The United States continues its support for a program that gives a lift to clean energy innovation within the small business sector with $188 million in new investments. The funding from the Department of Energy’s Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer programs will go to 201 projects in areas such as smart grid and advanced renewables.
Small businesses to be funded have passed an initial concept-proving stage. The funds they will receive are expected to go into developing prototype or pilot operations.
For example, software provider Infotility will receive a $1 million award to develop a smart controller that provides communication among distributed energy systems such as rooftop solar panels, plug-in electric vehicles and demand response devices in a house.
Luminit L.L.C., a full service company in California, will get the same amount to develop a sun-tracking holographic concentrator that harnesses visible light for photovoltaic power generation and infrared light to generate heat and hot water for buildings.
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Aerodyne Research Inc. will receive $750,000 to develop a precise carbon dioxide monitor which can provide information on global climate change and help businesses measure emissions carbon capture and sequestration projects.
“Small businesses are a major engine of innovation and job creation in our economy,» said Steven Chu, energy secretary.
The companies will join the ranks of past program recipients, many of which have successfully brought their innovations to market, the department said.
Past recipient A123 Systems has grown into a leading manufacturer of advanced lithium-ion batteries and is now expanding its manufacturing base in Michigan. Amonix, another past beneficiary, is growing its concentrating photovoltaic manufacturing capacity in Nevada, which is expected to employ hundreds of workers.
Small businesses play a major role in spurring innovation and creating jobs in the United States economy. Between 1993 and 2008, small businesses created 64 percent of all new jobs, totaling 14.5 million. Small businesses employ nearly 40 percent of the science and engineering workforce in the United States.
