This morning, we took a look at some of the breakthrough work being done in the field of nanotechnology at our Global Research Center in Niskayuna, NY. The nanotechnology lab was one of the stops today for reporters attending GE’s ecomagination forum, which focused on venture capital and its role in accelerating the development of clean technology. GE Energy Financial Services, which is one of the most active venture capital investors in emerging technology companies worldwide, used the occasion to make two new announcements with its partners: Tendril, a maker of smart grid technologies; and SolarEdge, whose technology increases solar power systems’ output.
Capital ideas: The three components in SolarEdge’s system, pictured at left, can be embedded in practically all types of solar photovoltaic panels to maximize power generation while reducing costs. Tendril’s in-home device for smart grid communications, pictured at right, helps customers save power while freeing utilities to distribute it more efficiently.
With Massachusetts-based Tendril, GE announced that it’s broadening its smart grid relationship — which began with work on smart appliances — with an equity investment by GE Energy Financial Services. Tendril’s technology enables real-time, two-way communications between smart grid systems. Read the full release.
SolarEdge, which is based in Israel, makes a technology that increases solar power systems’ output by up to 25 percent. Today, GE Energy Financial Services announced that it has joined a $23 million funding round to support growth in the technology’s use in residential and large-scale solar sites. Read the full release
Also at the event, Advanced Electron Beams — whose technology is used in a wide variety of manufacturing settings, such as food sterilization — announced the formation of its new brand, Blu. GE has previously invested in AEB and is currently collaborating with the company on several projects. Read the full release.
Later this week, we’ll introduce you to some of the tech company CEOs who were at the event to showcase their technologies and discuss their work with GE.
* Learn more about today’s venture capital forum and see GE’s presentation
* Read “The superhydrophobic way to repel ice & bounce water” on GE Reports
* Lean about our work with battery-maker A123Systems
* Watch a video: “The GE Genius Series: Thin is in with OLEDs”
* Watch a video: “The GE Genius Series: Breakthroughs from butterflies”
* Read “$1,000 genome project advances to NIH round two” on GE Reports
* Watch a video: “GE unveils holographic disc breakthrough“
