A Multifaceted Gem - KARAT

| By Uri Schlesinger

Israel Electric Technology Innovation Center

he Israel Electric Corporation (IEC) is a public and government company, with 99.85% of its stock owned by the government. The Company generates and supplies electricity to all sectors in Israel and its activities include: generation, transmission and transformation, distribution, supply and sale of electricity. The Company supplies available, reliable and high-quality electricity at a reasonable price, maintains a leading standard of service, and adheres to economic, commercial, and environmental principles. Currently, about 13,000 employees provide service to 2.4 million homes. IEC has established an internal venture unit, named KARAT (the Hebrew acronym for "Accelerating Technological Ideas" and English acronym for "Key Revolutionary Technologies") to provide a framework for investment and support services to develop, advance, and commercialize innovative ideas in energy-related fields. This initiative follows the growing global need for solutions for "green" (clean) electric energy, lower energy costs, and higher system efficiency, with the objective of decreasing global dependency on carbon fuels. KARAT invites entrepreneurs, innovators, and inventors to submit ideas and proposals in energy-related fields. Selected proposals are nurtured to become early-stage business ventures operating within KARAT and receiving financial support, access to IEC's large pool of experts, access to a live electricity network for validation and testing, business development services, access to global strategic partners, and additional assistance to achieve commercial success.

partners and customers A range of business services, such as legal advisors, patent lawyers, logistics, administrative, and office space.

Areas of Interest All Shades of Green

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Green and renewable energy (materials, devices, systems, control, etc.) Environmental topics (including treatment of greenhouse gases, decrease of electromagnetic fields, emission reduction, recycling, etc.) Use of the electricity generation process by-products Energy-saving by improved energy efficiency Smart-Grid Solutions.

Global Partnership Program

KARAT is planning to launch a Global Partnership Program for international corporations including utility companies, vendors, investors, distributors, integrators, and those who wish to collaborate with IEC in promoting KARAT portfolio companies. Each partner is expected to commit resources, nominate a contact person to serve on KARAT's advisory board, and be active in assisting the entrepreneurs in developing and commercializing their products. Interested parties are encouraged to contact KARAT.

Mission Collaboration and Commercialization

KARAT promotes innovative ideas related to the energy field by encouraging and collaborating with entrepreneurs and innovators to form, support, and finance early-stage business ventures for the commercialization of these ideas.

Selected Projects

Even-Or Technologies Ltd. New Solar Cell Material Architecture

The Challenge Even-Or's technology is a fundamental innovation in the principles of photovoltaic (PV) solar cells. At present, all solar cells are based on a similar physical principle, and the primary effort invested in their improvement is focused on developing enhanced materials and lower-cost production processes. Therefore, each manufacturer focuses on a specific type of material such as crystalline materials, various amorphous materials and some polymers, with the aim to lower the cost-efficiency ratio. The Unique Solution At the core of the Even-Or invention stands the utilization of a different physical principle from that used today. The new architecture can be applied to any material and composition in current use and is not limited to any one specific material. The optimal material that Even-Or may ultimately commercialize is expected to be found during the development process. The most significant improvement in production costs per unit of power is foreseen in the area of amorphous materials. The new architecture will enable the use of lower quality materials, typically produced more cheaply. Parallel to cost reduction, the power produced per unit area is likely to increase. Currently, the invention's status is experimental Proof of Concept. However, should the principle be proven, we anticipate additional advancements stemming from innovations in other elements, such as more efficient multi-layered

Seeking Innovators Looking for Gems

KARAT is seeking entrepreneurs, innovators, inventors, and other pioneers: n Who dare to break "technology glass ceilings" n Who bring innovative solutions to substantial problems n Who are driven to turn their ideas into real businesses n Who have the spark of creativity and inventiveness.

Services Provided
Up to NIS 2 million in funding Assistance with fund-raising n Hands-on assistance with structuring and establishing the company and business n In-house business development and marketing support. Access to: n Electric network, laboratories and facilities n IT, computer systems and operational systems data n Professionals such as scientists, engineers and technicians n Extensive global network of utility companies, strategic
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devices (layers of different materials to maximize the utilization of the sun's spectrum), and application of nanotechnology elements to minimize energy loss inside the device (often called third-generation devices).

PowerCom Ltd. Smart Meter Solutions

The Challenge PowerCom offers Smart-Grid Solutions based on Smart Metering Technology. Solutions include Advanced Meter Management (AMM), Automatic Meter Reading (AMR) and Advanced Meter Infrastructure (AMI) systems. It offers multi-utility services such as electricity, water and gas. PowerCom's intellectual property is based on its innovative and patented dynamic PLC (Power Line Communication) technology. The dynamic PLC modem allows for real time readings from any smart meters at a distance of up to 2 km. of electricity wires at any location in the world in two to four seconds. The system speed has been tested in different scenarios, and the results are excellent. Over the last two years, PowerCom has been successful in implementing its advanced, reliable, and secured dynamic PLC communication system, enabling the company to present a complete system solution using smart meters, "concentrators", and web-based software. Today, PowerCom solutions include PLC, RF (Radio Frequency), GPRS (General Packet Radio Service), and other communication technologies to offer a complete Smart-Grid implementation. The Unique Solution Together with IEC's expertise, PowerCom has developed a new generation of smart meters that can monitor power failures and fluctuations in real time and react according to pre-defined policies in real time by reducing power supply, and disconnecting customers from the power supply. Such technology enables the utility company to flatten the demand peak. The solution is flexible and can provide an answer according to the customer's infrastructure, whether electricity, water, or gas utilities. The system supports a few utilities simultaneously offering secure transparent information. In addition, PowerComs technology can be administered in the following areas, depending on the customers specific needs: energy data warehousing and data housing; communication for multi-utility energy data; handling of generic business processes in the energy market; load flows monitoring for energy transmission; general load profile analysis; load profile monitoring; co-generation planning; peak leveling, load shifting, and energy forecasting. The Prospects Powercom is currently developing and customizing its product for the US market. The meters will introduce state-of-theart technology, making use of open platform, using multiple communication methods to fit the infrastructure. The meters will enable the utility to offer future services such as E-mobility, using renewable energies, multi-vendor pricing architecture (choosing the best prices from the grid suppliers), and more.
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Burning Solar Ltd. Novel Carbon-Based Solar Cell Technology

The Challenge Burning Solar is developing a unique and novel process that uses the element carbon, which is abundant, inexpensive and environmentally-friendly, for the production of an advanced multijunction photovoltaic (PV) to electric conversion. Silicon is known to be the fundamental semi-conductor material used in industrial production of PV cells. Despite its proliferation, the cost of energy produced by an installed silicon-based PV system is still about five times higher than that produced by a typical fossil power plant, mainly because the energy conversion efficiency from light to electricity is relatively low, typically lower than 20%. There have been many attempts to produce other structures based on alternative compounds to achieve higher efficiency. The highest efficiency of nearly 42% was achieved at the Boeing Spectrolab Company using a multi-junction PV sensitive to a wide sun spectrum, aided by concentration and tracking methods. The Unique Solution Graphene, a super-strong, transparent form of carbon, one atom thick, could be used in displays, solar panels, and lightweight composites. Two Russian scientists discovered a way of isolating it, winning the 2010 Physics Nobel Prize. Using a new application of Graphene, Burning Solar developed an innovative low-cost, environmentally-friendly technology for solar cells. The concept is based on a controlled deposition process of carbon layers for the production of an advanced multi-junction PV. Based on preliminary results, it is probable that the proposed technology will reach high efficiency (above 25% without a concentration and tracking system) at very competitive costs of about a third of standard PV technologies. The process being developed enables low temperature role-to-role manufacturing of panels. The Prospects Solar energy is predicted to become a significant world energy source after 2020. Burning Solar offers the technology to make this happen sooner. It offers a patented innovative technology and a mechanism for multi-junction thin film PV that will break through historical cost and efficiency limitations for a wide range of power applications. Based on its low cost and high efficiency, the total potential market for Burning Solar is expected to reach USD 10 billion by 2015.

Panoramic Power Ltd. Circuit-Level Self-Powered Sensors

The Challenge Panoramic Power is developing a nonintrusive, very low-cost solution for precise real time monitoring of electrical consumption at individual circuit-level. Global concerns about climate change, energy security, and cost containment are propelling significant public and private investment in the Smart Grid. Innovations in transmission and energy use will allow customers to save money and reduce their carbon footprint. The vast majority of Smart-Grid investment is focused on energy producers and electricity meters. Unfortunately, this deficiency leaves businesses lacking energy use data unable to manage what they cannot measure. In the US, buildings account for 40% of all energy use, and the commercial real-estate sector occupies more than 70 billion square feet. Only 14% of these buildings use management systems with deployment levels even lower in Europe and Asia. There are more than three billion circuits in use worldwide. Monitoring these circuits is virtually an untapped market. The Unique Solution Studies show that granular, real-time energy monitoring results in 10%-30% savings. Panoramic Powers integrated hardware and software provide unprecedented visibility into 100% of building energy use. The solution allows owners and managers of existing commercial buildings to reduce the consumption of electrical energy, while predicting and preventing equipment failure and system overload. Additional benefits include precise building circuit-mapping, effective tenant sub-metering, optimized building-management system operation, integration of energy costs into Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems, and the automation of compliance with government efficiency and reporting requirements. By combining inexpensive, non-intrusive, self-powered, wireless, circuit-level sensors with hosted energy intelligence software services, the company's patent-pending solution is easy to install, scalable, and versatile. It causes no disruption or risk to a building's existing electricity network, offers a wide range of operational benefits and provides an average return-on-investment of about 16 months. The Prospects While electricity consumption represents a significant expense and growing concern for a wide range of enterprises, most commercial buildings have not deployed smart solutions within their internal network. Panoramic Power's experienced and proven management team plans to capitalize on this large market opportunity with its ground-breaking solution. Future plans include development of software applications for various market segments, sensor family expansion and cost reduction, integration of sensor technology into infrastructure components, and Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) solutions for electrical equipment manufacturers. Awards In 2009, Panoramic Power was awarded first place in Qualcomm's prestigious, worldwide QPrize business plan competition and first place in IBM's SmartCamp competition in Israel.

significant cost reduction in the manufacturing process of silicon solar cells through inkjet printing of inks based on nanometric materials. The growing solar photovoltaic market (nearly USD 40 billion in 2009 with an average 30% growth rate in the last decade) needs to reduce costs to achieve grid parity. The industry is targeting solar cell production costs of lower than USD 1 per Watt. Solar cell metallization is a major efficiency-limiting and costdetermining step in solar cell processing. Most production processes for silicon solar cells are based on screen-printing. The photovoltaic industry needs a non-contact metallization solution that does not break silicon cells; does not limit reducing thickness of wafers; that increases the active area of the cell by printing narrower conductors than was ever possible with screenprinting; and provides better electrical performance than screenprinted conductors, while overall reducing costs and increasing cell efficiency. The Unique Solution PV NanoCell's products designed to be implemented in noncontact inkjet metallization technologies are the enablers for replacing the screen-printing metallization process with an inkjet printing process. Under the KARAT program, PV NanoCell is developing a unique product - Nano copper-based inks for inkjet printing of conductive grids on silicon wafer cells. The Prospects PV Nano Cell, Ltd. materials and technologies are enablers for the potential cost reduction of up to USD 0.2-0.3 per Watt in silicon solar cells manufacturing. The inkjet inks market offers a potential opportunity for PV Nano Cell of ~USD 1 billion and above 400 tons by 2014 (a 35% market share of the total inks market) and ~USD 2.8 billion with more than 1,200 tons by 2017.

InnoSave Ltd. Energy Saving Technologies

The Challenge InnoSave has developed a novel energy-saving drive for electrical industrial motors. These drives are capable of saving up to 30% of a motors energy consumption without compromising the motor's functionality. Considering the fact that 27% of total electrical energy in developed countries worldwide is consumed by industrial motors, InnoSaves drive is a compelling solution at both corporate and state levels. The Unique Solution InnoSave's energy drive is an electronic "box" with hardware and software elements located between the electricity grid and the industrial motor. The uniqueness of InnoSave's patent-pending technology enables building motor drives with a simple topology and with substantially fewer power components compared to the existing energy-saving products: VFD variable frequency drive. Compared to VFD, InnoSave's motor drives will cost dramatically less due to fewer power components, enable a much faster return on investment (ROI) to the consumer of 612 months, save up to 30% on electricity compared to the VFD, and enable entrance into potential, new, large multibillion-dollar markets. The Prospects The total applicable worldwide market for InnoSave amounts to approximately USD 14 billion per annum. The AC industrial motor market is divided as follows: n 77% of industrial motors are connected directly to the grid. The applicable market for InnoSave is USD 8 billion. n 15% of the motors are connected to VFDs. Applicable market for InnoSave is USD 5 billion; a total VFD market of USD 10 billion. n 8% of the industrial motors use softstarters to commence operation of the motor. Applicable market for InnoSave is USD 0.8 billion.

PV NanoCell Ltd. Sinking Ink Costs in Solar Technology

The Challenge PV NanoCell is developing a disruptive technology that achieves

KARAT is proud to be the facilitator of these exciting green-energy incubators. For further information regarding KARAT projects, please contact us via our website: www.israel-electric.co.il/karat/background.html.

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The Jerusalem Post | Innovation Industry & Science | 02/2011