The New York Power Authority and Phinergy, an Israeli developer and manufacturer of clean energy solutions, are being awarded a $1.5 million U.S. grant from the Israel-United States Binational Industrial Research and Development (BIRD) Foundation to demonstrate a clean alternative to emergency generators based on aluminum air technology.
“The joint project is the latest collaboration for NYPA with an innovative Israeli firm exploring a creative energy solution that could benefit New York State and lead to a cleaner environment for New Yorkers,” NYPA said.
The demonstration is one of five Israel-U.S. clean energy projects recently selected to receive $7.5 million under the BIRD Energy program focusing on innovations in hydrogen, green ammonia, energy storage and recycling of PVC waste.
BIRD Energy was launched in 2009 under the U.S. Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 to foster collaborative research and development projects between the U.S. and Israel.
The program focuses on advancing sustainable energy technologies to promote economic competitiveness, create jobs and strengthen energy security.
Projects that qualify for BIRD Energy funding must include one U.S. and one Israeli company or a company from one of the countries paired with a university or research institution from the other.
The partners must present a project involving energy innovation that is of mutual interest to both countries.
“BIRD Energy selects the most technologically meritorious projects and those most likely to commercialize and bring about significant impact. Qualified projects must contribute at least 50% to project costs and commit to repayment of the grant if the project leads to commercial success and sales or licensing of a product based on the technology,” a news release noted.
“The New York Power Authority is thankful to BIRD Energy for recognizing the promise this unique storage technology project may hold for the resiliency of power grids in New York and throughout the world, said Power Authority President and CEO Justin Driscoll. “We hope to demonstrate how this aluminum-air technology architecture may serve as a model for storing, transporting and generating clean and affordable energy.”
The project will be Phinergy’s first reference site in the U.S. to showcase its core technology and will support its ongoing development.
The site will also support NYPA’s strategic vision through the customer solutions initiative by lowering energy costs and reducing carbon emissions within the State of New York.
A demonstration site has not yet been selected but is anticipated to be a university, commercial or industrial setting in New York.
NYPA and Phinergy will work on a joint research and development project for the demonstration of a hybridized uninterrupted power supply combining high power, low-capacity battery storage and high-capacity, long standby aluminum-air energy.
Turning aluminum-air technology into a relevant product for the U.S market including integration of multiple Phinergy’s aluminum-air systems with broader power systems UPS, battery banks, high-level controller, etc. will help address the energy backup need of the U.S. markets, NYPA said.
Phinergy will provide the technical expertise in developing, manufacturing and preparing a product for integration at the demonstration site. NYPA will provide technical input, contract third party engineering and construction services to engineer, install and demonstrate the aluminum-air technology at the demonstration site.
NYPA is collaborating with several Israeli firms pursuing alternative energy products that could benefit New York State. mPrest assisted in the development of a first-of-its-kind monitoring system to identify potential issues at NYPA's statewide network of power facilities and transmission assets before they occur.
Brenmiller Energy is collaborating with NYPA to investigate the use of thermal energy storage with combined heat and power systems to increase system energy efficiency at a State University of New York campus. SIGA OT provides sensors and analytics to improve confidence and enhance the reliability, safety and cybersecurity of the grid.
NYPA is also working with the winners of Governor Kathy Hochul’s New York-Israel Smart Energy Innovation Challenge. Zooz Power developed a power boosting technology that enables ultra-fast electric vehicle charging in grid-constrained locations.
Prisma Photonics is working with NYPA on a real-time transmission line issue detection system that will help improve grid safety, security, and reliability.
