Clean, renewable hydrokinetic energy recovery for drinking water, wastewater and industrial infrastructure.

Building a smart and sustainable water grid

Company name: Rentricity, New York, New York
Region: Northeast
www.rentricity.com | @rentricity

Elevator pitch 
Rentricity is a renewable energy company that generates electricity from untapped pressure in drinking water pipes. Rentricity works with municipal and industrial water facilities, helping them to generate clean, renewable electricity from an otherwise wasted resource.

How it changes the world
Rentricity’s products enable water utilities with the means to become energy independent. Rentricity’s installations take advantage of pre-existing flows within municipal water systems, generating clean, renewable electricity from a previously wasted resource.

One such installation, for Keene, New Hampshire’s water utility, has rendered its facility completely energy-independent, and, in fact, that utility now gets a check back from the power grid each month from the sale of excess power. This project has been nominated for Technology Project of the Year by American Water Intelligence, and Rentricity will compete for that prize in November as well.

Rentricity’s installations also feature the capacity to power enhanced smart water monitoring sensors, providing water operators with an added level of intelligence that will optimize operations. In short, this is the type of innovation that will modernize 20th century infrastructure, advancing it into the 21st century.

If you win?
If we win at the Global Forum in November, the cash and in-kind services awarded will allow Rentricity to further ramp its operations, helping it to strengthen the intellectual property portfolio so vital to raising a successful venture capital round. The added publicity will also help to raise more awareness as to the inherent benefits with in-pipe hydro.

Memorable Cleantech Open moment?
Interestingly, Rentricity has received two separate inquiries from water utilities in Massachusetts since being selected as a Northeast Regional Finalist in the Cleantech Open. This may not have been coincidental.

The post Meet a Finalist: Rentricity appeared first on Cleantech Open | 2012 Global Forum.

Coincident HAUS keeps customers comfortable while saving them 10-20% on their utility bills.

The future of HVAC is in the HAUS

Company name: Coincident, Boston, Massachusetts
Region: Northeast
www.coincident.com | @Coincident

Elevator pitch
Coincident optimizes HVAC performance in residential, multi-tenant, and small commercial facilities by replacing thermostats with a new type of sensor network that measures room-by-room performance to analyze and operate heating and cooling zones more comfortably and efficiently.

How it changes the world
Coincident HAUS keeps customers comfortable while saving them 10-20% on their utility bills. For the average US customer this equates to annual savings of $200-400 while eliminating more than 1,700 kilograms of carbon dioxide emissions per house each year. We work with energy-efficiency companies and green builders to provide a system which allows them to install our product as part of a larger HVAC upgrade project, giving them new tools and features to differentiate themselves from their competitors, encourage repeat business, and increase service revenues.

If you win?
Taking home the big prize at the Global Forum would help us fund a seed round, which we need to close a pending a channel partner agreement and begin contract manufacturing of our system. Truly winning, however, would be meeting the right partner, investor, or customer at the Global Forum – one that can help us take our company to the next level.

Memorable Cleantech Open moment?
We had a very busy summer finishing our pilot and weren’t planning to participate in this year’s competition. At our regional kickoff event I “volunteered” to stand up and give an elevator pitch. We were getting ready to raise money, so I figured the Cleantech Open would be a great way to help get us prepared. With all the amazing startup companies in the Northeast we had no expectations of moving on to the National Finals. Coincidentally, we were honored to standing there as the first company to present at our regional finals event – and then the first announced National Finalist. It’s a good thing I’m not superstitious as I’m pretty sure we aren’t presenting first at the Global Forum!

The post Meet a Finalist: Coincident appeared first on Cleantech Open | 2012 Global Forum.

CCEIS™ (pronounced “see-cis”) is an integrated Web and mobile Software as a Service (SaaS) stormwater compliance solution. It helps all parties manage the many aspects of stormwater compliance with a simple, well-organized tool which can be accessed conveniently from the office, jobsite or in the field.

Reduce stormwater pollutants at the source

Company name: CCEIS, Parkton, Maryland
Region: Mid-Atlantic
www.cceis.com

Elevator pitch
You know that song “We Paved Paradise and Put Up a Parking Lot?” Well, since that’s what we essentially did, we now have a serious problem with managing stormwater runoff. Because of this, EPA has established ever-stricter rules for managing stormwater runoff and reducing the amount of pollution which flows directly into our natural water bodies–and has also mandated large penalties and fines for non-compliance! This is where CCEIS™ comes into play: CCEIS™ is an integrated web and mobile Software as a Service—or “SaaS”—stormwater compliance solution. CCEIS™ helps reduce pollutants at the source by providing a simple software tool which makes it easier to comply with federal, state and local regulations and inspections. CCEIS™ will also help prevent heavy fines and penalties and costly job site shutdowns by federal, state and local governments. CCEIS™ will become the go to source for managing stormwater compliance nationwide.

How it changes the world
To stave off the emerging water crisis in the US, the EPA has established ever-stricter rules for management of stormwater runoff to reduce the amount of pollution that flows directly into our natural bodies of water. With the use of Best Management Practices (BMPs), stormwater is allowed to flow through the natural filtration process of the earth and plants, reducing the pollutants before they reach streams and rivers or end up in our drinking water supplies.

But BMPs must be carefully installed and maintained to be effective and remain in compliance with federal, state and municipal codes and standards. CCEIS™ helps reduce stormwater pollutants at the source by making it easier to stay in compliance with stormwater management standards and regulations.

If you win?
We will use our award to immediately begin development of our solution, hire our team, and buy 2 new Tesla S sedans. Ok, well maybe no Model S for us… but we will hit the ground running: full steam ahead with our plan to deploy the nation’s first fully integrated solution to manage stormwater runoff! 

Memorable Cleantech Open moment?
A memorable moment for the CCEIS team was when it suddenly rose to our level of consciousness that essentially we had already WON the top prize. We had been enjoying the fruits of our win already for weeks in the three-day events in both California and Boston, in the people we met there, in the weekly clinics, in the mentoring sessions, and in the new connections which were burgeoning. It really didn’t matter if we made it to round two or three –the semifinals and finals. We were receiving tangible rewards every day. Our business acuity and focus had been greatly sharpened in just a few weeks’ time and our wives were wondering if we had taken on mistresses!

The Cleantech Open had become the demanding mistress who had us fired up and more passionate than ever about our work, and was urging us on toward perfection of our business. So, by the time we were at the awards ceremony for the semi-finalists, we were feeling like we had already surpassed our expectations of the benefits of being in the Cleantech Open league. But then we were practically reduced to blithering when they announced we were going to the finals! We were quite pleasantly shocked and fortunately the audience was patient as we collected our wits and stood before them to give our pitch. And our wives were there to see the payoff and our very proud moment in the spotlight in front of a very –no, make that seriously – impressive Capital-of-the-Free-World gathering of business people at the top of their game, whether it be environmentalist or legal mentor, admiral or Cleantech Open, inventor or backer. A very, very memorable moment for CCEIS!

The post Meet a Finalist: CCEIS appeared first on Cleantech Open | 2012 Global Forum.

Regenergy365’s innovative and cost-effective technologies focus on mitigating intense energy consumption costs from HVAC systems to support building efficiency and measurable bottom-line cost savings.

The synthetic wind energy company

Company name: Regenergy365, Hillsboro, Oregon
Region: Pacific Northwest
www.regenergy365.com | @regenergy365.com

Elevator pitch
RE365’s exhaust energy recovery technology enables commercial and industrial HVAC systems to regenerate a portion of the electricity consumed during operation, which is often 24 hours a day. Our patented technology interfaces with the HVAC system at the fan deck where fans are blowing the high velocity exhaust into thin air. Harnessing the waste air exhaust movement of the HVAC system and generating electricity is a valuable, efficient and cost-effective waste-recovery process that will save governments and corporations money, increase system efficiency and decrease overall energy consumption.

How it changes the world
HVAC systems consume 40%-60% of the energy used at Commercial facilities and up to 20% at Industrial facilities; so theses systems offer great opportunity for energy savings. There are literally billions of dollars worth of “Synthetic Wind Energy” being blown in to thin air every year. Re365 has the solution; our technology will cost effectively recover the wasted exhaust energy, generate electricity and return the power to the facility or the grid. The power generated by our technology will offset metric tons of carbon emissions and have the effect of taking thousand of cars off the road every year.
If you win?
We will use the momentum and the rocket fuel (cash) to finalize our product design and commercialize our first product” the Power Pod. The Power Pod is a lightweight, modular design that can adapt to virtually any HVAC system. Additionally the Power Pod can be arranged in an array to maximize the output of each synthetic wind source (exhaust fan).

If you win?
We will use the momentum and the rocket fuel (cash) to finalize our product design and commercialize our first product; the Power Pod. The Power Pod is a lightweight modular design that can adapt to virtually any HVAC system. Additionally the Power Pod can be arranged in an array to maximize the output of each synthetic wind source (exhaust fan).

Memorable Cleantech Open moment?
The Cleantech Open has been a significant driver for our company. We owe a lot to the Cleantech Open. The Cleantech Open was an intense experience that perfectly delineates the best practices and systems to build and grow a cleantech company. The network of peers and sheer magnitude of business expertise available through the Cleantech Open is invaluable and in the beginning was a bit intimidating. But once we plugged in and began the Cleantech Open Accelerator program, we quickly realized how great a spot we were in, so we went to work and really took advantage of all the Cleantech Open has to offer. Money could not buy this experience and we are very grateful to be in the Cleantech Open circle of Finalist Alumni.

The post Meet a Finalist: Regenergy365 appeared first on Cleantech Open | 2012 Global Forum.

Tandem solar cells using silicon cells as their base will break through the efficiency barrier of single-junction silicon, reduce costs per Watt at every level of production from silicon wafers to installed power plants.

Tandem Solar: Silicon Beyond 30 percent

Company name: Malachite Technologies, San Francisco, California
Region: Western

Elevator pitch
Malachite Technologies is an equipment provider. We are developing processes and hardware that will allow wafer silicon solar cell producers to upgrade lines to produce III-V/silicon tandems. By adding less than one micron of thin film to a mostly conventional silicon cell, the power output of the cell will be increased by about 50 percent (10 percent points, absolute efficiency), resulting in modules of over 25 percent.

How it changes the world
The easy cost reductions in solar energy were achieved by investing in scaling up the industry. Those days are over. Explosive growth, though, will happen when solar offers pricing at grid parity and below. There is a technology path, clear and present, that can lead solar to the next phase of growth. Tandem solar cells using silicon cells as their base will break through the efficiency barrier of single-junction silicon, reduce costs per watt at every level of production from silicon wafers to installed power plants, and hasten the time when solar is no longer an ‘alternative’ energy source.

If you win?
Malachite is an early-stage company with a talented team ready to get to work on establishing proof of concept results. A win at the Global Forum will immediately end our first round of fundraising and move us into a technology-focused period during which we will generate the hard data that will truly launch the tandem on silicon solar cell.

Memorable Cleantech Open moment?
I met a lot of people during the Cleantech Open Academy. Every person, every team, had a story brought back from a future that they had imagined. The excitement, the fearlessness, the palpable need to share what they had seen and hoped to see again has been inspiring. To stand alone and say “I have seen what the future looks like” makes one feel – and probably look – a little crazy. To stand in the middle of a large hotel banquet room with hundreds of others all saying “I have seen what the future looks like” makes one feel – and probably look – a little like the future itself.

The post Meet a Finalist: Malachite Technologies appeared first on Cleantech Open | 2012 Global Forum.

Red Ox replaces the most energy-intensive and environmentally degrading aspects of the water treatment and chemical production processes. By “mining” the waste streams of other industrial processes, we can extract value while cleaning water and concurrently producing electricity.

Innovation for the environment

Company name: Red Ox Systems, New Haven, Connecticut
Region: Northeast
www.oneredox.com

Elevator pitch
Red Ox develops and commercializes innovative technologies to create both environmental and economic benefits. Our first product, the Electrochemical Desalination Cell, produces sodium bicarbonate and hydrochloric acid from saline wastewater. In the process, we desalinate the wastewater, produce electricity and sequester carbon dioxide. Our initial target market for this technology is wastewater treatment in the oil and gas industry.

How it changes the world
Our first technology proves that environmental and economic good are not mutually exclusive. Our goal is to build a company that can create this kind of innovation again and again.

If you win?
The Cleantech Open prize money will greatly accelerate our development and allow us to start building out our lab facility.

Memorable Cleantech Open moment?
The Cleantech Open has showed me the awesome startup community that’s passionate about environmental issues. This doesn’t come down to one interaction, but I think has been a transformative experience both personally and for the company. The Cleantech Open has proved that we can create a groundswell of support for environmental entrepreneurship.

The post Meet a Finalist: Red Ox Systems appeared first on Cleantech Open | 2012 Global Forum.

A tornado that disintegrates water droplets into vapor, shedding the solids and turns the vapor into clean water using no chemicals, filters, or membranes.

We transform the water market by cleaning water from any source

Company name: Micronic Technologies, Sterling, Virginia
Region: Mid-Atlantic
www.micronictechnologies.com | @ksorber

Elevator pitch
Micronic Technologies has developed and patented a water purification technology called MicroDesal™ that can clean water from any source. MicroDesal creates a tornado that disintegrates water droplets into vapor, shedding the solids and turns the vapor into clean water using no chemicals, filters, or membranes. It is portable, scalable, sustainable, cheaper, and more effective and efficient than current water treatment technologies.

How it changes the world
Over a billion people have no access to clean water, less than 1 percent of the earth’s water is available to humans, and our water resource is dwindling as a result of population growth and pollution. MicroDesal can clean any water from any source and not only provide water to the underserved, but reduce the threat to the global water supply with a solution that is cheaper, more efficient, effective and sustainable than the competition.

If you win?
Winning at the Cleantech Open Global Forum would provide worldwide recognition of the importance of how our technology can solve human, economic, and environment issues; increase investor interest; and enhance our entrée into the market. The monetary and service proceeds will enable Micronic Technologies to accelerate engineering development by hiring advanced engineering expertise, assist to advance our market entry with making strategic hires; and support our established pilot programs.

Memorable Cleantech Open moment?
This says it all: our business model canvas, before and after Cleantech Open training. How we created Order out of Chaos from our incredibly diligent Cleantech Open mentoring process.

The post Meet a Finalist: Micronic Technologies appeared first on Cleantech Open | 2012 Global Forum.

Advanced Li-ion battery technology that allows your phone to last for days and to charge up in minutes.

Always on

Company name: SiNode, Evanston, Illinois
Region: North Central
facebook.com/NUSiNode  | @ SiNodeSystems

Elevator pitch
SiNode is a silicon-based anode for lithium-ion batteries that is capable of immense increases in energy capacity and dramatic reductions in charge time.  Unlike competing technologies, SiNode is manufactured using a solution-based process that requires little more than a high school chemistry set.  Our anodes not only perform better but are cheaper and more environmentally friendly.

How it changes the world
Energy storage is one of the greatest technological challenges of our modern world.  The performance and cost of batteries has become the single most limiting factor electronic vehicles and consumer electronics. SiNode anodes represent the future of lithium-ion batteries, capable of immense increases in energy capacity, faster charging, environmentally friendly manufacturing — all at a price comparable cost to current anodes.

If you win?
Battery testing and validation is a very slow process requiring weeks or months to conduct proper cycling tests. Furthermore, we produce components on a very small scale. Extra funding would allow us to buy equipment for larger batch processing as well as the ability to run more tests in parallel — maximizing efficiency and helping us get to market as soon as possible.

Memorable Cleantech Open moment?
Firstly: learning how to correctly pronounce “SBIR” when talking to personnel from the department of defense. Also, the network of people we met through the Cleantech Open has been extremely helpful with respect to feedback and understanding what our company needs.

The post Meet a Finalist: SiNode appeared first on Cleantech Open | 2012 Global Forum.

High-Performance, High-Efficiency, Low-Cost Electric Motors

Company name: HEVT, Chicago, Illinois

Region: North Central
www.hevt.com  | @Heidi_Lubin

Elevator pitch
HEVT’s game-changing motor technologies leverage smart software with optimally designed hardware to empower the next generation of electric motors. With lower initial and total cost of ownership, our motors make performance leaps with superior reliability and reduced cost volatility due to the combination of innovative hardware and software design – and our motors do not require the use of rare earth metals.

Our patented switched reluctance motors (SRMs) provide high-performance alternatives to induction and permanent magnet motor/generators with increased reliability and disruptive cost benefits. Our minimum viable product is being rolled out to provide electrical assist to bicycles (eBikes) but our SRMs disrupt current motor technology from approximately 150 watts scalable to one megawatt and beyond – or from air conditioners to oil and gas pumps. HEVT is one of a very few companies globally with SRM expertise and the necessary and complimentary expertise in power electronics and control. We are holding customer purchase orders in our first market and our technologies have attracted funding from the Department of Energy’s ARPA-E.

How it changes the world
To date, most motors are manufactured in China because rare earth mining and refining capacity is concentrated in China. Mining and refining rare earth metals is a process that causes air, land and water pollution because these metals are typically located in bands of ore that include radioactive thorium. Not only do our technologies enable electric motors free of rare earth metals – thereby reducing environmental and public health impact – but the manufacturing process is disruptively elegant – we can scale production of our motors quickly and globally, creating local jobs in the process. Finally, our motors are highly reliable and efficient, high-performing and less costly: we reduce the initial and lifetime cost of ownership – a critical building block to enabling adoption of renewable energy, energy efficiency and sustainable transportation technologies in the U.S. and throughout the world.

If you win?
Our technology solves a critical global problem – the Global Forum provides an important opportunity to accelerate our growth and meet growing customer demand for our product in a challenging capital environment.

Memorable Cleantech Open moment?
Quick shout-out to our mentors and the many fantastic entrepreneurs we’ve gotten to meet along the way – it’s been a pleasure!

The post Meet our 2012 Grand Prize winner: HEVT appeared first on Cleantech Open | 2012 Global Forum.

Existing companies make relatively small quantities of quantum dots — not enough to meet market demands. We have patented a manufacturing process that allows commercial-scale production with greater consistency of large batches of quantum dots.

Large-scale production of quantum dots

Company name: Navillum Nanotechnologies, Salt Lake City, Utah
Region: Rocky Mountain
www.navillum.com

Elevator pitch
Navillum manufactures semiconductor nanocrystals including quantum dots. Quantum dots are extremely energy-efficient light emitters and light absorbers. Quantum dots will be a disruptive technology in lighting, displays (televisions, mobile devices), solar panels, and other markets if problems in scalability, consistency, and cost of production are resolved. Navillum has solved these problems and more.

How it changes the world
If the U.S. changes 50 percent of all lights to quantum dot-LEDs, we can forego up to 8.4 billion tons of carbon dioxide emissions. This is like removing all the cars in the U.S. for 1 year. We can save more energy if we can commercialize quantum-dot televisions and quantum-dot solar panels.

If you win?
Winning at the Cleantech Open Global Forum will accelerate all aspects of the business, from finding the right strategic partner to increasing production capabilities with more employees.

Memorable Cleantech Open moment?
During the Rocky Mountain Cleantech Open Regional Finals, several teams approached me before the Awards Ceremony. They told me that they thought we had the best chances of winning. I would say all of the people who talked to me were more experienced entrepreneurs and businessmen, so their comments were confidence-building.

The post Meet a Finalist: Navillum Technologies appeared first on Cleantech Open | 2012 Global Forum.