DOE and Israel Announce $3.1 Million in Cooperative Clean Energy Projects
September 26, 2011
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today highlighted a milestone in U.S.-Israel cooperation on clean energy technology. DOE and the Ministry of National Infrastructures of Israel (MNI) have selected four projects in California, Pennsylvania, and Washington to receive $3.1 million under the 2011 Binational Industrial Research and Development (BIRD) Energy program. Each of the cooperative projects includes a U.S. and Israeli partner and addresses energy challenges and opportunities of interest to both countries, while focusing on commercializing clean energy technologies that improve our economic competitiveness, create jobs, and support innovative companies. The selected projects will leverage private sector cost-share for a total project value of $8.46 million:
- Cima NanoTech, Caesarea, Israel and Integrated Photovoltaics, Inc. (IPV), San Jose, California have been selected for an award of up to $800,000. The two companies will test and demonstrate a process for producing low-cost crystalline silicon solar wafers and solar cells that combines IPV's low-cost high-efficiency wafer technology with Cima Nano's electrode coating process. This project includes $1.40 million in private sector cost-share.
- Ener-T International Ltd., Jerusalem, Israel and Halotechnics, Inc., Emeryville, California have been selected for an award of up to $800,000. The companies will develop a high-efficiency concentrating solar thermal plant design using high-temperature molten salts as a heat transfer fluid and for energy storage. This project includes $1.45 million in private sector cost-share.
- Greenlet Technologies, Tel Aviv, Israel and Viridity Energy, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania have been selected for an award of up to $700,000. Greenlet and Viridity will jointly develop a WiFi-based load management system for residential and commercial buildings that can monitor and control individual appliances without the need for professional installation. The project includes $1.3 million in private sector cost-share.
- Pentalum Technologies, Rechovot, Israel and 3Tier, Seattle, WA, have been selected for an award of up to $800,000. The companies will develop and test a LIDAR-based system, which gathers data using lasers, to facilitate wind speed and power output forecasting in wind farms. This project includes $1.2 million in private sector cost-share.
The projects are expected to begin in late 2011.
About the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy invests in clean energy technologies that strengthen the economy, protect the environment, and reduce America's dependence on foreign oil. It supports this goal by improving energy efficiency and productivity; bringing clean, reliable, and affordable energy technologies to the marketplace; and making a difference in the everyday lives of Americans by enhancing their energy choices and their quality of life.
About the Israeli Ministry of National Infrastructure
The Ministry of National Infrastructures is responsible for a broad range of issues in the fields of energy, water, electricity, fuel and soil. The Ministry supervises the Israeli energy sector, including licensing and R&D activities, as well ensuring the effective use of natural resources and protection of the environment for the benefit of all citizens.
About the BIRD Foundation
The BIRD (Binational Industrial Research and Development) Foundation works to encourage cooperation between Israeli and American companies in the various areas of technology, and provides assistance in locating strategic partners from both countries for developing joint products.
During its 34 years, the BIRD Foundation has invested in more than 800 projects, which have yielded direct and indirect revenues of about $8 billion.
The BIRD Foundation supports projects without receiving any rights in the participating companies or in the project itself. The financial assistance is repaid as royalties from sales. The Foundation provides support of up to 50% of a project's budget, beginning with R&D and ending with the initial stages of sales and marketing. The Foundation shares the risk and does not demand that the investment be repaid if the project fails to reach the sales stage.
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