Innovation at Eilat-Eilot
The Eilat-Eilot Renewable Energy Initiative is dedicated to encouraging innovation in all aspects of renewable energy technology. There have been various strong technological innovations developed among companies associated with our validation center and deployed pilot sites as part of the Eilat-Eilot Renewable Energy Projects.
Our latest efforts have included working meetings on integrating deployed renewable energy producers and Smart-Grid technology from scratch to devise a way to incorporate more renewable energy sources into the electric grid than is currently possible with conventional technologies.
Learn more about our efforts to create a Smart-Grid interface here in the Eilat region.
Innovative Israeli Companies at the 2010 Conference
Listed here are some of the innovative Israeli companies that participated in the 2010 Eilat-Eilot International Renewable Energy Conference.
Companies marked with *** are already tested and demonstrated in the Eilat-Eilot Validation and Commercialization Center that was launched during the 2010 conference.
Solar Energy
AORA ***
http://www.aora-solar.com/
AORA’s solar tower is a majestic creation that has been erected in the Arava desert in southern Israel. Based on technology developed at the Weizmann Institute of Science, combined with the inspiring design of Haim Dotan Ltd. Architects, the 30m high tower stands adjoining a field of mirrors on 0.5acre (2,000sq.m.) of land at Kibbutz Samar, outside Eilat. This unit forms a single power module, capable of generating 100kW electric power in addition to 170kW of thermal power.
CEO: Dov Raviv
Contact: dov.raviv@mst-ren.com
MST is a leading Solar Energy Company that develops highly efficient Solar Energy Systems to generate electricity. The Company addresses the needs of the Global Clean Energy Market by introducing advanced technology to convert solar energy into electricity at an affordable price.
Our Mission is “To revolutionize energy by providing large scale cost competitive solar power plants”.
MST has successfully developed a comprehensive solar energy system that tracks the sun with high precision and generates electricity efficiently using CPV (Concentrated Photovoltaics), the technology recognized as “the cutting-edge” in the Solar Energy Industry. MST has a beta site where its system is being monitored and tested.
The Multi-Junction Solar Cells MST uses are highly efficient (37%) and are also used by and suited to the high demands of the Space Industry. The overall MST Solar Power Plant efficiency is today 25% and as current projections indicate that Multi-Junction Cell efficiency will increase to 45% within 5 years, the MST Solar Power Plant efficiency will accordingly achieve approximately 30%.
B-Solar Ltd. ***
CEO: Dr. Yossi Kofman
Contact: yossi@b-solar.co.il
B-Solar is planning to become a market leader in the solar industry through the production of bifacial PV cells that produce 15-20% more electricity per $1 than the best of breed counterparts.
Advanced Solar Power Ltd.
CEO: Rafi Ridnik
Contact: rafiridnik@gmail.com
Our goal is to become a leading player in the CSP market. We developed proprietary technology for reliable, efficient and competitive medium to large scale solar power generation plants. Together with a patner offer a unique power generation system (patent pending) avoiding wet cooling, providing flexible sizing and renewable back-up. Innovative (patent pending) receiver which has the potential to revolutionize the CSP market.
Verilite Ltd. ***
CEO: Eyal Richter
Contact: mr_richt@netvision.net.il
Verilite’s innovative approach yielded a patent pending technology of flat mirror collectors and a passively cooled central linear cell array that delivers an unmatched combination of durability, simplicity and low cost.
Unlike other solar energy vendors, Verilite can scale up its production to very large capacities on demand and without intensive capital investments.
Solaris Synergy ***
www.solaris-synergy.com
CEO: Yossi Fisher
Contact: yossi@solaris-synergy.com
Solaris Synergy is a developer of advanced cost-effective photovoltaic technology for medium and large-scale solar power generation. Our brand new proprietary technology, which integrates a number of innovative mechanical, optical and thermal solutions, is based on medium-concentration solar units with photovoltaic elements cooled by evaporation.
The solar units do not obstruct incident sunlight even when they are positioned next to each other, and can be easily combined together to build an industrial-scale solar field with maximum area used
for sunlight collection.
By utilizing our exclusive evaporation cooling system, we are able to decrease dramatically the temperature of photovoltaic elements, thereby improving their performance in terms of power output,
life span and stability of operation.
3GSolar
http://3gsolar.com/
3GSolar is a leading developer of solar energy using DSC (dye solar cell) photovoltaic technology with first applications for off-grid rural areas. DSC is a cost-effective alternative to silicon and thin film-based systems, providing an environmentally-friendly solution that produces electricity efficiently even in low light conditions.
SolarEdge Technologies ***
CEO: Guy Sella
SolarEdge provides groundbreaking distributed Power harvesting and monitoring systems for Photovoltaics. Our solution maximizes power generation of residential and large-scale PV sites, while reducing costs and complexities.
Module manufacturers, integrators and installers benefit from constraint-free site design, full site space utilization, reduced installation time and maintenance cost, module-level monitoring, improved safety, theft prevention and more. SolarEdge systems can be easily integrated into modules during the manufacturing process, or installed on site.
HelioFocus Ltd.
www.heliofocus.com
CEO: Dr. Ory Zik
Contact: ozik@heliofocus.com
HelioFocus is a leader in high-efficiency modular solar thermal systems. The company focuses on the repowering market where it develops turn-key equipment to boost existing power plants, mainly coal
fired and combined cycle plants. This market, estimated as $3B in the US southwest, allows the company to establish its breakthrough technology without reliance on project finance.
HelioFocus HS-100 product, is based on a large, low cost, parabolic dish concentrator that focuses light onto a receiver that heats air to the temperature and pressure specification of microturbines.
The waste heat of the turbine is used to produce high quality steam that is fed into the steam cycle of existing power plants.
Our solution is uniquely suited to meet the real estate limitations of existing power plants while delivering both electricity and steam, reliably and at a competitive cost.
Pythagoras Solar ***
http://www.pythagoras-solar.com/
Pythagoras Solar brings together a unique combination of optics, materials science and advanced simulation techniques to add a new dimension to solar. Pythagoras empowers the photovoltaic (PV)
industry to fully realize the opportunities of a post grid parity mass market with scalable, adaptable and cost effective solutions, optimized for a broad range of solar applications. Founded
in December 2006, Pythagoras Solar has offices in California, Israel and China.
SolarOr
http://www.solaror.com/
Contact: solaror@solaror.com
SolarOr’s idea is inventing new concept of low concentration and employing prismatic design that can be aninnovative solution for cost reduction, economical pricing, wider installation areas,
aesthetic architectural design and realizing isolation still remaining translucency. New innovative design will be presented promising a revolution in BIPV field because of its high efficiency,
aesthetic architectural appearance and built-in isolation features.
BrightView
http://www.brightview-sys.com/
BrightView Systems was founded in 2007 to develop and bring to market process and production optimization technologies for the thin-film photovoltaic industry to enable solar-cell manufacturers
to maximize panel efficiency and reliability as well as attain high-volume productivity. Implementing BrightView’s innovative process control solutions will lower $/w production costs and accelerate the
solar industry’s roadmap towards grid parity.
Our breakthrough metrological solutions, which have successfully been beta-tested, are specifically designed for the photovoltaic market by an experienced, highly-motivated and creative team. To be one
of the first to learn more.
Energy Storage
Enstorage
http://www.enstorageinc.com/
Large-Scale Energy-Storage Systems – Technologies and Applications in Israel. Emanuel Peled, School of Chemistry, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel and Arnon Blum, Enstorage, Israel. The major
demand for large-scale energy storage is in renewable energy and grid-load leveling Renewable power sources such as wind and solar power are unpredictable, and tend to increase the voltage variation
in an electric grid. This is especially true for wind power, because of the very large and frequent variations which reduce the quality of the power.
As a result, there is a limit to the amount of power that can be supplied from wind farms to the grid. Energy-storage capacity would alleviate this restriction, and increase the Capacity Value by ensuring steady wind energy output under almost any conditions. Another important application for the technology of electrical-energy storage is power-grid load leveling. Load-leveling systems allow utility companies to build their production infrastructure to meet average, rather than peak demand. This is done by storing energy produced at off-peak hours for use during peak hours.
There are several technologies for energy storage. These can be divided into three subgroups: mechanical (pumped hydro, compressed air), electrical (supercapacitors, superconducting magnets), electrochemical (batteries, flow batteries, hydrogen storage). The advantages and disadvantages of each technology (cost, energy-conversion efficiency, potential location, capacity and power) and its application in the implementation of renewable-energy generators (solar and wind) in Israel will be discussed.
ETV Motors
www.etvmotors.com
Two-thirds of the world’s petrol supply goes to transportation. Its use is one of the major causes of urban and other pollution. The introduction of new technologies that effectively address these matters is a political, economic and social imperative.
ETV Motors is developing a powertrain technology for Extended Range Electric Vehicles (EREVs), based on two key elements: a novel gas micro-turbine generator; and a novel advanced-chemistry battery.
EP3 in its basic form is designed to power a vehicle of 2 to 4 tons (gross vehicle weight) and to deliver a 50 to 80km pure-electric range. The generator serves as an on-board charger, providing electrical power to recharge the battery and direct power to the driving motor. The battery provides power-boosting and the power for pure electric-drive.
Gas microturbines have substantial inherent advantages but they have downsides as well, one of which is slowness of response. But in the series-hybrid power-trains of EREVs, the micro-turbine’s functioning is de-coupled from the electrical driving motor. This series topology enables the power-train to exploit the useful characteristics of microturbines while overcoming their shortcomings. It is engineered to operate at its “sweet spot”, ensuring optimal efficiency with constant power. The design incorporates an external combustor and recuperator, for maximum fuel flexibility and ultra-low emissions.
Wind Energy
Leviathan Energy
http://www.leviathanenergyinc.com/index.php
Leviathan Energy was formed in 2006 in order to supply innovative, state-of-the-art technologies that will change the fundamentals of the renewable energy market on a global scale. By utilizing the physics of fluid dynamics Leviathan has created wind-, hydro-, and wave-powered products that fundamentally change the economics of investing in alternative energy technologies in these respective markets.
Leviathan’s patented products are simple to install, revolutionary, and cost-effective beyond any comparable means. Leviathan’s team of experts, each in their respective field, is as valuable as the products are in
contributing to the company’s growth and providing its clients with the best possible solutions to fit their needs. Most of Leviathan’s management speak a number of different languages and possess proven management skills critical to succeeding in a global market. The company’s team combines the best of American management and Israeli innovation and is committed to supplying our planet with efficient, innovative, and clean energy.
IQwind
http://www.iqwind.com/
IQwind is an innovator in the wind energy industry focused on leveraging its unique variable gear technology (IQGear) to significantly reduce the cost of energy (COE) generated by existing and newly-built wind turbines. IQgearbox technology is the key component that enables a breakthrough wind turbine generator design: a variable speed turbine built around a fully-mechanical variable speed drivetrain.
Variable Wind Solutions
Variable Wind Solutions helps the wind industry provide clean, reliable power by offering innovative solutions that enhance the performance and reliability of wind turbines while reducing their cost and complexity. The company’s patent-pending VRS voltage regulation solution turns AC generators into true variable speed machines similar to Permanent Magnet Generators (PMGs) but at lower cost, weight, and size, and without inverters. When used in small wind turbines, this eliminates the need for PMGs and inverters that are more expensive and reduce system efficiency. In large wind turbines, the technology can eliminate or greatly simplify the gearbox and other maintenance-intensive and expensive components. The technology improves wind turbine output and efficiency in low, high, and variable-speed winds, and helps expand the range of locations where wind power can generate electricity.
Winflex
order to manufacture wind turbines and license Winflex technology for mass production.
The Winflex wind turbine technology is characterized by:
The technology has been developed by Dr. Vladimir Kliatzkin, a leading scientist with more than 40 years of experience in energy production and accumulation systems for aviation, internal combustion engines and hybrid systems.
Smart Grid
Computerized Electricity Systems (CES)
CEO: Eli Doron
Contact: elidoron@c-e-systems.com
Provider of Smart Energy Management electricity panel as part of the Smart Grid. The system enables users to control locally and remotely electricity usage, get safety electricity features and allow seamless integration of renewable energy source and the electricity grid. Utilities are able to form a demand response management (DRM) and phase balancing of electricity load .
PowerCom
www.powercom.co.il
PowerCom – An Israeli company offering Smart Grid Solutions based on Smart Metering Technology. The solution includes Advanced Meter management (AMM), Automatic Meter Reading (AMR) and Advanced
Meter Infrastructure (AMI) systems based on its Dynamic PLC (Power Line Communication) technology. Over the last two years, PowerCom has been successful in implementing an advanced, reliable and secured DynamicPLC communication system which enabled the company to present a full system solution using smart meters, Concentrators and web based software.
The breakthrough was achieved by developing a dynamic PLC modem which allows data transmission at the low voltage grid lines. The technology allows real time readings from any smart meters at a distance of up to 2Km of electricity wires , at any world location in 2-4 seconds. The system speed has been tested in different enlivenments and times, and the results are excellent.
Greenlet
http://greenlet.net/index
Greenlet Technologies’ mission is to provide a truly scalable energy control for utilities, energy service companies and customers through the use of enhanced software, hardware and communications
technologies.
Greenlet develops a highly-integrated system for the Smart Grid market, using Internet, IT and power electronics. Greenlet’s core technology allows fast deployment of peak shaving and Demand Response
programs for customers using small loads without the need for professional installation, reducing time to market and maximizing cost cutting for utilities and customers. Our suite is comprised of a central software application which tracks power consumption, implements load balancing algorithms, sends commands for power reduction, and calculates the payback customers are eligible to get for power curtailment.
Leveraging a patent pending AD&R core technology, the solution allows fast deployment of “Greenlet” units that control electrical loads in an economical fashion, and most importantly require no
professional installation.
GridON
Contact: info@gridonsystems.com
GridON™ is offering a smart-grid device that suppresses prospective fault currents on transmission and distribution grids, allowing for continual uninterrupted operation. The Fault Current Limiter (FCL) allows for load and generation growth from both conventional and alternative energy sources on existing networks, while protecting the network from power disruptions and outages. In addition, our FCL’s unique impedance tuning function offers current regulation and reactive power balancing during normal operation. The system offers control, protection, increased grid reliability and efficiency. It extends equipment life and reduces capital expenditure in the range of tens of millions of dollars per substation.
Short circuit current levels are constantly rising as transmission and distribution networks expand to address increasing energy demand and connectivity of power generation and intermittent alternative energy sources. These may result in power disruptions, equipment damage and major outages which have been estimated to cost billions of dollars per year. In order to reduce fault current impact, utility operators have to resort to network segmentation and installation of expensive and lossy protection gear such as series reactors, capacitors, high-rated breakers and high-impedance transformers. These solutions come at the cost of overall reduction of energy efficiency and network stability.
Biofuel from Algae
Algaenesis
http://www.algaenesis.com/
The Algaenesis team has developed a series of technological innovations, representing a paradigm-shift in the commercial microalgae field, now enabling the production of microalgae at a dramatically lower price than anyone else in the world.
Seambiotic Ltd.
http://www.seambiotic.com/
Seambiotic is the first company in the world that is utilizing flue gas from coal burning power stations for algae cultivation. Seambiotic was founded in 2003 with an objective to grow and process marine microalgae using a revolutionizing ecologically based environmental system. Our technology and unique know-how can be profitably exploited in two major areas: Biofuel and Food Additives. Seambiotic’s efforts in cultivating microalgae utilizing flue gas emissions from power plants is a great step towards the reduction of air pollution and global warming
TransAlgae Ltd.
www.transalgae.com
Meeting the world’s needs for Energy & Feed. TransAlgae’s vision is to solve the world’s culminating resource crises in both the energy and food sectors, using efficient, clean and safe algae-based
alternatives.
Through its unique technological approach, TransAlgae will be there to provide a cost-effective alternative solution to decouple quality of life from dependence on foreign oil imports and carbon
dioxide emissions, while also supplying a long-term solution to the world’s needs for sustainable animal feed.
Energy Efficiency
Metrolight
www.metrolight.com
With more than 10 years of experience, operations in more than 15 countries across the globe, and six patents in 25 countries, Metrolight is a leader in electronic ballast solutions for HID lighting systems. Over 80% of the largest lighting fixture OEMs in the U.S. and Europe look to Metrolight for state-of-the-art engineering that saves them money. We also promote and distribute our products through a large network of distributors, ESCOs, lightning maintenance companies, project partners, and lighting agents.
The Metrolight solution goes far beyond standalone ballast. An integrated communication interface central computer runs sophisticated, yet easy-to-use control software that enables monitoring the lamp and ballast status, defining schedules for dimming and switching groups of lamps ON and OFF.
This category of products includes Hardware and software, sensors and interface boxes, enables connecting the Metrolight Smart Electronic Ballast into a controlled network and to a central computer.
Phoebus
www.phoebus-energy.com
Phoebus Energy develops and markets an innovative hybrid water heating system which saves 40-70% of annual fuel consumption and reduces carbon emissions by 80-90%. The adaptive software provides
a visual and accurate calculation of actual cost savings at the site, while consumers enjoy hot water no matter what the weather, time of day, or number of users. Flexible business models are available to drive a quick return on investment.
PowerSines
http://www.powersines.com
PowerSines is a global provider of solutions for energy efficiency and electrical savings in outdoor lighting, indoor lighting and electric motor applications. Our energy efficient solutions use patented RightVoltage technology to supply the right voltage to lighting systems and electric AC motors, resulting in electrical savings of up to 35% and reduced CO2 emissions of 50%.
E.H.S TECH Ltd.
www.ehs-tech.com
Contact: Merav Haimov
Contact: office@ehs-tech.com
E.H.S TECH Ltd is the makers of the Vorlon energy saving device, which is already installed at hundreds of sites in Israel in all types of industry, such as food, hotels,construction and many others. Vorlon is based a development process lasting more than 10 years. It provides an energy saving solution for cooling and air conditioning systems of various sizes, particularly for piston, spiral and screw compressors and all types of coolers. Thousands of customers around the world have already installed the system and save electricity costs every year. The innovative Vorlon system operates on the principle of changing the fluid flow profile in the cooling unit, and effective passive heat exchange.
Urban Planning
Neo-Urbanist
http://www.neourbanist.com
Contact: Tamar Goldman
goldman.tamar@gmail.com
Neo-Urbanist, an eco-city design and development company, intends to preserve all that is great and magnetic about existing cities. The guiding principles they work under include:
- Vertical Building – By building vertically and elevating soil, 60%-70% of urban land will be made available for recreation, agriculture, and renewable energy development dramatically increasing open land per capita.
- Vertical and Horizontal Electric Transport System – Powered by renewable energy sources, a transportation system matrix in and between green high rise structures will reduce CO2 emissions by 70%.
- Mixed Use Spaces (access by proximity) – Access to all areas of the city allows inhabitants to reach industry, retail, recreation and residence quickly– dramatically reducing the need for private transport.
- Energy Efficient Building – All city structures and buildings in the city will be built with in accordance with high standards of energy efficiency such as LEED and BREEAM.
The major contribution of our projects is the elimination of gasoline driven vehicles. This will reduce cities’ carbon footprint by 70%, reduce fatalities from car accidents, and reduce time spent in transit.
The first project, planed to be developed in Israel, will serve as a model Eco-city from which technologies, principles and characteristics can be replicated and implemented world wide in new and existing cities.
