Goals
- De-risk cleantech innovations for market readiness within two years.
- Train entrepreneurs to launch startups advancing energy efficiency and renewables.
- Bolster U.S. clean energy leadership with scalable, impactful technologies.Expansion depth limit exceeded
Organization
West Gate is sponsored by EERE’s AMMTO, hosted at NREL’s Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center (IEC), and managed by Program Director Shelly Curtiss, with support from the Colorado School of Mines. Funding from AMMTO and DOE offices supports fellowships, lab access, and mentorship.Expansion depth limit exceeded
PartnersHistory
Announced on November 29, 2021, West Gate expanded LEEP with a $2.5 million investment, welcoming Cohort 1 in September 2022 to tackle materials circularity and energy storage.Expansion depth limit exceeded Cohort 2 started in 2023, raising the bar with innovations like brine mineral extraction, while Cohort 3, launched September 2024, broadened technological diversity with six DOE offices funding it. West Gate continues to evolve, supporting DOE’s clean energy mission.
Funding
Initial funding of $2.5 million in 2021 covered Cohort 1’s five fellows, with over $7.5 million allocated by 2025 across three cohorts—each fellow receiving $100,000/year stipends and up to $175,000 in R&D.Expansion depth limit exceeded Ongoing AMMTO support, with $10 million+ in follow-on funding by 2024, sustains the program with no end date, tied to DOE’s decarbonization goals.
Implementation
West Gate embeds 3-5 fellows per cohort at NREL for two years, providing lab access (e.g., Flatirons Campus), mentorship, and tools like MathWorks, with Cohort 3 active as of September 2024.Expansion depth limit exceeded It progresses through competitive cohort cycles—e.g., Cohort 4 applications closed January 14, 2025—focusing on cleantech innovations, adapting to energy needs without a fixed end.
RelatedExternal linksReferences
