US clean energy innovation gets $17m boost

Small businesses in the US will be given $17 million (£10.3m) in total to help develop their innovative clean energy technologies. The projects include technologies such as wind turbine blades […]

Small businesses in the US will be given $17 million (£10.3m) in total to help develop their innovative clean energy technologies.

The projects include technologies such as wind turbine blades that are easier to transport and use less energy, a hybrid electric turbocharger to help charge electric cars faster and a solar system that reduces installation costs and generates power in less time.

The funding was awarded by the US Energy Department’s (DOE) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) as part of the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) programme.

According to the DOE, small businesses employ half of America’s workers and create two out of every three new jobs in the US.

David Danielson, Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy said: “By supporting small businesses and driving American leadership in clean energy innovation, we can create new job and business opportunities, strengthen US competitiveness in a growing global market and provide cleaner, affordable energy to communities across the country.”

The prototypes are expected to be completed within two years of the awards being given.

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