Energy technologies targeting demand-side barriers to adoption get a boost under Wells Fargo / NREL program

March 5, 2025 — The Wells Fargo Innovation Incubator (IN²), a $55-million technology program funded by Wells Fargo & Company and co-administered by the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), announced the recipients of a pool of $750,000 in pilot funding as part of its inaugural Scalable Tech Track. The awards aim to address demand-side barriers to energy technology adoption by supporting large-scale, high-impact pilots across industries and sectors.

The Scalable Tech program awarded funding to five organizations for pilots of innovative energy technologies with expert support from NREL researchers. The projects include retrofitting HVAC systems, improving school air quality and energy use, optimizing data center cooling, and modernizing aging building infrastructure.

The projects selected for this inaugural cohort embody the spirit of collaboration and innovation. By integrating an ecosystem approach with scalable drop-in solutions, these pilots aim to demonstrate how energy technologies can address pressing resiliency and infrastructure challenges while establishing replicable pathways for widespread impact.

Sarah Derdowski, IN² program manager at NREL

Awarded Pilots:

• CBRE received $150,000 to install and test Blue Frontier*’s rooftop HVAC system on a Delaware property. NREL researchers, including the scientist behind the liquid desiccant technology, will closely monitor the project.
• Coconino County secured $55,000 to implement Rensair’s air quality solutions and Komfort’s low-energy lighting at Ponderosa High School in Flagstaff, Arizona.
• Digital Realty will use $125,000 to partner with Hayzel for data center chilling improvements in Santa Clara, California.
• Galvanize Real Estate received $200,000 to work with EnKoat* and Alpen High-Performance Products on a building retrofit in Pedricktown, New Jersey.
• The University of Colorado Boulder will implement INOVUES’ advanced window technology in aging campus buildings with $220,000 in funding.

*Denotes graduates of previous IN² cohorts.

Pilots launched in early 2025 and will conclude within six months, demonstrating the program’s focus on rapid results and actionable insights to advance adoption. By targeting scalable energy solutions for the built environment, IN² equips participants with resources, peer collaboration, and third-party validation.

A panel of judges chose organizations based on their feasibility, impact, pilot readiness and dedication to knowledge sharing. Each project aims to drive meaningful progress toward energy solutions while fostering broader adoption of innovative technologies.

Effective adoption of energy innovation requires scalability. These pilot projects represent a critical step in bridging the gap between promising advanced, and often cost-saving, technologies and widespread adoption. By connecting these industry leaders with resources and expertise, we’re helping them be successful as they pursue their energy and resiliency needs.

Jeffrey Schub, head of sustainability at Wells Fargo

Organizations that were not selected for pilot funding have also gained significant value through their participation in IN². Several have initiated independent collaborations with NREL, leveraging its expertise to advance their innovative energy solutions. In addition, these organizations are developing white papers, case studies, and other resources to share insights and encourage broader adoption of advanced technologies. These activities reflect the program’s ability to drive impact beyond the funded pilots, fostering progress across the energy ecosystem.

The success of the 2024 cohort has paved the way for a second round of the Scalable Tech Track, anticipated to launch applications in late 2025.