BIRD Energy began in 2009 as a result of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. Since then, BIRD Energy has funded 37 projects with a total investment of about $30 million, including the newly selected five projects.

To date, BIRD Energy awardees have attracted more than $200 million in venture capital and other follow-on funding to commercialize clean energy technologies. The program encourages cooperation between Israeli and American companies through funding joint research and development in a range of technologies, including solar, wind, biofuels, energy storage, fuel cells, smart grid, and water and energy efficiency.

During the last seven years, four BIRD Energy projects have reached the commercialization stage, including a self-powered wireless sensor for monitoring energy use in buildings; a new enzyme for the production of biodiesel; a utility scale solar concentrated photovoltaic system employing a new active cooling module; and a new system to facilitate wind speed and power output forecasting for wind generation.

Projects that qualify for BIRD Energy funding must include one US and one Israeli company, or a company in one of the countries paired with a university or research institution in the other. The companies must present a project that involves innovation in the area of sustainable and clean energy and is of mutual interest to both countries.

Qualified projects must contribute at least 50% to project costs and commit to repay up to 150% of the grant if the project leads to commercial success.

The five approved new projects are:

• Brenmiller Energy Ltd. (Rosh Ha’ayin, Israel) and Power Authority of the State of New York (White Plains, New York) will develop high temperature storage based in combined heat and power (CHP).

• CelDezyner Ltd. (Rehovot, Israel) and AdvanceBio LLC (Milford, Ohio) will develop a process for production of ethanol from lignocellulosic feedstocks.

• QDM Ltd. (Rehovot, Israel) and ALD NanoSolutions Inc. (Broomfield, Colorado) will develop third-generation high-temperature superconducting (HTS) cables.

• SoftWheel Ltd. (Tel Aviv, Israel) and Detroit Bikes (Detroit, Michigan) will develop an energy-efficient, low-maintenance, high-performance bicycle.

• TerraGenic Ltd. (Kadima, Israel) and Triton Systems, Inc. (Chelmsford, Massachusetts) will develop a safe hydrogen transport and storage system.