US-Israel program awards grants for seven binational clean energy projects
The United States and Israel have joined together to award funding for seven clean energy projects as part of the Binational Industrial Research and Development (BIRD) Energy program.
The program is conducted through a partnership between the U.S. Department of Energy, Israel’s Ministry of Energy (MoE) along with the Israel Innovation Authority. The total value of the awards is $15.4 million, which includes $9 million of cost share from the companies selected for funding.
A U.S. and an Israeli partner conduct each of the projects selected. The projects address energy challenges and opportunities that are of interest to both countries, focusing on commercializing clean energy technologies.
“The BIRD Energy program continues to deliver results in energy, enhancing the energy security of both the United States and Israel,” U.S. Secretary of Energy Dan Brouillette said. “To date, this innovative program has commercialized seven new clean energy technologies and attracted more than $450 million in follow-on investment, creating jobs in both countries. I’m excited by the prospect of awardees announced today to contribute to the continued success of the program.”
The seven awards went to Chakratec (Lod, Israel) and Blink Charging (Miami Beach, Fla.) to develop and demonstrate boosting EV charging through energy storage system; EcoPlant Technological Innovation (Kibbutz Gevim, Israel) and Atlas Machine and Supply (Louisville, Ky.) to optimize energy efficiency and improve the quality of compressed air systems for the food & beverage industry; Elbit Systems (Haifa, Israel)) and Ballard Unmanned Systems (Southborough, Mass.) to develop a hydrogen powered vertical take-off and landing drone for long endurance and zero emission; Eta-Bar (Petach-Tikva, Israel) and Adesto Technologies (Santa Clara, Calif.) to develop an efficient power supply for grid connected electronic devices; Exency (Sderot, Israel) and Brayton Energy (Hampton, N.H.), to develop a low cost and high efficiency solid biomass and solid waste fueled electricity generation system; Netafim Irrigation (Tel Aviv, Israel) and Polaris Energy Services (San Luis Obispo, Calif.) to develop an integrated irrigation & energy management system; and Ramot at Tel-Aviv University (Tel Aviv, Israel) and Gas Technologies (Walloon Lake, Mich.) to produce a methane dry reforming catalyst.
“The BIRD Foundation is a successful collaboration framework in R&D and innovation between the Israel Ministry of Energy and the U.S. Department of Energy. This collaboration enables both countries to promote joint development of technologies in diversified areas, bringing them to commercialization in a short time,” Yuval Steinitz, Israel’s Minister of Energy, said.
BIRD Energy, founded in 2009, has funded 49 projects with a total government investment of approximately $38 million, in addition to the $49 million in matching funds.
“Funding received from the BIRD Energy program enables partnerships between the U.S. and Israel to develop jointly innovative alternative energy technologies and energy efficiency solutions, contributing to the economies and the sustainability goals of both countries. The BIRD Foundation is proud to cultivate and support U.S.-Israel energy partnerships between entrepreneurs, established companies, and research institutions of both countries,” Eitan Yudilevich, executive director of the BIRD Foundation, said.
