Winners of Circular Economy Pitch: Innovating Waste Management

Winners of Circular Economy Pitch: Innovating Waste Management

This week we heard from new innovators at the local Circular Economy Pitch Competition.  Western Placer Waste Management Authority (WPWMA) is spending $120 million to upgrade their Placer County facility and they want it to spur innovation in the region. So, WPWMA collaborated with the Carlsen Center at Sac State to hold the Circular Economy Innovation competition. In its second year, the competition is an opportunity for regional innovators to pitch their ideas to WPWMA and win $20,000, a pretty serious prize.  

It is a tough competition because WPWMA is looking for innovations that could be tested and improve their new facility. Most companies are used to pitching for financing to investors, who most likely are not potential customers. WPWMA could be both, financiers and customers. So the pitch is two-fold. Show you have a genuine business opportunity that is also a fit for them as a potential customer.  The evaluation criteria are closely reflected in innovations WPWMA sees as important to their waste recovery efforts.

Companies’ innovations were evaluated on their ability to allow WPWMA to:

  • Maximize recovery of materials, avoiding increases in landfill disposals
  • Reducing costs (transportation, energy usage, etc.)
  • Enhancing revenues
  • Creating consistency (decreasing volatility of international markets)1

Eight Companies pitched Wednesday, and some addressed global issues, like FabricFeed’s ERP and platform for managing textile waste. Others focused on issues close to home, like PalmBin’s composting (currently running a Kickstarter campaign) and Clean & Go’s waste removal for the unhoused. There were even some pitches close to clean tech from Sustainable Energy Inc. (who was part of the second cohort of the CEO Crash Course) and GreenGo, a recent Sacramento State graduate who has designed a carbon capture add-on for exhaust.

The $20,000 was won by Fiber Global, which has a solution that closely fits the criteria. It is a funded company that has demonstrated traction by having a production facility in Indiana taking cardboard and creating fiber boards. But it was close. WPWMA also announced a surprise award of $5,000 for a similar but earlier-stage company Eco Builder, which are looking to convert plastic waste into building materials. Both innovations focused on recovering materials and enhancing revenues, two important parts of WPWMA’s metrics.

The Circular Economy Innovation Competition is likely to return in 2025. It is a great experience for companies looking to get their solution in front of WPWMA and learn what a potential future customer and stakeholder views as important. If you have an idea, follow the Carlsen Center and WPWMA for future opportunities.

1 https://www.csus.edu/center/carlsen/build-with-carlsen-center/circular-economy.html#:~:text=Maximize%20recovery%20of,of%20international%20markets)

Thomas Hall

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Thomas is the Executive Director of CleanStart. Thomas has a strong background in supporting small businesses, leadership, financial management and is proficient in working with nonprofits. He has a BS in Finance and a BA in Economics from California State University, Chico. Thomas has a passion for sustainability and a commitment to supporting non-profits in the region.

Sponsors

SMUD
ChicoSTART
RiverCity Bank

California Mobility Center, Revrnt, HumanBulb, Witanlaw, Eco-Alpha, Momentum

Solar Breakthroughs: Record Growth and Innovations Unveiled

Solar Breakthroughs: Record Growth and Innovations Unveiled

Solar innovation, manufacturing, and adoption are growing faster than ever. Over 30 gigawatts of PV were added in 2023, setting a record in residential and utility segments. The recent CleanStart Meetup featured this whirlwind of innovation, focusing on the latest advancements in solar technology. The event featured key speakers Kevin Logue, Commercial EPC Sales Manager at Capital Valley Electric, and Diana DiGangi, a reporter at Utility Dive, who shared insights into the dynamic world of solar energy solutions.

Cutting-Edge Solar Technologies

The discussions covered a wide array of topics, from inverters, racking systems, and Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) to novel concepts like Floating Photovoltaics (PV) and Agrovoltaics. Kevin Logue emphasized the evolution of racking systems designed to lower costs and improve efficiency. Innovations such as Floating PV and vertical solar installations are gaining traction, offering versatile applications without compromising valuable land resources.

One of the standout ideas was the concept of Solar Canvases, designed to drape over canals, simultaneously generating energy and reducing water evaporation. Additionally, the advent of Integrated Solar Glass and advancements in solar module efficiency were highlighted, pointing towards a future where solar energy is seamlessly integrated into everyday structures.

Local and Global Impacts

Logue shared intriguing local projects, including solar trees and charging stations, exemplifying the practical application of these innovations. Logue is most optimistic about Solar Paint envisioning a future where virtually any surface could become a solar energy generator.

Diana DiGangi shed light on industry changes and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s (NREL) breakthroughs in solar efficiency and recycling. The industry is moving to improved solar cells, from passivated emitter rear contact (PERC) cells to tunnel oxide passivated contact (TOPCon) cells, making a significant leap forward. With the looming influx of millions of old solar panels, NREL is also focusing on recycling techniques that can also reduce the reliance on mining new material. 

We asked DiGangi about perovskite cells, which have been increasing in efficiency, and she relayed a relayed a quote from NREL Research Engineer Chris Deline “Fundamentally, though, the fact that [perovskite is] so easy to make may be part of why it’s so hard to get it to be stable.” You can read her article on innovation here. 

Another big influence was incentives from governments and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). The IRA is playing a pivotal role in spurring the growth of solar innovation and production. So if you are interested in solar you need to pay attention.

The CleanStart Meetup on Solar was a testament to the rapid advancements in solar technology. From the integration of solar power into diverse environments to the strategic improvements in efficiency and sustainability, the meetup illuminated the path forward in harnessing solar energy more effectively and innovatively.

Make sure you follow CleanStart and don’t miss the next meetup.

Get pictures from Kevin’s slides

Thomas Hall

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Thomas is the Executive Director of CleanStart. Thomas has a strong background in supporting small businesses, leadership, financial management and is proficient in working with nonprofits. He has a BS in Finance and a BA in Economics from California State University, Chico. Thomas has a passion for sustainability and a commitment to supporting non-profits in the region.

Sponsors

SMUD
ChicoSTART
RiverCity Bank

California Mobility Center, Revrnt, HumanBulb, Witanlaw, Eco-Alpha, Momentum

Unlocking Sustainable Energy through Material Innovations

Unlocking Sustainable Energy through Material Innovations

In case you missed it, Zack Spencer of NZT Group joined the CleanStart Perspective and delved into how material science is accelerating the energy transition. At NZT Group they are working on groundbreaking advancements in energy storage and materials science that are not just innovative but pivotal for the clean energy transition. They are continuing to work on cutting-edge flywheel technology and its potential to outperform traditional energy storage methods, offering a glimpse into a sustainable future with reduced maintenance, lower costs, and higher efficiency. We profiled the technology they worked on in the past at SPIN storage systems.

NZT has also been providing advancements in gas storage, particularly for natural gas and hydrogen, focusing on improving energy density by safely storing fuels at high pressure. He mentions the importance of materials in these technologies, with a focus on composites for their strength, durability, and efficiency, especially in high-pressure environments.

Materials play a crucial role in hydrogen storage. Spencer shared the effectiveness of storing hydrogen depends significantly on material properties, particularly due to hydrogen’s small molecule size and high permeability. Composites, especially those with carbon fiber, are preferred for their strength, lightweight, and ability to handle high pressures without significant degradation. They overcome the limitations of metals, which can suffer from issues like crack propagation under high pressure. Innovative materials solutions are therefore essential for developing efficient, safe, and cost-effective hydrogen storage systems, as they directly impact the energy density and integrity of storage units.

The conversation covers the broader implications of these technologies for clean energy transitions, including their potential to reduce CO2 emissions, improve energy efficiency, and provide cleaner fuel alternatives. NZT Group and Spencer are looking for ways to collaborate on the energy transition.

You can watch the full discussion here.

Thomas Hall

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Thomas is the Executive Director of CleanStart. Thomas has a strong background in supporting small businesses, leadership, financial management and is proficient in working with nonprofits. He has a BS in Finance and a BA in Economics from California State University, Chico. Thomas has a passion for sustainability and a commitment to supporting non-profits in the region.

Sponsors

SMUD
ChicoSTART
RiverCity Bank

California Mobility Center, Revrnt, HumanBulb, Witanlaw, Eco-Alpha, Momentum

Tzvi Weber Wins $1,000 in Startup Challenge

Tzvi Weber Wins $1,000 in Startup Challenge

Congratulations to one of our Clean Tech CEO Crash Course participants, Tzvi Weber.  He just won $1000 from the regional StartUp Challenge.  That Challenge brought together 11 innovative teams, split into two cohorts: Catalyst and Traction. The Traction Cohort showcased companies already with a work product, with Tzvi’s company Purpuratus, emerging as the first-place winner.  Purpuratus stood out for its pioneering approach in making kelp restoration profitable by repurposing invasive Urchin shells from California’s coast into clothing dyes and calcium citrate. Tzvi credits in part the Crash Course for helping make a compelling case for his innovation.

Christina Granados

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Christina Granados is the Partnership and Engagement Manager at CleanStart. She is dedicated to fostering partnerships and engaging with the community to advance CleanStart's mission. She brings a wealth of experience in building relationships and creating impactful collaborations that drive positive change in the cleantech industry.

Sponsors

SMUD
ChicoSTART
RiverCity Bank

California Mobility Center, Revrnt, HumanBulb, Witanlaw, Eco-Alpha, Momentum

Sponsors

SMUD
CMC
RiverCity Bank

Weintraub | Tobin, Revrnt, Moss Adams, PowerSoft.biz, Greenberg Traurig