State Energy Officials Announce $942,100 in Grants to Fund Seven Cleantech Innovations

The Baker Polito Administration today announced $942,100 in funding to support early-stage clean energy, water technology and energy storage innovations in seven communities across the Commonwealth. The funding, awarded through the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center’s (MassCEC)  InnovateMass program, will support projects in the communities of Amesbury, Dedham, Middleborough, Milford, Reading, Somerville, and Westford.

“Massachusetts is home to several cutting edge clean energy companies and one of the most innovative economies in the world,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “The funding from this program will help support entrepreneurs as they develop cutting-edge solutions that support the Commonwealth’s energy goals.”

“Massachusetts has a proud history of innovation, and supporting local cleantech companies through this program will spur economic activity across the Commonwealth,” said Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito. “This funding will help Massachusetts continue to lead the nation in clean energy innovation.”

The InnovateMass program funds technology prototypes and demonstration projects which are designed to field test the real world applications of innovations. InnovateMass bridges the funding gap for early-stage companies seeking to enter into or widen their presence in commercial marketplaces. Since 2013, the program has awarded $3.6 million to 29 companies and attracted public and private matching funding of more than $5 million for projects across the Commonwealth.

“Supporting local startups helps drive Massachusetts’ robust innovation economy while helping to create quality jobs,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Matthew Beaton. “By enabling these entrepreneurs to pursue technology breakthroughs, we are fueling the local innovation economy and drawing private industry into the clean energy economy.”

“By making key investments in early-stage companies, we can help these local startups address persistent funding gaps and increase business opportunities,” said MassCEC CEO Stephen Pike. “Through continued assistance to help develop Massachusetts’ vibrant innovation sector, the Commonwealth is positioned to benefit from increased job creation, technology development, and economic activity throughout the state.”

The following companies are receiving funding:

Angstrom Advanced Inc. (Stoughton) – $150,000 – The funding will be used to develop a power storage system that uses solar energy to generate hydrogen.

AquaFresco Inc. (Somerville) – $150,000 – The funding will be used to develop a wastewater treatment and recycling technology for commercial laundry facilities. The company received a Catalyst award of $40,000 from MassCEC in 2015.

Brightspot Automation LLC (Westford) – $150,000 – The funding will be used to develop in-field solar panel testing equipment to detect cracks in solar cells pre-installation.

INroof Solar (Amesbury) – $42,100 – The funding will be used to develop roof-integrated solar thermal energy collection system for residential and commercial buildings.

IVYS Energy Solutions (Waltham) – $150,000 – The funding will be used to develop combined battery-electric and fuel cell vehicle fueling infrastructure integrated with a solar-based energy storage system.

MTPV Power Corporation (Medford) – $150,000 – The funding will be used to develop heat-to-electricity conversion technology for industrial manufacturing.

WattJoule (Devens) – $150,000 – The funding will be used to develop an advanced liquid energy storage system for utility peak shaving.

“I am excited to see MTPV Power Corporation and AquaFresco Inc. put these grants to good use to implement clean industrial energy and water technology, and am encouraged that Medford and Somerville are home to these innovative and forward-thinking companies,” said State Representative Christine Barber (D-Somerville). “I greatly appreciate the support and resources MassCEC offers to growing companies like these to incentivize the development of impactful clean energy technology in Massachusetts.”

“I am thrilled that the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center has chosen WattJoule as a partner in their InnovateMass program,” said State Representative Jennifer Benson (D-Lunenburg). “This grant will allow WattJoule and MassCEC to continue working on finding innovative ways to improve our environment for generations to come. This investment in technology is essential toward finding a long term balance between our needs and the sustainability of natural resources.”

“I am pleased that a company in our district was awarded a grant as they continue to develop technology that will help to provide clean energy,” said State Representative Paul Donato (D-Medford).

This funding builds upon the Baker-Polito Administration’s ongoing efforts to support the Commonwealth’s vibrant clean energy innovation sector including recent investments announced in clean heating and cooling, energy storage and electric vehicle technologies. In August 2016, Governor Baker signed bipartisan comprehensive energy diversification legislation that promotes the administration’s commitment to reducing energy costs while strengthening the state’s clean energy economy and progressing towards Massachusetts’ greenhouse gas reduction requirements.

InnovateMass is funded through MassCEC’s Renewable Energy Trust, which was created by the Massachusetts Legislature in 1997. The trust is funded by municipal electric departments that have opted to participate in the program, along with a systems benefit charge paid by electric customers of investor-owned utilities in the state.