NYSERDA Announces Semifinalists for 76west Clean Energy Competition

Winning Companies Will Spur Clean Energy Innovation in Support of Governor Cuomo’s Nation-leading Climate and Clean Energy Agenda

July 1, 2020

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority today announced that 19 semifinalists have been selected as part of its 76West Clean Energy Competition (Competition). The Competition highlights emerging clean energy innovation while supporting business and economic growth as one of the largest competitions in the United States. This announcement supports Governor Andrew M. Cuomo’s nation-leading clean energy and climate agenda that has set the state on the path to economy-wide carbon-neutrality, and complements “Southern Tier Soaring,” the region’s comprehensive strategy to generate robust economic growth and community development in the Southern Tier Region.

Doreen M. Harris, Acting President and CEO, NYSERDA, said, “This year’s 76West semifinalists have brought forward a wide-range of innovative clean energy technologies that can help New York scale up its progress with meeting our nation-leading climate and clean energy goals established by Governor Cuomo. This competition sets the semifinalists up for success through mentoring opportunities with Southern Tier companies as they advance their proposals. Clean energy innovation will continue to be a critical ingredient for tackling some of our nation’s most pressing environmental and clean energy challenges.”

The 76West Competition has served to stimulate economic development in New York’s Southern Tier and attract clean energy companies to the area from across the country and around the world. Winning companies are required to move business operations to the area or establish direct connections with the Southern Tier economy such as enhancing supply chain opportunities, adding jobs, or establishing other strategic relationships.

The 19 semifinalists, selected from 183 applicants worldwide, represent a range of clean energy companies focusing on energy storage, energy efficiency, transportation, renewable energy and more. Each semifinalist will be paired with a local company for mentorship and advisement on advancing through the Competition. The semifinalists will present their final pitches of the Competition to a panel of judges the week of August 17 at a virtual session hosted by the Southern Tier Startup Alliance. Following the pitch competition, the judges will select four winners who will be awarded a total of $2.5 million in funding at a ceremony this fall - with a $1 million grand prize winner and three $500,000 award winners.

The 76West semifinalists and technology focus areas include:

New York State

Finger Lakes

• Paradigm of New York, Rochester - Transportation

New York City

• COI Energy Services, New York City - Renewable Energy

Mid-Hudson

• Solar-Tectic, Croton - Chemicals and Advanced Materials
• Teratonix, Scarsdale - Building and Industrial Energy Efficiency

Southern Tier

• Combplex, Ithaca - Agriculture
• Ecolectro, Ithaca - Chemicals and Advanced Materials
• Heat Inverse, Ithaca - Transportation

Long Island

• Urban Freight Corporation, Carle Place - Transportation

Out-of-State

• AeroShield Materials, Cambridge, MA - Building and Industrial Energy Efficiency
• AGreatE, Carlsbad, CA - Energy Storage and Batteries
• Littoral Power Systems, New Bedford, MA - Renewable Energy
• Medley Thermal, Somerville, MA - Building and Industrial Energy Efficiency
• NexxGen Power Authority, Babcock Ranch, FL - Waste Recycling or Water Efficiency
• Saratoga Energy Corporation, Richmond, CA - Chemicals and Advanced Materials.

International

• Alp Technologies, London, UK - Energy Storage and Batteries
• Clir Renewables, Vancouver, BC, Canada - Energy Transmission and Distribution
• gridBox, Munich, Germany - Energy Transmission and Distribution
• OXTO Energy, Guildford, Surrey, UK - Energy Storage and Batteries
• ThermoAI, Montreal, QC, Canada - Greenhouse Gas Mitigation

[Updated on 8/7/20. The original press release noted 20 semifinalists. DelfinSia of Houston, TX was listed as a semifinalist. Please note they have decided to not participate in the 76West competition and the final number or semifinalists is now 19.]

The 76West competition has boosted New York State’s significant investments in the Southern Tier aimed at attracting a talented workforce, growing businesses and driving innovation making the region a leader for clean tech development. Previous competition winners and semi-finalists have integrated themselves into the region raising $29 million in private capital and creating multimillion-dollar investments in property and equipment. They have invested more than $2 million on key suppliers. Past winners that have contributed to this success include: Micatu, Optimus Technologies, Skyven Technologies, EkoStinger, Switched Source, Hub Controls, C4V, SunTegra, ProsumerGrid, SolarKal, Global Thermostat and Southern Tier Technologies.

Administered by NYSERDA, the 76West Competition was launched in 2016 as a $20 million four-year initiative to grow the clean energy ecosystem in the Southern Tier with funds from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative and the Clean Energy Fund. Due to its significant positive impact for the region, the competition is being funded this year by Empire State Development through the Southern Tier Soaring Upstate Revitalization Initiative. The Competition supports technological and other innovation initiatives to meet New York State’s climate and decarbonization goals.

NYSERDA’s Tech to Market program currently supports six clean energy incubators in New York State, including one in the Southern Tier, which offer commercialization resources, technical assistance and business development support to early-stage companies; an Entrepreneurs-In-Residence program to provide executive mentoring assistance; two statewide accelerators, and a Manufacturing Corps program to support businesses with manufacturing scaleup.

As a result of NYSERDA’s technology investments and business development support, more than 440 new and improved clean energy products have been commercialized. Products include LED lighting systems for sports stadiums and entertainment venues, smart outlets for home appliances, longer-lasting batteries for cell phones and electric vehicles, more efficient heating-and-cooling systems and ride-sharing applications that make it easier and more cost effective to hail taxis in New York City.

Accelerating Southern Tier Soaring

Today's announcement complements “Southern Tier Soaring,” the region’s comprehensive blueprint to generate robust economic growth and community development. The State has already invested more than $7.4 billion in the region since 2012 to lay the groundwork for the plan – attracting a talented workforce, growing business and driving innovation. Now, the region is accelerating Southern Tier Soaring with a $500 million State investment through the Upstate Revitalization Initiative, first announced by Governor Cuomo in December 2015. The State’s $500 million investment will incentivize private businesses to invest well over $2.5 billion – and the region’s plan, as submitted, projects up to 10,200 new jobs. More information is available here.

New York State’s Green New Deal

Governor Cuomo's Green New Deal is the most aggressive climate and clean energy initiative in the nation, putting the state on a path to being entirely carbon-neutral across all sectors of the economy and establishing a goal to achieve a zero-carbon emissions electricity sector by 2040, faster than any other state. It builds on New York’s unprecedented ramp-up of clean energy including a $2.9 billion investment in 46 large-scale renewable projects across the state, the creation of more than 150,000 jobs in New York’s clean energy sector, a commitment to develop nearly 1,700 megawatts of offshore wind by 2024, and 1,700 percent growth in the distributed solar sector since 2012.

The recently passed Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act mandates the Green New Deal’s nation-leading clean energy targets: nine gigawatts of offshore wind by 2035, six gigawatts of distributed solar by 2025, and three gigawatts of energy storage by 2030, while calling for an orderly and just transition to clean energy that creates jobs and continues fostering a green economy. The CLCPA also directs New York State agencies and authorities to collaborate with stakeholders to develop a plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 85 percent from 1990 levels by 2050 and aim to invest 40 percent of clean energy and energy efficiency program resources to benefit disadvantaged communities.

About NYSERDA

NYSERDA, a public benefit corporation, offers objective information and analysis, innovative programs, technical expertise, and funding to help New Yorkers increase energy efficiency, save money, use renewable energy, and reduce reliance on fossil fuels. NYSERDA professionals work to protect the environment and create clean-energy jobs. NYSERDA has been developing partnerships to advance innovative energy solutions in New York State since 1975. To learn more about NYSERDA’s programs and funding opportunities, visit nyserda.ny.gov or follow us on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, or Instagram.