Washington State Unveils Latest Clean Energy Grants

OLYMPIA, Wash. — Innovative projects ranging from a device that makes green hydrogen fuel from captured rainwater to an initiative that makes new products from recycled wind turbine blade materials are the last recipients to share in $8.5 million in grants from the Washington State Department of Commerce.

All of the projects that receive state Clean Energy Fund grants advance new or emerging technologies that support Washington state’s goals of reducing carbon emissions, achieving a 100% clean electricity grid, and ensuring an equitable distribution of the health and economic benefits of the clean energy economy.

“This latest round of Clean Energy Fund projects includes diverse and creative collaborations among clean technology companies, research institutions, nonprofits, tribal governments and other partners,” Gov. Jay Inslee said in a written statement.

“They are keeping Washington state at the forefront of important new technologies needed to achieve state and global climate goals, and ensure a resilient economy,” he said.

This year, a total of 48 applicants applied for grants for their research, development and demonstration projects. The successful applicants were:

BattGenie — which received $300,000 to repurpose and deploy retired electric bus batteries for second-life applications that will improve electric grid resiliency. The project will deploy a battery energy storage system on a site specified by Two Rivers CDC, a Native American-owned community development corporation, for backup power supply and storage.

City of Yakima — which is getting $1 million to conduct a feasibility study on the research and development of new anaerobic digestion capacity for processing food waste.

Composite Recycling Technology Center — is getting $647,250 to develop technologies to take recycled wind turbine blade materials and combine them with current recycling of composite materials from aircraft manufacturing. 

Darrington Wood Innovation Center — which received $1.5 million for demonstration of an advanced boiler system that uses wet, low-grade wood biomass. It will be the first of its kind globally to address moisture conditions present in Washington state, and will demonstrate forest management practices to maximize low-value biomass for cross-laminated timber manufacturing and bioenergy feedstock.

Group14 — $426,858 for demonstration of a silicon polymer solid state battery. New battery technologies are critical to the electrification of key sectors. The proposed next generation silicon polymer solid state battery will increase energy density, while retaining the longevity and stability seen in traditional lithium-ion batteries.

McKinstry Essention — which received $755,000 for demonstration of a novel EcoDistrict configuration and associated control strategies to generate 160-degree heating water supply using commercially available air-water and water-water heat pumps on the Seattle Central College campus, with future expansion potential to serve neighboring buildings. 

Modern Electron — which is getting $769,360 for demonstration of a pyrolysis technology to convert methane in biogas to hydrogen and a solid carbon. 

OCOchem Inc. — is getting $1.5 million to develop green portable energy generators and produce electrofuels for use at the Port of Tacoma. 

Spokane Indian Housing Authority — netted $884,245 for research and development of a novel application of an emergency response alert system and controls for an electricity microgrid serving the tribe’s critical facilities. 

XFlow Energy Company — is getting $772,000 for development and demonstration of efficient manufacturing to minimize the levelized cost of electricity from XFlow’s 25 kW vertical axis wind turbine. 

“Washington’s culture of innovation and our commitment to equity are represented in these clean energy technology projects,” said Commerce Director Lisa Brown, in a statement. 

“This work has the potential to accelerate progress toward emissions reductions targets, foster new business growth and job opportunities, and help contribute to a healthy environment for all residents, no matter where we live, work and play,” Brown added.

In order to support Washington’s climate policies and equity goals, criteria for awarding these grants incorporated guidelines and recommendations from the 2021 State Energy Strategy and the Energy Climate Policy Advisory Committee.

All of the competitive grant awards are conditional upon execution of final project agreements and performance-based contracts with Commerce. 

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