Convective Technology Company received $960,000 for a field demonstration tied to rain cloud formation, with Spaceport America among the project partners.

Organ Mountain News report

SANTA FE - A pilot project planned for Elephant Butte Lake is among nine advanced energy projects receiving a share of $7.5 million in state grants aimed at accelerating energy technology in New Mexico.

Convective Technology Company received $960,000 through the New Mexico Advanced Energy Award program for a pilot project that will use ground-based heat sources to create atmospheric conditions needed for rain cloud formation, according to Economic Development New Mexico.

The company will partner with Spaceport America, the Langmuir Laboratory for Atmospheric Research at New Mexico Tech and the National Wind Technology Center at the National Laboratory of the Rockies for its first full-power demonstration at Elephant Butte Lake in Sierra County.

The award is one of four Pilot Project Awards announced July 7. The pilot awards are intended to help companies move research into practical, deployable technology and test advanced energy projects in New Mexico.

Five other companies received Research and Development Awards, which support proof-of-concept work, product development and other early-stage efforts to move scientific advances toward market-ready technology.

“New Mexico is building real momentum in technology and innovation with outstanding research partners, a welcoming business climate and state investments designed to help companies at every stage,” said Economic Development Secretary Rob Black. “These companies show just how dynamic our tech pipeline is — and how much opportunity lies ahead.”

The Advanced Energy Award program is administered by Economic Development New Mexico’s Technology & Innovation Office. The program is in its third year and includes two grant tracks: Research and Development and Pilot Projects.

Three of the nine companies will establish a presence in New Mexico through the grants, according to the state. All grant recipients are required to maintain operations in New Mexico for at least two years beyond the grant period.

“The Advanced Energy Award allows the state to support New Mexico-based companies as they advance their technologies and attract promising startups to deploy and grow in New Mexico,” said Nora Meyers Sackett, director of the Technology & Innovation Office. “These awards help move the frontiers of energy technology forward and strengthen New Mexico's position as a destination for advanced energy innovation.”

Other pilot awards went to Airloom Energy, Circularity Fuels and Firescape.

Airloom Energy received $925,000 for a low-profile, modular wind-generation pilot project with Kit Carson Electric Cooperative. Circularity Fuels received $1 million to deploy and validate a pilot unit that converts dairy biogas into liquid fuels at a MAAS Energy Works facility in Lovington. Firescape received $900,000 for GridWatch, a wildfire risk and mitigation platform for utilities, in partnership with PNM.

Research and Development Awards went to GridFlow, Halo Materials, Liberty Fusion, Molten Salt Solutions and Surface Transfer. The projects include work tied to battery storage, graphite production, fusion energy, enriched lithium and geothermal power.