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    • Powerelectronics 6990 15953144593 3e251cc522 O
    1. Technologies
    2. Power
    3. Alternative Energy

    NASA Selects Top 25 Semifinalists in Energy Competition

    May 21, 2018
    NASA Selects Top 25 Semifinalists in Energy Competition

    NASA iTech is an initiative by NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD) to find innovative ideas that address important problems here on Earth and also hold potential to overcome critical technology hurdles in future space exploration.

    NASA has teamed up with the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Advanced Research Projects Agency‑Energy (ARPA-E) to identify transformational technologies to improve how energy is generated, distributed and stored. These game-changing ideas may come from small or large businesses, academia, and other government organizations that may not have previously had a forum to present their solutions to NASA.

    “Making it into the top 25 as a semifinalist for a NASA iTech cycle is no easy feat for the entrepreneurs. The quality and creativity of the proposals we receive to address some of space exploration’s toughest technical objectives are always very impressive, and it’s tough to make the cut,” said Kira Blackwell, NASA iTech program executive for STMD. “This cycle is unique, as it addresses groundbreaking approaches within energy-specific focus areas that could solve important problems here on Earth and in the space community.”

    In March, the iTech Challenge issued a call for ideas within energy focus areas such as Fuel Cells and Regenerative Fuel Cells; High-energy-density Batteries and Supercapacitors; Solar Power Systems; Small Fission Power Systems; and Innovative Power Management and Distribution, including Smart Grids and Wireless Power Transfer.

    A panel of subject-matter experts from NASA and ARPA-E will now review the top 25 Cycle II-Energy semifinalist entries based on their relevance, likelihood of success, and potential positive impact on space exploration and life on Earth.

    The top 10 finalists for Cycle II-Energy will be announced on May 25. These finalists will be invited to present their ideas to NASA and DOE leadership, space industry leaders, and potential investors at the NASA iTech Cycle II-Energy Forum to be held in New York City in June.

    The top 25 2018 NASA iTech Cycle II-Energy semifinalists are below in alphabetical order:

    1. AGPower92  - Poway, California
    Improve Space and Terrestrial Power Systems

    2. AsterTech, LLC  - Beavercreek, Ohio
    3D Additive Manufacturing of High Efficiency and Light-Weight Solar Cells for In-Space Applications

    3. ATEIOS - La Jolla, California
    Printed Batteries for Ubiquitous & Conformal Electronics

    4. ATOMOS - Denver, Colorado
    Splitting the Atom to Connect the Planets: A Commercial Nuclear Power System for Space Operations 

    5. Birmingham Technologies - Arlington, Virginia
    The Nano-Boxx: A Nanoscale Energy Harvester

    6. Cactus Materials, Inc. - Tempe, Arizona
    Nanoengineered Li7La3Zr2012 (LLZO) thin film solid state batteries on roll-to-roll manufacturing for EV Vehicle

    7. Castor Air 2 Electricity and Water Solutions Inc. - Chelsea, Massachusetts
    Onsite Air to Electricity & Water Multiplier Microgrid

    8. Environment and Energy Benefit Co. - West Sacramento, California
    BBB: X Factor Liquid Fuel 

    9. Gilman Industries, LLC - East Northport, New York
    Alternate Polymer-Based H2 from Tap Water Electrolyzer

    10. HE3DA USA - Redondo Beach, CA
    Innoative 3D Nanotechnology for Energy Storage

    11. Howe Industries, LLC - Tempe, Arizona
    Ion Enhanced Thermoelectric Generator (ITEG)

    12. Idaho National Laboratory  - Idaho Falls, Idaho
    Remediation of Hydrocarbon-Contaminated Ground and Water Using a Novel Trace Element Humate Surfactant Solution (TEHS)

    13. iFeather - Boulder, Colorado
    In-Situ Fabrication of Extraterrestrial Aerogels for Transparency, Heat, and Energy Regulation (iFEATHER) for Habitat, Aeronautic and Space Vessel, and Space Suit Applications

    14. Ion Power Group, LLC - Navarre, Florida
    Nanomaterial Breakthrough Generates Electricity Day & Night on Earth & Mars

    15. Lugar Center for Renewable Energy - Indianapolis, Indiana
    Complete Hydrogen Storage Systems by ISRU

    16. MCE Nexus - Dublin, Ohio
    A Materials-Chemistry-Energy nexus for Lunar, Planetary and Asteroid (LPA) Systems: High Energy Density Silane Based Fuels

    17. NT Ionics - Boulder, Colorado
    High Performance Ceramic Electrolyte for High Energy Density and All Solid-State Lithium Batteries

    18. OptiCOMP Networks - Attleboro, Massachusetts
    Rapid Wafering of Wide Bandgap Substrates

    19. The Pennsylvania State University-Department of Materials Science and Engineering - University Park, Pennsylvania
    Lightweight Monolothic Microcell CPV for Space

    20. Power Systems Engineers - Chula Vista, California
    Orbital Observation, Data Collection and Analysis of Power Consumption

    21. Standford-Department of Electrical Engineering - Stanford, California
    Two C: Transportation electrification through ubiquitous wireless charging 

    22. Solar Under Transmission with Shared Ownership (SUTSO) - Gaithersburg, Maryland
    Solar Under Transmission with Shared Ownership 

    23. University of Michigan Vehicle-to-Vehicle Power Transfer Collaboration - Ann Arbor, Michigan
    Photovoltaic Cell-Level Power Balancing Using Intrinsic Energy Storage for High-Efficiency, High-Reliability Solar Power

    24. V-Glass - Pewaukee, Wisconsin
    Vacuum Glass for R-10 Windows

    25. WBGlobalSemi, Inc. - La Honda, California
    Commercializing High Power Silicon Carbide (SC) Bipolar Junction Transistors (BJTs) and Power Modules for Power Management and Distributed Power Applications 

    About the Author

    Sam Davis

    Sam Davis was the editor-in-chief of Power Electronics Technology magazine and website that is now part of Electronic Design. He has 18 years experience in electronic engineering design and management, six years in public relations and 25 years as a trade press editor. He holds a BSEE from Case-Western Reserve University, and did graduate work at the same school and UCLA. Sam was the editor for PCIM, the predecessor to Power Electronics Technology, from 1984 to 2004. His engineering experience includes circuit and system design for Litton Systems, Bunker-Ramo, Rocketdyne, and Clevite Corporation.. Design tasks included analog circuits, display systems, power supplies, underwater ordnance systems, and test systems. He also served as a program manager for a Litton Systems Navy program.

    Sam is the author of Computer Data Displays, a book published by Prentice-Hall in the U.S. and Japan in 1969. He is also a recipient of the Jesse Neal Award for trade press editorial excellence, and has one patent for naval ship construction that simplifies electronic system integration.

    You can also check out his Power Electronics blog. 

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