listen to this articleClean Energy Economy Minnesota recently launched Energy Alley to develop the state as a clean technology hub.
CEEM’s startup incubator, Grid Catalyst, has selected six companies to be part of the new group. They will be the first company to receive Energy Array funding for a pilot project with a Minnesota-based partner.
“We are building a strong pipeline of next-generation companies and technologies that will advance Minnesota’s reputation as a leader in clean energy,” said Greg Mast, CEEM’s executive director.
Modeled after the state’s highly successful Medical Alley, which helped create thousands of jobs at hundreds of companies, Energy Alley connects promising clean technology startups with Minnesota partners. trying to increase its wealth. The Grid Catalyst cohort includes startups advancing ammonia as a power source, carbon sequestration, residential battery storage, electric vehicle charging, industrial solar heating, and infrastructure mapping using artificial intelligence. If successful, both companies could create more jobs in Minnesota, from suppliers to spinoff companies, Mast said.
The program’s budget was just $3 million, and CEEM invested $850,000 in the first group. CEEM matched companies with Minnesota companies willing to pilot their technology and connect them with experts in law, finance, and other fields.
Four of the six companies are headquartered in other states, an unusual situation for a state-funded program. But Mast said other states are using the same strategy to attract businesses. CEEM hopes the Energy Alley experience with local partners will inspire some companies to relocate to or open offices in Minnesota.
The initiative could encourage local startups to stay instead of moving to states with richer venture capital and local funding.
“Historically, Minnesota has been at a competitive disadvantage because other states have made investments like this, not just to support their own businesses, but to attract other businesses to the state,” he said. Because I’ve done it,” he said.
Nina Axelsson, president and founder of Grid Catalyst, said the state’s seed money is limited to $200,000 per company, which represents one-third of the pilot cost. Funding for startups, their partners and philanthropy makes up the difference, she said.
Axelsson said two startups, Carba and Aza Power Systems, have been spun out of research at the University of Minnesota. Carba has developed a bioreactor that turns tree and garden waste into carbon that can be sold as other products or buried underground.
Dr. Andrew Jones and Professor Paul Downhauer developed the technology behind Carba and will work with the City of St. Paul on a pilot project on wood waste caused by emerald ashes borer disease. Jones said the company is looking for partners for large-scale experiments to prove its technology of breaking down waste with heat to attract more investment.
“I’m excited that Minnesota is taking action on this issue and building the partnerships needed to advance energy transition and sustainability in our state,” Jones said.
Aza Power has developed technology to produce green ammonia to replace diesel fuel in machinery and off-road vehicles. Axelsson said the company could become important in the Midwest, where manufacturing remains a significant part of the economy and includes processes that are difficult to decarbonize. Aza will be affiliated with St. Thomas University’s Microgrid Research Center.
Seamus Cain, one of Aza’s founders and CEO, said the initial demonstrations “often pave the way for future development and commercialization” and that Grid Catalyst will be a member of Grid Catalyst. In doing so, the company said, “we can make a real difference in carbon intensity and ecological impact.” Enables long-term use of combustion systems. ”
From outside the city, Chicago-based Blip Energy is offering small, affordable energy storage systems aimed at low-income residents whose power outages spoil food or leave them without electricity to run their personal medical equipment. We offer home storage batteries at affordable prices. Minnesota Power will work with Blip on at least 20 homes in its territory and its technology will be tested at a microgrid center.
Based in Calgary, Alberta, SolarSteam uses mirrors to concentrate sunlight to heat steam and hot water fluids that can be used in industrial, agricultural, heating and cooling processes. Axelsson cannot reveal his partner yet.
Axelsson said SolarSteam plans to raise an equal amount of funding from Alberta for the Minnesota project and invest the final third of its budget itself. Minnesota will be the first state to be involved in the national strategy that SolarSteam is developing with the U.S. Department of Energy.
NeoCharge has developed a 240-volt “smart splitter” product that allows users to connect two electric vehicles or another 240-volt device at the same time. According to the California company’s website, EV drivers who use the technology can save an average of $2,000 and avoid upgrading their electrical panels. NeoCharge sells the splitter widely online, but St. He hopes to be part of the group testing the software at Thomas’ microgrid center.
Finally, Massachusetts-based Prezerv offers AI-powered 3D mapping tools that better show underground civilian infrastructure. This technology helps a variety of industries, including renewable energy, local government, utilities, and transportation, understand the siting issues they may encounter on their projects. Prezerv partners with American Engineering Testing Inc.
Axelson said Minnesota-based companies are open to working with out-of-state startups because they bring special expertise and knowledge. Minnesota Energy Alley “gives us the opportunity to build stronger connections between prospective employers, investors and customers in the innovation community,” she said. “In three to five years, I want our ranks to be so full of Minnesota startups that we can’t even recruit from anywhere else.”
