Natcore chooses Rochester, New York for PV research center

On April 21st, 2011, Natcore Technology Inc. (Red Bank, New Jersey, U.S.) announced that it will establish a research center at Eastman Business Park in Rochester, New York, United States.

The focus of the Natcore Research and Development Center will be the development of thin-film solar photovoltaic (PV) cells and tandem solar cells, using the company's liquid phase deposition (LPD) technology. Read More »

National Grid program offers incentives to study engineering

National Grid is giving local high school students the opportunity to explore engineering careers with a program designed to inspire and attract youth to the profession.

“There are fewer engineers today,” said Kathy Lyford, vice president of electric operations of National Grid. “The demand for engineers is increasing and the amount of engineers coming out of college is decreasing.” Read More »

Beacon Power to establish the world's first flywheel energy storage plant in Stephentown, NY

Beacon Power, a Massachusetts based company has developed a device that stores energy from the grid and can provide up to 100 Kilowatts for 15 minutes to buffer disturbances. The device is a carbon fiber flywheel that spins at mach 2 speeds or 16,000 revolutions per minute. Beacon Power is in the process of constructing its first flywheel storage plant in Stephentown, NY, which will utilize 200 flywheels to buffer 20 megawatts of grid power. Read More »

Syracuse CoE's 10th annual symposium on the environment and energy systems

The Syracuse Center of Excellence (CoE) is holding its 10th annual symposium on the environment and energy systems on the 27th and 28th of September at the Oncenter Complex in Syracuse, NY. The 2010 conference is titled "Restoring Sustainable, Healthy Communities" and will feature presentations related to indoor environmental quality, water quality and clean/renewable energies. Read More »

SUNY ESF's "Leading Sustainability in Public, Private and Nonprofit Organizations" program

Are you interested in greening your business but unclear how to start? If so, SUNY ESF and O’Brien &Gere’s “Leading Sustainability in Public, Private and Nonprofit Organizations” program is right for you. An experienced team of instructors and practitioners will teach the program and provide information necessary to initiate, establish and advance sustainability planning, implementation and reporting. Real world examples of the costs and benefits associated with the adaptation and the use of renewable technologies and sustainable practices will be provided, along with reliable perspectives, recommendations, information and resources to help inform sustainability efforts. Read More »

$29.5 million in NYSTAR budget extends matching grants program

The $68.2 million FY 11 budget approved last week for the New York State Foundation for Science, Technology and Innovation (NYSTAR), allows the foundation to continue to provide 10 percent matching funds for research institutions and businesses in order to attract federal, private and industry funds. The budget allocates $29.5 million in FY11 for a matching grants program started with ARRA stimulus funding and $5.2 million for the state's six Centers of Excellence. Read More »

Two NYS companies win Clean Tech Business Plan Competition at TechConnect World in Anaheim

New York-based Ener-G-Rotors captured top honors at the Clean Tech Business Plan Competition last week at the TechConnectWorld 2010 Conference at the Anaheim Convention Center. Judges included a panel from the electric, water and venture-capital industries. The contest, presented by the Anaheim Center for New Energy Technologies, seeks out market-ready, clean-tech innovations. Read More »

Portions of New York eligible for ARC energy grants

The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) has recently announced the fourth round of a grant competitionto assist communities in leveraging renewable-energy and energy-efficiency resources to revitalize their economies. ARC expects to provide seven to fifteen awards of up to $75,000 each, for a total of $545,000 in awards, to successful applicants. Portions of NYS, including the Southern Tier and Central New York, are ARC communities. Read More »

SUNY Oswego takes ESF's lead in adopting the PowAIR Sail wind turbine

Following the announcement of SUNY ESF's plan to install a PowAIR Sail wind turbine on campus comes a similar announcement from SUNY Oswego. With its campus located on the windy shores of Lake Ontario, SUNY Oswego is an ideal location for the employment of the turbine. The PowAIR Sail will be located on the roof of Lee Hall and is planned to be installed later this summer. Read More »

The future of American-made vehicles to take place in Central New York

Can the future of American-made vehicles take place in Central New York? CenterState CEO and Bannon Automotive, LLC are doing everything thing they can to say yes. Bannon Automotive plans to invest $35.1 million to remodel/equip a former factory for the manufacture and assembly of Bannon’s “NXR” Electric Vehicle. To date, the plant will be one of the first of its kind in the United States and is expected to create 240 local full-time jobs over its first four years of operation. Read More »

Clarkson University establishes a new environmental institute

Clarkson University has recently shown its commitment to environmental excellence by creating “The Institute for a Sustainable Environment.” The institute marks the creation of two new programs for undergraduate students: Environmental Health Science and Environmental Science and Policy. Read More »

Syracuse’s Clean Tech Center Recognized for Advancing Innovative Sustainable Business Practices

The Clean Tech Center, a Syracuse-based business incubator funded by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), has been recognized for its accomplishments by the Institute for Sustainable Development. The Center, which is currently assisting 12 companies through its incubation program and has provided technical assistance to more than 100 green-tech companies in its first year of operation, received the Institute’s 2010 Green Plus North American Sustainable Enterprise Award for its work to help the nation, Central New York, and its members understand the economic benefits of sustainable business practices. It is the second national award the Center received this year for its work to grow Central New York’s economy. Read More »

Syracuse is one of five national finalists for Green Plus Chamber of Commerce of the Year award from the Institute for Sustainable Development

The CenterState CEO (Syracuse) Chamber of Commerce and The Clean Tech Center have been selected as one of five national finalists for the Green Plus North American Sustainable Enterprise Awards as the Green Plus Chamber of Commerce of the Year. The winner will be announced Friday, June 18, 2010 in North Carolina’s Research Triangle Park in partnership with the American Chamber of Commerce Executives. The Institute for Sustainable Development created the award to recognize organizations for the example they have set in advancing triple bottom line sustainability. Read More »

Global cleantech clusters and investors gather this week

Cleantech clusters and investors from around the world gathered in New York this week for "Investment Opportunities: Where is Cleantech Capital going?" a focused discussion led by Sustainable World Capital and the Consulate General of Switzerland. The event was part of a three-city, three-day Five Fund Forum hosted by Sustainable World Capital. SWC is a company focused on connecting profitable sustainable companies with institutional investors worldwide to raise capital and to increase financial market exposure. SWC has a network of more than 200 institutional investors worldwide. Read More »

NYS hosts nation's first UN Procurement Seminar

Empire State Development’s International Division and the United Nations Procurement Division are hosting the nation's first and only free UN Procurement Seminar for New York State Companies, Tuesday, July 13, 2010 from 10:00 am to 4 pm at ESD's offices, 633 Third Avenue, 38th Floor (between 40th and 41st Street), New York, NY 10017. Read More »

Statewide SmartStart UNYTECH Venture Forum coming to Syracuse next week

The final slate of presenting companies has been chosen for the 10th Annual SmartStart UNYTECH Venture Forum, presented by the Center for Economic Growth in Syracuse, NY. A total of 20 high-growth early stage companies will be featured, including five from Central NY. This year’s list includes Antek Inc., Brand-Yourself.com, Symphony Video, Propulsive Wing, LLC, and EarthSense who will be presenting their business plans to the investment community on May 18th at the Sheraton University Conference Center in Syracuse, NY. Read More »

Solid Biofuel Combustion: The efficiency and emissions debate

“A symposium on biofuels combustion efficiency and emissions will be a featured topic at the upcoming Northeast Regional Meeting of the American Chemical Society to be held at SUNY Potsdam on June 3, at 1 p.m. Given the recent local interest in proposed DEC rules on wood boilers and the likelihood that EPA will enact similar rules soon, the topic is gaining the attention of municipal planners, as well as the development and environmental community. Read More »

MicroGen at Sensors Expo

MicroGen will be heading to the Sensors Expo in Chicago in June 2010 as a hot new technology in "MEMS Lane." The company has been gaining global recognition for its technology, which is the world's first commercially available low-cost, small size, long lifetime MEMS-based Piezoelectric Vibrational Energy Harvester (PZEH). The BOLT(tm) family of micro-rechargers will be available at frequencies 50/60 and 100/120 Hz with power outputs of at least 100 uWatts at 0.1g acceleration, and as high as 1.0 mWatt at 1.0g. These devices can be integrated in multiple power-storage (ultra-cap or advanced thin-film battery) demo-boards, and wireless sensor network (WSN) demo-kits available on the market today. Alpha-product is set to be released in fall 2010. Read More »

Cleantech Venture Investments reach $1.9 billion in 1Q10

Cleantech venture investments totaled $1.9 billion in 1Q10, with funding spread among 180 companies in North America, Europe, China and India, according to the Cleantech Group and Deloitte, who compiled the figures. The number of deals in 1Q10 outstrips the previous record set in 4Q09 (165 deals), suggesting the sector is continuing to bounce back from a period of stagnation in early 2009. Read More »

NYS companies at Windpower 2010 include GE Research and Intertek

Intertek, a global leader in the testing, inspection, and certification of power generation products for manufacturers and installers around the world, was one of the featured NYS exhibitors this week at Windpower 2010. Intertek offers compliance services for meeting ANSI/UL, CSA standards and CE Marking requirements for Europe. Intertek operates wind testing and certification facilities in Upstate New York. For more information: http://www.intertek.com. Read More »