ThermoHeart Engine as part of Breakthrough Coffee Roasting Facility
Progressive coffee roasting company Portland Roasting Coffee is moving forward with a plan to install groundbreaking renewable energy technology in its roastery that, if successful, could not only generate enough electricity to power their entire operation, but possibly add energy to the grid. The ThermoHeart Engine is the product of Boulder, Colo.-based certified B-corporation Cool Energy. This partnership represents the first industrial application of its scale incorporating a waste-heat-fueled power generator. Read the full article…
Over 30% Efficiency Measured
Cool Energy is pleased to announce that it has begun testing of its 5th generation, 25kW ThermoHeart Engine, and initial results are outstanding! After 75 early run hours, we have measured thermal to electrical conversion efficiencies of over 30%! This is a fantastic result for the 310C hot side and 10C cold side test conditions, perhaps the best performance ever at sub-combustion temperatures. We have also hit an electrical output of 13kW with a test system that can deliver about half of the thermal energy needed for full electricity production from this engine. This is a promising result, indicating that with sufficient thermal input we will hit the 25kW design output at 400C hot, 20C cold. Testing has been suspended for a few weeks as we upgrade to our new high-capacity test system, but should resume in the second week of December 2015. This generation of engine includes all of the learning we have accumulated from the prior 4 generations to achieve this remarkable performance. So far we have designed, built, and tested four very different engine configurations, and this is clearly the best of all layouts. We have submitted a patent application for this design to complement our 8 issue and 2 pending patents. We look forward to more testing in December with engineers from our Schneider Electric partner, and will publicize more results as they are measured. This lower temperature range may be where the Stirling engine finally shines as the most efficient and economical way to generate…
Cool Energy selected to present at NREL Industry Growth Forum
We’re proud to be one of the 30 competitively selected startups presenting at the NREL Industry Growth Forum (IGF). Join us October 28-29, 2014 in Denver, CO as we redesign energy and compete to win the NREL Best Venture Award. In addition to pitches by clean energy entrepreneurs, the IGF will feature panel discussions lead by industry thought leaders and organized networking sessions with members of the investment community. Since 2003, presenting companies have collectively raised over $5 billion in growth financing. Learn more & register for #IGF2014 at…
Cool Energy, Inc. Honored as ‘Best for the Environment’
Today, COOL ENERGY, INC. was recognized for creating the most positive environmental impact by the nonprofit B Lab with the release of the third annual ‘B Corp Best for the Environment’ list. The ‘B Corp Best for the Environment’ list honors 84 businesses that earned an environmental impact score in the top 10% of all Certified B Corporations on the B Impact Assessment, a rigorous and comprehensive assessment of a company’s impact on its workers, community, and the environment. Honorees were recognized among micro, small, and mid-sized businesses. The selection was based on our overall business practices, including employee stock options, full health insurance, and our environmental mission, as well as our other practices like recycling and composting. We are proud to be part of a group that pushes consciously for the best solutions to the biggest, hardest issues facing us and future generations. Read more…
Cool Energy featured in CO Solar Thermal Roadmap
Two renewable energy organizations in Colorado released a roadmap for solar thermal industry development over the next 40 years. Cool Energy contributed to the development of this roadmap, and was featured – on page 2 of the body. See the roadmap here!