIC) grants.

These include the CalSEED Concept Award for US$150,000, the CalSEED Prototype Award for US$450,000, a CalTestBed voucher worth US$292,000, and US$1.8 million from the CEC’s BRIDGE program to build its pilot line. Enzinc is now ready to apply for the final grant, RAMP, which will enable them to achieve low-rate initial production.

Enzinc’s remarkable success in leveraging the CEC’s public funding pipeline to develop their zinc-based batteries can serve as a blueprint for other startups looking to follow in their footsteps. During an interview last month, we spoke with Burz to learn how Enzinc navigated the public funding sphere, and we’ve distilled his valuable insights into 5 essential pieces of advice for early-stage cleantech entrepreneurs embarking on their own journey through EPIC’s pipeline of funding.

EPIC Pipeline

Funding for the EPIC program comes from ratepayers, or anyone who pays an electric bill in California. By implementing a tiny charge on monthly bills, the CEC has accumulated funds that can be used to improve the California electric system. This could mean investing in innovative technologies like Enzinc’s new battery, or educating people on how to better manage their energy usage. The result is a cleaner, more efficient energy system that benefits everyone.

EPIC Pipeline

Advice #1: Get Started with Early-Stage Programs and Grants

Enzinc, like many startups, struggled to secure investment from private sources in the early stages of developing their novel battery technology. However, Burz found success after enrolling in CleanTech Open (CTO), the world’s largest accelerator program. It was through CTO that they discovered the CalSEED initiative and applied twice before being accepted into the 2019 cohort.

“When we first applied to CalSEED I don’t think that our business plan was fully developed, we were a bit too early, ” said Burz. “That kind of feedback helped us formulate a better business plan rather than just focus on the technical aspects of our innovation, which I think helped us get into the 2019 cohort.”

CalSEED, the first program in the EPIC funding pipeline, offers non-dilutive grants of up to US$600k for clean energy concepts. Enzinc’s participation in both CTO and CalSEED provided them with a platform to work out the complexities of their business model, while also gaining valuable insights, mentorship, and connections from energy innovation clusters and networks.

Advice #2: Public Funding = Credibility

“Luckily, we did get angel funding at the same time that we got CalSEED funding. The attractiveness of course, was that with the CalSEED funding, it’s non-dilutive which of course helped a lot in our pitch to angel investors,” said Burz.

When a business undergoes the long process of applying for public funding it not only exhibits their determination and diligence but also endows them with a level of reliability and credibility that is highly appealing to private investors.

“We have successfully completed four out of the five stages and have used each accomplishment to gain investment and show progress,” said Burz. “The fact that we have received competitive awards from the California Energy Commission adds credibility and validation to potential investors, as it demonstrates that we have passed a rigorous evaluation process and reduces investment risk.”

Advice #3: Rinse and Repeat

To navigate the EPIC pipeline, it’s essential to understand the framework and requirements of the application process. Although you can’t copy and paste from one application to another, you can utilize your company’s narrative, technology, and funding goals to streamline the process. Instead of reinventing the wheel each time, save your templates and build from there to make the application process easier and more efficient.

Advice #4: Get Accounting and Administrative Help

While it might seem like investing in more engineers, scientists, programmers, etc., may be the best decision, in hindsight Enzinc revealed that they should have hired a program manager earlier to help with administrative and accounting tasks.

“After winning BRIDGE, we recognized the need for a program manager to help us navigate the administrative requirements that come with receiving funding from a large government body. As a small company, we were not accustomed to dealing with such paperwork-heavy processes, but we learned from our previous experience with the ARPA-E program. Compared to that, the CEC’s administrative process is less burdensome, but still requires careful attention. The program manager has been instrumental in simplifying these tasks, freeing up valuable executive time to focus on other priorities.”

Advice #5: Tap into the Ecosystem

Enzinc is a prime example of how powerful the EPIC pipeline and ecosystem can be. Thanks to the support and guidance of the CEC, they were able to create an Industry Advisory Group (IAG) that includes 14 companies – several of them multibillion-dollar global energy leaders – with a keen interest in Enzinc’s battery material. This kind of credibility is invaluable and could be the key to taking our business to the next level.

Enzinc’s Technology

Enzinc is not just a master of securing public funding, they are also revolutionizing the world of batteries with their innovative approach. Their secret weapon: zinc – a plentiful and low-cost material that has been largely overlooked by the battery industry.

For years, zinc has been a difficult material to use in batteries due to the formation of dendrites, which are like sharp, short stalactites that can damage the battery and reduce its lifespan. However, Enzinc is leveraging the USNRL’s work to create a zinc microsponge that forms unimpeded pathways for a consistent flow of electrons. This breakthrough means that zinc can finally be used as a powerful and rechargeable battery material, without the limitations of pastes or slurries.

Enzinc’s mobility and stationary batteries made with zinc boast the high energy levels of lithium, the durability and wide temperature range of lead acid, and none of the fire hazards or supply chain limitations associated with those materials. What’s more, Enzinc’s zinc batteries can be produced by lead-acid manufacturers, allowing those companies to compete with lithium battery makers at a fraction of the cost of building new lithium battery factories.

Enzinc’s Future is Electric

Enzinc has three significant projects in progress that they aim to complete by the end of 2023. The first is an electric mobility battery, and the second is a stationary energy storage battery, both of which they are developing in collaboration with industrial partners. The third project aligns with BRIDGE’s philosophy and involves constructing a pilot production line for anode manufacturing. “Currently, we are manually building these anodes, but to bring them into full-scale production, we must automate the process, ” said Burz. “Therefore, we will utilize the funding provided by BRIDGE to build out a 3000 square foot facility with an automated production line. Our goal is to demonstrate the ability to manufacture 1000 anodes per day by the end of 2023, before ramping to full rate production of 1000 per hour by the end of 2024.”

“It’s truly amazing to witness the transformation of our battery technology, from mere PowerPoint slides to a tangible, operational reality. It’s thrilling to see our concept become a practical solution,” said Burz. “Equally exciting is the fact that our testing has confirmed that our technology offers a viable alternative to both lead acid and lithium batteries. This is fantastic news for California, as it provides a more diverse range of options for energy storage. What’s even better is that zinc, the primary component of our batteries, is abundantly available worldwide, eliminating any potential supply chain complications. Plus, our battery is incredibly safe, so you can rest easy knowing that we’ve got you covered on every front.”

About CalSEED

CalSEED is funded through the CEC’s EPIC program which invests approximately US$130 million 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$48M will be deployed to back over 150 startups in coming years CalSEED is the flagship program of New Energy Nexus.

About New Energy Nexus

New Energy Nexus is the world’s leading ecosystem of funds and accelerators supporting diverse clean energy entrepreneurs to thrive. NEX started in Silicon Valley and now runs programs in Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Nigeria, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Uganda, and the USA. Since 2004, NEX has accelerated over 600 clean energy startups, supported over 3000 entrepreneurs, and mobilized over US$1.5 billion in investment. NEX is also one of three organizations delivering the US Department of Energy’s Lithium Bridge project to accelerate the growth of America’s lithium battery supply chain and industry. For more information, please visit newenergynexus.com

Check out the CalSEED and CalTestBed websites to learn about the programs and sign up for the mailing list to stay up-to-date on funding and voucher opportunities.

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News
Australia
Transportation tech
Lithium battery recycling startup wins Supercharge Australia Award
supercharge australia

Luan Atkinson, CEO Renewable Metals

A lithium battery recycler, Renewable Metals, has won the inaugural Supercharge Australia Innovation Challenge Award with its unique technology that turns battery waste into battery metals.

During the Supercharge Australia Innovation Challenge awards event hosted by Dan Ilic at EnergyLab in Sydney, Renewable Metals took out the win with a process that achieves more than 95% recovery of the valuable materials in lithium batteries including lithium, nickel, cobalt, copper, manganese and graphite, without creating black mass and saving 20-30% of the costs of standard recycling.

Sicona came second, with a University of Wollongong-developed technology to produce next gen battery materials technology used in the anodes of lithium-ion batteries for electric-mobility and storage of renewable energy.

Roev, came third – they convert large fleets of utes to electric, solving unmet demand and managing energy usage.

Fourth place getter was Vaulta, who make recyclable and repairable high-performance batteries. Vaulta’s batteries are designed, assembled and tested at their manufacturing facility in Brisbane.

supercharge australia

Megan, EnergyLab; Noah, Roev; Danny, New Energy Nexus

Despite producing almost 60% of the world’s lithium, Australia retains less than 1% of the US$400 billion and rising annual product value. As Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said: “Lithium has an extraordinary capacity. We need to not just dig it up. I want to make sure we use the lithium and nickel and other products we have to make batteries here.”[1]

Ninety-eight percent of the lithium mined in Australia is refined overseas.

Supercharge Australia aims to support lithium battery innovation in Australia and capture more of the lithium value chain, by encouraging export-oriented lithium battery value chain start-ups.

Supercharge Australia is a project of New Energy Nexus, and our partners, Australia’s largest climate tech start-up accelerator, EnergyLab.

Since 2016 New Energy Nexus has supported 5,268 entrepreneurs globally, created more than 6,000 green jobs and mobilized more than $US1.5 billion in investments.

“Australian innovators are uniquely placed to supply emerging and mature global markets with low impact lithium products and resources to support our energy transition with better batteries,” says Danny Kennedy, CEO New Energy Nexus.

“I’ve seen billion-dollar battery recycling start-ups in the United States emerging in the last few years and none have technology as exciting as this.”

EnergyLab has supported Australian start-ups focused on clean energy and climate tech since 2017, with more than 150 program alumni.

“Supercharge Australia helps ensure Australia’s energy security by supporting the development of the technology needed here for the renewable energy transition,”  EnergyLab CEO Megan Fisher says.

Supercharge Australia Innovation Challenge Awards event

Supercharge Australia Innovation Challenge Awards event

“Australia is well positioned to capture the full value of the battery and electrification revolution,” she says.

“Australia can become a leader in lithium battery technology, from sourcing to advanced battery and EV manufacturing, and capture massive market opportunities as the world electrifies. But to do this, we need much more activity across all phases of the lithium battery value chain, and this requires more investment and more start-ups to meet the innovation challenge,” Fisher says.

In a fantastic fundraising announcement saved for the awards night, our first follow-on philanthropic donor, Stephen Pfeiffer, generously pledged AUD$300,000 in core funding to Supercharge Australia to charge up the next phase of work on Australian lithium value chain startups.

In the Supercharge Australia Innovation Challenge 11 start-ups ranging from developers of novel cell chemistries to electric vehicle up-scalers and critical metals recyclers, were matched with mentors and experts with the aim of bolstering a vibrant national battery ecosystem.

The 11 finalists:
  • EV FireSafe for Business, co-founded by firefighters to provide electric vehicle (EV) fire and safety knowledge for everyone working with electrified transport.
  • FARSTE DRIVE – Geelong-based, developed a cost-effective hub motor to counter EV motor inefficiency and allow internal combustion engine vehicles to be converted to EVs.
  • Gelion – Sydney-based, battery storage innovator developing new lithium-sulfur and lithium-silicon-sulfur technologies to improve battery performance, cost and safety.
  • The Good Car Company, founded in Hobart, provides affordable EVs through bulk-buys, direct sales and subscription. They import new and second-hand EVs to help drive a second-hand EV market in Australia.
  • Prohelion, founded in Brisbane, designs and sells battery monitoring systems, bespoke lightweight high-power battery solutions, accessories, monitoring and consulting services.
  • Renewable Metals, based in Perth, recycles lithium batteries using a novel technology to recover 6 critical metals – lithium, nickel, cobalt, copper, manganese, and graphite – from end-of-life batteries minimising waste by-products.
  • Roev, converts large fleets of utes to electric, solving unmet demand and managing energy usage.
  • Sicona Battery Technologies uses a University of Wollongong-developed technology to produce next gen battery materials technology used in the anodes of lithium-ion batteries for electric-mobility and storage of renewable energy.
  • Sustainable Lithium Cells Australia – Brisbane-based, enables lithium battery recycling and reduces the carbon footprint of lithium battery construction and provides a cost-effective supply of good condition second-life cells for use in e-mobility and energy projects.
  • Syenta by the Australian National University,  which makes multi-material additive manufacturing devices for electronics such as solar cells, batteries, sensors, and circuit boards with high resolution and high speed.
  • Vaulta – Brisbane-based, makes recyclable and repairable high-performance batteries. Vaulta’s batteries are designed, assembled and tested at their manufacturing facility in Brisbane’s inner north.
Media contacts:

Tristan Tremschnig
Communications Director, New Energy Nexus
tristan.tremschnig@newenergynexus.com
(based in San Francisco, USA)

About New Energy Nexus

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 1,400 startups, empowered over 9,500 entrepreneurs, and mobilized over US$3.7 billion in investment. 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.

Follow NEX on LinkedIn, X, Facebook, and YouTube

Story
Uganda
Energy Access
Women
How we’re increasing energy access & supporting women entrepreneurs in Uganda
Woman in Uganda using a solar energy lamp

Woman in rural Uganda using a solar-powered lamp

International Women’s Day is a time to celebrate the achievements of women and to recognize the challenges that women continue to face around the world. In Uganda, where more than 80 percent of the population lives in rural areas, the lack of access to energy is a major impediment to women’s economic and social empowerment.

Energy poverty in Uganda disproportionately affects women, who often spend hours each day collecting firewood, cooking on open fires, and using kerosene lamps for lighting. This not only puts their health at risk due to exposure to smoke and other pollutants, but it also limits their ability to participate in education, earn a living, and engage in other productive activities.

However, there are efforts underway to improve access to energy in Uganda, particularly through the use of renewable energy sources such as solar power. Distributed solar energy is particularly well-suited to rural areas because it is easy to install, low-maintenance, and does not require a connection to the national power grid. In Uganda, New Energy Nexus supports last mile clean energy entrepreneurs to deliver low cost and high quality entry-level clean energy technologies.

ENVENTURE helps women in northern Uganda to learn how to start a clean energy business.

ENVENTURE helps women in northern Uganda to learn how to start a clean energy business.

Supporting woman entrepreneurs in Uganda’s last mile communities.

The majority of entrepreneurs we support at New Energy Nexus Uganda are women and 70% of the jobs created by our entrepreneurs are taken by women. Ultimately, the majority of these women have testified that their quality of live has improved due to access and use of these high-quality energy products in their households,, and those involved in Village Savings and Loan Schemes (VSLS) have increased their financial savings due to lower energy costs.

New Energy Nexus also teaches women entrepreneurs recordkeeping skills as part of its curriculum. We created the ENVision platform, an open-source web-based application to track inventory, sales, and orders in 2G and Edge networks for low-literate sales agents and micro-entrepreneurs. This helps women entrepreneurs to manage their sales and performance more effectively, and allows us to receive real-time product updates to help monitor and measure success. This also ensures that entrepreneurs don’t lose time and information on their businesses through cloud-based storage.

We put justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion at the heart of our work.

Efforts to improve access to energy in Uganda are still in their early stages, but the progress that has been made is encouraging. As we celebrate International Women’s Day, let us recognize the important role that access to energy plays in women’s empowerment and support the organizations and initiatives that are working to improve energy access in Uganda and the Global South. By doing so, we can help to create a more just, equitable and inclusive world for women and girls everywhere which is possible if we work with diverse clean energy entrepreneurs with a focus on women.

 

 

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Indonesia
Women
10 women-led startups powering Indonesia’s clean energy transition

New Energy Nexus Indonesia officially announces 10 startups that will join the Bali Women Climate Entrepreneur Project. This acceleration and incubation program offers four months of tailored business support for women-led climate entrepreneurs in Bali to enhance their business. With this program, New Energy Nexus Indonesia aims to close the gender gap and increase women’s participation in  clean energy and climate solutions sectors, helping to improve women’s response and adaptation to climate change.

The Bali Women Climate Entrepreneur Project is supported by the ClimateWorks Foundation and is part of the Bali Climate and Development Initiative (initiated by New Energy Nexus Indonesia, WRI Indonesia, and IESR). The project runs in collaboration with Pratisara Bumi Foundation.

“There are undeniably still many challenges women have to face in the climate space, but we hope that these 10 incredible startups with females in leadership positions will inspire the next generation of women to begin their journey toward making a difference.” Rainy Putri, Program Manager at New Energy Nexus Indonesia and  Co-Leader of this project.

Women are paving the way to become leaders in their communities. From early ideas to later-stage, here are the 10 startups selected to be part of the project.

untitled design (57) edited

Griya Luhu

Aims to change people’s behaviour and awareness of sustainable waste management using user-friendly and straightforward mobile applications to help improve waste segregation at home. Learn more about Griya Luhu.

Prawita Tasya, Executive Director & Co-founder, Biorock Indonesia

Prawita Tasya, Executive Director & Co-founder, Biorock Indonesia

Biorock Indonesia

Engages with local communities and the government to protect and restore coral reefs so these underwater ecosystems can thrive, while also  providing livelihood and economic benefits to  local communities. Learn more about Biorock Indonesia.

PT. Kolaborasi Bumi Pertiwi

Aims to replace coal with “imitation” coal that contains more heat calories than real coal.

GO EV

Offers a digital platform to rent electric vehicles in Bali at affordable prices.

Go Sustainable

Aims to increase public awareness of environmental impact  from food production by encouraging restaurants to add a  ‘climatarian’ menu (ingredients used must be plant-based, locally sourced, unprocessed, minimally packaged, and organic).

Bendega

Aims to empower coastal communities and fishers with knowledge, facilitation, training, and support with IT tools to adopt green-blue habits.

Nadea Nabilla, Co-founder at Azura (right) with local fisherfolk in Bali.

Nadea Nabilla, Co-founder at Azura (right) with local fisherfolk in Bali.

“Seeing the environmental damage worsen especially in coastal areas like Bali, we aim to empower coastal communities and fishers with knowledge, facilitation, training, and support with IT tools to adopt green-blue habits. As the only female leader among my colleagues, I truly believe that an inclusive environment, as well as being surrounded by supportive male allies can significantly improve our business and create a greater impact for the community.” Nungky Adzani, CMO at Bendega. Learn more about Bendega.

Tri Hita Consulting

Encourages and supports their clients to create an impact through sustainable business practices, deployment of green technology, policies to promote the energy transition, and sustainable investment in Southeast Asia’s emerging markets. .

360E.io

Aims to herald a new era of green investments with an intuitive and easy-to-use app that lets you perform all green investment transactions on the go. Learn more about 360E.io.

Gumitri

Acts as an intermediary between organic rice farmers and the market to support organic farming practices and food security in local villages.

Azura Indonesia

Delivers a solution for the coastal community with their MantaOne electric long-tail boat engine – offsetting 345 kilograms  of carbon footprint per month. Learn more about Azura Indonesia.

“Bali is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Indonesia. Considering its potential and emerging opportunities in climate sectors, such as sustainable tourism, we need to make sure that female talents in the sectors are able to fully participate in the shift toward sustainable tourism in Bali.” Diyanto Imam, Program Director, New Energy Nexus Indonesia.

In 2018, Indonesian women made up only 12% of all STEM graduates. In the global energy industry, only 11% of energy startup founders are women – these statistics need to change. As a pioneering clean energy and climate innovation ecosystem builder, New Energy Nexus Indonesia is breaking the status quo. The Bali Women Climate Entrepreneur Project is only the beginning of our efforts to disrupt the rooted beliefs that the clean energy and climate tech sectors are the ‘boys club’.

About New Energy Nexus Indonesia

New Energy Nexus is the world’s leading ecosystem of funds and accelerators supporting diverse clean energy entrepreneurs, from emerging tech through to clean energy deployment and adoption. In Indonesia, New Energy Nexus works to support the development of ecosystems that can support the needs of innovators, startups, entrepreneurs, and other stakeholders in the clean energy and climate solutions sectors.

Learn more: New Energy Nexus Indonesia.

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Australia
Supercharge Australia Innovation Challenge announces Australia’s first cohort of 11 battery startups

Eleven Australian lithium battery start-ups and innovators will receive hyper-accelerated business support, helping build Australia’s role in the global US$400 billion lithium battery market.

 

Sydney, 2 February 2023 – Australia’s lithium battery value chain – currently only representing 1% of global product value despite the nation producing 60% of the world’s lithium – is about to get a major boost through support to eleven startups that are participating in the inaugural Supercharge Australia Innovation Challenge.

The Challenge is an initiative of Supercharge Australia, which aims to drive local lithium battery innovation to capture more of the value chain in Australia. Startups will be matched with mentors and experts, receive pitch coaching and collaborate with each other to bolster a vibrant national battery ecosystem. Winners will be announced at a gala event in Sydney on March 30.

The 11 startups in the Challenge range from developers of novel cell chemistries to electric vehicle upscalers and critical metals recyclers. Competitively selected and to be judged by an expert panel from CSIRO, Boundless, New Energy Nexus, and Australia and New Zealand’s largest climate tech startup accelerator EnergyLab, they are:

  • EV FireSafe for Business, co-founded by two experienced firefighters, which provides electric vehicle (EV) fire and safety knowledge for everyone working with electrified transport;
  • Geelong-based FARSTE DRIVE which has developed a cost-effective hub motor to counter EV motor inefficiency and allow internal combustion engine vehicles to be converted to EVs cheaply and efficiently;
  • Sydney-based Gelion, a battery storage innovator developing new lithium sulfur and lithium-silicon-sulfur technologies to improve performance, cost and safety for next generation battery applications;
  • The Good Car Company, founded in Hobart, which provides affordable EVs through bulk-buys, direct sales and subscription. They import new and second-hand EVs to help drive a second-hand EV market in Australia and can upcycle EVs with newer batteries and enhanced functionality to allow bidirectional charging;
  • Prohelion, founded in Brisbane, which designs and sells battery monitoring systems, bespoke lightweight high-power battery solutions, accessories, monitoring and consulting services;
  • Renewable Metals, based in Perth, which recycles lithium batteries using a novel technology recovering six critical metals – lithium, nickel, cobalt, copper, manganese, and graphite – from end-of-life batteries minimising waste by-products;
  • Roev, which converts large fleets of utes to electric, solving unmet demand and managing energy usage;
  • Sicona Battery Technologies which uses a University of Wollongong-developed technology to produce next gen battery materials technology used in the anodes of lithium-ion batteries for electric-mobility and storage of renewable energy;
  • Brisbane-based Sustainable Lithium Cells Australia, which enables lithium battery recycling and reduces the carbon footprint of lithium battery construction by extracting value from old batteries and providing a cost-effective supply of good condition second-life cells for use in e-mobility and energy projects.
  • The Australian National University’s Syenta which makes multi-material additive manufacturing devices for electronics such as solar cells, batteries, sensors, and circuit boards with high resolution and high speed; and,
  • Brisbane-based Vaulta, making recyclable and repairable high-performance batteries.

Supercharge Australia will bring the industry together to understand where innovation is required and leverage New Energy Nexus’ global expertise, including its role in the US Department of Energy’s Lithium Bridge project to accelerate the development of a robust and secure domestic supply chain for lithium-based batteries. This will be supported by EnergyLab’s extensive innovation network in Australia connecting the startups with the mentors, advisors, peers and investors they need to succeed.

“Australian innovators are uniquely placed to supply emerging and mature global markets with low impact lithium products and resources to support our energy transition with better batteries,” said Danny Kennedy, CEO New Energy Nexus.

“This Supercharge Australia startup cohort is the vanguard of a decarbonised export powerhouse for our region and the world. Australia is now understanding the vast opportunities that its mineral and renewable energy endowment offers, and the decarbonisation responsibilities it demands,” said Kirk McDonald, Project Manager Supercharge Australia.

“We are looking forward to supporting these innovative founders with our networks and mentors to build a strong, supercharged ecosystem in Australia,” said Kate Neary, Programs Manager EnergyLab.

“EnergyLab is proud to bring its Australian climate tech innovation network to supporting founders in the lithium battery value chain,” said Megan Fisher, CEO EnergyLab.

“We’re excited to be offering a focused program for the first time in this part of the clean energy ecosystem, supporting this amazing cohort of 11 startups on their journey to success.

Find out more about Supercharge Australia at: energylab.org.au/superchargeaustralia

Media contacts:

Supercharge Australia:
Kirk McDonald, Project Manager Supercharge Australia
kirk.mcdonald@newenergynexus.com
(+61)412336848

EnergyLab:
Kate Neary, Programs Manager EnergyLab
kateneary@energylab.org.au
(+61)424334152

Tristan Tremschnig
Communications Director, New Energy Nexus (based in San Francisco, USA)
tristan.tremschnig@newenergynexus.com 

About New Energy Nexus

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 1,400 startups, empowered over 9,500 entrepreneurs, and mobilized over US$3.7 billion in investment. 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.

Follow NEX on LinkedIn, X, Facebook, and YouTube

News
California
CalSEED awards two early-stage startups US$450K each

Oakland, CA, 25 January 2023 – The California Sustainable Energy Entrepreneur Development (CalSEED) program is pleased to announce Planet A Energy and Sonocharge as the winners of the fifth annual Prototype Awards. The awardees were selected through a rigorous business plan competition where companies demonstrated the significant commercial promise of their energy innovations, each winner receiving US$450,000.

The business plan competition is closely coordinated with Cleantech Open (CTO). Eligible CalSEED Concept Awardees participate in CTO’s accelerator program, where they receive tools and insights to develop a business plan and pitch that become the basis of the competition’s application package.

Planet A and Sonocharge are addressing long duration storage and batteries, which will help ensure we are able to use fastest growing sources of electricity: solar and wind. This is important as we continue to scale up renewable energy generation, as it was already reported that in 2022 grid operator CAISO had to curtail 2.4TWh of wind and solar produced in California. Solutions to bridge the gap between renewable energy generation and storage is a key milestone that companies like Planet A Energy and Sonocharge will contribute to with this newest round of funding.

“CalSEED funding comes at a critical stage for clean energy entrepreneurs. Both Plant A Energy and Sonocharge have commercially promising, breakthrough concepts that have the potential to increase grid reliability and bring cost savings,” said Joy Larson, Program Director of CalSEED, a program of New Energy Nexus. “With these Prototype Awards, they will be able to further de-risk these brand-new clean energy ideas for future funders and customers.”

Planet A Energy is advancing a new kind of solar thermal technology that can collect and store high-temperature solar energy. “With the CalSEED Prototype Award we will be able to  demonstrate the ability to collect and store heat for a week or more,” said Brad Hines, CEO Planet A Energy.  “This ultra-long-duration storage capability will enable solar energy to become a base load energy resource for California, enabling the true retirement of base load fossil generating plants.”

“Sonocharge’s platform solution improves battery performance with acoustic wave induced electrolyte motion to overcome charging performance and improve safety in lithium batteries,” said An Huang, CEO Sonocharge. “Our solution provides a reduced-cost solution that makes e-mobility solutions available to everyone to accelerate a transition to a clean energy future.”

CalSEED is the flagship program of the New Energy Nexus network of global clean energy accelerators. It is funded through the California Energy Commission’s EPIC program, which invests approximately $130 million annually for innovative clean energy technologies and approaches benefiting the ratepayers of California’s three largest electric investor-owned utilities.

“The CEC congratulates Sonocharge and Planet A as the latest prototype winners of CalSEED funding. These companies demonstrate the impact of CalSEED in accelerating early-stage technology innovations that advance our state’s clean energy goals,” said Jonah Steinbuck, Director, CEC Research and Development Division.

CalSEED will begin accepting applications for our next cohort of Concept awards worth $150,000 on February 17.

Planet A Energy’s “Endless Summer” technology collects solar energy and stores it directly as heat in a massive bed of ultra-low-cost black sand, providing true 24/7/365 solar energy and offering delivery of energy as long as months after it was collected. By combining collection and storage into a single system and simplifying the system by making the storage medium itself be the solar receiver, this new form of utility-scale solar power could provide seasonal storage of solar energy at very low costs and reduced complexity.

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Sonocharge integrates a surface acoustic wave (SAW) into lithium metal batteries (LMB) to enhance their cycling performances, including power density, energy density, and safety. Generating acoustic streaming in the electrolyte with a SAW device reduces the thickness of the depletion layer and generates homogeneous mixing across the battery, preventing dendrites, adverse heating, and electrolyte breakdown. Sonocharge’s technology is designed for customers who need LMB batteries that can recharge quickly and achieve high energy density simultaneously, which includes batteries used in aerospace, automotive, and consumer electronics.

sonocharge 1

About CalSEED

CalSEED is funded through the CEC’s EPIC program which invests approximately US$130 million 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$48 million will be deployed to back over 150 startups in coming years CalSEED is the flagship program of New Energy Nexus.

For more information, please visit calseed.fund.

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, go to energy.ca.gov.

Media contacts:

Tristan Tremschnig
Communications Director, New Energy Nexus (based in San Francisco, USA)
tristan.tremschnig@newenergynexus.com 

About New Energy Nexus

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 1,400 startups, empowered over 9,500 entrepreneurs, and mobilized over US$3.7 billion in investment. 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.

Follow NEX on LinkedIn, X, Facebook, and YouTube

Story
New York
Built Environment
10 energy storage startups to watch out for in our New York program’s latest cohort

Energy storage is critical to help us unlock the full potential of renewable energy. Without energy storage systems, we would not be able to affordably reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions. It is a key step to enable low carbon systems that will help fight climate change and make affordable energy more accessible to everyone.

New York is increasingly becoming known as one of the global energy storage hubs in the world, thanks to Biden’s Build Back Better Plan that will invest billions into climate and clean energy among other select industries. Our New York Program, The Clean Fight that was recently selected to manage US$10M Empire Technology Prize to advance building decarbonization brings you ten growth-stage companies in the latest cohort to accelerate New York’s position as a U.S. hub for energy storage.

co hort3 selection announcement 03

The program will focus on battery and energy storage solutions, development and manufacturing. The goal is to help these companies to successfully and rapidly scale sales and manufacturing in New York. To facilitate this, each of the selected companies is eligible for:

  • a range of tailored benefits, valued at up to $100,000 per company to support capacity building, deployments or manufacturing capabilities in New York;
  • hands-on matchmaking with industry leading customer and capital partners;
    bespoke support services; and
  • expert insight into navigating the New York State market.

Based in Europe, Australia and North America, and working across the value chain, listed below are the ten transformative companies. We’re excited to see how they work together and with our partners to aggressively advance the clean energy transition, while boosting economic opportunity and job creation for all.

 

Cells & Packs

 

2022 10 27 cadenza logo transp

Cadenza Innovation, based in Connecticut, makes novel battery packs designed to address one of the greatest concerns with Lithium-Ion batteries – fire prevention, making them safer, more reliable and affordable.

 

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NY’s Electrovaya makes batteries with an exceptional combination of high energy density, safety and longevity, making them particularly well suited to heavy use vehicles such as electric trucks and buses.

 

Energy Storage Systems

e zinc

Toronto’s e-Zinc makes battery cells that store electrical energy within zinc metal, storing hundreds of hours of energy at a significantly lower cost. This can dramatically improve the value proposition of intermittent electricity such as wind and solar.

 

glaciem logo

Based in Australia, Glaciem Cooling’s heat pump technology provides heating and cooling to commercial and industrial customers, combined with a phase change thermal battery to provide integrated energy storage, for improved efficiency and cost.

 

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Buffalo, NY based Viridi designs and builds distributed energy storage systems that are affordable, scalable and safe enough for use in occupied buildings, providing on-demand power for industrial, medical, commercial and residential applications.

 

Mobile & Mobility Systems

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Sweden’s Elonroad produces dynamic EV charging solutions embedded into roads, allowing for charging on the go. This also enables battery sizes to be reduced by up to 80%.

 

portableelectric

Portable Electric, based in Vancouver, makes portable, battery-based generators to replace gas and diesel generators, providing clean, silent power on demand. Their systems are used on job sites, for emergency EV and fleet charging, and as backup power.

 

Distributed Energy Resources

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Canadian company eCAMION delivers a Distributed Energy Resource solution for customers looking to manage batteries, solar installations, and EV chargers to maximize efficiency while minimizing cost and strain to the grid.

 

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OhmConnect, based in California, builds Virtual Power Plants by connecting to residential batteries, EVs and smart thermostats, reacting in real time to the needs of the grid, reducing reliance on high-pollution peaker plants and lowering GHG emissions.

 

yotta energy logo horizontal full color

Austin, Texas based Yotta Energy produces distributed energy products, including EV chargers and the first solar battery that integrates behind rooftop solar panels. The integrated battery significantly reduces installation costs, along with its plug-and-play design that means if you can install a solar module, you can install their battery.

Learn more about our New York program, The Clean Fight designed to help the world’s best growth-stage startups significantly scale their business in New York State, while boosting economic opportunity and job creation for all. The Clean Fight is also a member of the winning New Energy New York coalition, who were awarded $113M as part of the Biden Administration’s Build Back Better Regional Challenge.

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Story
California
What do early-stage startups think about the IRA?

CalSEED’s Prototype Award winners represent the next generation of clean tech entrepreneurs… 

The seven newest awardees – Startups Tolo, ALD Solutions, RePurpose, Gridware, Hago Energetics, Parthian Energy, and Leap Photovoltaics – were selected this year to receive CalSEED’s Prototype award of $450,000 to continue to develop their breakthrough innovations for batteries, storage, energy efficiency, and renewable generation.

Not only are they solving critical energy issues in California and beyond, but they are also positioning themselves to take advantage of the Inflation Reduction Act. As one the most significant climate related bill in US history, this could be a game changer for clean energy startups across the country.

Find out what these early stage startups think about the IRA.

2

RePurpose Energy makes lithium ion batteries a sustainable solution.

REPURPOSE ENERGY

RePurpose Energy is creating a circular economy for EV batteries by creating reliable, low-cost “second-life” energy storage systems. Their turnkey solution involves testing, reassembling and redeploying used electric vehicle batteries for use as storage for solar energy. The repurposing of used EV batteries safely gives them 7-10 years in “second-life” as energy storage systems at around half the cost of new battery alternatives.

In our view, the IRA is the single most important piece of climate legislation in US history, and it presents a myriad of opportunities for clean tech startups such as RePurpose Energy. Especially exciting are the investment and production tax credits. These incentives will reduce the capital costs of scaling our EV battery repurposing facilities, enhance the profitability of our second-life battery products, and augment our customers’ demand for solar PV + second-life battery systems. In addition, the bill will accelerate EV adoption, which will in turn increase available supplies of retired EV batteries. Joseph Lacap, CTO Repurpose Energy

1

Founders Thomas Karagianes (left) and Iain McClatchie (right) at TOLO

TOLO

Tolo is making in-person inspection of utility infrastructure a thing of the past with their remote inspection platform. Tolo pairs state-of-the-art cameras with unmanned aerial

vehicles (UAVs) and collects thousands of detailed photos from every angle of a utility tower, capturing images at greater detail than what is visible to an inspector in the field at a lower cost. Inspectors can view these images through a novel software application custom-built for utility inspection which provides them  with advanced tools and greater inspection freedom and flexibility than field inspection, resulting in more accurate, shareable, monitorable inspections that drive better maintenance decisions and enhanced grid reliability. Remote inspection creates unique benefits impossible through traditional approaches, like inspection review by regulators, machine learning-assisted inspection, and year-over-year comparison.

Tolo applauds the Inflation Reduction Act as a much-needed first step in the fight against climate change and a long-overdue investment in modernizing our aging energy infrastructure. Working in utility inspection, we know first hand the damage that inadequately maintained infrastructure can cause, and we look forward to helping support the newly created transmission infrastructure resulting from this bill. Many of the most innovative climate change solutions in clean energy have come from our startup peers, and we hope the IRA will help provide the investment these technologies and companies need to shine.Thomas Karagianes, CEO Tolo

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Wilson Hago, CEO at Hago Energetics looking down the line of cattle.

HAGO ENERGETICS

Hago Energetics is working to convert agricultural waste from dairy farms in the Central Valley of California into green hydrogen that can be used for long-haul trucking and industrial applications. Their technology works by processing biogas generated from cow manure waste in a novel chemical reactor to ultimately convert the biogas into hydrogen. Using just renewable energy as well as waste wood as a catalyst for this chemical conversion, makes their  innovative process distinctly unique.

It is encouraging to see the Federal government incentivize the production of clean hydrogen with the recently passed Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. The IRA allows us to obtain a Production Tax Credit of $3 per kg of hydrogen or an Investment Tax Credit of 30% given our expected negative carbon footprint. These incentives will enable us to attract investors quicker to our projects, for a faster deployment of our technology.Wilson Hago, CEO Hago Energetics

3

Mahshid Roumi, Co-founder and Vice President at Parthian Energy.

PARTHIAN ENERGY

Parthian Energy is dedicated to reducing the cost of battery manufacturing with an intelligent screening technology.

The “Parthian Electromagnetic Sensor (PES”) can detect internal defects in lithium-ion battery cells, which enhances safety and enables higher energy density cells to be deployed into EVs and grid storage with much less risk of lithium-ion batteries overheating. With additional CalSEED prototype funding they will develop a scalable prototype, demonstrate the feasibility of reducing the duration and cost of battery quality control, as well as perform pilot testing on a battery cell manufacturing line.

A large portion of the most valuable businesses in history started as highly technical startups, at the right place and right time. The IRA can help provide the right conditions for the exponential growth of several key industrial sectors, provided that a meaningful portion of the funding reaches small businesses, who are developing groundbreaking new technologies. No amount of funding is enough, if the government stays too conservative and keeps feeding the incremental growth of the traditional technologies by the old businesses, who have not been able to invent new markets for decades.” – Mahshid Roumi, Co-founder and Vice President Parthian Energy

4

David Needle Berneyman, Founder and CEO at Leap PV in his lab.

LEAP PHOTOVOLTAICS

Leap Photovoltaics is developing a new process to manufacture solar cells. Their unique approach allows crystalline silicon solar cells to be built without wafers, instead directly depositing a layer of silicon microparticles to a surface that absorbs sunlight and converts it to electricity, achieving the same performance and reliability as traditional solar cells at half the cost using entirely local supply chains.

The passing of the IRA also could not be more timely. The IRA provides strong incentives to manufacture not only solar modules, but also upstream components like solar cells here in the US. Leap is uniquely poised to take advantage of these incentives by linking the parts of the supply chain that already exist in the US and doing so with a manufacturing process that requires dramatically lower capex to bring online and dramatically lower cost in operation.

“Domestic ratepayers who now have easier access to demand-side subsidies through the modifications to the solar ITC and new PTC will also be able to reap the economic benefits of a domestic end-to-end supply chain, while also knowing that all the components in their solar panel were produced to the highest product, labor, and environmental standards.” David Berney Needleman, Founder and CEO Leap PV

5

Gridware’s wildfire prevention technology powers a grid that is smarter and more reliable.

GRIDWARE

Gridware is working to create a future where suburban wildfires are a thing of the past. Using multi-sensory perception and edge AI, their wildfire prevention technology continuously monitors a grid that is smarter and more reliable than ever before. The system detects faults in the grid early and in real-time to enable inspectors to schedule timely repairs and rapidly respond to ignitions so disastrous wildfires can be avoided. With the CalSEED Prototype award, Gridware will advance analytical tool development and continue to improve fire prevention capabilities.

Gridware already has established partnerships with co-operative utilities in California and Utah. Our products are well positioned to benefit from section 60201 of the IRA, as they enable these utilities to both adapt and mitigate against the negative impacts of climate change on their critical infrastructure, especially as it relates to wildfire ignition.Timothy Barat, Co-founder & CEO Gridware

ALD TECHNICAL  SOLUTIONS
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ALD Wire Wrap offers innovative advanced composite material and solutions to accelerate penetration of renewable and clean energies.

As our grid infrastructure is aging and becoming more stressed with new electricity generation sources, women-owned, clean-tech company ALD Technical Solutions is commercializing a patented novel technology that will structurally strengthen grid lines by using advanced hybrid composite materials.

ALD’s Composite WiRe Wrap increases ampacity, the power capacity of existing grid lines, and extends lifespan while also addressing thermal sagging, with NO downtime. This is a key requirement for achieving safe, resilient and reliable 100% renewable energy goals.

Utilities are building new lines to increase power capacity of grid lines and placing power lines underground to mitigate utility caused wildfires. Current approach is extremely expensive, and it takes many years. It would cost well over $100 billion to place across PG&E’s entire territory underground. At the current pace, moving all of California’s utility lines underground would take 1,000 years, according to the California Public Utilities Commission. ALD Technical Solutions’ Composite WiRe Wrap is a patented, lightweight, high strength, fast, easy to install, long lasting and cost-effective composite reinforcement system. This technology can withstand high temperatures and can be installed and cured in-place around existing power lines by our robotic installer.

[The] Inflation Reduction Act will not only drive the acceleration of clean energy growth but also it will boost the economy through clean energy and green jobs. Like the internet boom in the late 1990’s, [the] IRA will  accelerate adaptation of clean energy and green jobs.Davoud Zamani, CEO & Co-Founder ALD Technical  Solutions

About CalSEED

The CalSEED initiative is the first program in a robust energy innovation pipeline the California Energy Commision (CEC) has created with the Electric Program Investment Charge (EPIC) program. CalSEED provides two levels of funding: a Concept Award of $150,000 and a Prototype Award of $450,000. Each year, winners of CalSEED’s Concept Awards are eligible to compete for a Prototype Award in the annual Business Plan Competition put on in collaboration with national incubator CleanTech Open (CTO). Last fall, 23 CalSEED Concept Awardees participated in CTO, with 7 startups standing out to the judges due to their innovative efforts and solutions for batteries, storage, energy efficiency and renewable generation – areas that are critical to meeting California’s ambitious climate goals.

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