Energy Generation and Storage

Element 1

Project Title: Methods for the Thin-Foil Membrane Separation of Hydrogen

Principal Investigator: Brian Paul, Oregon State University

Company Contact: Greg Haugen, CFO, Element One

Project Description: Element 1, located in Bend, Oregon, and Dr. Brian Paul of Oregon State University and the Microroducts Breakthrough Institute (now the Advanced Technology and Manufacturing Institute) worked to develop a novel means for producing ultra-pure hydrogen gas for use in several industrial applications. The project was aimed at developing a fabrication method for applying an ultra-thin palladium-alloy foil to a supporting substrate (microscreen).

Company Update: Since completing the ONAMI Gap project, Element 1 (e1) has become a leader in scalable, reliable, and affordable hydrogen generation. e1 has developed innovative products that provide flexibility allowing for easy integration into customers solutions. The company collaborates with strategic partners to aggregate technology and expertise resulting in state-of-the-art chemical process systems to support alternative and clean energy. Novel technology is licensed to e1 partners, enabling application of technologies across a wide range of products, markets, and applications.

Company updates:

• December 2021: Element 1 Corp and Aramco begin carbon capture and hydrogen project
• January 2019: Element 1 Corp signs Technology License Agreement with Adamant Innovation Hydrogen Energy
• May 2018: Element 1 Corp signs Strategic Agreement with Anderson Industries
• January 2018: Element 1 Corp signs Technology License Agreement with Global Manufacturer for the Production of Hydrogen Generators and Fuel Cell Systems
• October 2017: Element 1 Corp signs Development Agreement with Chinese Partner
• July 2017: Element 1 Corp signs Equipment Supply Agreement with Synergy

The company now occupies over 14,000 sq. feet of manufacturing, development and office space in Bend, Oregon.

Company Website: e1na.com

Energy Storage Systems

Project Title: Improved Redox Flow Battery Power Density

Principal Investigator: Tony Chen, Portland State University

Company Contact: Craig Evans, CEO, Energy Storage Systems, Inc.

Project Description: Energy Storage Systems, Inc. (ESS), identified they could "crack the code" for clean, resilient, low-cost storage. ESS understood that long-duration batteries utilizing a non-toxic, non-hazardous, and completely recyclable iron-based electrolyte can provides over 20,000 cycles of power with little or no maintenance. This ONAMI ‘GAP Grant’ was instrumental for ESS to finalize components’ selection and scale up this innovative cell design to a 1kW demonstration unit in order to validate the target performance and reliability at the system level. This validation was a critical milestone to enable ESS to secure investor financing so commercialization of the 50kW system (300 kWh+ range) may proceed.

Company Updates:

• October 2021: ESS Inc. co-founder Craig Evans rang the opening bell on Monday, October 11, at the New York Stock Exchange, kicking off public trading for the Wilsonville grid-scale battery maker under the ticker symbol GWH.
• September 2021: ACON S2 Acquisition Corp. Announces Registration Statement Effectiveness and Extraordinary General Meeting Date to Approve Proposed Business Combination with ESS, Inc. Read more here.
• May 2021: ESS Inc., a Long-Duration Energy Storage Solutions Company, announced plans to become a Publicly Listed Company through Merger with ACON S2 Acquisition Corp. Read more here.
• December 2017: ESS announced that it has received $13 million in a new Series B funding. The round includes new investors led by global chemical industry leader BASF, as well as Cycle Capital Management, Presidio Partners Investment Management and InfraPartners Management. They were joined by ESS’s original investors, including Pangaea Ventures.  
• August 2012: ESS was awarded a $1.75M ARPA-E Grant to fund flow battery development. (Link: ARPA-E Announces $43M Transformational Energy Storage Projects Advance Electric Vehicle and Grid Technologies.)

The company has since relocated from the Portland State Business Accelerator to new headquarters with over 50,000 sq. feet of developent, manufacturing and office space in Wilsonville, Oregon. See also. ESS News and Events.

Company Website: essinc.com

NWUAV

Project Title: Development of fuel injection device for heavy fuels

Principal Investigator: Todd Miller, Oregon State University

Company Contact: Joe Gibbs, Business Development Manager, NW UAV, Incorporated

Project Description: NWUAV and OSU's Microproducts Breakthrough Institute (now the Advanced Technology and Manufacturing Institute) are working to develop a novel fuel injector capable of atomizing heavy fuels (JP-5) for use in spark ignition engines. Using microchannel structures designed and developed at the MBI, the team will work to enable use of these fuels for unmanned aircraft engines (produced by NWUAV) and with the engines designed and manufactured by NWUAV. The NWUAV/OSU team has developed critical operating specifications for their fuel injection device, allowing it to function at temperatures and altitudes consistent with typical use cases in the field. The team believes the fuel injection device to be developed will also function well for use of heavy fuels for other applications including motor vehicles and tools, a true breakthrough in the use of heavy fuels in spark ignition engines.

Company Update: NWUAV has become the largest UAV propulsion system manufacturer in the U.S., and continues to prove its reputation for reliable, cost effective and innovative UAV engines and support systems since 2005. With meticulous engineering, testing, and manufacturing, the company maintains its recognition as America's leader in unmanned aircraft propulsion systems. NWUAV is growing at a rapid rate and is now AS9100 | ISO9001 certified. The company's headquarters remain in McMinnville, Oregon.

Onboard Dynamics

Project Title:  Self-Refueling Compressed Natural Gas Vehicle

Principal Investigator: Dr. Chris Hagen, Oregon State University

Company Contact: Rita Hansen, Onboard Dynamics

Project Description: With funding from ONAMI, the US Department of Energy (ARPA-E), Oregon BEST and other supporters, Onboard Dynamics, Inc. and Dr. Chris Hagen of Oregon State University are working to develop a novel on-vehicle, engine-compressor system capable of filling a 10 gallon gasoline equivalent (GGE) gge (at 250 bar) natural gas tank to 3600psi in under 60 minutes. This solution will advance the adoption of natural gas light-duty fleet vehicles in the U.S. by providing a low-cost solution for refueling. Moreover, increased use of natural gas vehicles will displace the use of imported oil and, as a cleaner burning fuel, also reduce transportation-related energy emissions.

Company Updates:

• October 2021: Onboard Dynamics announced signing of an Investment Agreement with BP Energy Partners. Read more here and here.
• April 2019: Since completing the ONAMI Gap project, the company has received extensive funding from the U.S. Department of Energy arpaE program, and completed develoment of its GoFlo CNG80 Mobile Natural Gas Compressor product. Several GNG80 units have been delivered, including to partners at SoCal Gas and NW Natural. Read more Onboard Dynamics news here.

Company Website: onboarddynamics.com

OnTo Technology

Project Title: Development of Processes for Rechargeable Battery Recycling

Principal Investigator: Todd Miller, Oregon State University

Company Contact: Dr. Steve Sloop, OnTo Technologies

Project Description: OnTo Technology, working with the Microproducts Breakthrough Institute at Oregon State University, is working to develop a means to recycle material from commonly used Lithium Cobalt Oxide rechargeable batteries. To our knowledge this is the first aeffort to produce battery grade material from end-of-life cells. This Gap funding project seeks to produce lithium-ion batteries manufactured with OnTo’s refurbished positive electrode material. Funds from this collaboration were used to extract materials from spent LCO batteries, fabricate new batteries, and perform functional and safety testing. See also OnTos' News webpage.

Company Website: onto-technology.com

Pacific Light Technologies

Project Title: Quantum Dot Based Materials for High Brightness LEDs

Principal Investigator: Zhiqiang (Tony) Chen, Portland State University

Company Contact: Ron Nelson, Chief Executive Officer, Pacific Light Technologies

Project Description: Pacific Light Technologies (PLT) is a materials company focused on delivering engineered nanomaterials targeting the LED lighting market in order to enable more efficient lighting. PLT is using facilities, equipment and expertise from Portland State University to develop high-performance, low-cost lighting solutions by replacing the traditional inefficient phosphors of today with their engineered materials. PLT will develop and produce the nanomaterials, formulate them into a matrix, and sell them to the LED module manufacturers for use in their luminaires.

Company Update: 

• 2018: it was reported that Pacific Light Technologies had been acquired by Osram for an undisclosed price. Read more here.
• 2012: PLT closed a $3M Series-A financing round led by the Oregon Angel Fund and Portland-based venture capital firm Pivotal Investments. 

Pellucere Technologies (formerly CSD Nano)

Project Title: Development of High Performance Anti-Reflective Coatings

Principal Investigator: Kenneth Williams, Oregon State University

Company Contact: Dr. Chih-hung Chang, CSD Nano, Inc.

Project Description: CSD Nano, Inc. is a solution deposition company focused on addressing anti-reflective coating (ARC) needs within the rapidly growing solar cell cover glass industry. Funds from this collaboration will be used to assist CSD, with support from Oregon State University researchers, with delivery of several coated substrates to a market leader in solar cell manufacturing, with whom CSD has developed a strategic relationship after demonstrating greatly improved anti-reflective properties in test samples.

Company Updates: 

• 2018: CSD Nano received a significant investment from Energy Innovation Capital, a leading venture fund focused on innovations in the energy field. The company was renamed Pellucere Technologies and in 2019 it began rolling out MoreSun® as well as its other related products.
• 2014: CSD Nano perfected and patented a unique, low-temperature curing AR Coating that it called MoreSun®. After extensive field trials, development of a unique and patented field deposition system, and further refinement of the formulations, the company began commercial-scale trials in 2017.
• August 2012: CSD Nano received a Phase II STTR award of $500K to optimize and demonstrate the scale-up of nanostructured anti-reflective coatings (ARCs) to meet the specifications of solar energy customers.

Company Website: pellucere.com, more-sun.com

Perpetua Power Source Technologies

Project Title: Materials and Process Development for Power Electronics Packaging

Principal Investigator: David C. Johnson, Oregon State University

Company Contact: Jerry Wiant, VP Operations, Perpetua Power Source Technologies

Project Description: A collaborative project combining world-class thermoelectric technology resources from the University of Oregon, Oregon State University, and Perpetua Power Source Technologies. The team will blend research and development efforts to produce increased thermoelectric energy properties that can improve commercial opportunities for powering remote wireless sensors in the agriculture and environmental monitoring markets using renewable energy solutions. Perpetua has received many awards and presents company news here: Perpetua News.

Company Website: perpetuapower.com

Photon Marine

Propelling our world through clearer waters

At Photon, we’re building the world’s most powerful and intelligent electric outboard motor system, tailored to commercial boat fleets.

Some of the company's latest news:

• September 19, 2022: Portland's Photon Marine aims to electrify commercial boat fleets, Portland Business Journal. Portland entrepreneur Marcelino Alvarez grew up on the water in South Florida, making his latest venture Photon Marine a homecoming of sorts. Photon Marine is building high-powered electric outboard motors for commercial boats. Think: the boats used for fishing, for transportation, for tourism. The goal is to electrify this portion of the maritime sector and help protect fragile ocean ecosystems.
• August 18, 2022: Photon Marine offers high-powered electric motors for commercial boats, Seatrade Cruise News. Photon Marine, a new company whose principals include cruise industry veteran Tara Russell, is developing high-powered electric outboard motors for a wide range of commercial fleets. 

To learn more about Photon Marine, contact the company here - https://www.photonmarine.com/about

Polaris Battery Labs

Project Title: Laboratory Commissioning for Battery Testing Services

Company Contact: Doug Morris, Polaris Battery Labs

Principal Investigator: Erin Flynn, Portland State University

Project Description: Polaris Battery Labs, working with Portland State University and the Oregon Institute of Technology, is working to expedite the advance of new battery technologies and establish processing services for companies looking to bring advanced battery cells to market. The intent of this project is to perform initial trials on the core electrode, cell assembly, and testing processes. This will demonstrate that the lab has the basic equipment on board, installed, and proven to be functional with documented capabilities for Polaris' customers.

Company update: Polaris Battery Labs now provides services in the development of next generation Lithium-ion battery technologies to Startups, OEMs. and research laboratories. The company provides consultation in all areas of cell design, technological development, and business development. Polaris recognizes three main phases on the path to bringing a next-generation technology to market: Early Cell design, Pre-production cell design, and Product development

Company website: polarisbatterylabs.com

Spiritopia

Project Title: Microfiber Xylose Isomerization for Ethanol Production

Principal Investigator: Vince Remcho, Oregon State University

Company Contact: Mr. Chris Beatty, Trillium FiberFuels, Inc.

Project Description: Trillium FiberFuels and Oregon State University are developing a microfiber isomerization reactor and system which enables xylose fermentation to ethanol. Trillium's unique approach to generating ethanol seeks to use agricultural residues, such as wheat or grass straw, as the source for this valuable fuel, avoiding use of the edible portion of these plants which have other commercial uses. The reactor and system seek to increase cellulosic ethanol yield by 30-40% over existing methods, thereby dramatically reducing cellulosic ethanol production costs. Trillium Fiberfuels has also been awarded a Phase I SBIR Grant from the U.S. Department of Energy for their work in this area.