Some Up and Coming Green Tech Companies
Posted October 27th, 2011
Venture capital firms have invested nearly $20 billion into hundreds of green technology startups over the past five years, according to Greentech Media, a San-Francisco based research and media company.
What kinds of companies are getting this funding? Many of them are trying to tap into alternative sources of energy including solar, wind, hydroelectric, geothermal, biomass and fuel cells. Most are pursuing somewhat similar technologies, such as photovoltaic cells in solar, turbines in wind and hydroelectric.
There is a handful of companies, however, that is taking a different approach to green technology and alternative energy. Here are five innovators that are developing even newer ways to capture and store energy, light up the world and power vehicles.
New Energy Technologies
New Energy Technologies has two interesting projects under development: Motion Power and Solar Window.
Motion Power aims to harness lost inertia from braking cars at places like toll booths, drive-through windows and traffic lights. The Motion Power device sits on the road in the braking area. As a car passes over the device, it pushes down mechanical treadles, allowing the device to help slow down the car’s momentum and simultaneously harvest some of its kinetic energy. The company calls this process an “external regenerative brake” that can convert wasted energy –normally turned into brake heat — into electricity that can be used to power road signs, street lights and emergency power storage systems.
New Energy’s Solar Window technology is putting a new twist on solar energy. Still in development, it involves spraying ordinary glass with solar cells that can turn windows into small-scale energy producers. While many photovoltaic cells require metal to help conduct energy, New Energy’s prototype uses transparent compounds to serve the same function. Unlike most solar films, which require high temperatures to be applied, the spray can be used at room temperature.
Lilliputian Systems
Lilliputian Systems, as the name implies, wants to use tiny technology to make big changes in consumer electronics such as phones and laptops. Born in MIT’s Microsystems Technology Lab, Lilliputian Systems hopes to replace lithium-ion batteries with miniature fuel cells. The cells will be powered by butane and sit on a chip to power a device. The device will then produce electricity by converting the butane into carbon monoxide and hydrogen. When the two are exposed to air and electrolytes, it turns into electricity, which will keep gadgets powered indefinitely. The process’ byproducts are water vapor and carbon dioxide. The company claims the fuel cells are safe, and has convinced the Federal Aviation Administration to approve the use of Lilliputian fuel cells on airplanes.
Beacon Power
Beacon Power is focused on energy storage, not energy production. They are working to improve existing battery technologies by using flywheels to store energy for later use. Flywheels are like mechanical batteries, turning electricity into kinetic energy that keeps a wheel spinning inside a vacuum chamber until the energy is needed again. When this happens, the flywheel spins more slowly and electricity flows back out of the device. The company says its flywheel chambers can be used for years with minimal maintenance and, unlike batteries, their storage capacity remains stable over time.
The U.S. Department of Energy has funded Beacon and says the company’s flywheels are up to ten times faster at responding to grid frequency changes than energy sources powered by fossil fuels.
Topanga Technologies
Topanga is working on developing high-efficiency lighting whose color quality, output and longevity are better than those of LEDs, halogens and fluorescents. The company produces plasma lights in warm, cool and white temperatures and sells to cities, large companies and building managers. Each lamp has an estimated lifespan of about 50,000 hours, or about 10 years. This is equal to the lifespan of most LEDs, and significantly higher than CFLs’ 12,000-hour and halogen’s 3,000-hour lifespans. By Topanga’s estimates, most fixtures pay for themselves in savings within three years and require very little maintenance.
Xtreme Green
Xtreme Green makes electric sports vehicles, including motorcycles, scooters and ATVs, and they are developing electric watercraft like jet skis. As environmental concerns about emissions grow, more lakes and wildlife areas no longer permit gas engines on the water. Xtreme Green’s watercraft will run on lithium batteries that will provide two hours of power. The company also produces curb-jumping three-wheeled patrol vehicles and motorcycles for police forces.
Xtreme Green’s eco-vehicles are designed with proprietary energy management systems and electric propulsion systems, giving them the power and ability of gas-powered engines, but without the particulate pollution, noise pollution or carbon footprint.
