Small businesses join RE revolution

Small Businesses & Renewable Energy

It was announced last week that small businesses in the US will receive $18 million in renewable energy funding from the Department of Energy (DoE).

The money will has been awarded to support innovation research, development and deployment of clean and renewable energy technologies, including projects to advance wave and current energy technologies, ocean thermal energy conversion systems and concentrating solar power (CSP) for distributed applications.

Part of Barack Obama's American Recovery & Reinvestment Act (ARRA), the funding's initial phase will involve 125 small grants worth $150,000, and will be given to 107 small advanced technology firms across the US. As reported by RenewableEnergyFocus.com, the companies were selected from a pool of 950 applicants through a special fast-track process with an emphasis on near-term commercialisation and job creation.

Greater innovation and progress

In an attempt to inspire greater innovation and progress, the government are offering a second round of grants next summer worth $60 million for those companies that produce clean energy technologies with the most potential to meet market needs.

Energy Secretary Steven Chu said of the scheme: "Small businesses are drivers of innovation and are crucial to the development of a competitive clean energy US economy.

"These investments will help ensure small businesses are able to compete in the clean energy economy, creating jobs and developing new technologies to help decrease carbon pollution and increase energy efficiency."

The companies eligible for funding were divided into 10 categories:

* Advanced Solar Technologies
* Advanced Water Power Technology Development
* Water Usage in Electric Power Production
* Advanced Building Air Conditioning and Cool Roofs
* Power Plant Cooling
* Smart Controllers for Smart Grid Applications
* Advanced Industrial Technologies Development
* Advanced Manufacturing Processes
* Advanced Gas Turbines and Materials
* Sensors, Controls, and Wireless Networks

Cost and performance improvements

12 projects in the Advanced Solar Technologies area received $2.8 million, where businesses will focus on achieving significant cost and performance improvements over current technologies, solar-powered systems that produce fuels, and concentrated solar power systems for distributed applications.

The idea is to broaden the appeal of renewable energy technology by making it more accessible and most importantly, more cost effective.

Much like any industry, small businesses will prove to be the life-blood of the renewable energy sector and its crucial they receive backing from Washington to keep innovating and giving the larger green tech firms the inspiration to drive America's clean energy future forward.

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