For the competitors, last summer’s 76West Awards ceremony wasn’t just about winning the $2.5 million prize money. It was about receiving recognition and support for their vision of the future of renewable energy.
For the past two years, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) competition has infused the region’s growing clean energy sector with a wider ecosystem and fresh talent. Winners are required to establish their headquarters, other facilities or primary supplier contracts in the Southern Tier for at least two years. Moreover, the state’s 50 percent renewables mandate by 2030 makes it a leader in the transition to cleaner energy and fertile ground for young companies betting on technology beyond fossil fuels.
So it’s no surprise that solar energy took center stage at this year’s competition.
Skyven Technologies, which won the top $1 million prize, uses the sun as a controllable heat source in industrial farming and manufacturing. SunTegra, the second-place $500,000 winner, makes solar panels that resemble standard roofing tiles.
