Faculty, Students Pitch Research Innovations at Regional Energy Conference
Carnegie Mellon University alumna Matineh Eybpoosh and co-founder Matthew Maroon won $10,000 for their innovative company, Watt-Learn, at the sixth TransTech Energy Business Development Conference in Canonsburg, Pensylvania, Oct. 24-25.
The company offers a battery control software platform to help create a smarter electric grid.
"Intermittent renewable energy raises grid resiliency concerns. The technical solution available is energy storage — mostly batteries," said Eybpoosh who graduated from the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering's doctoral program in 2015. "However, battery projects aren't economical, which is a large barrier for meeting the ambitious battery installation goals worldwide. This is the problem that Watt-Learn solves. By adding artificial intelligence to batteries, they become self-driving profitable investments."
The conference, co-sponsored by Carnegie Mellon's Wilton E. Scott Institute for Energy Innovation, provides a forum for investors to meet new companies whose innovations can solve energy, environmental and economic development issues.
Four CMU student teams presented technology innovation posters developed in an “Energy Innovation and Entrepreneurship” course taught by CMU Engineering and Public Policy Professor and Scott Institute for Energy Innovation Associate Director for Policy Outreach Dr. Deborah Stine.
Top Photo: CMU students had the opportunity to gain feedback on their technolgy innovation posters from investors and leaders in the energy sector including Randall Gentry, The National Energy Technology Laboratory’s Chief Technology Officer and Deputy Director of Science and Technology.