The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and Israel's Ministry of National Infrastructure, Energy and Water Resources (MIEW) have announced the selection of six projects to receive $5.1 million under the 2015 Binational Industrial Research and Development (BIRD) Energy program. Pristine Sun, LLC of San Francisco has been selected by the BIRD energy program to receive funding in partnership with Jerusalem-based Solaris-Synergy, Ltd to further their ongoing efforts to develop floating solar technology.
Pristine Sun is an independent power producer, a full service EPC, and a developer of small utility-scale solar PV power plants. In February, the company signed an agreement to build the largest floating solar project in the United States. In March, the company signed an agreement to build Vermont's largest solar project on a landfill in Brattleboro, Vermont.
Pristine Sun CEO, Troy Helming offered the following comment on receiving the BIRD Energy program funding: "We're very grateful for this partnership with Solaris-Synergy and to have received this award from the US Department of Energy and Israel's Ministry of National Infrastructure, Energy and Water Resources' B.I.R.D. Energy program. The challenge of building the largest floating solar project in the U.S. was really exciting to us, and we're thrilled about the prospect of developing more of these projects throughout the world."
Pristine Sun Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Cary Hayes offered the following comment on receiving the BIRD Energy program funding: "We're very excited to be building the largest floating solar project in the United States and this partnership with Solaris-Synergy will help us continue to take a leadership role in the international floating solar market as well. Floating solar is a new and exciting opportunity, and we're glad to be a leader in this space."
Each (BIRD) Energy program project is conducted by a U.S. and an Israeli partner. Selected projects address energy challenges and opportunities of interest to both countries, while focusing on commercializing clean energy technologies that improve economic competitiveness, create jobs, and support innovative companies.
(Photo: Floating Solar Project in Sonoma County developed by Pristine Sun.)