EAST HARTFORD, Conn., Oct. 16, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Northeast Electrochemical Energy Storage Cluster (NEESC) and Western New England University will co-host "The Business of Energy Storage 2015 Supply Chain Exchange and Partnership Development Forum" on Thursday, Oct. 22 at Western New England University in Springfield, Mass.
The event brings together electrochemical energy storage companies, including original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), suppliers and industry stakeholders in the Northeast, to help facilitate business connections, expand market opportunities, and discover how to reduce manufacturing costs.
"This event will advance our efforts to improve the competitive position of hydrogen and fuel cell cluster businesses in the region," stated Joel Rinebold, director of energy initiatives, Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology Inc. (CCAT). "We will be providing a forum for manufacturers and suppliers to make business connections. Making these connections is key to regional growth."
The forum will feature a dynamic "Matchmaking" session with one-on-one meetings between OEMs, organizations, and supply chain companies. Attendees will be able to schedule up to four (4) one-on-one meetings with OEMs, organizations, supply chain companies, utilities, and federal, state and regional resources.
Industry leaders including Doosan Fuel Cell America, FuelCell Energy, Infinity Fuel Cell and Hydrogen, Precision Combustion, Proton OnSite, McPhy Energy, ITM Power, Convergent Energy, Sustainable Innovations, Advent Technologies, GE Fuel Cell, SunEdison, and Giner Inc. will be participating in the event along with representatives from the U.S. Small Business Administration and the U.S. Department of Energy.
"Western New England University is pleased to co-host the forum with the Northeast Electrochemical Energy Storage Cluster," stated S. Hossein Cheraghi, dean of the College of Engineering. "This forum provides an opportunity for organizations to learn about the University's research capabilities, and how we are educating students to meet the industry's workforce demands."
About NEESC
The Northeast Electrochemical Energy Storage Cluster is a network of industry, academic, government and non-governmental leaders working together to provide energy storage solutions. The cluster is focused on the innovative development, production, promotion and deployment of hydrogen fuels and fuel cells to meet the pressing demand for energy storage solutions. The cluster is based in New York, New Jersey, and the New England States. Its initial formation and development is funded through the U.S. Small Business Administration's Innovative Economies Initiative and administered by CCAT.
About Western New England University
Western New England University, a private university in Springfield, Mass., is renowned for high quality teaching as well as a growing research program. The University is committed to being a leader regionally, and recognized nationally, in providing integrated professional and liberal learning. Through local, national, and international partnerships, researchers at the University engage in both fundamental as well as system level analysis of fuel cell and other electrochemical energy technologies. Ongoing projects include, but are not limited to: fuel cell materials characterization, system modeling, cell diagnostics, neutron & x-ray based radiography/tomography, advanced flow-field design and hydrogen storage technology. Chemists and engineers are currently synthesizing Proton Exchange Membranes utilizing a technology pioneered in-house (i.e. pseudo-polyelectrolytes (pPE)), which may provide alternatives to Nafion in the future. Western New England University strives to become a leader in energy-based technologies research in the northeast corridor, and is seeking further collaborative partners.
About CCAT
Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology, Inc. (CCAT) is a nonprofit economic development organization headquartered in East Hartford, Conn., that leads and inspires innovation through state, regional, and national partnerships in advanced manufacturing technology, IT, education, workforce strategies, and energy solutions. To learn more about CCAT, visit www.ccat.us, or follow the company on Twitter - @CCATInc