RALEIGH – The Research Triangle Cleantech Cluster, RTCC, has announced finalists for the third annual Cleantech Innovation Awards.
The awards, judged by executives and leaders in the cleantech industry and public sector, will be announced next week, Wednesday, Dec. 8, at an event held in Market Hall from 4 to 6:30 p.m.
“The Cleantech Innovation Awards recognize and celebrate the innovations, investments, and cleantech project deployments moving the Research Triangle and North Carolina toward a cleaner, healthier future,” said Deb Wojcik, Executive Director of RTCC, in a statement. “We congratulate all the nominees and finalists for their contributions to our state’s leadership in clean energy, water, transportation, local government, economic development, research innovation, entrepreneurship, talent development, equity, and diversity.”
The awards and the finalists
Cleantech Impact: Energy – Recognizes an energy project that applies cleantech to create positive impacts for the environment, economy, and residents. Examples may include innovations to existing grid infrastructure to enhance resiliency, renewable energy installations, microgrid deployments, or innovative energy efficiency programs.
2021 Finalists:
- ndustrial – Lineage Logistic Energy Savings Initiatives
- PowerSecure’s Rich Square Market Microgrid
Cleantech Impact: Water – Recognizes a water, wastewater, or stormwater project that applies cleantech solutions to create positive impacts for the environment, economy, and residents. Examples may include deployment of smart metering solutions at scale, application of data to identify opportunities for water conservation, or innovative technology deployments that improve water quality and the environment.
2021 Finalists:
- 374Water
- NALA Systems Reverse Osmosis Membranes
Cleantech Impact: Local Government – Recognizes a local government that has effectively leveraged resources and partnerships to complete an innovative project or initiative deploying cleantech solutions to create positive impacts for the environment, economy, and residents. Examples may include smart city technology deployments, collaborative stormwater management agreements, or cross-departmental teams addressing climate change or cleantech adoption or deployment.
2021 Finalists:
- City of Raleigh’s Flood Early Warning System
- Town of Morrisville’s Smart Parks Project
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Cleantech Impact: Economic Development – Recognizes a cleantech organization that has accelerated economic growth in the region or state. Examples may include a cleantech business that has relocated to the region or state, an organization that has made a significant impact through the application of clean technologies, or an organization that has enabled cleantech economic growth.
2021 Finalist:
- Smart Wires
Cleantech Impact: Transportation – Recognizes a transportation or mobility project that uses innovative cleantech solutions to create positive impacts for the environment, economy, and residents. Examples may include successful EV charging deployments, micro-transit initiatives, or efforts to improve mass transit systems.
2021 Finalists:
- City of Raleigh Titanium Enhanced Pavements Pilot Project
- Hitachi Energy Grid eMotion – Fleet Electrification
Cleantech Research Innovation Award – Recognizes an individual or group pursuing a research-based solution to a pressing cleantech challenge, working toward commercialization of a research-based cleantech innovation, or spearheading a new collaboration between research and industry.
2021 Finalists:
- Srdjan Lukic, FREEDM Systems Center at NC State University
- Vestaron Operations, Vestaron Corporation
Equity in Cleantech Award – Recognizes an organization or initiative that has demonstrated a strong commitment to equity in the implementation of a cleantech project. Examples may include deployments that focus specifically on the equitable availability of cleantech solutions, initiatives that address existing inequalities through new cleantech investments, and stakeholder engagement processes specifically designed to promote inclusion in planning or implementation processes.
2021 Finalists:
- Charlotte Area Transit System Electric Bus Program
- Oak City Baptist Church Solar Installation
Diversity in Cleantech Award – Recognizes an organization or initiative that has made significant contributions to ensuring the cleantech workforce reflects the people it serves. Examples may include targeted efforts to help underrepresented groups explore cleantech career opportunities, corporate programs designed to recruit and support underrepresented employees, or inclusion-focused mentoring or networking initiatives.
2021 Finalists:
- Center for Energy Education (C4EE)
- Women in Climate Tech (WiCT)
Cleantech Talent Development Award – Recognizes an organization or initiative that has made a significant contribution to developing talent, providing professional development, or fostering employment opportunities that support the cleantech industry in the region or state. Examples may include a corporate apprenticeship or internship program, a community college or university certificate in clean technologies, or K-12 curriculum or outreach program.
2021 Finalists:
- IE Cleantech Corner – UNC Institute for the Environment
- Partnership Raleigh Community Climate Intern Program
In addition to the naming of a cleantech entrepreneur of the year at the awards ceremony, Governor Roy Cooper will be honored as the “North Carolina Cleantech Champion for 2021,” the Research Triangle Cleantech Cluster previously announced.
Triangle Cleantech Cluster recognizes nine winners for innovation awards
