Governor Hochul Announces $1 Million New York/Israel Smart Energy Challenge Now Accepting Submissions

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the launch of the 2022 New York Power Authority (NYPA) & Israel Smart Energy Challenge, which seeks start-up technologies from companies headquartered in Israel to help meet the needs of New York's utility operations and advance the State's clean energy transformation. The winner of the $1 million competitive award will collaborate with NYPA, the nation's largest state utility, on smart energy innovation projects that may be deployed by NYPA or other large utilities to support the efficient delivery of affordable, clean and reliable electricity statewide.

"New York and Israel have a long history of collaboration and a common interest in developing new clean energy solutions that will address climate change and mutually benefit our power systems," said Governor Hochul. "The Smart Energy Challenge will give small start-up firms the opportunity to work with a large utility and allow New York State to maintain its lead as an innovator as it moves aggressively toward a 100 percent zero-emissions electric grid by 2040."

The competition was announced today during an international virtual webinar and panel discussion where attendees learned award details and heard from several Israeli companies that have partnered with NYPA.

NYPA is collaborating with EnergyCom and the Israel Smart Energy Association (ISEA) to launch this second competition among innovative firms headquartered in the State of Israel to support the next generation of the clean energy evolution. One or more innovative companies will be identified and given the opportunity to work with NYPA to scale up their technology in pilot demonstration projects to meet the specific needs of power utilities operations.

Ambassador Asaf Zamir, Consul General of Israel in New York said, "Israel is internationally recognized as a high-tech center powered by cutting-edge innovation and the ideas of Israeli entrepreneurs and companies with can-do attitudes. We share many of the same goals and values as New York State when it comes to addressing climate change and promoting green energy. Our collaborations have benefited us both and resulted in lasting gains to the energy industry around the world. The 2022 New York / Israel Challenge will provide resources to a promising start-up that is poised to turn a great idea into a practical solution that brings benefits to the energy field in New York and on a broader scale."

In December, Governor Hochul and Zamir announced that Tel-Aviv-based PrismaPhotonics, a provider of smart monitoring solutions for physical infrastructure, won NYPA's 2021 challenge for its real-time transmission line issue detection system.

NYPA Interim President and CEO Justin E. Driscoll said, "The 2022 Smart Energy Challenge will introduce the benefits of working with New York's public utility to Israeli clean technology start-ups and provide them the opportunity to test their innovative energy solutions. New York's utility operations will gain from this collaboration and the technologies we test and potentially implement may change best practices throughout the U.S. and Israel and demonstrate new, creative ways of providing a supply of affordable, clean and reliable electricity to New Yorkers."

The 2022 NYPA/Israel Smart Energy Challenge will focus on next generation technology such as:

• electric vehicle charging
• reliability with electrical grid systems
• energy storage
• buildings/campus energy management
• data analytics
• artificial intelligence
• virtual reality
• demand flexibility technologies.

Anat Katz, Israeli Economic Minister to North America, said, "For a clear demonstration of the unbreakable bond between the peoples of Israel and New York, look no further than the NYPA Smart Energy Innovation Challenge: Israelis and New Yorkers working together to harness their creativity, good looks, spirit of cooperation and mutual affinity to promote sustainability and heal the environment. As we speak, this program is providing an example for how to solve problems and spread friendship around the world. Congratulations to our friends in New York State for leading the way."

Elad Shaviv, CEO, Israel Smart Energy Association, and Executive Director, EnergyCom, said, "We are pleased to cooperate with NYPA. As a leading player in the smart energy space, Israel will use its growing talents and knowledge to further the global transition to clean power. This Challenge will show how a leading power utility can drive innovation while opening the door for companies to showcase and test their technologies to jointly develop potential solutions that will benefit the energy industry around the world."

Applications will be accepted through April 11. Award selections are expected to be announced in June.

Interested companies can learn more about the challenge and submission details and deadlines on NYPA's website, or by emailing [email protected], Director, NYPA Procurement

New York State's Nation-Leading Climate Plan

New York State's nation-leading climate agenda is the most aggressive climate and clean energy initiative in the nation, calling for an orderly and just transition to clean energy that creates jobs and continues fostering a green economy as New York State recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic. Enshrined into law through the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, New York is on a path to achieve its mandated goal of a zero-emission electricity sector by 2040, including 70 percent renewable energy generation by 2030, and to reach economy wide carbon neutrality. It builds on New York's unprecedented investments to ramp-up clean energy including over $33 billion in 102 large-scale renewable and transmission projects across the state, $6.8 billion to reduce buildings emissions, $1.8 billion to scale up solar, more than $1 billion for clean transportation initiatives, and over $1.6 billion in NY Green Bank commitments. Combined, these investments are supporting nearly 158,000 jobs in New York's clean energy sector in 2020, a 2,100 percent growth in the distributed solar sector since 2011 and a commitment to develop 9,000 megawatts of offshore wind by 2035. Under the Climate Act, New York will build on this progress and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 85 percent from 1990 levels by 2050, while ensuring that at least 35 percent with a goal of 40 percent of the benefits of clean energy investments are directed to disadvantaged communities, and advance progress towards the state's 2025 energy efficiency target of reducing on-site energy consumption by 185 trillion BTUs of end-use energy savings.

About NYPA

NYPA is the largest state public power organization in the nation, operating 16 generating facilities and more than 1,400 circuit-miles of transmission lines. More than 80 percent of the electricity NYPA produces is clean renewable hydropower. NYPA uses no tax money or state credit. It finances its operations through the sale of bonds and revenues earned in large part through sales of electricity. For more information visit www.nypa.gov and follow us on Twitter @NYPAenergy, Facebook, Instagram, Tumblr and LinkedIn.