National Science Foundation

The National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent federal agency established in 1950 and based in Alexandria, Virginia. It is dedicated to supporting research and education in science and engineering across a wide range of disciplines. The NSF provides significant non-dilutive funding, up to $1.5 million, to startups and small businesses through its America's Seed Fund initiative, which is part of the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program mandated by Congress. With an operating budget of approximately $7.8 billion, the NSF is committed to advancing fundamental research and education, thus fostering innovation and technological development in the United States.

James Donlon

Program Director

Debasis Majumdar

Program Director

Graciela Narcho

Staff Associate

Sethuraman Panchanathan

Director

Past deals in Wind Energy

T-Omega Wind

Grant in 2022
T-Omega Wind is a pioneering developer of floating offshore wind turbines. Unlike traditional designs that fight against water movements, T-Omega's turbines are engineered to ride on top of waves, minimizing resistance and maximizing efficiency. Their innovative structure features a rotor held firmly on both sides, aligned with the wind direction, and can be towed for easy deployment, facilitating global clean energy expansion.

Arctura

Grant in 2022
Arctura is a company focused on advancing sustainable energy solutions, particularly in the wind energy sector. It develops innovative technologies aimed at enhancing the profitability of renewable energy plants by addressing various challenges associated with wind energy production. These technologies help reduce the costs associated with lightning damage, minimize losses from underperforming wind farm assets, and mitigate the risk of energy curtailment. Additionally, Arctura has created a green nitric acid technology that synthesizes nitric acid using air, water, and renewable electricity. This innovation not only provides clients with affordable energy but also contributes to lowering the carbon footprint of industries, while simultaneously supporting local energy needs from wind and solar sources.

KineticCore Solutions

Grant in 2022
KineticCore Solutions is a technology manufacturing company based in Loveland, Colorado, specializing in energy storage systems. Co-founded in 2019 by James, Jim, and Chuck Clegern along with Steve Milliren, the company focuses on providing deployable and sustainable energy storage solutions. Its innovative KineticCore Battery features an all-composite structural design that eliminates hazardous materials, enhancing safety, shipping efficiency, and recyclability compared to traditional chemical batteries. The company's products are tailored for modular, utility-scale applications, effectively supporting renewable energy initiatives and helping clients achieve carbon-free energy generation goals. KineticCore Solutions aims to simplify the integration of energy storage within both wind and solar farm environments, contributing to a reduction in carbon emissions.

CRCL Solutions

Grant in 2021
CRCL Solutions, founded in 2021 and based in South Bend, Indiana, specializes in wind and solar forecasting services for energy markets, particularly within ERCOT's day-ahead and real-time markets. The company offers a weather forecasting platform designed to enhance forecast accuracy and strengthen power grid resiliency. By leveraging artificial intelligence, CRCL Solutions identifies discrepancies in current wind and solar forecasts and delivers improved atmospheric forecasting in real-time. This enables power traders to engage in low-risk, high-return trades and better anticipate market movements, ultimately supporting more efficient and reliable energy trading.

Accelerate Wind

Grant in 2021
Accelerate Wind specializes in providing wind energy generation solutions tailored for commercial and industrial sectors. The company has developed a patent-pending powertrain concept that significantly reduces the cost of wind turbine power electronics by utilizing intermediate energy storage in a small flywheel. This innovative system is designed to capture increased wind flows at the edges of commercial building rooftops, making it a cost-effective solution for industries looking to harness rooftop wind energy efficiently.

Antora Energy

Grant in 2020
Antora Energy specializes in providing zero-carbon industrial heat and power solutions for heavy industries, offering a more reliable alternative to fossil fuels. The company develops innovative thermal batteries that utilize excess solar and wind electricity to heat blocks of carbon, creating a sustainable energy source. These thermal energy storage systems effectively convert heat energy into electric energy, facilitating the electrification of heavy industry. By enabling the integration of renewable resources into the electricity grid, Antora Energy aims to deliver convenient, sustainable, and reliable electricity while significantly reducing carbon emissions on a global scale.

XFlow Energy

Grant in 2020
XFlow Energy specializes in manufacturing vertical-axis wind turbines (VAWTs), designed to lower the cost of wind energy generation. Their unique rotor design addresses common structural failures in VAWTs, maintaining high efficiency and low manufacturing costs. Additionally, XFlow Energy provides engineering consulting, prototyping, and testing services for renewable energy systems, further supporting the development of affordable and efficient renewable energy solutions.

Vartega

Grant in 2019
Vartega Inc. is a technology development firm based in Golden, Colorado, that specializes in the recycling of carbon fiber, a strong and lightweight material used across various industries, including aerospace, automotive, wind energy, and sporting goods. Founded in 2014, Vartega employs a patented recycling process to transform carbon fiber scrap and waste into low-cost, high-quality products suitable for mass-market applications. The company’s offerings include semi-continuous, chopped, and milled carbon fiber, which can be utilized in thermoplastics, nonwoven fabrics, and molding compounds. By diverting carbon fiber waste from landfills, Vartega aims to enhance the sustainability of these industries, contributing to improved fuel economy and significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.

Accelerate Wind

Grant in 2019
Accelerate Wind specializes in providing wind energy generation solutions tailored for commercial and industrial sectors. The company has developed a patent-pending powertrain concept that significantly reduces the cost of wind turbine power electronics by utilizing intermediate energy storage in a small flywheel. This innovative system is designed to capture increased wind flows at the edges of commercial building rooftops, making it a cost-effective solution for industries looking to harness rooftop wind energy efficiently.

XFlow Energy

Grant in 2018
XFlow Energy specializes in manufacturing vertical-axis wind turbines (VAWTs), designed to lower the cost of wind energy generation. Their unique rotor design addresses common structural failures in VAWTs, maintaining high efficiency and low manufacturing costs. Additionally, XFlow Energy provides engineering consulting, prototyping, and testing services for renewable energy systems, further supporting the development of affordable and efficient renewable energy solutions.

Antora Energy

Grant in 2018
Antora Energy specializes in providing zero-carbon industrial heat and power solutions for heavy industries, offering a more reliable alternative to fossil fuels. The company develops innovative thermal batteries that utilize excess solar and wind electricity to heat blocks of carbon, creating a sustainable energy source. These thermal energy storage systems effectively convert heat energy into electric energy, facilitating the electrification of heavy industry. By enabling the integration of renewable resources into the electricity grid, Antora Energy aims to deliver convenient, sustainable, and reliable electricity while significantly reducing carbon emissions on a global scale.

URTPC

Grant in 2017
URTPC specializes in developing advanced power conversion technology applicable across various sectors, including aerospace, renewable energy, and micro-grid systems. The company focuses on creating reliable, efficient, and safe products that facilitate faster market entry for its clients. URTPC positions itself as a comprehensive solution provider, offering expertise in analyzing electrical and power electronics components, as well as control systems and thermal, structural, and electromagnetic parameters. By streamlining power conversion processes, URTPC enables businesses to achieve cost reductions through efficient mass production, thereby enhancing overall operational efficiency in diverse applications.

Airloom Energy

Grant in 2017
Airloom Energy is a developer of innovative wind energy solutions that utilizes lightweight airframes to harness wind power efficiently. By employing a unique design that propels wings along a slender oval track, the company generates energy comparable to traditional turbines but at significantly reduced costs. Its flexible configuration allows for adaptation to various landscapes and applications, enabling clients to capture wind energy in a more cost-effective and expedited manner. Through this technology, Airloom Energy aims to provide low-cost utility-scale wind energy, making it a promising alternative source of renewable energy.

Aquanis

Grant in 2017
Aquanis, Inc. is a company focused on enhancing the aerodynamic performance of wind turbines to reduce the cost of wind energy. Founded in 2016 and based in East Greenwich, Rhode Island, Aquanis develops innovative electrical devices known as blade-mounted plasma actuators. These actuators are designed to counter unsteady aerodynamic forces, which not only improve the efficiency of wind turbines but also extend their service life. By enabling the design of larger and more efficient turbines, Aquanis aims to contribute significantly to the advancement of renewable energy technologies.

XPEED Turbine Technology

Grant in 2017
XPEED Turbine Technology is an engineering company that develops technologies to improve wind turbines. The company was founded in 2015 and is based in Piscataway, New Jersey.

RUTE Foundation Systems

Grant in 2016
RUTE Foundation Systems is a modular foundation intended for the renewable energy sectors. It produces and delivers the most efficient, sustainable structural foundation systems for the wind and solar industries for safer, faster, higher-quality structures for wind and solar generation.

Airloom Energy

Grant in 2016
Airloom Energy is a developer of innovative wind energy solutions that utilizes lightweight airframes to harness wind power efficiently. By employing a unique design that propels wings along a slender oval track, the company generates energy comparable to traditional turbines but at significantly reduced costs. Its flexible configuration allows for adaptation to various landscapes and applications, enabling clients to capture wind energy in a more cost-effective and expedited manner. Through this technology, Airloom Energy aims to provide low-cost utility-scale wind energy, making it a promising alternative source of renewable energy.

XPEED Turbine Technology

Grant in 2015
XPEED Turbine Technology is an engineering company that develops technologies to improve wind turbines. The company was founded in 2015 and is based in Piscataway, New Jersey.

LC Drives

Grant in 2015
LC Drives, Inc., based in Potsdam, New York, specializes in the development, manufacture, marketing, and sale of lightweight motors and generators tailored for various applications, including marine propulsion, wind energy, and industrial process automation. Established in 2012, the company focuses on creating power-dense, liquid-cooled permanent magnet electrical machines. Its innovative technologies are designed to revolutionize the market for high-power electrical machines ranging from 10 kW to 10 MW, offering products that are smaller, lighter, more efficient, and cost-effective compared to traditional models. LC Drives targets industries such as oil, gas, mining, and marine, providing customized ultra-efficient electric motors and generators suitable for rugged environments.

Continuum Dynamics

Grant in 2015
Continuum Dynamics provides quality engineering services and technical solutions for government and industry. They provide research and development activities, including software development, licensing, engineering, design services, and test support for multiple aerospace technologies, air vehicle design and simulation, thermo-hydraulic systems supporting electric power generation, wind turbine analysis, and agrochemical applications.

Altaeros Energies

Grant in 2014
Altaeros Energies, Inc. is a company specializing in the development and supply of airborne wind turbines designed to generate renewable energy. Founded in 2010 and headquartered in Somerville, Massachusetts, Altaeros combines advanced aerospace and wind turbine technologies to harness high-altitude winds, which are a largely untapped source of renewable energy. Its buoyant airborne turbines serve a variety of sectors, including rural and island communities, agriculture, mining, oil and gas, and emergency response, among others. The company focuses on providing low-cost and abundant renewable energy solutions to meet diverse energy needs across challenging environments. Altaeros Energies has garnered support for its technology development from multiple funding sources, including government agencies and energy organizations.

SkySpecs

Grant in 2014
SkySpecs, Inc. is a technology company based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, with an additional office in Amsterdam, Netherlands, that specializes in automating operations and maintenance for the wind energy industry through unmanned aerial vehicles. Founded in 2012, the company provides a range of services including analytics, wind turbine blade services, and engineering projects. Its offerings also encompass collaborative software solutions for managing and analyzing data from various sources, as well as digitization and planning for repair campaigns. Notably, SkySpecs has developed Horizon, a reporting software that serves as a central repository for operations and maintenance data related to wind turbine blades, facilitating task management, communication with third parties, and execution of large-scale repair projects. By leveraging its industry expertise and innovative technologies, SkySpecs aims to enhance productivity and efficiency for its clients within the renewable energy sector.

Keystone Tower Systems

Grant in 2014
Keystone Tower Systems, Inc. is a manufacturer and installer of wind turbine steel towers, utilizing an innovative spiral welding process. Founded in 2010 and headquartered in Westminster, Colorado, the company conducts all rolling and welding operations in-house. This advanced manufacturing technique enables the production of larger towers that can support next-generation turbines, significantly lowering costs for both onshore and offshore installations. Additionally, Keystone's towers are designed to reach greater heights, allowing turbines to harness stronger winds for enhanced energy absorption.

Lite Enterprises

Grant in 2014
Lite Enterprises uses in applications include aquaculture, agriculture, cell phone and broadcast towers, wind turbines, and solar farms, protecting wildlife from toxic waste zones. They offer cameras with motion detection capabilities, and a wireless mesh network allows remote access and control.

Vecarius

Grant in 2013
Vecarius is an energy efficiency in mass markets with broad societal impact, particularly in markets involving energy-intensive mobile or portable applications. They offer power management systems, thermal management systems, power electronics, advanced heat exchangers, and waste heat recovery.

Sentient Science

Grant in 2013
Sentient Science Inc. is a technology company based in Buffalo, New York, specializing in materials science-based life prediction and extension solutions. Founded in 2001, the company offers its proprietary DigitalClone software, which utilizes physics-based modeling and machine learning to provide digital twin technology for mechanical systems. This software as a service (SaaS) enables clients in sectors such as wind energy, aerospace, automotive, and rail to optimize asset management and maintenance strategies, thereby reducing operational costs and enhancing profitability. Sentient Science's product offerings include DigitalClone for Engineering, DigitalClone for Wind Operations and Maintenance, DigitalClone for Rail Maintenance, and DigitalClone for Additive Manufacturing, each designed to improve the durability and efficiency of high-value assets. The company has received significant recognition for its innovations, including multiple patents and awards for its groundbreaking work in prognostic solutions, and it has secured substantial funding from various U.S. Government agencies.

RE Vision

Grant in 2013
RE Vision develops hydrokinetic energy resources. They provide solutions and expertise in ocean wave energy, tidal energy, ocean current energy, and offshore wind energy.

Keystone Tower Systems

Grant in 2012
Keystone Tower Systems, Inc. is a manufacturer and installer of wind turbine steel towers, utilizing an innovative spiral welding process. Founded in 2010 and headquartered in Westminster, Colorado, the company conducts all rolling and welding operations in-house. This advanced manufacturing technique enables the production of larger towers that can support next-generation turbines, significantly lowering costs for both onshore and offshore installations. Additionally, Keystone's towers are designed to reach greater heights, allowing turbines to harness stronger winds for enhanced energy absorption.

Altaeros Energies

Grant in 2012
Altaeros Energies, Inc. is a company specializing in the development and supply of airborne wind turbines designed to generate renewable energy. Founded in 2010 and headquartered in Somerville, Massachusetts, Altaeros combines advanced aerospace and wind turbine technologies to harness high-altitude winds, which are a largely untapped source of renewable energy. Its buoyant airborne turbines serve a variety of sectors, including rural and island communities, agriculture, mining, oil and gas, and emergency response, among others. The company focuses on providing low-cost and abundant renewable energy solutions to meet diverse energy needs across challenging environments. Altaeros Energies has garnered support for its technology development from multiple funding sources, including government agencies and energy organizations.

Lite Enterprises

Grant in 2012
Lite Enterprises uses in applications include aquaculture, agriculture, cell phone and broadcast towers, wind turbines, and solar farms, protecting wildlife from toxic waste zones. They offer cameras with motion detection capabilities, and a wireless mesh network allows remote access and control.

Sentient Science

Grant in 2011
Sentient Science Inc. is a technology company based in Buffalo, New York, specializing in materials science-based life prediction and extension solutions. Founded in 2001, the company offers its proprietary DigitalClone software, which utilizes physics-based modeling and machine learning to provide digital twin technology for mechanical systems. This software as a service (SaaS) enables clients in sectors such as wind energy, aerospace, automotive, and rail to optimize asset management and maintenance strategies, thereby reducing operational costs and enhancing profitability. Sentient Science's product offerings include DigitalClone for Engineering, DigitalClone for Wind Operations and Maintenance, DigitalClone for Rail Maintenance, and DigitalClone for Additive Manufacturing, each designed to improve the durability and efficiency of high-value assets. The company has received significant recognition for its innovations, including multiple patents and awards for its groundbreaking work in prognostic solutions, and it has secured substantial funding from various U.S. Government agencies.
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