At their inaugural showcase on October 5 in Roseville, the Growth Factory put on a jam-packed day of speeches, workshops, pitches and booth exhibits.  The theme was seizing the opportunity to support local innovators as a way to build a robust technology-based economy in our region.

We were a partner with the Growth Factory in putting on this event, and we had many opportunities to highlight what the companies in our clean tech cluster were doing.  We had a total of nine companies being showcased:  Three companies at our booth (Thermeshade, CR Flight, and XeroHome) and three others had their own (LiCAP Technologies, JAPA, and SOAR Optics), and three more cluster companies did 3-minute pitches (EVLife,  AscentOS, and Onsight Technology).  In addition, we ran a workshop on opportunities to grow businesses that contribute to the carbon neutral goal.  

One of the most interesting sessions was an interview with John Bissell, Co-CEO of Origin Materials, reflecting on what they had accomplished and what worked for them.  John noted that in their culture, there is little patience with explanations that are quick sound bites.  These can be very misleading for teams and for investors.  Instead, Origin goes to lengths especially with investors, to present the subtleties of why they make the decisions they do so that there are fewer surprises.  Since Origin boasts a number of long-standing investors and partners, that is a good indication their approach is sound.  The temptation to oversimplify and give brief answers is strong, but as John noted it could lead to trouble.  Good advice. 

Throughout the event were sessions on alternative ways to find funding, views from the VC community, and support resources throughout the region.  There were probably 500 attendees.  The region hasn’t had this kind of robust startup showcase for years.  The Growth Factory will likely repeat it next year, given this year’s success.  We will be out there encouraging many more of you to take advantage of this opportunity to get exposure and do important networking.  It is a good first step to getting a serious meeting with many investors.  

Kudos to Monique Brown and the team at Growth Factory for such a good event. 

We love creative ways to install solar.  Ever hear of Floatavotaics?  It is one solution to lowering the cost of mounting solar panels, now by far the largest cost in making an installation.  Floating PV systems use solar arrays that float on bodies of water, such as reservoirs, lakes, and even the sea in some cases. This technology has been increasingly adopted around the world as an innovative and efficient way to generate solar power, particularly in regions where land is scarce or expensive. There are other benefits with floating solar such as water conservations and improved panel efficiency. 

In the US, towns facing land and energy shortages are putting floatovoltaics on their reservoirs, like in Healdsburg, California..  There is also the opportunity to pair floatovoltaics with hydro power, using the same electrical infrastructure. Floatovoltaics has taken off in Asia with China’s Dezhou Dingzhuang Solar Farm reaching 320 MW of capacity Just under 3 years ago (2021) the Biden Administration opened up federal land for Floating PV.   

Some Benefits Highlighted.

Efficient land use: Floating PV installations can be particularly useful in densely populated areas or regions with limited available land. They can be installed on man-made reservoirs, lakes, or even on the sea, freeing up land for agricultural use, conservation, or other developments.

Water conservation: By covering the surface of the water bodies, floating solar panels reduce water evaporation, which can be particularly beneficial in dry regions. They can also limit the growth of harmful algae by blocking sunlight.

Improved energy efficiency: The cooling effect of water helps to keep the solar panels at a lower temperature, which can improve their efficiency as photovoltaic panels typically lose efficiency as temperature increases. Moreover, the surrounding water can be naturally cooler than the ambient air temperature in many places, enhancing this effect.

Apparently, Floatovolatics initially looks like a great solution but face their own set of significant challenges. A big one is higher-than-expected installation and maintenance costs relative to land-based systems. Costs are driven by challenges around anchoring and ensuring the stability of the system, especially in the case of sea-based installations. There could also be potential impacts on local ecosystems from operating or from damaged panels.

This is one of many creative ideas to lower costs for solar farms.  We are trying to watch a number of them–vertical installation of panels, the use of a specially-built solar awning, and installations right on the ground.  Creative minds at work. 

Networking Session Was Fun

On September 28 we held another informal networking session at Lucid Winery (1015 R Street).  Folks had a number of lively discussions around the room…and enjoyed the drinks and pizza.  Topics included:  Welcoming some recent transplants to the area, the addition of a new staff member at Venture Catalyst, a clever new liquid cooling system for hard-working data centers, the possibility of a nuclear renaissance, a new flame-retardant wrap for EV battery packs.

Seeing our colleague and former CleanStart Executive Director, Ingrid Rosten, was especially good.  She has been swamped being CEO of a number of innovative companies along with running nonprofits she started.  We wonder when she sleeps.

Working from home and driving to build that new business is reducing the social contacts we used to have.  Our networking sessions give folks a chance to recharge and get restimulated.  That’s why we call them PowerUp!  We all need a jolt every once in a while.

Don’t miss our next one.  We will be back at Lucid Winery on October XX.  Sign up now before you forget.  It will be good to see you.

It has been nearly 50 years since California began in earnest to eliminate waste in the use of energy in the home with the adoption of energy-efficient building codes and appliance efficiency standards.  In those five decades, those codes and standards have been updated and extended many times. You would think that there would be little more that would be squeezed out of this sector.  This is illustrated by looking at the differences in energy consumption per person in the residential sector in some similar states.  

Annual Residential Energy Use Per Capita – 2018

(EIA Data)

There is a big BUT though. The average home in California is nearly 45 years old and the price of energy is higher in California. Increased energy efficiency has helped, but most homes were built well after the state’s efficiency standards and higher energy prices discourage consumption.

Our MeetUp on August 24 demonstrated the surprising reality that more and more ways are being discovered that can reduce home energy use and shrink energy bills, as well as ways to displace carbon emissions from the home.  In part this comes from advances in end-use technology (LED lights replacing incandescent bulbs for example) but also from helping customers look at their energy use and discovering ways they can save more. 

Diana Eastman talked about her innovation, Thermeshade.  It is a shade screen that cuts out over 50% of the heat gain or loss through a window, even if it already is an efficient window.  The screen material is lightweight and almost transparent.  This is so much better than tinting the windows or putting on the heavy plastic shade screens that you can barely see through.  It is an easy retrofit and can be removed and used again if residents move.  Windows is about R1-R2.  They are not good at blocking heat gains (summer) or losses (winter).  Thermeshades are such an easy retrofit. 

Mudit Saxena of XeroHome showed off his AI-based software that can tell a resident where they are losing the most money and creating the most carbon emissions—without ever going to the home.  The app uses building permits, utility bills, property sales data, and Google Earth to make a good estimate of what must be going on in the home.  This is so much easier than the old way of having an on-site energy audit done one by one.  The City and SMUD have paid XeroHome to make their tool available to residents here.  The tool in a matter of hours analyzed all 185,000 residential units in the City and made that information available on a confidential basis to the residents.  The tool looks at both energy cost savings as well as reductions in carbon emissions, showing how dual-use heat pumps and induction stoves can be much better investments than most would think, especially with all the incentives available.  XeroHome takes all those into account in coming up with a return on investment.

Jerry Pepper, an Energy Specialist with SMUD, briefed the crowd on all the incentives and programs SMUD has to encourage more savings in the residential sector.  SMUD sees gaining more efficiencies and emissions reduction in the residential sector as vital to achieving its zero carbon goals.  He also laid out the utility’s plan to address upgrading entire neighborhoods at a time.  Priority neighborhoods are those that are disadvantaged.  Pepper listed these opportunities available in the neighborhood program:

• Renter – Apartment: eligible for an advanced power strip, fan, and LED light bulbs 

• Renter – House: eligible for a programmable thermostat, advanced power strip, LED light bulbs, insulation, and minor efficiency upgrades*

• Homeowner: eligible for some heating and cooling repairs or replacements, energy efficiency upgrades (or switching from gas to electric appliances), and electrical vehicle chargers

And for the disadvantaged areas, SMUD would also provide:

1.  Rate Assistance

Reduce bills via rate discounts:

• Energy Assistance Program Rate (EAPR)
• EAPR for non-profits (residential and commercial
• Medical Equipment Discount Rate (MED Rate)

1. Dwelling Assistance

Reduce energy burden, by improving energy efficiency and creating a safer, healthier home

• Virtual and in-person energy assessments and education
• Weatherization, energy efficiency, building & transportation electrification, and solar
• Energy saver bundles for renters

1. Bill Assistance

Reduce bills by applying funds: 

• EnergyHELP
• HEAP
• Community-based organizations
• Churches & Tribe commitments

1. Outreach & Education

Educate and inform:

• Networking and community meetings
• Workshops & trainings for communities
• Video, phone, email, and in-person energy education
• Outreach and communication about programs

By no means did we cover in this MeetUp all the things that could yield more savings in the home?  It is a topic we will continue to cover.