Thar Technologies, creators of sustainable, natural solutions for everyday living, is expanding to a larger space in O’Hara Township, Allegheny County, and adding 20 employees in the coming year, bringing the total count to 50.
To top it off, the company has plans to create an incubator for energy-related startups, a place to mentor up-and-coming companies much like PLSG does for life sciences startups on the South Side. The idea was hatched in conversations with Rich Lunak and Innovation Works says Lalit Chordia, founder president and CEO.
“I think it would be a lot of fun to mentor green energy companies,” says Chordia who has a doctorate in chemical engineering and 25 years of experience in energy including solar and geothermal. “On a personal basis, I can be of support to some of these companies.”
Thar also plans to put its geothermal technology to work creating one of the largest geothermal demonstration sites in the region. The 78,000 square-foot space, formerly the American Roller Bearing Co., will be heated and cooled by Thar’s geothermal system with an expected utility savings of 50%. Thar purchased the building for $2.2 million.
Thar uses supercritical fluid technology to develop applications in the production of everything from pharmaceuticals to food, chemicals and electronics. First among the green processes is the creation of nutraceuticals, healthy, natural food or food products such as decaffeinated coffee, hops extracts for beer and spice extracts.
This benign technology is extended to energy applications such as heat pumps, production of biodiesel, biofuels from biomass and concentrated solar power.
Last year the company restructured after the Instrument division was sold to the Waters Corp. Thar has offices in Tampa and Pittsburgh.
“We’re excited about our applications in green technology with business applications toward the energy side. It has a huge potential for the area and the world,” says Chordia.
Source: Lalit Chordia, Thar
Writer: Deb Smit
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