The Wells Fargo Innovation Incubator (IN2) is taking a pragmatic approach towards sustainability by partnering with startups that focus on real-world demonstrations of their groundbreaking technologies. The program’s 10th cohort is unique as it comprises companies solely dedicated to showcasing their solutions within a practical setting over the coming years.
This opportunity benefits startups by concretely showcasing the efficacy of their technologies. Such demonstrations also reduce the risk associated with new product adoptions and resonate with potential clients eager for proof of concept, especially when supported by technical assistance from the esteemed National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL).
Electrifying America: BlocPower’s Bold Mission
As a participating company in IN2, BlocPower, led by CEO Donnel Baird, is on a mission reminiscent of personal and global significance. Baird, with a vision of electrifying urban buildings akin to turning them into energy-efficient vehicles like Teslas, shares the emotional significance of retrofitting a church from his childhood block, illustrating BlocPower’s environmental and social impact.
With buildings being major contributors to global greenhouse gas emissions, BlocPower’s initiative focuses on renovating these structures, eradicating fossil fuel equipment, and employing electric systems, with heat pumps being a pivotal technology. Having already made measurable strides in New York City by working with a notable number of families and buildings, BlocPower’s work stands as a testament to the practicality of its green solutions.
Guided by Optimism: Scaling BlocPower’s Technology
BlocPower and NREL collaborate to verify the scalability and field performance of BlocPower’s technological solutions. Despite obvious economic and logistical hurdles, the company remains undeterred, forging ahead with substantial contracts to electrify several U.S. cities. Making use of digital innovation and predictive models, BlocPower rigorously plans for the rapid decarbonization of urban infrastructures.
Innovative Heating Solutions: The ETS Demonstration
As part of their IN2 demonstration, BlocPower is putting their confidence in electric thermal storage (ETS) systems. Matt Leach, NREL’s senior researcher and principal investigator for the BlocPower IN2 project, explains the mechanics behind ETS, likening it to the enduring warmth of a wood stove, as part of a strategy to overhaul old heating infrastructures with a modern, efficient electric alternative. The resultant data from this demonstration will shed light on the potential for ETS systems to maintain comfortable living spaces throughout harsh winters and during high electricity demand periods.
Dominique Lempereur, BlocPower’s chief of engineering, touches on the compatibility of ETS with heat pumps, especially in older buildings where elaborate insulation upgrades are impractical. A partnership with Steffes Group, a leader in ETS, will enable BlocPower to evaluate the performance of such systems alongside heat pumps throughout the 2024 heating season.
Pioneering Equity Through Clean Energy
Beyond the technical demonstrations, Baird emphasizes the significance of equity as the cornerstone of BlocPower’s mission. He envisions clean energy solutions uplifting underprivileged communities and fostering employment that benefits society at large. The BlocPower Civilian Climate Corps initiative, born during the pandemic, exemplifies this, training individuals who are at risk in their communities to take charge of a greener and safer future.
This workforce development program has become instrumental in providing practical field experience and has even facilitated permanent employment for several participants within the HVAC industry.
In conclusion, BlocPower’s ambition extends beyond just an attempt at urban electrification; it represents a broader mission of societal transformation where environmental progress and social equity advance hand in hand. This vision encapsulates Baird’s profound commitment to leaving behind a sustainable and equitable legacy for the next generations, an objective guided by collaboration and unity in the pursuit of a cleaner, brighter future across America.
