Innovation Showcase award presented to Ion Storage Systems (Greg Hitz, Founder and CTO)

The Maryland Clean Energy Center announced the winner of its inaugural Innovation Exchange Contest, which connects start-ups, experts and investors to advance clean energy businesses. The review panel selected Ion Storage Systems, which develops safe, high-performance solid-state battery storage technology, based on the technology's potential for market impact and Ion's ability to scale to meet demand. 

Ion Storage Systems, which is located in College Park, Maryland, competed against five other start-up companies. Athena Power, Inc. was recognized as the runner up.

Each contestant presented novel energy technology, services and products that provide clean energy and enhance energy efficiency, capacity, reliability or safety.

"We congratulate Ion Storage Systems and thank all of the companies that participated," said Kathy Magruder, MCEC Executive Director. "These innovative entrepreneurs will bring new solutions to help us reduce greenhouse gases to ensure a cleaner environment and create renewable energy jobs to foster a stronger economy in Maryland and the Mid-Atlantic region."

The pitches were judged by a panel of venture investors and potential funding organizations, including:

• Andy Jones, (Panel Moderator) Chief Investment Officer and Managing Director of the Maryland Venture Fund, Maryland Technology Development Corporation (TEDCO) 
• Brian Compagnone, President, Pitch Capital     
• John Ellis, Digitalization Portfolio Manager, Siemens Smart Infrastructure            
• Dave McCarthy, Executive Director, Potential Energy DC           
• David Wise, Director, Maryland Momentum Fund

As the winning pitch, Ion Storage Systems received a $5,000 award, courtesy of the Maryland Energy Innovation Institute. 

The following other companies participated in the Innovation Exchange:

• Athena Power, Inc.: Showcasing sensors to analyze capacity and reliability in underground transmission lines
• CoolGreenPower LLC: Sharing technology to increase efficiency of large-scale HVAC systems
• Electro-Active Technologies: Developing a modular system to produce renewable hydrogen from organic waste
• GOEFER: Providing control capabilities to monitor and advance energy efficiency for electronics
• Hydrospark, Inc.: Introducing a clean energy product that runs on just 20 gallons of water

The Innovation Exchange Contest was part of the 2018 Maryland Clean Energy Summit, a gathering of industry experts, policymakers, regulators, utility representatives, innovators and business leaders, who came together at the two-and-a-half-day conference to discuss ideas for moving Maryland forward to a modern power grid.  

Maryland Clean Energy Center | mdcleanenergy.org