The funding is part of the Binational Industrial Research and Development (BIRD) Energy program, which encourages cooperation between Israeli and American companies in research and development of range of clean energy subsectors including energy efficiency, biofuels and solar energy.
One of the five selected projects involves development of automated heliostat cleaning system for concentrated solar plants to increase production and reduce operating costs.
This project is launched by Israel’s BrightSource Industries and US’ Dynamis Solutions.
A project launched by CelDezyner and POET Research to develop a low cost ethanol production process from second generation, lignocellulosic feedstocks, as well as a project initiated by Solview Systems and Yarotek PR to develop rooftop solar analytics to ease the adoption of solar energy will receive the funding.
The funding will also be generated to a project led by Technion IIT and Pajarito Powder to develop lower cost catalysts for energy storage and energy generation devices, as well as a project launched by Waves Audio and Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University to develop an electrostatic speaker using a nanoscale active membrane based on graphene, achieving significant energy savings.
US Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz said: “The collaboration through BIRD Energy leverages the work of top energy scientists in the US and Israel which will help both nations continue to work together to foster research and development efforts, build on the ambitious goals of the Paris Agreement, and drive down the costs of clean energy technologies.”
The BIRD Energy projects will also support the US’ efforts to develop low-carbon energy resources.
Israel National Infrastructure, Energy and Water Resources Minister Dr Yuval Steinitz sai: “The great minds and capabilities from Israel and the U.S. together with the MIEW and DOE continuous support to the BIRD Energy program, does and will drive technological developments for the Clean Energy market in both countries and worldwide.”
