3 Startups Join New IN2 Cohort Advancing Reliability in Built Environment - CleanTechnica

The Wells Fargo Innovation Incubator (IN2), a $55 million energy technology program coadministered by NREL and funded by Wells Fargo, has welcomed three startups into its latest cohort focused on advancing energy efficiency and reliability in commercial building heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. The selected startups—MicroEra Power, SkyCool Systems, and Verv Energy—offer innovative solutions such as a tunable thermal energy storage system, passive cooling technologies utilizing the sky, and diagnostic platforms for detecting HVAC performance anomalies. IN2 aims to accelerate the scaling and market adoption of technologies that support sustained building operations during grid outages, peak load events, and extreme weather, addressing growing electricity demand from sectors like data centers. MicroEra Power’s thermal energy storage system stands out for its safety, efficiency, and durability compared to lithium-ion batteries. It shifts HVAC loads to off-peak periods, improving energy efficiency by 20% while requiring minimal water and reducing capital expenses by downsizing heat pumps