Lightning Hybrids wins top prize at 2015 NREL Industry Growth Forum in Denver

Thursday November 5, 2015 0 comments Tags: Denver, NREL 2015 Industry G, Lightning Hybrids, Tim Reeser, Sun Number , Dan Arvizu, Bill Farris

DENVER -- Loveland-based Lightning Hybrids   received the top prize of the 2015 Clean Energy Venture Awards presented this week at the Industry Growth Forum hosted by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL).

Lightning Hybrids makes hydraulic hybrid systems that can re-generate energy from braking and use it to accelerate trucks and buses.

“It’s always fun to get validation,” said Tim Reeser, Lightning Hybrids’ co-founder and president.

Also receiving prizes were Stone Mountain Technologies Inc., a Tennessee-based company focused on gas absorption heat pumps that harness renewable energy, and Denver-based Sun Number LLC, developer of an online tool that allows owners of commercial and residential buildings to determine how much energy can potentially be generated by adding solar panels.

Another highlight of the event, which attracted more than 400 investors, entrepreneurs, technologists and thought leaders, was the announcement of the inaugural Dan E. Arvizu Industry Growth Forum Student Scholarship.

Arvizu, the longest-serving NREL director and CEO, retired this year after 10 years.

The new scholarship will sponsor a two-person university startup team to attend and take part in the Industry Growth Forum each year.

The two-day forum highlighted clean energy technology and related business developments with speakers, presentations by 30 clean energy companies and in-depth panel discussions.

“The convergence of R&D success, entrepreneurial innovation and a receptive investment community ill accelerate renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies into the marketplace,” said Bill Farris, NREL’s associate laboratory director for Innovation, Partnering and Outreach.

“Relationships built and information shared at the Industry Growth Forum are vital to the advancement of these technologies. We are pleased to be able to leverage the convening power of the laboratory to facilitate this essential discourse.”

Since 2003, presenting early-stage, pre-commercial and expanding cleantech companies at NREL’s Industry Growth Forums have raised more than $5 billion in growth financing.

The Forum is managed by NREL’s Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center, whose mission is to foster an ongoing and extensive connection with the early-stage business community.