The Hawaii Renewable Energy Development Venture (HREDV) has announced that five companies will receive funding to commercialize new clean energy innovations. HREDV, a PICHTR project, awarded nearly $4.3 million through a competitive selection process to five companies in the areas of renewable energy grid integration, advanced biofuels, clean energy for agriculture, and energy storage for wind and solar resources.

“We are challenging the best creative minds in Hawaii and the nation to invent and demonstrate clean energy technologies that not only solve immediate problems, but also create future employment opportunities and economic prosperity," said Maurice Kaya, HREDV Project Director. "These new projects are pioneering solutions for Hawaii’s energy independence while working to meet the Hawaii Clean Energy Initiative goal of 70% clean energy by 2030.”

The winning companies showed how their technologies could be game-changers in Hawaii and demonstrated strong technical and management expertise to execute the projects and manage federal funds. These awards represent the first round of funding by HREDV, which deploys U.S. Department of Energy funds to help grow the clean energy sector in Hawaii with appropriations secured at the request of Senator Daniel K. Inouye.