MassCEC Releases RFP for $1 Million Program for Innovative Clean Energy Firms

Center will host topic area sessions at Global Cleantech Meet-up

The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) today released a request for proposals as part of its new $1 million program to further the development of clean energy technology in Massachusetts.

Under InnovateMassc (Innovate Mass to the Clean Power), MassCEC will offer grants of up to $150,000 for projects designed to address energy challenges facing the Commonwealth – such as the need for more efficient trucks and shuttle buses, advanced wastewater treatment technologies or energy storage – and will require 100 percent in matching funds. MassCEC will award the funds to help companies finance demonstration projects, which test and showcase new technologies in preparation to commercialize technologies for the marketplace.

The program will be highlighted at the Global Cleantech Meet-up, an event sponsored by MassCEC, the Massachusetts Technology Transfer Center (MTTC), the New England Clean Energy Council and the Fraunhofer Center for Sustainable Energy Systems that is expected to draw more than 400attendees from around the world to Boston and Cambridge October 15 through 18.

“We’re looking for teams to create clean energy demonstration projects that have strong commercialization potential and create jobs here in Massachusetts, while reducing energy use and environmental impacts,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rick Sullivan. “We’re looking for leading ideas to fuel our innovative clean energy sector.”

The development of clean energy technologies requires a successful demonstration and validation of the technology in order to make it investable and ready for mass production.

With the idea of benefiting a large cross-section of the Massachusetts clean energy sector, MassCEC will give preference to projects that involve multiple companies, research institutions and energy consumers, relationships that could be forged at the Global Cleantech Meet-up. Potential co-applicants can meet and propose strategic partnerships to respond to the RFP at the Global Cleantech Meet-up.

“If we can help companies and entrepreneurs demonstrate their technology, they have the potential to create new products, new services and even entirely new markets for growth,” said MassCEC CEO Alicia Barton McDevitt. “The Global Cleantech Meet-up offers the perfect opportunity for entrepreneurs to meet with investors and take advantage of this program.”

The Massachusetts’ clean energy economy grew by 11.2 percent from July 2011 to July 2012, according to the 2012 Massachusetts Clean Energy Industry Report, which shows the growing sector employs 71,523 people at 4,995 clean energy firms across the Commonwealth.

The full RFP is available at http://www.masscec.com/innovatemass.

The first deadline for proposals is December 21 [corrected from earlier draft].

“The Global Cleantech Meet-up is the Commonwealth’s premier clean energy event that brings companies from all around the world to hear from and meet with the inspiring and leading voices of our clean energy ecosystem. I’m looking forward to seeing the business results of the connections made at the conference,” said Abigail Barrow, co-chair of the Meet-up and Founding Director of the MTTC.

“As a former CEO of a Massachusetts clean energy technology company, I know how important the demonstration phase of product development is and this funding opportunity fills a much-needed gap for early-stage companies,” said Mitch Tyson, Meet-up Executive Committee Member and Board Chair of the New England Clean Energy Council.