InnovaTek: Distributed Energy Generation Using Hydrogen and Biofuels
InnovaTek is one of 12 semifinalists in the Pacific Northwest Clean Tech Open. The company's business concept involves generating power on site using hydrogen fuel cells. The hydrogen is extracted from biofuels, making the system completely independent of fossil fuels and the grid. Denis Du Bois interviews Dr. Patricia Irving, the Founder and CEO of InnovaTek. (podcast)
July 08, 2009
Podcast
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Music by Chris Keister
Program Notes
InnovaTek is using its advanced hydrogen production and fuel cell technologies to produce combined heat and power for distributed energy production.The system operates on renewable biofuels, so no fossil fuels are used. It's also very efficient at delivering generated power to loads. That's because it uses heat from the fuel cell to produce hot water for heating and other uses.
Founder and CEO Patricia Irving previously evaluated technologies for commercialization at DOE's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. She also worked with the President's Council on Environmental Quality. While at the White House she headed the group that devised the emissions trading method proposed as part of the carbon cap and trade legislation now being debated in Congress.
InnovaTek's hydrogen CHP system is available to strategic partners for research and development. As for commercial availability, it's likely to be at least five more years.
The Pacific Northwest Clean Tech Open is a business plan competition. Twelve semifinalist companies were chosen from a field of 56 entries. Semifinalists will compete for three $50,000 regional prizes. Those three finalists will advance to a national competition and a chance to secure a $250,000 (cash and services) national prize. Along the way, the companies receive support from industry Mentors to help take their ideas to the next level.
Most entrants to the PNW CTO competition are emerging companies, but InnovaTek is hardly a startup -- the company has been working on its technologies for over a decade. The CTO has a criterion for no more than $300,000 in outside capital. InnovaTek qualified because they've operated on grants and research funding. The company maintains a close relationship with Pacific Northwest National Labs. Irving says the company might now be ripe for outside capital.