Entrepreneurs Can Access Innovative Alternative Energy Technologies from National Renewable Energy Laboratory for Green and Alternative Energy Sources

According to the Department of Energy, Vice President Biden made a visit to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden, Colorado. The facility is set up to further research and development of clean alternate sources of energy including solar power from photovoltaic solar panels and thermal solar power plants, wind power from wind turbine power systems, geothermal energy production, and other green alternative sources of energy to power the nation.

During the visit, Vice President Biden announced the signing by a Colorado-based start-up company, of the first option agreement under the Department of Energy’s new “America’s Next Top Energy Innovator” challenge.

US e-Chromic LLC, from Boulder plans to use electrochromic technology which was developed by the Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). The company will use the technology to create a new thin film window material that reflects sunlight on demand. This process will make the windows more energy efficient and reduce cooling costs for consumers.

“Now, more than ever, America’s future competitiveness depends on our ability to innovate and our capacity to live up to our rich history of technological advancement,” said Vice President Biden. “This kind of public-private partnership fosters extraordinary innovation, allows brilliant ideas to develop, and gives businesses the tools they need to bring technology to the market.”

“This is a great example of what can happen when we unleash the American innovation machine and allow entrepreneurs to turn a great idea into a business opportunity. By making it easier, faster and cheaper for start-ups to license groundbreaking technologies we can move innovative ideas to the marketplace – creating jobs and growing our economy,” said U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu.

According to the DOE, “America’s Next Top Energy Innovator” challenge is a part of the Administration’s Startup America Initiative to celebrate, inspire, and accelerate high-growth entrepreneurship throughout the nation. Part of President Obama’s plan is to use these initiatives to help the United States out-innovate, out-educate, and out-build the competition around the world.

The program gives entrepreneurs easy access to the 15,000 patents and patent applications held by the 17 National Laboratories for a $1,000 upfront fee. So far, more than 400 companies and entrepreneurs have inquired about the available technologies.

Anyone interested in obtaining technology for these green innovative alternative energy solutions can find more information on the Department of Energy’s Energy Innovation Portal website.