The US Department of Energy and Israel’s Ministry of National Infrastructure, Energy and Water Resources have selected six energy projects to receive $5.1 million under the 2015 Binational Industrial Research and Development (BIRD) Energy program.
“Renewable energy and energy efficiency improvements are essential to shaping our clean energy future. This partnership with Israel makes possible collaborative investments that move us closer to rigorous technology breakthroughs. These advancements are a key part of modernizing our energy infrastructure, enhancing our energy security, and mitigating the risks of global climate change,” said US Secretary of Energy Dr. Ernest Moniz.
The projects address energy challenges and focus on commercializing clean energy technologies: 3GSOLAR Photovoltaics (Jerusalem, Israel) and Arkema (King of Prussia, PA), will develop thin and flexible printed solar photovoltaics for wireless electronics; Ayyeka Technologies (Jerusalem, Israel) and UIS Holdings (Dexter, MI), will develop smart grid to distribution enclosures: out-of-the box remote metering, efficiency analytics and performance enhancement; Haogenplast (Kibbutz Haogen, Israel) and Global Solar Energy (Tucson, AZ), will develop solar energy production over water reservoirs; Pentalum Technologies (Rehovot, Israel) and Texas Tech University (Lubbock, TX), will collaborate on the development of a light detection and ranging ( LiDAR) based wind farm controller and optimizer; Solaris-Synergy (Jerusalem, Israel) and Pristine Sun (San Francisco, CA), will collaborate on a utility scale, low-cost floating photovoltaic solar energy system for deployment on water; and Yissum – The Hebrew University of Jerusalem (Jerusalem, Israel) and Applied Biomathematics (Setauket, NY), will collaborate on technology to protect birds and bats near wind energy facilities.
The selected projects will leverage private sector cost-share for a total project value of $11.3 million. This is the seventh round of funding for BIRD Energy which has approved 28 projects with a total investment of about $22 million.
“The BIRD Energy program is undoubtedly a success story of cooperation based on the strategic vision of the two economies, while also promoting partnerships among the most innovative capabilities, generating significant value and benefit to both countries,” said Dr. Yuval Steinitz, Minister of National Infrastructure, Energy and Water Resources.
“BIRD Energy has demonstrated significant added value and mutual benefit, supporting innovation on renewable energy and energy efficiency in both countries and providing critical funding for the success of the companies and their partnerships.” said Dr. Eitan Yudilevich, Executive Director of BIRD.