34 COnnECTiCUT GREEn GUiDE • SprinG 2015 www.CTGreenGuide.com
Starting Up
Engel is developing a circular gas-
ifier that thermally converts biomass
into gases like hydrogen and car-
bon monoxide to power an electric
generator. Engel received a $10,000
Entrepreneur Innovation grant from
Connecticut Innovation to develop
the system's controller.
Save Money
A 20-kilowatt Engel genera-
tor will cost between $80,000 and
$100,000, which is $4-6 per watt
generated. Although this is more
expensive than grid power, Engel
said it is a viable alternative to
solar panels for renewable energy
generation, since his gasifier can
generate electricity constantly.
Save the Environment
Engel plans on marketing the prod-
uct to businesses with biomass waste
like farms and pallet manufacturers,
along with cities with tree-cutting
waste. The generator turns that waste
into a fuel and the only waste prod-
ucts are water and carbon dioxide.
Gasified
Biomass
Engel Power
fOUndeR: Thomas Engel
empLOyeeS: 1
LaUnCh: July 2014
headqUaRTeRS: East Hampton
WeB SiTe: Under development
a Clean STarTup
PHoTo | STEvE LASCHEvER
