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From the state’s Green Bank to $1 billion for solar energy, New York has been investing heavily in sustainability and clean electricity.
That only continued this week when Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo announced funding for colleges to transform clean energy concepts into businesses to aid the state’s economy. The universities vied to win the first round of PowerBridgeNY, a collaborative program created by Columbia University and New York University Polytechnic School of Engineering to advance innovations from the laboratory to the New York economy.
PowerBridgeNY’s first-round award winners receive up to $150,000, as well as mentoring and support to develop cleantech products that were conceived through research within the state. Their projects include reducing wastewater treatment costs, increasing the efficiency of solar panels and more.
Thirteen research teams won awards in the first round for their products’ technical potential, as well as the possible appeal to investors and benefits to scientists. The winners include:
Columbia University
- Early detection of problems in wastewater treatment microbial processes to reduce energy costs
- Turning carbon dioxide waste and electricity into fuels or chemicals to reduce reliance on fossil fuels
- New, low-cost device to measure energy use during energy audits
- Forecasting machine to improve grid reliability and boost efficiency
New York University Polytechnic School of Engineering
- Reducing electricity outages
- Wireless recharging of electric vehicles
- Building a more efficient power transformer
The City University of New York
- Reducing dust on solar panels to increase energy efficiency
- Improving energy efficiency of HVAC technology
Cornell University
- Longer battery life; faster recharge time for new lithium oxide batteries
- New material to absorb carbon dioxide emissions
Brookhaven National Laboratory
- Reducing cost of fuel cells and electrolyzers
University of Stony Brook
- Generating clean energy from railroad track vibrations
“New York is taking a leading role in supporting the development of cleantech products that are environmentally friendly, reduce energy use and increase reliability of the State’s energy systems,” Cuomo said. “When the best and brightest cleantech researchers in New York State have the opportunity to collaborate with smart, experienced experts in the private sector, the result can be a powerful force for economic development resulting in a cleaner, greener, more sustainable state for future generations.”
PowerBridge is partially funded by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA). That organization provided $5 million in seed funding for Columbia, NYU’s Polytechnic School of Engineering and High Tech Rochester to create “Proof-of-Concept Centers” in January 2013. The centers are expected to operate on their own after five years.
“These award-winning projects, which will improve our environment and strengthen the economy, are precisely what we envisioned 16 months ago when Gov. Cuomo pledged the state’s support for partnerships with Columbia, NYU Polytechnic School of Engineering and High Tech Rochester,” Columbia University President Lee C. Bollinger said.
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