2021 Energy Series

Deadline: Year of 2021

The Energy Spring Series presents rapid identification challenges seeking novel and innovative technologies and approaches related to harvesting and storing energy. These Sprints focus on the advancement of diverse technologies across the energy sector with an eye towards performance, sustainability, and innovation. The goal is the development of new technologies, materials, applications, and products.

Harvesting Waste Heat From Industrial Operations

Industrial facilities generate heat across a diverse range of technology space, applications, and processes. This heat impacts operations significantly from the physical layout of the site to safety concerns for workers. Additionally, waste heat impacts the overall energy efficiency of a facility. By utilizing the latest in energy harvesting technologies, industrial operations can capture wast heat and concert it into useful purposes within the facility.

TechConnect Ventures seeks all technologies capable of harvesting and converting waste heat. We are interested in recovery of all grades of waste heat with primary concern for low grade waste heat. For the purpose of this sprint, we define grades of waste in this way:

  • High grade waste heat: temperatures in excess of 400°C
  • Medium grade waste heat: temperatures between 100°C and 400°C
  • Low grade waste heat: temperatures below 100°C

We are also interested in technologies that employ direct or indirect recovery. Pathways of potential interest include but are not limited to:

  • Heat exchangers
  • Finned tube
  • Plate
  • Waste heat boilers
  • Air preheaters
  • Pipe systems
  • Heat pipes
  • Pulsating heat pipes
  • Heat recovery steam generation
  • Direct power generators
  • Thermoelectric
  • Piezoelectric
  • Thermionic
  • Thermo photovoltaic

We are not interested in approaches utilizing micro plastics or materials of health or environmental concern.

While we are most interested in deployment-ready technologies, we will consider promising approaches of all technical maturities.

Through this sprint, we will facilitate contact and interactions between the sponsor and active researchers or technology developers in the space. We are significantly interested in submissions and novel concepts from individuals in academia and research, but all viable technology providers may respond for potential commercial opportunities with the client.

Requirements

We encourage solvers submitting an entry to highlight key innovation areas in their submission that meet criteria including:

  • Type of waste heat recovery technology
  • Anticipated grade of waste heat recovered
  • Suitable placement(s) for proposed technology
  • Anticipated formfactor
  • Anticipated operational lifespan
  • Technical maturity (TRL)

Energy Storage Technologies For Medium and Long-Term Discharge

Energy storage comes through different mechanisms – thermal, chemical, and mechanical – as well as in many different forms: the tiny button batteries in small electronic devices to car batteries to batteries for the whole electrical grid. Regardless of the type, size, chemistry or application, these storage devices play the same role: retaining electricity for use at some later point in time.

Smaller energy storage devices can retain relatively modest charges for extended periods of time. For example, a standard AAA battery has a shelf life measured in years. Shorter energy storage for grid applications proves problematic, however, as we endeavor to transition towards renewable energy generation from wind, solar, and other sources.

To facilitate a more sustainable electric power distribution grid, TechConnect Ventures seeks energy storage technologies which provide medium and long-term duration. For the purposes of this sprint, we’ll define those terms as:

  • Medium-term duration: technologies capable of holding a charge for 5-10 hours
  • Long-term duration: technologies capable of holding a charge for 10+ hours

We are interested in all technologies capable of high-capacity storage, including batteries, thermal storage, mechanical storage and/or chemical storage approaches.

  • National grids
  • Regional grids
  • Microgrids
  • Usage within critical infrastructure

We are not interested in approaches utilizing micro plastics or materials of health or environmental concern.

While we are most interested in complete solutions, we will consider partial or supporting technologies of all technical maturities.

Through this sprint, we will facilitate contact and interactions between the sponsor and active researchers or technology developers in the space. We are significantly interested in submissions and novel concepts from individuals in academia and research, but all viable technology providers may respond for potential commercial opportunities with the client.

Requirements

We encourage solvers submitting an entry to highlight key innovation areas in their submission that meet criteria including:

  • Anticipated storage capacity
  • Anticipated storage duration
  • Anticipated application space
  • National grid
  • Regional grid
  • Microgrid
  • Infrastructure
  • Anticipated formfactor
  • Anticipated operational lifespan
  • Years in the field
  • Number of charge/discharge cycles
  • Technical maturity (TRL)

Innovations In Hydrogen Fuel Cells

It’s the most abundant element in the universe, the source of light from the sun, and two thirds of a water molecule: hydrogen. This most basic of elements can power our vehicles, our homes, and our lives, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. By utilizing hydrogen fuel cells, we can generate electricity, heat, and spin turbines, all without generating carbon or methane emissions.

Given its enormous potential, TechConnect Ventures seeks responses which enable, support, or expand the hydrogen fuel cell technology space. Potential pathways of interest include:

  • Novel designs for hydrogen generation and hydrogen storage
  • Innovation in
    • Storage materials
    • Fuel cell formfactor
      • Size
      • Shape
      • Weight
    • Storage capacity
    • Charge/discharge cycle
      • Speed
      • Capacity
    • Operational lifepsan
  • Safety systems
    • Pressure
      • Leak detection systems
      • Overcharge detection
    • Temperature

We are not interested in approaches utilizing micro plastics or materials of health or environmental concern.

While we are most interested in complete technologies, we will consider partial or supporting technologies of all technical maturities.

Through this sprint, we will facilitate contact and interactions between the sponsor and active researchers or technology developers in the space. We are significantly interested in submissions and novel concepts from individuals in academia and research, but all viable technology providers may respond for potential commercial opportunities with the client.

Requirements

We encourage solvers submitting an entry to highlight key innovation areas in their submission that meet criteria including:

  • Type of innovation
  • Anticipated performance
  • Advantages versus alternatives
  • Anticipated end-use application
  • Technical maturity (TRL)

Business Opportunity

We will include all complete and eligible entries in an exclusive innovation opportunity report for our client. TechConnect or our client may contact directly any well-matched capabilities to discuss potential partnership opportunities include, but not limited to, demonstrations, consulting, contract research, licensing, and more. TechConnect may also invite top rated entries to participate in an upcoming event or pitch program.

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