Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern Pennsylvania has granted $110,000 to Sunstream Earth to complete construction and testing of a prototype of a new type of solar-powered thermal generator for electricity production. This new technology will allow electricity to be produced on-site utilizing only ambient solar heat, without the need for connection to the power grid. The generator requires a much smaller footprint and is more efficient than conventional solar-generation technologies.
The Allentown early-stage firm is one of seven receiving funds “to help lead northeastern Pennsylvania to a better economic future by building partnerships that develop and apply technology for competitive advantage,” according to a news release issued this week.
The other BFTP/NEP investments are:
Alpha Packaging, Bethlehem, $48,000 to implement practices and install equipment to reduce energy consumption by 20% at this manufacturer of plastic bottles and jars.
ArioTech, Bethlehem, $50,000 to customize and deploy a new type of information-sharing platform for hospital-discharged chronically ill patients and their care providers, and pilot the technology in three major northeastern U.S. hospitals.
BioSample Solutions LLC, Bethlehem, $70,000 to complete development and begin commercialization of a proprietary sample preparation technique for application in DNA and RNA extraction technology.
EcoTech Marine LLC, Bethlehem, $25,000 to improve supply chain processes and plan for expansion into a larger space.
Highwood USA, LLC, Tamaqua, $14,547 to improve heat resistance and impact strength of styrenic plastic, a material used in the production of synthetic wood.
Vigon International, East Stroudsburg, $25,000 to automate the batch record management system and the work order information system at this manufacturer and supplier of high-quality flavor and fragrance ingredients.
Source: BFTP/NEP
Writer: Elise Vider