13 October 2011

NAVITASMAX, a renewable energy storage company, is awarded a $1 million program from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) for groundbreaking energy research.

NAVITASMAX will develop a novel heat storage method for solar and nuclear applications that will improve thermal energy density over existing systems by an order of magnitude. The project team includes Harvard University, Cornell University, Nano Terra and Barber-Nichols and will conduct a one-year “proof-of-concept seedling” program which will enable low cost efficient thermal energy storage.

“We are honored to have been selected for this prestigious award,” said Kelly Herbst, President of NAVITASMAX. “Our breakthrough energy storage technology will change the way we harness, store and utilize energy.”

Herbst was inspired by her children’s questions as to “Why can’t we use the sun and wind to power the world all the time?” In response, she combined her observations in art, nature and science to envision a novel solution that will enable widespread deployment of renewable energy by providing a system that is efficient, inexpensive and carbon-negative.

NAVITASMAX is headquartered in Chandler, Arizona and is part of the Chandler Innovations Science & Technology Incubator. The Incubator was developed by the City of Chandler and provides start-up companies space to work and grow.

About NAVITASMAX
NAVITASMAX is a Renewable Energy Storage company. The NAVITASMAX technology will enable widespread deployment of renewable energy. This technology will revolutionize energy storage by providing a system that is efficient, inexpensive and environmentally friendly. Founder Kelly Herbst was inspired by her children’s questions as to “Why can’t we use the sun and wind to power the world all the time?” In response, she combined her observations in art, nature and science to envision a novel solution. The NAVITASMAX ARPA-E team includes world leaders from Harvard University, Cornell University, Nano Terra, and NASA/DOE specialty manufacturer Barber-Nichols. 

About ARPA-E
The Advanced Research Projects Agency – Energy (ARPA-E) is a new agency within the U.S. Department of Energy – and the first to focus exclusively on breakthrough energy technologies that could radically change the way we use energy. Rather than performing research directly, ARPA-E invests in high-risk, high-reward energy technologies being developed by universities, startups, small businesses, and corporations. Our staff combines industry-leading scientists, engineers, and investment executives to identify promising solutions to the nation’s most critical energy problems and to fast-track top technologies towards the marketplace – which is critical to securing the nation’s global technology leadership and creating new American industries and jobs.
www.arpa-e.energy.gov

About Innovations Incubator
The Innovations Incubator was developed by the City of Chandler in order to bring additional high-wage technology jobs to the community by providing start-up companies space to work and grow.  The Incubator gives Chandler the opportunity to grow its own businesses in the cutting-edge fields of biotechnology, bioinformatics, software design, nanotechnology, medical devices, renewable energy and others. For information visit www.chandleraz.gov/ed.