Two NYSERDA-supported companies honored at forum

Two New York companies that have received significant NYSERDA support to develop energy-efficient technologies received national recognition for their innovative approaches to clean energy technology. Ener-G-Rotors, a Schenectady firm that produces machinery to capture and use waste heat to generate electricity, and Prism Solar, a Highland firm that produces a unique holographic solar technology for solar-electric modules, were among 15 companies selected to present their business solutions to large potential customers at a national conference in June. The international Utility Technology Challenge (UTC) competition was sponsored by the Clean Technology & Sustainable Industries Organization (CTSI) with support from the U.S. Department of Energy. "Ener-G-Rotors and Prism Solar represent the types of cutting edge technologies that NYSERDA identifies and supports in our work to help build the clean energy economy," said Francis Murray, president and CEO of NYSERDA. "These companies, and many others we have supported, are developing the next generation of exciting new energy products that will help create green jobs and strengthen New York's standing as a leader in energy efficiency solutions." Ener-G-Rotors has been awarded $1.6 million in five co-funding contracts since 2004, all dedicated to demonstrating its technology and its scale-up to utility-size output. The company noted that there is enough wasted U.S. process heat that, if turned into electricity, would provide three times the amount needed to power every home in the U.S. Its technology is particularly important in making industrial processes more energy-efficient and generating electricity without additional green house gas pollution. In 2009, Ener-G-Rotors was selected as a Finalist at the New Energy Symposium Clean Energy Investment Presentations, was awarded Best Presentation at the SmartStart Venture Forum, and was voted "Most Promising Technology" at Cleantech XXI in San Francisco. Michael Newell, Ener-G-Rotors CEO, said, "We are pleased to receive recognition for our efforts to convert the enormous amount of waste heat - greater than 2 quadrillion BTUs of energy - from industrial processes into clean, carbon-free electricity. Our products will have an enormous effect on energy efficiency, effectively lowering industrial energy costs, and we look forward to developing partnerships with utilities to deliver solutions for their industrial customers." Prism first received NYSERDA funding for development of a bi-facial solar module design in 2007. In addition to NYSERDA's $1.5 million manufacturing grant, Prism Solar has received awards from the Department of Energy, the National Science Foundation, and the Department of Defense. Prism Solar was also selected as a "Top Ten Semifinalist" for the 2010 Business Plan Competition to be held at the TechConnect World Conference this June in Anaheim, CA. Prism has been previously selected for numerous awards: a "Top Innovator" recipient at the New England Venture Summit in December 2009, an "Achievement Award" at the New Energy Symposium and Expo in 2008, and was voted "Most Promising Technology" by over 600 investors attending Cleantech XIV in 2007. Prism CEO Rick Lewandowski said, "It is a real honor to have been selected for the Utility Technology Challenge (UTC) sponsored by the Clean Technology & Sustainable Industries Organization and the Department of Energy. Prism Solar is excited to showcase the latest developments in our holographic solar technology as we bring this elegant, new technology closer to commercialization. Prism Solar customers are currently testing HPC modules that are demonstrating much higher kWh production at much lower costs than conventional modules, and the ability of HPC modules to outperform under low light conditions will be of particular interest to utilities. Our success to date is partly due to NYSERDA's support."