After some small technical difficulties the Green Tech Meetup kicked off to an overflowing crowd that filled the aisles and most available floor space in the ATLAS auditorium on CU Campus. Meetup organizer Kris Wiesenfeld began by highlighting the group’s new advisory services for green tech startups looking for some expert advice. The advisory panel is soliciting additional advisors as well as companies seeking its services. Three presentations followed Wiesenfeld’s opening remarks.
Construction industry veterans Steve Kroll and John Andrews presented their company Corvid, which produces a radiant wall system that reduces the energy needs of buildings. The Corvid radiant wall system consists of three layers of concrete as well as insulation – two exterior layers which can be colored or finished and an interior layer containing the tubing that enables hydronic heating and cooling. The system uses solar thermal panes for heating and whenever possible simple ground loops for cooling. Core to the value proposition of the wall is it R-value – a measure of thermal resistance which conveys the level of insulation – which sits at 34 for the Corvid system, far outpacing most traditional materials. Efficiency gains are substantial, as a 2000 square foot house using a Corvid wall could see outside energy requirements cut by two thirds relative to the same size house built to code. Despite these long-term energy advantages, the company is focused on keeping its technology competitively priced with normal construction costs. Corvid has demonstration projects in each of its target segments – large commercial, light commercial, municipal, and residential – in line for the year. They expect to raise money near the end of the year as they look to expand and license their technology.
Nilar was founded in 2001 by several veterans of battery-maker Optima. The company, which originally focused on battery cell development, has evolved to provide the “complete energy solutions” that customers seek. These solutions include cells as well as battery management and an interface. Applications for the company’s product include heavy duty vehicles, light electric vehicles, military applications, and refrigerated compartments on planes. Nilar’s solutions are based on NiMH (nickel metal hydride) chemistry and bipolar construction which provide high power density. The company works with customers to quickly produce prototypes for testing and to engineer the solution to the exact specifications and space requirements of the application. To the surprise of many in the audience, Nilar President Norman Vickers noted that a truck is currently being tested using one of the company’s units – a “40 ton Toyota Prius”. In trucking, Vickers expects customers could see a two year payback on investments. Nilar has also worked to ensure an efficient and environmentally friendly manufacturing process, one that is highly automated enabling domestic production in a light industrial park. One benefit of this light production footprint is that it allows Nilar to build plants in the vicinity of its clients, reducing supply chain complexity and unnecessary emissions.
John Dee and Colleen Rauscher of GEO (Global Energy Options) offered the final presentation focusing on their Greenbox technology. The Greenbox is a retrofit for diesel engines that produces hydrogen through electrolysis. This hydrogen is scrubbed and mixed with the air injected into the fuel to make the engine run more efficiently – improving fuel efficiency by 30% and substantially reducing emissions. The company is looking to sell to a variety of markets including refrigerated containers, truck fleets, marine shipping, and locomotives. The price for the Class 8 truck version of the Greenbox is expected to be $18K, which could offer a payback period of less than a year for a truck driving 200,000 miles per year (assuming diesel prices of $2.50 per gallon). Next in line for the company are final calibrations to make it easier to integrate the kit with engines and EPA and National Laboratory validation. The company has several pre-qualified customers and expects to achieve $10M in sales this year focusing on refrigerated compartments and long-haul trucking. GEO expects to use a direct sales model to sell to customers with large fleets, but plans a licensing approach to widen its reach. The company is currently seeking a $500,000 investment.
The Green Tech Meetup is held on the second Thursday of every month and is designed to provide a time and place for technologists interested in alternative energy, alternative transportation, energy efficiency, green building, and recovery/recycling technology. The event is sponsored by Access Venture Partners, Sequel Venture Partners, Infield Capital, Green Spark Ventures, and the Deming Center for Entrepreneurship. The group’s April meeting will be announced later, as the meeting has outgrown its current space and organizers are seeking alternative accommodations. For more information, visit the group’s website.
