Last week, I introduced the Global Cleantech Cluster Association (GCCA) and mentioned we would be posting weekly spotlights of the individual cluster members.
This week, I would like to kick things off with a feature on The CleanTech Center located in Syracuse, New York. 
The CleanTech Center develops renewable and clean energy technology companies throughout the state within the following cleantech sectors:
- renewable energy
- alternative fuels
- system integration and smart grid technologies
- transportation
- buildings and construction technologies
Collaborators within each sector include industry and academic leaders, venture and angel investors, financial institutions, utilities, service providers, government agencies, and industry associations offering a number of financial and technical services.
The Center's goals include developing “investment ready” companies and providing them with the necessary connections to various funding opportunities; hands-on support for entrepreneurs and early-stage companies to develop and implement strategic roadmaps for growth; and to serve as a clearinghouse of information for the entire clean technology industry within New York State.
Among their services are a Business Plan Assistance service, in which the Center helps to refine the business concept and plan, does market research, strategy development, and offers specialized business assistance... A Technology Plan Assistance that provides a technical assessment, prototype development and testing, and licensing... And other services including Funding Plan Assistance, Partnership Opportunities, and Networking/Education/Events — such as tech expos and technical seminars.
The companies admitted to The CleanTech Center’s portfolio are seen as vital to growing the “green innovation economy” and providing the ability to create a sustainable renewable energy future.
A number of cleantech businesses have come out of the incubation process to become successful clean technology companies.
GoVo Biofuels LLC, for example, has developed the first scalable liquid biomass project in New York State to solve the challenge of affordably powering 100-year old industrial buildings with locally-sourced fuels using advanced boiler technologies also developed by the company.
GoVo focuses on providing vegetable oil-based fuels as alternatives to heating oil and diesel fuel. The fuel products are less expensive and significantly greener than other biofuels because the fuel is straight vegetable oil.
A large-scale test project has validated boiler equipment upgrades and modifications, with results that include both efficiency and cost savings. The highest use of #2 heating oil is in the Northeastern United States, and GoVo Biofuels is working on a scalable plan to address the challenge of reducing consumption of petroleum, particularly for the heating market.
The energy potential (BTU’s and MPG) is nearly identical between the two fuels. In conjunction with the production of biofuel, GoVo is focusing on how boiler equipment modifications can accommodate VOF fuels and increase efficiency gains.
Another success story is MicroGen, a University of Vermont spin-out, located at the Cornell Business and Technology Park.
MicroGen is developing the world's most efficient, most cost-effective, long-lifetime power source solution for the wireless sensor network industry's customers.
Its MicroElectroMechanical Systems (MEMS)-based piezoelectric vibrational energy harvester technology for wireless sensor network (WSN) applications will extend rechargeable battery lifetimes — and can eliminate them altogether.
MicroGen's target market is powering sensors, including: defense applications (e.g. chemical and biological weapon detection); smart infrastructure (e.g. monitoring bridges, dams and water systems); smart energy (e.g. monitoring lighting levels in commercial buildings); smart industry (e.g. monitoring electrical equipment); and smart transportation (e.g. monitoring tire-pressure and vibration).
While these examples, alongside the other companies in The Center's portfolio, are helping to grow the green innovation economy, New York State is at the forefront of this new economy.
This region is emerging as the "green apple", anchored by market leaders like GE Global Research, GM's Fuel Cell Research Center, Carrier Corporation, and others who are producing leading-edge research in advanced battery, energy storage, and fuel cell technologies.
According to the Battelle Technology Institute, there are more than 400 green tech firms in this region, employing more than 10,000.
Furthermore, the CleanTech Center is arguably one of the best-funded programs available in the United States to assist clean energy businesses. It's funded by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) and supported by The Tech Garden, a state of the art incubation facility for companies in the clean sector, where The Center's offices are located.
For more news about clean technologies in New York, make sure to check out The CleanTech Center's blog.
Until Next Time,
Angela Guss
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