US Navy Program 'Excelerates' Alternative Energy
David Smalley, Office of Naval Research
September 26, 2013
Arlington,
Virginia -- As the US Department of the Navy (DON) continues
to emphasize the need for energy security, the Office of Naval
Research (ONR) announced earlier this month that it will increase
its support for Energy Excelerator, a Hawaii-based program that
funds development of new and innovative energy ideas.
The program, part of ONR's Asia-Pacific Technology and
Education Program (APTEP), is an effort to discover
groundbreaking energy technologies, and supports startup
companies in bringing those technologies to the market.
The $30 million investment from ONR will not only help such
promising companies grow, but also draw in other partners to
help energy innovation flourish. The current 17 Energy
Excelerator portfolio companies have raised more than $38
million in follow-on funding over the past three years.
"In the modern era,
technological breakthroughs offer unprecedented
opportunities to move toward diversified energy sources,"
said Dr. Richard Carlin, director of ONR's Sea Warfare and
Weapons Department. "It's vital for our Sailors and Marines,
and the nation, to discover and develop new sustainable
sources of energy-as well as dramatically improve the way we
manage energy."
Hawaii is uniquely positioned for such research, experts
say, with unparalleled wind, solar, bioenergy, wave and
geothermal resources. Its population is also keenly aware of
the need for alternatives to fossil fuels because the state
is dependent on imported oil for its power and energy use,
and residents face the highest electricity costs in the
nation.
APTEP and the Energy Excelerator program offer unique
support for the nation's strategic pivot toward the
Asia-Pacific region, as well as the Department of the Navy's
Energy Goals, established by Secretary of the Navy Ray
Mabus, to decrease Navy and Marine Corps dependence on
fossil fuels.
The DoN's Energy Goals policy statement reads in part: "The
United States Navy and Marine Corps rely far too much on
petroleum, a dependency that degrades the strategic position
of our country and the tactical performance of our forces.
The global supply of oil is finite, it is becoming
increasingly difficult to find and exploit, and over time
cost continues to rise."
ONR's APTEP efforts are intended to help achieve the
secretary's goals not only through science and technology
breakthroughs, but also by encouraging technology
commercialization and industry partnerships, as well as
early education in science, technology, engineering and
math.
"Partnerships are vital if we're going to reach our energy
goals," said Carlin. "With this program that helps small
companies bring their products out of the lab and into the
market, we're supporting a forward-thinking organization
that can make a significant contribution to future energy
needs."
The Energy Excelerator program provides seed money to
companies looking to provide technological capability that
can better integrate power from renewable energy sources
like solar and wind; energy storage breakthroughs like
smaller and more efficient batteries; transportation
advances; and more. The program is
accepting applications online here until Sept. 27, 2013.
"The Energy Excelerator helps startups succeed, starting in
Hawaii — one of the best early markets for energy
innovation," said Dawn Lippert, the project's senior
manager. "We are excited to see ONR supporting companies
that have the potential to make a really big impact in
solving global energy problems."
ONR provides the science and technology necessary to
maintain the Navy and Marine Corps' technological advantage.
Through its affiliates, ONR is a leader in science and
technology with engagement in 50 states, 70 countries, 1,035
institutions of higher learning and 914 industry partners.
ONR employs approximately 1,400 people, comprising
uniformed, civilian and contract personnel, with additional
employees at the Naval Research Lab in Washington, D.C.
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