Is This Region Becoming a Battery & Energy Storage Hub?
At our battery storage meetup on February 26, five dozen people came to be inspired by all the world-class work being done here. We had four panelists, and by the end of the meeting, it was clear all four of their companies had the potential to make a big impact nationally and globally.
A lot of startups have that ambition, but these four were demonstrating the kind of success and drive that it takes to actually make that kind of impact. This region will not be recognized as a hub for clean tech until there are a handful of well-known companies based here. These four might be just that.
There were also some good lessons for all entrepreneurs highlighted in the discussion. But first, on to the big impacts.
Kora Power’s Nationwide Smart Home Energy System Launch
Greg Connolly of Kora Power noted that they are close to making a nationwide launch of their smart home energy system—not starting small, but immediately targeting 140 million customers who may not yet realize what they are missing.
His strategy centers on providing a system that can generate meaningful savings from utility payments for the services it provides, resulting in a short payback period. The challenge? Navigating more than 25,000 permitting and regulatory authorities, utilities, and local governments across the country.
He pointed out that many homeowners are installing systems that sit in garages, almost always fully charged, instead of earning money. Why? It is difficult to interconnect bidirectional EV chargers, smart electrical panels, solar panels, and home generators in a way that maximizes financial value.
To solve that, Kora Power has developed innovative programs and hardware to make everything work seamlessly. If successful, Connolly envisions thousands of systems mass-produced at the company’s plant in Rancho Cordova as early as next year. The real test will be conquering both electronics challenges and regulatory hurdles.
Startup lesson from Kora Power: Go big quickly with a superior product. Connolly followed this strategy in building his previous company, Trifecta, which ultimately led to a multi-hundred-million-dollar outcome.
Empower Energy’s Beachhead Strategy in the Australian Home Battery Market
Ezra Beeman of Empower Energy shares a similar long-term vision but is taking a more focused entry approach.
After more than a decade working in Australia’s electricity industry and years refining his home energy system design, Beeman secured investment to manufacture 1,100 units and has installed over 500 systems to date. Rather than launching nationwide immediately, he began in New South Wales, a market of 8.5 million people.
Beeman finds the Australian market significantly more welcoming and supportive than the U.S.—even compared to California. He remains hopeful that conditions will shift domestically and is prepared to move quickly when they do.
His 14 kWh ElektroBank + Empower IQ system sells for A$11,500 (US$7,705) and delivers a payback period roughly half that of a competitor’s A$5,000 40 kWh battery alone.
Startup lessons from Empower Energy:
- Do not underestimate the challenges of contract manufacturing. Despite negotiating pricing and quality controls, Beeman experienced service issues that created major headaches.
- Avoid outsourcing sales and marketing for complex, innovative products. Installers and dealers struggled to understand and effectively sell the system, forcing Empower to bring sales in-house. The result is now a streamlined, continuously optimized sales process.
LiCAP Technologies’ Breakthrough Dry Process for Battery Manufacturing
Richard Qiu, President of LiCAP Technologies, shifted the discussion to the core component of these systems: the batteries themselves.
LiCAP has developed a patented dry electrode manufacturing process designed to significantly improve the production of battery anodes and cathodes. Traditional battery manufacturing relies on wet slurry processes that require toxic solvents and energy-intensive drying ovens—often stretching the length of a football field.
LiCAP’s dry process eliminates the need for wet solvents and long drying cycles, making production simpler, safer, more energy-efficient, and less expensive to build and operate.
The company is applying this technology not only to conventional lithium-ion batteries but also to lithium iron phosphate (LFP), solid-state, and silicon-ion batteries—technologies widely considered the future of energy storage.
LiCAP is collaborating with major automotive companies and battery manufacturers on these advancements. Qiu was recently interviewed in Charge magazine about the company’s developments, and the LiCAP website now features videos of the production equipment in operation.
Elven Technologies Solves EV Battery Fire Risk with Fire-Resistant Materials
Vamekh Kherkheulidze, CTO of Elven Technologies, shared the company’s breakthrough in battery safety.
Elven has developed a patented flame- and heat-resistant “blanket” material capable of withstanding temperatures up to 3,600 degrees Fahrenheit. The material transfers minimal heat, is lightweight, and remains highly flexible—an uncommon combination. Most competitors offer materials that are either heat-resistant or flexible, but not both.
While many might assume the material is designed for use inside vehicles, its most promising application has emerged elsewhere: battery replacement and recycling.
When electric vehicle batteries degrade beyond acceptable thresholds, they are removed and often stored in piles at repair facilities. These used batteries—subjected to fast charging, rapid acceleration, and deep discharge cycles—can be physically compromised and increasingly prone to fire or explosion.
Battery replacement shops need safer storage solutions, and recyclers need secure transportation options. Elven’s answer is a steel containment vault lined with its protective blanket material, capable of safely holding hundreds of battery packs.
Startup lesson from Elven Technologies: Keep refining your product until you find a customer who urgently needs it. It may take months or years, but solving a desperate problem is far more effective than trying to persuade a reluctant market.
Building a Recognized Clean Tech Hub Through Energy Innovation
Events like this battery storage meetup demonstrate that our region is developing companies with national and global potential. Becoming a recognized clean tech hub requires not just ambition, but successful, high-impact companies—and these four are strong contenders.
Join us for our next MeetUp on June 18, where we will explore how smart today’s electric grid has become—and how much smarter it could be as a platform for delivering multiple energy services.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Gary Simon chairs the CleanStart Board, bringing with him a wealth of experience from over 45 years in business, government, and non-profit sectors. Gary applies his deep understanding and experience to support the growth of clean energy initiatives and startups. His work is instrumental in guiding the organization towards achieving its goals of promoting sustainable energy solutions.
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