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Production of 96% pure fresh water from seawater for economical irrigation |
In arid and drought-affected areas, this company seeks to emulate the benefit of large dams, but without the dams—producing, on a large scale, fresh irrigation water from seawater. The company claims its new technology extracts the 96% fresh water that exists within seawater with approximately half the energy and operating cost of existing desalination plants, courtesy of a self-cleaning membrane for improved economics. |
OPALA Water |
November, 2012 |
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Reinventing rail transport for improved ROI |
Freight, mining and public transport railway networks have high construction costs, create environmental damage, and operate in increasingly congested environments. This company has developed innovative railway technology to address these issues. Bulk commodity haulage is a massive market globally and the company believes it is positioned to become a market leader and is currently commercializing the technology in a steel producer's supply chain. |
Sustainable Transportation Solutions |
November, 2012 |
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Generating value from restaurant waste with deployable small scale appliance |
In the fast food restaurant business, waste management constitutes an important environmental concern and there are currently no sustainable alternatives. Fast food waste is spoiled with grease, food and other liquids while also containing plastics, which makes recycling impossible due to high costs. This company has developed a small size pyrolysis waste conversion system to help restaurants convert their waste on site and eliminate the need for waste collection. |
Pyrowave |
December, 2012 |
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Low cost wind turbine with disruptive new economics |
Three-blade upwind turbines are too expensive relative to output to compete without subsidies. But subsidies are under attack by governments around the world, and may disappear. If so, the wind industry could dramatically contract. This company, with U.S. DOE funding, developed and tested two prototype 2-blade, downwind turbines that weighed half as much as comparable output 3-blade turbines and are expected to cost 30-40% less to manufacture and install, eliminating the need for subsidies. |
The Wind Turbine Company |
October, 2012 |
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Micro hydro for canals that installs quickly for baseload power |
Water currents flowing through canal systems across the world have megawatts of renewable hydrokinetic energy that can provide sustainable power for local communities, irrigation pumps, and water purification. But it has been untapped until now. This company has developed an affordable hydrokinetic turbine that can be easily and quickly deployed into canals, waterfalls and rivers, to make renewable power for use or sale, and that can be replicated in millions of sites. |
Hydrovolts |
October, 2012 |
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Attractive BIPV system that reduces residential solar costs |
This company's residential Building Integrated Photovoltaic (BIPV) system looks better and costs less to make and install than the typical 'solar panel' systems bolted onto roofs, according to the company. Its patented SolTiles plug together easily and are installed on sloped roofs by roofers, not solar technicians. The company claims the economics are compelling for a typical 5kW system integrated in a 2,000 square foot roof, and anticipates alliances with roofing companies. |
Redwood Renewables |
September, 2012 |
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MIT technology to harness high altitude winds |
This company is adapting proven aerospace technology to generate power from strong high altitude winds. High altitude winds are the largest concentrated renewable energy resource on Earth, and this company aims to bring the first high altitude wind turbine to market to can harness this immense resource, providing up to 65% lower cost of energy for off-grid sites dependent on expensive diesel generators today. |
Altaeros Energies |
November, 2012 |
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Mined metals recovery improvement using less energy |
Gold is near all-time market highs. This company says its microwave technology drives better gold recovery from some ores while using less energy, creating strong benefits for mining companies. Management has received initial funding through private sources and has built an operating prototype. The company believes revenue recognition opportunities exist for both equipment sales and participation in increased production, creating a strong value proposition. |
Spheric Technologies |
September, 2012 |
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Hog farm manure dewatering and odour reduction with fertilizer revenue |
Large scale hog production is an international environmental problem. And hog farm size today is defined by the amount of adjacent land available for manure disposal. A new system breaks that linkage by recycling water from manure. Over 50% of liquids are recycled, odours reduced, bio security is improved and a new source of revenue is produced from a dry organic based fertilizer. Opportunity is also created for vertical integration of feed mill and slaughtering on-site, lowering costs and improving margins. |
ATD Waste Systems |
September, 2012 |
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Waste biomass to high value food and environmental remediation products |
This company has developed a process to extract high value materials from a variety of remnant waste biomass types. It creates inulin, a dietary additive, as well as biochar and activated carbon for environmental remediation from wastes such as wheat straw, corn stover, sugar cane bagasse and certain hardwoods. The company is already financially supported in part by Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC), which conducted significant diligence before investing. |
NovaGreen |
September, 2012 |